U of M?

When I was doing the paperwork for test client Alasia she mentioned that she just got home for the summer from U of M. A few minutes into our drive we begin this conversation:

Me: "This U of M. Is it a college, like Calvin or Aquinas?"

She: "You got to be kidding. You don't know what U of M is? The University of Michigan? Football? Jim Harbaugh? I can't wait to tell my father."

Me: "I'll have to ask my wife Jackie. Maybe she has heard of it."

I don't show any further reaction but after a moment I ask:

"Do you have any classes with Jim Harbaugh?"

She: "He's the football coach!"

Me: "Don't football coaches have to be students?"

She, now getting frustrated: "No, they coach football, but Harbaugh use to be a student at U of M."

Me: "So he is a graduate student there?"

She: "He is a full time football coach, like Bo Schembechler who use to be his coach."

Me: "Is Shambacker still coaching?"

She: "He's dead!"

Me: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

Me: "How long has Harbaugh been coaching at U of M?"

She: "This was his first year."

A minute or two later I start up the conversation again.

Me: "Some of my kids went to Hope College and played athletics there but I don't remember them ever playing against U of M. Does U of M play schools like Michigan State?"

She: "Yes, we play State."

Me: "How did you guys do this year in football against State?"

She, grimacing: "Not so good. They beat us."

Me: "Well, that's OK. This was your coaches first year. I'm sure he'll figure things out."

Later on Alasia tells me that her father is a life long U of M fan and cried when she received her acceptance letter. Her sister currently goes to Michigan State and that initially was rough on her dad.

Me: "So you applied to U of M because you couldn't get into Michigan State?"

She: "ANYONE can get into Michigan State. They have a 67 per cent acceptance rate. U of M has a 32 per cent acceptance rate!"

Me: "Well good for you. Bye the way, when is U of M located?"

She: "Ann Arbor."

Me: "Oh, I know where that is. I've driven past Ann Arbor on my way to Detroit."

She: "And havn't you seen those giant M's colored in maize and blue all over the place?"

Me, no response.

We get done with the test and I tell Alasia that when I get home after work I will Google "U of M" and "Jim Harbazz".

Alasia looks at me and says - "That's HARBAUGH!"