A Great Celebration

Some of you may know that about 2 1/2 years ago, I came home to my husband with a crazy idea that I'd like to sell our house.  My reasoning was to have a better situation for our girls in the not-so-distant future.  We lived about 35 minutes away from their current school, friends, and after school activities. I knew in just a few short years our oldest daughter was going to be driving (gasp!) and the thought of her driving on back country roads, 40+ minutes to school, during Michigan winters, wasn't exactly my idea of a good situation.  It took some tough conversations between the two of us, but he eventually hopped on the "moving" train. We set a target date to be moved before our oldest daughter went to Middle School.

We put our house up for sale, the one we'd bought just before we got married, put an addition on, brought our babies home to, and made many, many great memories.  It wasn't an easy decision at all, and there were several times I'd considered ditching the whole idea, and just staying put.  But, we didn't. We put our faith and future in God's hands and trusted in His plan for our family.

While going through the initial stages with our realtor and general contractor, both long-time friends of the family, I sent out a text.  It said, "If we can make this dream a reality, we'll celebrate on a Saturday in the fall in Ann Arbor." Because, after all, is there a better time or place to celebrate?!  I think not.

We finally saw His plan for us and we moved into our beautiful, brand new home on August 25th, just four days before our oldest daughter started Middle School. It was time to celebrate.

What initially was going to be a small celebration and thank you, turned into a rather large, extravagant display of my husband's culinary prowess.   We had over 50 people and a five course menu that would put any seasoned "eater" into a food coma. We had 48 hour Rubens, prime rib w/ au jus and horseradish creme, BBQ pulled pork, shrimp and grits with blue crab gravy, and s'mores on a stick. And that doesn't even include the three side dishes.  Many of you are probably wondering how we pulled this off in the middle of a golf course out of the bed of a truck, and to be honest, I don't know.  But we did, with the help of many, and one amazing chef.

To top it all off, Michigan came away with a convincing win to open the Big 10 season and some momentum for the upcoming challenges that lie ahead.

Go Blue!
~Bekki

Pick Six comments from the tailgate:
1. "How do you not weigh 500 pounds with a husband that's a chef?" Answer: He's never home to cook, he's always cooking for other people.
2. "I bet your kids are disappointed when you cook." Nah, they're used to it, we eat spaghetti with Ragu' just like everyone else.
3. "I want to marry that blue crab gravy." I had no comment, just giggled.
4. "I'll pay you a million dollars to teach me how to make those grits." I'll let you pay him a million dollars to teach you, and you can even learn in my kitchen.
5. "Who else has prime rib and jumbo lump crab at their tailgate?" Mmmm, probably not many.

Sorry Bout That

I've never been one that has been able to hide my emotions very well.  When I'm sad, the tears well up in my eyes. When I'm scared, my pupils dilate to the size of dimes. When I'm nervous, my voice is weak and shaky. When I'm happy, my joker smile can be seen for miles.  When I'm mad, the furrowed brow gives me wrinkles deeper than Lake Superior. And when I'm excited, well I tackle people.

At the game on Saturday, the first quarter wasn't all that exciting, in fact, it was quite humbling.  But that didn't stop the excitement the entire stadium felt every time Jabrill Peppers was back to receive a punt.  We all knew his time was coming to run one back.  Everyone was trying to predict when his time would be, it was inevitable that someone would get it right.  Well, his time finally came during the fourth quarter.  He caught a line drive punt that didn't give any defenders time to make it downfield.  And there it was, a hole big enough for a bus to drive through.  And he took advantage. He shot through it like an arrow, made a couple jukes, pushed a couple defenders away, and straight into the endzone.  It was right in front of us and as quickly as the play happened, it all seemed like slow motion.

That's when it all went down hill.  I'd been standing next to my brother Eric the whole game.  We'd shoot comments back and forth, do our own critiquing of what was happening, slap fives, hoot and holler and just have a grand 'ole time. And then......I tackled him.  Now, I'm not a very big person. I stand a mere 5'6" tall while he is a towering 6'4". But, in that moment and with all that excitement in my body, seeing that Jabrill was finally going to make it into the endzone....I erupted. Lost my composure, and tackled him. I can't explain how it happened, it just did.

Once we got up and celebrated with the other people in the surrounding vicinity, I apologized, "Sorry bout that." And with a smile as big as mine, he said, "That's alright. It was fun. You finally paid me back."

In a nutshell, that is what Michigan Football does for this family. We get so excited, we tackle each other.

Go Blue!
~Bekki

It's Been A Long Time

Ahhh, we're finally back, in many ways. Back to playing football. Back to being in one of my most favorite places on earth. Back to being in the conversation. Back to being relevant. And back to the Top 5.

It's been a long time since our guys were on the field. The summer is such a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, vacationing, playing in the water, and basically doing whatever we want. But man, I sure love Saturdays in the fall.  There isn't a feeling like it in the world walking in to that stadium. There was a certain buzz in the air, no doubt due to the happenings this summer.

