Monday, March 20, 2017

We're All Mad, I Tell You

Ferris Family March Madness began 13 years ago with a simple, friendly competition between newlyweds. 11 years ago our cat, Duke, joined the game when we developed a complicated treat- and toy-based selection system to help him fill out his bracket. Nine years ago Will participated for the first time, and seven years ago we entered Will's bracket in our online pool for University of Michigan graduate students and he didn't finish in last place. Four years ago Hallie participated for the first time, and while she usually finishes a distant last, she adds a little excitement and commotion to the competition because no one wants to lose to a seven-year-old who makes her selections based on mascots and school colors.
Making the difficult choice between Bears and Wildcats.
The process can't be rushed.
Here's a little history of our family competition for those of you who might be interested: 20082009201020132014, 2015, 2016. (Apparently I didn't write about the madness in 2011 or 2012.) I highly recommend checking out the 2013 post, as it links back to an adorable video of two-year-old Will making his bracket choices and breezing right past his now-beloved Aggies. 

We decided not to enter Tux in the competition this year - none of us had the time and/or energy required to help him make 63 decisions using complicated treat and toy incentives - so in 2017 it's just Dad vs. Mom vs. Will vs. Hallie. Our annual battle of the brackets will end in cheers for one and tears for (at least one of) the others, and then after all is said and done we'll talk about how much we love this family tradition and can't wait to do it all again next year.

Are you participating in March Madness? If so, did this past weekend bust your bracket or are you still going strong?

Edited to add: at the end of the first two rounds, Hallie is in the lead with 50 points! Will is nipping at her heels with 49 points, and both Tom and I have 45 points. 

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