No one loves Michigan more than Michigan students, fans and alum love Michigan. I'd say 70% of this draws directly from football. Game days are a weekly holiday during the fall, and students will do everything in their power to not have to miss a tailgate or game. Alum drive for hours or fly in to tailgate with thousands on the golf course (or join their kids on campus), and go absolutely nuts in the stands.
And the effort is always so worth it, because all Michigan game days are the best days.
1. The outfits are unmatched
I honestly get so much joy out of making my outfits as extra as possible. We tend to tape cereal to ourselves (a portable breakfast, obviously) or carry around giant inflatables during all of the tailgates.
2. No type of bad weather can stop the tailgates
It doesn't matter if it's 30 degrees and pouring rain. Obviously, we'll all complain about it, but we complain while we're bundling up in 18 layers getting hype to loud music at 8 a.m.
3. There's no such thing as tailgating too early
If it's a night game, I still expect all my friends to be ready to go by 9 a.m. No ifs ands or butts.
4. You high five and say "go blue" to everyone
That includes ice cream men too, of course.
5. Fans do some entertaining stuff
Whether it be chirping until their lungs burst, dying their entire bodies blue and maize, bringing megaphones and other obnoxious toys, or sporting funny signs...Michigan fans could have their own TV show.
6. Alum are just as crazy as students
The amount of parents I have seen shot gunning beers or taking vodka from an ice luge is unreal. Also, I swear most alum start tailgating before we do.
7. Chants and songs are ALWAYS screamed
As in you can absolutely hear cheers from the big house a mile away, no matter if it's the first or 15th time it's been chanted that game.
8. There's food everywhere, and it's too good to be true
Thank you Ann Arbor for not only blessing us with great restaurants, but with amazing street and stadium food as well. Only on game days will I (with no hesitation) spend $10 on a pretzel or bag or street nachos.
