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When I was 7 years old I started writing my name as Charles on everything I could after Woodson made that interception against Michigan State.

When I was 12 my cousin and I snuck into Michigan Stadium during the summer and played catch on the field.

When I was in high school VJ and Clifton stormed into my house on Homecoming night to try and get me to come out during a Michigan game. They left empty-handed.

When I was in college I vowed to get a job that would never require me to miss college football Saturdays.

When Michigan beat Ohio State in 2021, I claimed it as the best day of my life, and still do.

My dad and I have sat through 26 years of Michigan football (me on the right, him on the left, two high fives after first downs, sacks, and takeaways, three high fives and a hug after touchdowns, playing catch at halftime) and never, ever had it better than this. Jacob has sat through some of them with us also until superstition decided it was a bad idea. I have family ties to Michigan football, I have Family ties to Michigan football, but I can't for the life of me put down words to make sense out of why Michigan football - and college football in general - has such a personal effect on me. I am not right. But that's okay. Because I'm good now. We're good now. This might be the most short-sighted, knee-jerk reaction I've ever had, but I think my sports fandom is set for the rest of my life.