My Friend Craig

You never know what the appropriate forum is for a situation like this,  but I think I've always treated UMTailgate.com as more of a tailgate family album than an actual website for public consumption.  So with that, there's this...

Craig Wagoner will always be one of my favorite tailgaters.  If you've been to the tailgate, you may not know his name, but you definitely know Craig.  He's the guy with the ponytail.  He's the guy that's always smiling...always having a good time.  He's one of the most genuinely nice people you'll ever meet.  For the last several years, I have had the honor of calling him my friend.  

Craig has been a regular tailgater with the group for many years, long before I called it home on Saturdays in the fall.  And in addition to being an always-active participant in tailgate themes and food preparation, Craig brought an ample dose of personality to our group.

While battling cancer this off-season, Craig had been planning for a while to get healthy enough to get to the Spring Game.  Leading up to the game a couple weeks ago, we had heard that he was indeed going to make it out for it.  With that in mind, our group gathered, braved the weather and set up shop in anticipation of seeing Craig...decidedly more important than actually going to that 90 minute "practice."  But Craig had a setback the night before, and ended up unable to make it.  Before leaving the tailgate to head over to the game, we grouped together in a circle and called Craig on the phone.  I told him to keep fighting and that we'd see him in the fall.  He told me to expect him to be there Labor Day weekend.  

We all got to talk to him.  I like to think we cheered him up that day.  And we all got a chance to say goodbye.

Craig passed away on Easter Sunday.  He will be missed more than he ever could have known.  Thoughts and prayers go out to his family...from his tailgate family.

Visitation is this Wednesday, 4/27/11, from 2pm to 4pm, and from 6pm to 8pm.  

The funeral is Thursday at 11am.

J Kevin Tidd Funeral Home
811 Finley Dr.
Albion, Mi. 49224-9712

Springy

A little rain, a little cold, and definitely windy...but it was no Northwestern 2008.  We even managed to snag about 45 minutes of sun at the morning tailgate as overcast clouds parted to remind us that it was, indeed, spring.  It was a simple and sparsely attended event, fresh Brueggers and sausages seared on a portable grill, beers, captain and coke, cheese and crackers, and about 15 of us die-hards, just wanting a quick fix.  See some tailgaters, see the team, see Brady Hoke in shorts and a t-shirt charging at Will Hagerup as the lone rusher.

I'm pretty sure Hoke could still suit up.

Skeleton crew or not, it's always good to see the Godfather, Captain Michigan, Stephy, and even Goody.  It's even better to see Denard doing that Denard thing.  Despite the day resulting in what should be considered a resounding victory for a beleaguered defense...make no mistake, games will still be won by the man they call Shoelace.  No offensive system will contain him...neither will any opposing defense.

Here's the pictures:

Win Them All

The Winners

A week late, but congratulations are in order for the winners of the 2011 UMTailgate.com Tournament Challenge:

1st place: Dan Grant (Riveview grad)

2nd place: Tailgate Girl (yep, THE tailgate girl)

3rd place: Walter Noot (Last year's winner comes up just short of a repeat)

Of note, I still have several people that "forgot" to "donate."  I'd like to get that settled up this week, so shoot me an email at tourney2k11@umtailgate.com to make arrangements.

A Moment of Closure

I don't know how hitters connect on a moving baseball.  The type of reflex action it takes, I just don't understand how it is done.  It's superhuman.  In the same way, I don't know how good writers find ways to articulate my thoughts and feelings in a way I never could.  How do they know me the reader?  How do they know me better than me?

I have had a couple of brief email conversations with Johnny from RBUAS.  This week, he ported a tremendous article on the hoops team over to MGoBlog, where it will get its proper due.  His writing deserves that audience.  Johnny, based on my stalker-like research, is pretty young.  Young as in, well...Johnny was a zygote (ok maybe a toddler) when the Fab 5 changed basketball.  He wasn't there.  But somehow he can relate an appreciation for the time.  I feel like he was more present in that era than I ever was, and I was a teenager...

And so you can pull the banners down; burn them in an open field while orphans sing hymns around the flame. It happened. Something was there and it sort of isn’t anymore but mostly it is, like getting a tattoo of her name removed after she left you and then really left you. Bubbly, mangled flesh where a life once was. It’s gone except that you never forget the times you opened the door and she was there, just standing there, looking at you, waiting for you to let her in.

Just, well, just read it.

In the same breath, Chantel Jennings of the Michigan Daily captures that final moment oh so well.  As that ball clanked off the iron, the air was sucked out of Ann Arbor for a moment.  Silence.  There was no talking.  Nothing to be said.  After a while, the heartbreak turned to appreciation for what they had accomplished.  A pat on the back with a wink and a smile, letting them know that the minimum requirement for the following year is to make it further than this.

And then there was the silence of the arena after the game, as Morris reemerged from the locker room and walked onto the court where his season had ended less than an hour before.

A handful of reporters and maintenance workers fell quiet. He looked at no one and walked across mid-court towards the basket that may haunt him until next season. With an invisible ball, he reattempted that shot.

His right hand, with perfect form, glided through the empty space. His headphones jiggled around his neck. He jumped off his right foot and landed again.

Chills man, chills.

Anyway, that ends that.  I'd be remiss if I didn't recognize my absolutely abysmal coverage of the UMTailgate.com Tournament Challenge, and my lack of posting in general.  I mean, spring practice has started, I spent an evening with Hoke and Brandon, the hockey team is in the Frozen Four, and I have a chance to win the pool for the first time ever even though I lost my champion on day 1 at 2pm.  Lots to cover...but so little time.  I hope to catch up at some point.  Thanks for your patience.