It has been a long time since Michigan has been back in the conversation of being a top team in the nation. It still doesn't quite seem real to me, like I'm waiting for the wheels to fall off this brand new car.  But then I remind myself, we have a '17 Bentley, not an '86 Honda Civic Hatchback. Being considered a national championship contender is something that the Michigan fans of old were used to, but it's been a long time since we've been here.  I kinda like it, I hope we stay.  It's taken a long time to get there, many hardships, set backs, and well......embarrassments. But let's not live in the past.  Let's just enjoy the present.

It's been a long time since I watched my team win by 30+ points and wasn't thrilled. Happy? Yes. But I wasn't thrilled.  This is how Michigan fans used to be....pissed when they win by 30. I've grown accustomed to just being happy they pulled out a W. Not any more, now I want perfection.  I hated that the backfield, what was left of it after Don Brown's unending blitzes, got shredded and gave up so many yards.  I hate that in the previous two games, the defense gave up a field goal and two touchdowns.  I want shutouts. Total. And. Complete. Dominance.

It's been a long time since I've been confident going in to every game.  Now, I'm confident and a little cocky with a hint of arrogance.  And, I'm going to let it all hang out once we start getting into the meat of the schedule and beating the smithereens out of our opponents.  I've never been a cocky arrogant fan, but with what I've endured during the Rich Rod and Brady Hoke eras, I'd say I've earned it.  I kept my cool, with my head held high, defending my team, and staying loyal during those embarrassing times.  Opponents' fans never once missed an opportunity to rub in my face how awful my team was and made a mockery of them.  Well.....now it's time for paybacks. You know what they say about Karma. It might look like passive-aggressive paybacks, but only I know my thoughts behind the smirk I'll wear on my face. And that is a good thing.

So, to the other loyal Michigan fans, sit back and enjoy the ride.  It's Been A Long Time.

Go Blue!
~Bekki

The Eve of Football

I'll never be able to top the season opener post from last year. If you haven't read, I biasedly recommend that you do, I kinda like it and it says all the right things.  It's titled 'Twas the Night Before Football.

Here's my best shot at this year's season opener post:

You know Bama and Sparty and Texas and Buckeyes,
Badgers, and Clemson, and Trojans and Hawkeyes,
But do you recall
The most prestigious school of all?
The University of Michigan,
Just off from I-94
Outfitted by the Jumpman
Who could ever ask for more?
All of the other schools
Wish that they could be like us
They try to put our coach down,
but we revel in the fuss.
Then one sunny bright fall day
Jimmy came to say
"Players with your maize and blue
Let's show them what we can do!"
And how the fans just loved them
As they shouted, "Let's Go Blue!"
The University of Michigan
I just want to say "Thank You!"

~Go Blue!
Bekki

Pick 6 things I love about Michigan:
1. That winged helmet
2. The honor, pride, and integrity of the university
3. The Victors
4. The tradition
5. The success
6. The Big House

Oh how I hate...

Ohio State.

People often ask me why I hate Ohio State so much. I usually give them the history of the rivalry as it dates back to The Toledo War, I then progress into the Bo vs. Woody days, and when the Buckeyes came to Michigan and tore down the M Club Supports You banner.  While that is part of where the hate in my blood stems from, yesterday presented itself with a better explanation.

There I was sitting in my classroom, enjoying a nice lunch with one of my daughters and her friend. They were laughing and giggling, playing with their food, having a grand ole time.  And then it happened, in pops a head I see on Fridays. The head of a known Buckeye fan whom proudly wears his leather Ohio State coat, and works as a volunteer with students.  He and I have had conversations in the past, "Hey did you see Harbaugh is spending the night with a recruit, I don't really think that's such a good idea." or "Do you really like your new coach? Seems like he only lasts just a few years everywhere he goes.  Wonder how long he actually stay at Michigan." or  "Man, your team sure didn't show up on Saturday did they?" or "Why does he always have to be in the spotlight with all these Satellite Camps and Aerial Assault things he has going on?" I could continue, but I'm sure you get the point.  I always have valid reasons to defend my coach and team, but it really gets tiring.  Especially when it's unprovoked.

Back to yesterday, where was I? Oh that's right, enjoying a nice lunch with my daughter.  Here's where that enjoyable time got ruined....

"Hey did you watch the draft last night?"

Me, "I didn't really watch it, but I was following parts of it on Twitter. Why?"

Buckeye guy with hand gestures and all, "Well five, five Buckeyes were drafted in the 1st round. Two Spartans and NONE, NONE from Michigan. Ha ha."

Those 19 words were enough to send my blood pressure to the moon and my heart rate went right with it. But I kept my cool and took the high road, even though I had every reason not to. This was all I could muster, "Oh wow! Five guys, really? Cool."

