GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Lauren Streng may only be a sophomore at the University of Michigan, but she has already experienced something that very few college students ever get to experience.
Streng got to travel with the Michigan football team to Houston and perform at the national championship game Monday night.
The unbeaten Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13 after a competitive three quarters before Michigan pulled away in the fourth.
"The energy never died the entire time. It was either the other team was cheering, or we were cheering, never a silent moment," said Streng, who is the Flag Section with the University of Michigan Marching Band.
Her experience at the national championship game may have come early in her college career but it will be something to remember always.
"I think I came to Michigan at a really great time. This is only my second year, and the team has been great the past two years. So I have yet to see them in a bad moment," Streng said.
Streng is from Grand Haven originally and now lives in Ann Arbor during the school year when she isn't on the road for away games.
She explained that the students in the marching band are a pretty tight bunch, which makes the entire experience of winning a national championship even better.
"It's great to be a part of the experience in general. But it's even better to do it with such a large group of friends who all know the work that you've put in and appreciate, you know what we've all done to get there," Streng added.
Michigan football national championship photos
This was the first national title that Michigan earned since 1997, but that just made the school's alumni that much more willing to make a trip to see their team.
"It's crazy and see how far like the alumni go... the crazy amount of people who traveled with these games, and just how excited everyone gets for it. It's really cool. Seeing how excited everyone is and how much they support the team in the school," Streng expressed.
And Streng also has fallen in love with the University of Michigan and the Wolverine football team.
"I think the community at U of M is something that I love to emphasize. Just because there's never been a moment where I felt unsupported at this school. Whether it's through bands or through my professors, or academics, there's always people looking out for you, especially the alumni, they're great. Then whenever you tell someone you go to Michigan, there's always someone so excited for you. They see on your resume, and you get 'Go Blue' back in that email, and it's just great. The amount of people who love the school and know what it stands for. And the community that we have is just awesome. It's incomparable," said Streng.
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