From your earliest memories, you were predestined to join the family tradition of bleeding maize and blue. You learned that the state of O&$# was a swear word, and not allowed to be uttered from your lips. While you were still in elementary school, you had the opportunity to walk the tunnel of the Big House, and be elevated up by the cheerleaders in front of 110, 500 fans! "Go Blue!"
And now, all these years later... we gather around the television with the entire DePoy family to watch the big games. We have been fortunate in these later years to watch Michigan [finally] beat O&$# State and then last week - Alabama. Next Monday evening, the Michigan Wolverines will compete against the Washington Huskies for the College Football National Championship!
It's crazy to see how much emotion we all exhibit while watching these games. Even Grandpa will raise his fist and shout, while the rest of us jump around the room and lose all sense of reality! I always lose my voice, and sometimes I cry - tears of joy or sadness.
I know it's just a game. I know it's no big deal. But to us, it's a part of our story. It's to be proud to be from a tribe and people and place we call home. It's about loyalty and rootedness and all things sacred!
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