Reflecting on the A to Z Challenge

This year I went nuts and entered 8 blogs to the A to Z Challenge. Because I got sick, I quickly fell behind in my posts. While I managed to at least complete 7 of the blogs, this particular one was left by the wayside. I just couldn't do it.

I sometimes feel like I bit off more than I could chew when I started up this blog. It's original purpose was to supplement my articles for my beats for Yahoo! Sports. I have barely been able to keep up there, either.

I thought perhaps the challenge would inspire me to write more. I found that trying to come up with logical topics for all 26 letters was quite difficult. I wanted to sound somewhat intelligent as I was doing it. My brain just wasn't in a football frame of mind this year. Perhaps I can try again next year, should I be able to come up with a list.

Here are the few posts I did manage this year:

A is for Ann Arbor
B is for Big House
C is for Conference
D is for Desmond Howard
E is for Education
F is for Football

Not leaving A to Z!

I feel like I need to put a post on all of my blogs. Yes, I am WAY behind on the challenge. Life keeps getting in my way. I should have listened to that gut instinct of mine that said, "Write them early!" Lol

Anyway, I have a ton of writing time coming up again soon and will be cranking them out and I WILL finish this month! On all of them! Promise!!

F is for Football

The whole purpose of trying to do this blog came as a result of my love for Michigan football. It's the first football that I ever watched. It's the football I know best. And historically it has been some of the best.

The team is the winningest program in college football history. I know that others are striving to catch up, such as Notre Dame. But in my opinion, ND has a lot of work to get done before that could ever happen. Sure, Michigan had a slump for a few years (*cough cough* Rich Rod era), but under Brady Hoke that all seems to be changing.

Michigan football also leads the Big Ten conference in wins and has been televised more than any other NCAA team, according to the Michigan Football Traditions page on MGoBlue.com. It is one of the more exciting teams to watch, and yes I am biased.

They have often been National Champions and have a team record of 33 consecutive bowl games. And of course, their home field is The Big House, which seats over 127, 000 people. Games are quite often sold out. That alone proves how dedicated fans are to their Wolverines and the excitement that Michigan football brings.

E is for Education

The University of Michigan is known for its education programs as much as its sports. While I grew up a fan of Wolverine football, I was also attracted to U of M for its academics. In fact it was one of my top choices for college. Unfortunately, I just couldn't hack the hefty tuition. I didn't want to do a bunch of loans that would take forever to pay off. I could have qualified for numerous scholarships, but unfortunately couldn't take my SATs and ACTs until senior year of high school. I had missed the PSATs because I decided to be an exchange student during the fall of my junior year. And then I had mono three times. Needless to say, taking exams fell on the back burner.

The University of Michigan was fortunate enough to gain some of my good high school friends as students. One or two even ended up joining the faculty there. And one of my friends went to that school to the south and then converted to the Maize & Blue to teach.

What else is intriguing is the amount of research that they do into a variety of areas. I love to watch a documentary or a news report and to see, "The University of Michigan has found...." I also like their University Press and love how they have preserved many Montessori writings from 90 years ago.

Check out more of their current research here.

D is for Desmond Howard

It is Desmond Howard's fault that I am a huge Michigan fan. Yes, I had been watching the annual rivalry game between Michigan and Ohio State every year since I started elementary school. When you grow up in Toledo, Ohio, it is like a religious event akin to Christmas to participate. I followed my family's Michigan roots, plus I preferred wearing their colors over the ugly scarlet and gray. But I really didn't pay too much attention to what was going on.

And then there came that infamous year with Desmond Howard. In that infamous game in 1991, he returned a punt for 93 yards, extending the Wolverines' lead 24-3. I just remember sitting, watching the game, when he caught the ball. He took off running. As he kept moving, I stood up. He kept going and I started yelling. He went all the way, made the infamous Heisman pose, and I started jumping up and down.



My mother came in to find out what the hell was going on. After all, I was screaming and yelling. We lived in an apartment at the end of our store. I think I was disturbing some customers. When I explained to her that history had been made, she was happy, but still told me to hold it down. So, I inwardly yelled.

And thus, a monster was made. Now, I scream and yell and carry on all I want. As long as I am home alone....

C is for Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the only one that I really know. When I was growing up, I didn't realize that there were any other conferences. In fact, I don't think I realized that Michigan could even play any other teams.

I didn't watch a lot of the games while I was growing up. Honestly, we pretty much focused on watching the Michigan State and Ohio State games. My cousins attended Michigan State and of course the Ohio State game was the big one. All I ever heard was "Big Ten."

Even as a kid, I understood that the Big Ten was something special. It is more than just great sports and great rivalries. (The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is arguably the biggest one in college sports.) All of the schools also have stellar academics. Their research facilities are well-known around the world. I can't tell you how many times I come across a study or educational information and find it came from a Big Ten school.

I always had dreams of attending a Big Ten school, specifically Michigan. Unfortunately, I had mono three times in my later high school years, so I was delayed in taking the SAT and ACT. I missed the PSAT (which based on my SAT score would have given me a free ride) because I was in France as an exchange student. Finances were not such that I could afford an out-of-state school.

Nevertheless, I still feel a sense of pride whenever the Big Ten is involved in something. Even though I despise Ohio State, I had a bit of excitement that a Big Ten school made it to the Final Four this year in basketball. At the same time, I was annoyed that it was OSU. And it was hard for me to accept them beating Syracuse. After all, I now live in Orange Country.

I still keep up with my beloved Wolverines, thanks to the wonders of the Big Ten Network. I was so grateful when it finally became available in my area a couple of years ago. Now, I never again have to miss games because they are not on national television, such as ESPN. I can even watch games on my computer. The app should soon be available for the Droid (if it isn't already - I have to check into that). I can stay connected wherever I go.

B is for Big House

You can't talk about Michigan football without mentioning the Big House. It is the largest venue in college football. In fact, I believe it is the largest sports venue of all. It is an impressive sight to behold.

When you are watching a home game on the TV, you can see how ginormous the Big House actually is. About 120,000 people can fit in the seats, but there is no such thing as a bad seat. Some people are lucky enough to have actual individual seats. The rest of us resort to sitting on a metal bench during the game. But when the action is hot, you aren't even sitting, anyway. What is amazing is how it doesn't seem so intimidating once you are actually there watching the game.

When you arrive at the Big House, you are greeted with all kinds of vendors. All kinds of food is available to consume. One of my favorites is Mr. Spot's. I am partial to them because there is also a location in Bowling Green, where I went to school. You can go shopping for souvenirs at the M Den. That is where I bought my earrings, glass and t-shirt.

There is a general air of excitement, without being obnoxious. Students and fans are super excited, but no one is really rude. When I took my mother, people treated us well. You see families as well as students. It is a community.

Sure, traffic can easily turn into a big clusterf*ck, but residents and police are seasoned veterans at directing the traffic. I don't think it really was too bad in either direction when we went. We elected to save money and simply park in someone's yard for a couple of bucks. I was amused that his hometown was actually a suburb of Rochester. The odds of that happening are quite large, I am sure.

I still get chills when I watch a home game on TV. I hope to have a chance to visit the Big House again.