GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Barber shops are the type of place where conversations about football are common.
And right now there's one man, and his team, who are the talk of the town at Zach's Barber Shop in Grandville.
Or should we say chair.
"I will be watching it somewhere," said a barber while cutting hair.
As Lions fans get fresh cuts before going out Sunday night, excitement for the new era of Detroit football is all anyone can think about.
"It's always sports of some sort and now the Lions of course are the hottest thing and everybody can't stop talking about them," said customer Rob Huizenga while getting his hair cut.
A lot of conversations about the Detroit Lions old school barbershops like Zach's are well known for having sports memorabilia up on the walls.
But there's something different about the Lions memorabilia. A sign, and a pennant, are upside down on the shop's wood paneled wall.
"Yeah, for many years, our community's commitment to the Lions has been unwavering," said barber shop founder Zach Booker. "We've had the commitment to be able to see the Lions through. We didn't want to take the pennants off the wall, so we decided to turn them upside down 12 years ago."
Since the turning of the pennants in 2012, patrons have inquired about the pennant and sign's unique position.
"Weekly people come in and ask us why it's upside down," said a barber. "We tell them, you know, if a country is in distress, you turn their flag upside down, so that's how it kind of started."
But on the eve of the Lions facing off against the San Francisco 49ers, the barber shop will be celebrating the new era of Detroit football, and they're looking for the biggest Lions fan around to help in the celebration.
They'll be flipping both the sign and the pennant right-side up, signaling that the Lions are no longer a team in distress.
The fan will have to submit their entry to the shop's Facebook page, and will have to be available Saturday at noon to be part of the ceremony. They'll also receive a free hair cut for a later date.
"We are looking for someone who has been a Lions fan through and through, someone that has supported them while they had their lows," said co-owner Angie Booker. "Just someone enthusiastic that we feel could do the honors for us."
The conversations are now positive surrounding the team, and the hype for a possible Super Bowl appearance has changed the vibe of barbershops across Michigan.
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