Most fans of Michigan sports teams that you talk to will be fans to a certain degree, but most people aren’t fans to an extreme level. Most fans that you meet don’t throw massive tailgate parties. Most people you find won’t live in the household of a superfan. Logan Holzhausen (‘28) isn’t like most regular fans, however. He happens to live in the household of one of the biggest superfans around, with his dad being a huge Michigan and Lions superfan.
“When Michigan or the Lions win, he's usually pretty happy and celebrating. I'm pretty happy too. When we lose, we don’t get super angry, but we are disappointed,” Holzhausen said.
With a high level of stakes and intensity in a household over Michigan and Lions football, it is interesting to see the emotions felt when the teams face adversity. What is also interesting to see is the behind the scenes of attending the games.
“My dad hosts a tailgate before every Michigan home game, and he has some of his friends there. Everyone knows each other, and it’s a nice little environment,” Holzhausen said.
With the tailgate being part of the gameday routine, there must also be a schedule that comes along with it.
“I wake up, and then my dad's usually at the tailgate earlier than me. Then I head over around 10:30 if it's a noon game, we hang out and eat at the tailgate, and finally we leave to go down the road to the stadium at 11:30,” Holzhausen said.
Hearing the opinion on the intensity level from a person who has been going to these types of events for years can lead to somewhat of an unfazed response, but when you hear it from a person who doesn't often attend events such as these brings a whole other side to it.
“The intensity level is pretty high. There’s a lot going on and lots of people hanging around the area of the tailgate,” Cody Underwood (‘28) said.
A fun environment is always created from a mix of things–whether it’s the number of people there or the intensity level brought in. However, this is true; the most important part is the small things. The small traditions and routines are what make an environment unique. The small things are truly the big things.
“Going to a Holzhausen tailgate was a really great experience,” Underwood said. “All sorts of TVs with football on, a bunch of great food, and you can toss a football around. It’s electric.”
Living in the household of a superfan and participating in lots of pregame events–while being a huge fan himself–brings up an important question: what are the thoughts on the two teams' current season?
“Michigan’s season is definitely better than last year. I like the way it’s going right now, and for the Lions, they’ll win the Super Bowl. We're gonna win it all,” Holzhausen said
