MLive has three dedicated University of Michigan football writers who do a great job covering The Team, The Team, The Team. But for well-rounded coverage we must also think of The Fan, The Fan, The Fan. Sam Dodge's day job is to write about the University of Michigan from an education and business perspective for MLive/The Ann Arbor News. But during bowl season, he has morphed into our UM Fan Reporter. “You have to recognize, fan or not, that football is the billboard for the University of Michigan,” Dodge said. “It’s an entry point to telling people’s stories, since that’s a connective tissue a statewide, national and even international audience can recognize.” For instance, last week Dodge profiled a couple who met at Michigan and live in Los Angeles, where they had waited 12 years for UM to play in the Rose Bowl. He wrote of a legal fight over a “GOBLUE” license plate, and gave our readers an explanation of why wolverines (the animal) are endangered. Dodge is uniquely qualified to understand the fans’ perspective: A third-generation UM graduate, he was born in Ann Arbor and raised in the Big House. His grandparents met at Pretzel Bell – how much more pedigree could a Wolverine have? “I was 4 when my dad took me to my first game,” he said. “I remember my eyes getting huge as I walked through the concourse and saw the huge crowd. I also remember Kordell Stewart and Colorado winning on the famous Hail Mary. The roller coaster of being a fan started there.” Dodge may have maize-and-blue in his veins, but it doesn’t bleed into “rah-rah” coverage. Rather, there’s a practical side to his fan-oriented stories: Details on how to watch or where to park, how to buy tickets or book flights and hotels, even where to hang out with other alumni when in away-game cities. (To read the latest from Dodge before kickoff Monday, visit his story log here.) Dodge is plugged into Michigan’s huge alumni network and uses that pipeline to mine story ideas and find sources. There is no shortage of enthusiastic subjects or interesting ideas. “Actors, architects, attorneys, athletes all feel that bond with their alma mater, even when they live far away, so I just look for those people that share that passion.” Our focus on what fans care about extends as well to our Wolverine sportswriters – Aaron McMann, Andrew Kahn and Ryan Zuke. One great example from the Rose Bowl was how Kahn put fans on the UM sideline for the thrilling final minutes of the victory over Alabama. “We take fans behind the curtain with our access, and lean into what stirs their biggest reactions before, during and after a game,” said Josh Slagter, senior managing producer for MLive sports coverage. “It's always about leveraging that excitement – that’s where great storytelling comes in as well as the how and why of what just happened.” The current seasons being enjoyed by the Detroit Lions and Michigan Wolverines are making this a busy winter for our writers and an exciting time for our readers. The Lions will have center stage in a few weeks, but this Monday, all eyes will be on Michigan football. “I think there’s a solidarity in the fan base that I’ve never seen,” Dodge said. “They braved Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, long losing streaks to rivals and bad bowl losses. The enthusiasm is high obviously because the team is winning, but there’s a feeling that “We survived THAT.'" # # # | 