Team Names

I went to the University of Kentucky, and moved to northern Michigan about 30 years ago. My wife and I moved to Ann Arbor for two years - returning home last April.

Ann Arbor is, of course, home of the University of Michigan. The students and alumni there say they go/went to U of M. Those attending, or who attended, Kentucky say UK.

Why the difference? And, why did the people in Ann Arbor insist on correcting me when I said where I graduated, saying "No, you mean U of K".

To give them a bit of credit, there used to be a school cheer that played off the difference: "UK - UOK" meaning "UK - You OK!"

Quakertrucker

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

SomeMichGuy · M

any number of reasons for this nonsense, but a few stand out:

1) local custom here (Ann Arbor) vs your own custom in KY

2) ppl like things in 3s, and "u of m" has 3 syllables.

3) so many M states maybe some are worried you might think that they meant another M 😉

4) Ann Arbor, like NYC, the SF Bay Area, and many other big cities, has a Bible which begins with "in the beginning, God lived here. then He created every one else to worship us."

Add a comment...