Conversion to fanatic is powerful

In my high school, as in many others, school spirit was out. Sure, there were the ditzy pom-pon girls who ran up and down the football field cheering for the East Brunswick (N.J.) Bears, but in general, it was not socially acceptable to show any school spirit.

People who wore school colors were viewed as spirit freaks. That is a fairly restrictive social rule, considering my school's colors were blue and white.

There are many theories as to why school spirit is frowned upon in high school. For me, when hundreds of people dress the same, scream the same chants and make the same body movements, it is similar to the army of a strong fascist regime.

To other high school students, school spirit is a waste of time.

Instead of attending pep rallies, they could spend their time in the library or at the mall.

Jeffrey Kosseff Two Roads Diverged

Regardless of their reasons, most high school students do not know their alma mater march song. You are probably one of them.

Things are about to change.

You are about to become a student at the University of Michigan, home of the NCAA football and hockey champions. School pride is not only accepted here, but it is a way of life.

When I first arrived at the school, I frowned at this lifestyle. As in high school, I viewed University spirit to be reminiscent of the Gestapo.

I had ordered season football tickets, planning to sell them for a profit. But my friends convinced me to go to a game against Boston College.

As I entered the stadium, I was amazed. There were more than 100,000 other people wearing maize and blue. None of the students sat down for the entire game. They stood on the seats in front of them, banging cowbells and singing "The Victors!"

During the third quarter, it began to rain. I thought it would force people to leave the stadium, but it only further energized the crowd. It was amazing to me that more than 100,000 people gathered in a stadium on a windy, drippy day to celebrate a group of students running around with a ball.

But school spirit is more than football. It is institutional pride. Ever since the Boston College game, in which we narrowly prevailed, I have loved every minute of Michigan football.

I don't love the game. In fact, I am quite ignorant of it. I still don't understand how a team can score two points, and only last year I learned how a field goal is scored. Regardless of my football illiteracy, my time in the Big House is unforgettable.

Bonding with thousands of people through march songs and marshmallow throwing is an experience that I will never have once I am a graduate.

Fine, I don't know what a scrimmage is, but there is nothing like the feeling of waking up at 10 a.m. on a cool autumn Saturday, putting on a crusty old Michigan sweatshirt and walking down State Street to Michigan Stadium with a group of friends.

When Michigan scores, the pride I feel is not just for the football team. It is much more than that.

Michigan is ranked at or near the top of almost every academic discipline. It offers the best public education in the country, and in many cases, its professors are more recognized than those of Ivy League schools.

Academia is the cause of my pride in the University. The top-notch education offered at the University was the reason I chose to come here. I didn't even think about sports games.

But my love for the University manifests itself within every cheer of "Go Blue" and each stomp on the bleachers at Michigan Stadium.

There are countless reasons to love being a University of Michigan student. They range from finding your niche in the Greek system or a University activity to spending a productive day studying and researching in the University's tremendous library system (one of the largest in the country.)

Maybe you'll fall in love with the 'U' because of its endless cultural offerings or because it is located in Ann Arbor, the quintessential college town.

Regardless of your personality or background, you will have a reason to savor every moment of your time at the University. That love for this 181-year-old institution of greatness can best be displayed by school spirit, regardless of your athletic intellect.

So lose your high school inhibitions, grab a maize-and-blue pom-pon and learn every word of "The Victors!"

Don't worry, I won't tell any of your friends from high school.

- Jeffrey Kosseff is a Daily news editor. He can be reached via e-mail at jkosseff@umich.edu.

09-08-98