Maryland Terrapins Fans: Meet The Michigan Wolverines

Apr 5, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The tour of the Big ten schools concludes back in Michigan. As a longtime Illinois fan, the Michigan Wolverines have always been the big nemesis for the school I support. I bet that Maryland Terrapin fans may feel the same soon, although Ohio State seems to be more successful at football than the team from Ann Arbor.

The maze and blue colors of the school, teamed with the winged logo of their football helmets,are well-known to sports fans. 109,901-seat Michigan Stadium, known as the Big House, is the third largest stadium in the world. Note that  I said world, as only North Korea’s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium and India’s Salt Lake Stadium are bigger.

Michigan has finished in the top five of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics  Directors’ Cup, a list that charts success overall in sports. Some say that the Wolverine name came from the abundance of the fierce animals within the state, or the independent nature of state residents during the Toledo border war. More likely it comes from the simple fact that the animal is so tough and makes a good mascot.

Just like at Michigan State, Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons fans dominate the area. Ann Arbor has over 300,000 residents, and since it is located close to Detroit it is often lumped in as a far suburb of that major city located abut 40 minutes away.

Football has been frustratingly inconsistent for years, with their biggest rivals Ohio State having the dominant hand for quite a bit of time. Coach Brady Hoke seems to be a good coach, but it still is not known if he is the guy to get them to the same caliber as the Buckeyes.

Men’s Basketball is doing VERY well. The success and eventual downfall of the Fab Five era was tough, but current coach John Beilein has them playing at high level as documented by the 2013 National Championship Game runner-up team.

As I mentioned, most sports on campus do well. Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics and Softball are some of the best of these other sports. Lacrosse has been a sport for quite a long time for a Midwest school, a fact that rival Ohio State shares.

I have spent less time on campus here than any other Big Ten school so my local restaurant and bar knowledge is very poor. No recommendations can be made at this time.