'I just felt on top of the world': Michigan fans in Houston soak up once-in-a-lifetime moment

Houston — Euphoria coursed through Houston's NRG Stadium Monday as Wolverine fans reveled in Michigan's first national championship in more than 26 years, screaming and cheering amid a sea of confetti.

For fans who'd been waiting for a national championship, they talked about the team's hard work finally coming to fruition, the struggle and, finally, the payoff. Many described the win "as a dream come true."

"I'm so proud of the UM players and the coaches. I'm proud of the university. It's a historic moment that will live on in the legends of the school forever," said UM President Santa Ono, tossing around a football on the field as confetti floated down from the stadium's rafters after the game. "I'm going to savor tonight; so proud of the team."

For 10-year-old Victoria Holt, who plays flag football and drove 20 hours from Clio, Michigan, with her father, Denny, just to see the Wolverines play, the team's victory was a dream come true.

"We've had struggling years, and to see this come to fruition after all the hard work (Jim) Harbaugh's put into it — it's amazing," Denny Holt said.

For former drum major Jeff Wilkins, 67, the game was touch and go until the final interception by Mike Sainristil sealed the deal.

"It's been a long time, but hopefully, it'll help with recruiting down the road, and you know, it's great for the school, great for Ann Arbor, great for Michigan," Wilkins said.

For Michigan students, it was a dream come true.

"I've never felt this in any other game where I felt so confident that we were gonna win, and it felt so good," said sophomore Avery Mackintosh. "I just felt on top of the world."

Michigan fans clad head-to-toe in maize and blue outfits fit only for a championship game cheered deafeningly loud and chanted as the Wolverines drove up and down the field, especially during the touchdown drive of the first possession. Some wore lucky outfits; others were filled with emotion, calling the game a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.

Jonathan Kaufman, 32, was decked out in his "big game" outfit. The last time he wore it was for the Final Four games in 2013, his senior year at UM, in Atlanta.

"I bought this entire outfit for a big game, and I'm only wearing this for big games," Kaufman said. "This is a big game."

Kaufman's two-and-a-half-hour flight from Detroit quickly devolved into an eight-plus hour journey to Houston, but being at Monday's game in person made it all worth it.

"Being around a group of Michigan Wolverines, it's always worth it," Kaufman said. "Whenever you travel, it feels like you're traveling with family."

Alumni, friends and family found comraderie with fellow fans chanting "Let's go Blue" and "It's great ... to be ... a Michigan Wolverine" with all their breath, waving maize pompoms. Fans even serenaded their team with a rousing rendition of "Mr. Brightside," a Big House anthem, about three minutes into the fourth quarter.

In the maize and blue cheering section, Wolverine fans celebrated each touchdown and sack with roughly 36,404 of their closest friends, desperately trying to out-cheer Washington fans who held the other half of the tickets to the big game.

The stadium, filled with 72,808 people in attendance, was "electric," said Morgan Kowalewski, a UM senior who was happy to be enjoying one final football game with her friends this year. As for the Wolverine's performance, Kowalewski was thrilled to see strong defense in the first quarter.

"The vibes here as a student could not be better," Kowalewski said. "There's so many people here. There's so much fan pride. There's people running up and down the sections decked out of the most Michigan gear I've ever seen. It's honestly unlike anything I've seen before. It's pretty surreal."

Ecstatic was the only word that came to mind for freshman Evan McDonald after Michigan's first touchdown.

"Go Blue! We're gonna win this thing, simple as that," McDonald said. "Best play I've ever seen in my life."

Plenty of fans, such as Jacob Leichtnan of Ann Arbor, were confident at halftime.

"Here's the deal with the game, couldn't have started off better," Leichtnan said. "Couldn't be more excited; the boys are off to a hot start."

Others were moved to tears.

"This is intense, emotional, and just surreal that we're even here — I love it," said Traverse City native Steven Denny.

Denny, 41, was sporting bright maize-colored hair.

"I've been just excited, I've been, I guess, emotional. I've been tearful just because we made it. This is awesome," he said.

Other fans were more nervous, despite the Wolverines' early success. Alumna Roma Dalal, 40, was watching the game with her two college friends, Savina Kalra and Laura Feinauer. The trio met while attending school in Ann Arbor.

"I mean offense came out really hot, so that was great," Feinauer, 40, said.

Class of 1998 alumni Steve Gray, 47, traveled to Houston from Ann Arbor to share the experience with his son, Eli Gray, 18, who is currently a UM freshman. While Steve watched the Wolverines win the national championship in 1997, Monday marked the first in Eli's lifetime in such a setting.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Eli Gray said.

hmackay@detroitnews.com