And away he went, sauntering his buckeye self out the door and on his merry way.  Had I been more childish and quicker thinking I would've come up with something like, "Good for you ass hat, you didn't have a thing to do with it, and your coach steals my coach's ideas, and he makes his AD apologize for trolling him on Twitter.  Real winner you got there buddy. At the end of the day, Ohio is still a 4-letter word and your team is nothing but a bunch of glorified criminals.  Have a nice weekend."

This experience, in a nut shell, depicts the level of hate I have for The Ohio State University.

Go Blue!
~Bekki

Pick 6 Reasons I hate Ohio State:
1. They think t-h-e belongs to them
2. They say they don't care about Michigan, but wrote an entire song about how they don't care about Michigan.
3. Their fans misspell Ohio repeatedly. O-I-H-O
4. That annoying superfan that always gets airtime.
5. They cross out Ms on campus, but usually miss several.
6. It's just in my blood to hate them.

The Harbaugh Rule

Yesterday's events brought about a mix of reactions. On one hand, I was pissed that the NCAA committee had taken away the Satellite Camps. I was irritated that they coddled to the almighty SEC/ACC whiners and did what they (the SEC/ACC conferences) couldn't do, stop them. I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall during the hearing to see how this was lobbied by the SEC/ACC delegates to the other members of the NCAA committee to get their vote. I was saddened for the opportunities that are now taken away from underprivileged players to experience coaches and programs that they would never be able to afford to visit.   I was humbled to know that Michigan is once again in the spotlight for positive reasons, and I was proud that a new rule had to be passed to try to slow the Harbaugh train.

I have lost all faith that was left in the NCAA.  The University of North Carolina has been academically corrupt for 20+ years, and the NCAA has yet to do anything about that.  Penn St. harbored one of the biggest child sexual predators, they had their punishment handed down, then rescinded.  Michigan was punished for 15 minutes per week of extra stretching, and now this. What. A. Joke.

Satellite camps are not new to the college football world, but no one knew about them until Harbaugh did some last year.  Washington State University has been doing them for a couple years and no one batted an eye. Afterall, it is Washington State and they weren't going after the four and five star recruits from across the country. But, when Michigan does it and goes into sacred SEC territory, all of the sudden it's like ISIS is taking over an elementary school.  Nick Saban and his cronies whined, cried, and complained enough that the NCAA finally said, "Okay Nicky, we'll stop them for you so you don't have to work harder." The biggest joke of it all is that one of the chief complaints is that it wasn't good for the student-athletes.  Since when has the SEC followed rules and given a damn about student-athletes?!  They are viewed as nothing but money making toys in their plot to get richer.  What. A. Joke.

No one can deny that the top reason for Michigan's satellite camps is to promote Michigan, the football program, and the coaches.  Everyone knows that is the primary role of these camps. Secondary to that, satellite camps gave players that can't afford to travel all over the country taking visits, an opportunity to learn about Michigan.  It also gave them a chance to have their high school coaches learn from some of the best in the biz.  It was, and always has been, all about football. Helping kids become better players, coaches become better coaches, and Michigan a chance to say "Hey, if you're smart enough and good enough, here's what we can offer you."  What is wrong with that? Someone please give me a credible answer, because I've yet to read one. From anyone.

Having a coach that isn't afraid, and actually thrives on, thinking outside the box, puts Michigan in the spotlight.  Let's be honest, Michigan has always been in the spotlight, even during the dreaded 3-9 season of Rich Rod's first year at the helm.  Being in the spotlight is nothing new to Michigan, However, these last 10 years it has been mostly for negative reasons.  Now that the tide's are turning (see what I did there), there is a new sheriff in town, and everyone's in a panic.  No one can predict what Harbaugh is going to do next.  When he comes out saying he's doing satellite camps all over the country, everyone is up in arms about it and trying to stop him.  In reality, behind closed doors, they're thinking "How in the hell did we not think of this first?  We gotta stop him before he makes us look worse than we already do." Then Harbaugh decides to do the "The Arial Assault", where he brings in quarterbacks and coaches, from all over the country, from the NCAA and NFL. And again, people are saying "Why in the hell didn't WE do that?!" Next he decides to take his football team and staff to IMG in Florida for Spring Break practice and, well, you get the point.  If this was Purdue going to Arizona for Spring Break, there wouldn't have been a word about it.  But, because it's Harbaugh and Michigan, suddenly you can't turn on sports talk radio and not hear about it.  Here's the thing about Harbaugh that I've learned in the past 15 months he's been the coach....he's innovative, quirky, highly, highly, intelligent and doesn't give a flying f$#k what other people think about him. He loves football and I. Love. Him.

~Go Blue
Bekki

Pick 6 things about Harbaugh that make me smirk:
1. His strong Catholic faith
2. His love of Michigan
3. His passion for football
4. His outside the box thinking
5. His smirk
6. His unpredictability