Michelle's Tribute to University of Michigan Football
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.........
That's me before the 1999 Northwestern game
Michigan Football is a religion and Saturday is the Holy Day of Obligation
Some are born into Christian homes, I was born into a Michigan home. My Dad was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Growing up, he lived right across the street from the "Big House" where he would park cars in his front lawn for a quarter (fifty cents if it was the Ohio State game). My Grandfather and Great Uncle were both users at the stadium in their younger years. My Grandmother worked for the U of M health services. My great aunt worked in the soda fountain where Tom Harmon and his friends would hang out. You see, it's in my blood......
Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in front of the TV with my dad on Saturdays; the volume turned down (no mute buttons in the 1970s) a portable radio on top of the set booming the voice of Bob Ufer, The voice of Michigan football.
People ask which pro team I cheer for, the answer is I really dont. My dad is a high school football coach and would have his scouting meetings on Sunday afternoons so football was hardly ever on when the pros played. As the late great Bob Ufer used to say, Michigan Football is a religion and Saturday is the Holy Day of Obligation.
Bob Ufer, God Bless His Cotton Pickin Maize and Blue Heart .
Bob Ufer passed away in 1981, which means that unless they heard it in vitro, the current freshman class at MEEECCHHIGAN never heard him broadcast a live game. How sad. Who was Bob Ufer you ask?
For 5 decades he was the voice of Michigan football. He was the ultimate fan, he never attempted to hide his love for the maize and blue. Who could forget the 1979 Indiana game when Ricky Leach connected to Anthony Carter for a last second touchdown to win the game :
They arent gonna kick the extra point!!! Who the hell cares?
After hearing Bob refer to Michigan coach Bo Schembechler as 'Bo George Patten Schembechler', the General's nephew sent Bob the horn from Patten's jeep. the Ufe would beep the horn three times for a touch-down, twice for a field goal and once for an extra point.
There are 2 Bob Ufer cassettes available. My brother used to listen to them to psych himself up for high-school football games.
I highly reccomend that you pick them up!!! Bob Ufer was THE original motivational speaker. I dare you to listen to his 1980 Pre-Rosebowl peptalk and not shed a tear or two!
The Ufer family has also produced a two CD set telling the story of Bob Ufer. Have your kleenex ready!!!!
