First I'll tell you, I was a fan of Tyrone Carter, Thomas Hamner, Ron Johnson, Billy Cockerham, Ben Hamilton, and Dan Nystrom in 1999. That was the year that turned me into a fan. That team had players that maybe were not super-freak athletes, but guys that tried so hard to play their best and gut out the win, and often-times got it. After that season I was hooked by the gophers and college football.
I am in my mid-twenties, and I followed gopher-sports since about 10 years old. I used to love gophers basketball. Clem Haskins put some awesome teams together, and I used to love watching the stuff. I also used to love going to see Gophers Baseball. I used to go to elementary school at Tuttle, so after school me and my brother would goto the gopher baseball games at Seibert field.
I remember once we were down big in a baseball game, so me and my brother started exploring. We were maybe about 12 and 9 at the time, give or take a year. I think it was the spring of 1997. Anyway we went behind the bleachers and started walking around the facilities near the Baseball field. There was tons of cool practice equipmentm just lying around and we started playing with it. If we were adults we would look pretty stupid and probably get security called after us. But we were just kids being kids, and having fun doing it.
Anyways, while playing and exploring outside the Baseball Field, but still inside the University Athletic Grounds, we actually ran into a Spring Football Practice. I realized then that we probably strayed too far from the game we were supposed to be watching with our Dad, but also was mesmerized at how I just walked into something so cool. One of the assistant coaches saw us, was a bit surprised, and asked us what we were doing there.
At this point my brother kinda ran back to where we came from, as he thought we were in trouble, and I just said, "We were watching the baseball game and got bored and wanted to play." he told me "Well, you'd better get back, your friend is gonna leave you here."
I took the advice and ran back to the Baseball game. And never told my dad what happened fearing I would be in trouble.
Anyways, just thought I'd share that.
I watch the Gophers now because I love the team. They keep me connected with home. I live in Beijing now, and woke up with a nasty cough and stuffed head. I drank a glass (big one) of Brandy and hot water to relax and take the cough away. Stumbled upon this thread and thought I'd share a memory with you.
Sorry if I bored anyone. It's 5am and I am half sick, half drunk, and feeling nostalgic.
GO Gophers!
If you beat MSU I might get cured!