Getting to know Michigan football Fan A.J. Garza

Q: What’s your least favorite Michigan sports experience?

A: “Well, unfortunately, I have two least favorites. It’s hard even to say I was at both the Appalachian State game and the MSU blocked punt game. Insert sad emoji face here. I was given two tickets to the App state game as a wedding present. So being the awesome husband I am, I took my wife with me. She gets into football more now, but then she didn’t really understand why we were playing them. So I explained they generally are warm-up games and the other team usually has almost no chance at winning. Wow, what a turn of events! I remember watching them block the FG and just looking around like is this real life? Did this really happen? I turned to my wife and told her, ‘I’ll never bring you back here again,’ hahaha. That was a rough one.

“The MSU game was something else. A buddy and I went to watch the game. We ended up having to sit next to 2 MSU fans. One of the guys started running his mouth pretty early on. Then he became quiet, and my buddy was letting him have it lol. So the end of the game is here, and the two guys next to us got up and headed to the car early. I’ll never forget it. Some guy behind us kept yelling it’s over, and we told him to chill out with all that. Once the ball was snapped, and the fumble started, and they picked it up, I sat down. I couldn’t even watch him go into the endzone. I was in complete shock and couldn’t believe that just happened. It was probably the quietest I’ve ever heard that many people were walking out of the stadium as you could imagine. Now I always have disliked Dantonio, but after that game, I HATED everything MSU. I have some serious hatred for them now totally due to that game. I didn’t watch ESPN for a week because I knew that’s all they’d be talking about.”

Q: How short was J.T. Barrett?  

A: He was at least four inches short lol. I was jumping up and down finally celebrating because he was short, and we finally did it. Well, I thought we did. Bums.

Q: Who is your favorite Michigan athlete of all time and why?

A: “The Great Charles Woodson!! He was everywhere, and he did it all! He’s also from my hometown and played for our Little Giants! There’s been a couple of late-night run-ins with Charles at Denny’s lol. I’ve worked with a couple of his cousins, and I would always tell them to tell him to go back and coach for Michigan. Wishful thinking.”

Q; Favorite sport and why.

A: “Football is easily my favorite Michigan sport. Every game means so much, and anything can happen!”

Q: Favorite tailgating memory.   

A: “I think the best time I had ever tailgating was on the golf course. So many friendly people out there. We were just walking around, started talking to some people and spent most of our time there. Always a good time over there.”

Q;  If you were Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel for a day, what would you change at UM?

A:  “Man. I’ll say at this point I’d really have to sit down and look at this Jim Harbaugh issue. I’m a 49ers fan, so I was sad to see him go but couldn’t be any more excited about where he was going. It’s been rough. I was on the Harbaugh train pretty hard at first, but now at this point, I feel like I’ve had enough. I’m not saying I want him gone now, but I’m also not saying I’d beg him to stay. Hopefully, he can start righting the ship this year! GO BLUE?