Sept. 11 - Lisa's Musings (on Michigan football and one of its greats) and Every Day Life

With the excitement of a U-M victory over Notre Dame today comes the sadness of the death of Ron Kramer, a true Michigan man is there ever was one.

Not to take anything away from Denard Robinson's terrific performance today, but Kramer is probably recognized as the greatest all-around athlete to ever grace the U-M campus.

He played football, ran track and played basketball. And he was a fun and all-around great man.

I had the chance to sit down and have lunch with him at his favorite restaurant -- Max and Erma's -- while doing research for a book I'm writing about Don Canham.

I have terrific photos of he and his dog and he and Peg Canham -- the two were best buds.

So while younger fans are celebrating today's victory, the close knit, old-timers are mourning the passing of one of Michigan's true legends.

I sure hope Kramer and Bo and Woody and Fritz and Bennie and Don are including my dad in all the great football stories of yesteryear.

Go blue.

Aug. 8 - Lisa's Musings (about U-M football) and Every Day Life

Three years ago, I could have told you exactly how many days before the U-M football season opened.

I'd be getting the house ready for my dad's arrival; and reading, then cutting out, every preseason football story I could find from the daily newspapers.

So they're be a huge stack of them to peruse when he arrived, and of course, I'd have already bought and read any new U-M football books. He'd take them to read while accompanying me to cover city council meetings when he was here.

"The Victors" would be rattling around in my head as I bumped around on the lawn tractor mowing the property.

It's August, after all, which means one thing to U-M football fans -- the countdown to the start of the football season.

Well, a lot has changed in the last three years, and none of it for the good.

The grass seems to keep growing and those weekly mowings look like they will continue into September this year. Even my favorite tree, my Rose of Sharon, which usually blooms later in the month, is in full swing. Much earlier than in the past.

Lloyd Carr, who I adored, retired as football coach, and the excitement of having a new coach with a new offense has come and gone. As have the delivery of two daily newspapers. Now all I read about is U-M football mediocrity and NCAA investigations surrounding the team.

And my dad died.

So where does this leave me? In a preseason football funk.

In fact, I remarked to one of my friends just yesterday that I didn't even care if I went to a single game this year. I'm fine watching them at home.

But, as they say, I control my own thoughts, so, I'll be attending Fan Day on Aug. 22 -- two weeks from today -- from 1-3 p.m. It's in The Big House this year so perhaps this will help me get my football groove back on. I'm sure there will be lots of Maize and Blue excitement in the air.

And I'll think positive thoughts -- toss them out there to the universe -- and hope they bounce back at me, the team and the coach.

And now I'm headed out to tackle my property on Old faithful. It's her turn this mow.

So, "Hail to the Victor's valiant, Hail to the conquering heroes, Hail, Hail to Michigan ..."

And Go Blue.

April 9 - Lisa's Musings (on the U-M Spring Football Game) and Every Day Life

I got a reminder about the annual U-M spring football game via e-mail today.

It's next Saturday, by the way, and I'm glad to pass along the details -- but I won't be going.

For the first time in more than 10 years, (minus the year it was moved because of stadium renovations), I've chosen to skip this spring ritual.

And, it's not like I haven't enjoyed going to this fun event.

In fact, last year was the best ever.

Just amazing. There were tons of people there. We were all excited to see the new players for the first time in the flesh, so to speak.

I borrowed a very expensive lens from a friend, and dragged my (camera) baby, a monopole, and assorted other lens with me.

Well, truth be told, I probably didn't lug all this stuff myself. My friend Nancy agreed to go with me, and if my time-honored tradition of not carrying heavy objects myself held true, she probably ended up carrying the lion's share of the heavy stuff.

But I can promise you, I carried my baby.

I was all geeked to shoot real football for the first time, so we got there early and I positioned myself for the best view -- taking into account the sun and angles.

Then managed to miss capturing every single touchdown pass, and there were a LOT of them.

I got great photos of the fans, the flags, the team warming up, individual players and coaches, former players and coaches. I got great photos of just about everything EXCEPT the shots I really wanted -- those great catches in the end zone.

In fact, as I looked through my shots -- time after time -- it got to be a running joke.

And yup, the joke was on me, the former sports reporter.

In a past life, I took pride in being a pretty good football reporter (yes, as a girl!), but apparently, that didn't extend to being a pretty good football action photographer (as an old goat).

I suppose I could go back on April 17 and try again, but to be honest, I just am not all that excited about it this year.

Maybe it's post-dad dying syndrome or something. He and I went to many of the games together.

Or, maybe it's a carry-over from two consecutive years of no bowl games.

But when it came down to making a choice of how to spend April 17, I chose to enter a dog show instead.

I've enjoying showing little Driver and I'm still, of course, chasing a couple more group placements at the UKC shows.

Call them the pre-game shows before we head into the real season -- AKC shows later this spring, summer and fall.

But don't let me stop you from attending the spring game. Stadium gates open at 10 a.m. There's an alumni flag football game at 11 a.m. and the real fun begins at 1 p.m.

Go to www.mgoblue.com for all the details as there's stuff the night before and early in the morning on April 17.

So, have fun and Go Blue!