ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Detroit Lions take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend in the NFC divisional championship. A father and son duo from Ishpeming will make the journey to watch them play, the same journey they have made countless times.
Steve Paulson, or Duff as he prefers to be called, was at the Lions playoff win 32 years ago. That game he watched from nose bleeds, this one he watched from the front row.
“I cherished this one a lot more,” said Steve Paulson.
Steve Paulson’s late father and brother were also Lions fanatics, and attended the playoff victory in 1991. While they weren’t able to see Detroit’s latest success, Paulson says their memory made it to the stands.
“I kept looking up at his section every once in a while,” added Paulson.
For duff the lions are a way of life. He doesn’t fish or hunt, his passion is attending football games to cheer on detroit. something he’s passed onto his son Preston.
“My first game was in 1998, they lost in overtime, pick six, pretty dramatic fashion, it’s been a long journey but it’s been fun,” commented Preston Paulson.
Preston has taken the family’s lions fandom to a whole new level. His house can only be described as a museum to him and his fathers favorite team.
“This is a jersey from when they played in London, so it’s got a bunch of grass stains on it,” Preston said while talking about a piece of his collection.
Over the years the Paulsons have developed personal relationships with players, coaches, and other fans, but the most important relationship being made was the bond and irreplaceable memories between this father and son.
“It makes me soak up every little bit of it,” said Preston. “We dont 4-wheel, we don’t have a camp, this is what we do,” added Steve.
It’s easy to say Sunday will just be a football game, but when you see a family like the Paulsons, and a home like Prestons, it’s hard to say that this particular game doesn’t mean more.
