The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Club," the octet required an ample arsenal of baked goods when Schem- bechler's scoring machines were in high gear. "Every time Michigan scored a Originally dubbed the "Brownie touchdown, it was traditional that everyone got a brownie," Hoefle re- called. "That started to involve other people around us, who wanted to get involved with it, too. We always snuck in the brownies, and celebrated each Michigan touchdown. You had to have a pretty good supply." The name changed when the chem- ist finally succumbed to one of the more lighthearted moments in Michi- gan football watching. In those days, Michigan's band played the "Bull- winkle theme" frequently, drawn from the cartoon featuring the famed moose. (In fact, it's still performed occasionally at Michigan Stadium.) Students and other fans stick a thumb in each ear, extend fingers for antlers and enjoy a silly moment or two during a break in the action. For a long time, the chemist felt no par- ticular compunction to join in. "I was supposed to maintain the proper decorum for our group, and I would never get involved, just to be on TV," he recalled. "They wanted me to do it, and I finally did it. "My wife had left for something sort of fused us together," Hoefle re- called. "It was one big holiday. That's such a great venue out there. You're kept so busy. You're celebrating New Year's Eve, and then going to the game. We were staying out at Balboa Beach." One female member of the crew worked as an accountant for General Motors. When she turned down an offer to sell her seat for what became Michigan's national championship clincher, the numbers surprised even the numbers cruncher. "She said she never thought she'd "Going out to the Rose Bowl really see the day when she would pass up an offer of $800 for a ticket to get into the Rose Bowl," Hoefle said, with a chuckle. "It was quite a time." Milton Hoefle "It's going to be a great season, now that we've got Brady Hoke here. This is starting a whole new era that really prom- ises to be exciting. I can hardly wait for the opening game against Alabama. The way Brady has been recruiting, I think we are going to be one tough football team." sports, particularly basketball and hockey. "We used to get together for a golf The interest extended to other or the other, then came back. They told her about it and she, instead of calling it 'Bullwinkle,' said 'Garfin- kle.' Everyone thought that was very funny." Thus began The Garfinkles, a group that hung together through many years. They have a stadium brick bearing that name, they'd get together to watch on television at least one away game per year, and they even made a very memorable road trip in late December 1997. outing during the summer," Hoefle said. "The ladies were hockey fans, and we'd get together for dinner when they'd come out to Ann Arbor for a hockey game. It was casual but constant throughout." Eventually, the Hoefles decided they wanted to take the next step, in terms of football viewing. They set out to visit every stadium in the Big Ten, as well as the venerable venue in South Bend, Ind. They took trips associated with the U-M Club of Greater Detroit, which arranged bus excursions. together at The Big House. They were huge supporters of several other sports at Michigan, and eventually became supporters of Michigan athletics in an even more tangible way. Hoefle has been a loyal donor to Michigan's athletic department since 1990, Michigan Finds A Friend In Milton Hoefle Milton Hoefle and his late wife, Ann, enjoyed more than football Saturdays crew to which they Hoefles belonged — made a joint donation to Michigan ath- letics in her memory. It marked a special way of honoring their dear friend, and celebrating many years of sitting together at football games. — John Borton investing in baseball, the Michigan Athletics Annual Fund, its Tutorial Fund and women's basketball. After Ann Hoefle passed away last fall, The Garfinkles — the football game-day ing her out in the country, away from the stadium. We had a heck of a time getting parked. They weren't very helpful." He laughed again, the memory of getting rerouted in Columbus as clear as the affection shared by the travel- ing partners down through the years. Ann Hoefle passed away last Sep- was fun. One of the best destinations was Penn State, which is a devil to get to, but the people were nice. It made the visit there nice. The other one was going down to Notre Dame. "We've had various experiences at "That was great," he recalled. "That regarding a trip to Columbus, infa- mous for its inhospitableness toward those in maize and blue. Hoefle and his wife didn't encounter any of the angriest Buckeyes, but he did wonder about local law enforcement and if they'd even get to see the game at all. "We went down there on a bus, all of the others. None of them were as good as those two." Which begs the obvious question and we had a lady bus driver," he reminisced. "The police were send- tember, at the age of 87. Her husband offers nothing but fond memories, of someone who came from Illinois but wound up drawn in by University of Michigan football, and the friend- ships it afforded. Hoefle keeps busy with a number of interests, including playing a cou- ple of rounds of golf a week when the weather permits. Plus, football season is coming, and that always draws his attention — even more so under a new regime. Once again, Hoefle noted, Michi- gan has its chemistry just right. "It's going to be a great season, now that we've got Brady Hoke here," he said. "This is starting a whole new era that really promises to be exciting. I can hardly wait for the opening game against Alabama. The way Brady has been recruiting, I think we are going to be one tough football team." He'll be watching — as always. ❑ SEPTEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 69