January Alumnus of the Month: Tim Farrow

Congratulations to our January Alumnus of the Month, Tim Farrow. Tim played from 2004-2008, and currently lives in Denver with his wife and one year-old child.

When did you play?

I played in my first Michigan Rugby match my senior year of high school while visiting my older brother.  I can’t honestly remember whether I played for Michigan or the opposing team, and I had no idea what the rules were.  My years of actually being on the team were 2004-2008.  I stuck around campus for one year after that while I worked as a substitute teacher, and helped out here and there with the team.

What position did you play?

I ended my time playing primarily at fullback, but also played a good amount at wing and some at flyhalf and scrumhalf.  I have fond memories of a stint earlier in college playing flyhalf for the B-side.  A B-side match against MSU that we won in a landslide stands out from that phase.  I believe Ben Frey scored 5 tries in that match.

What got you started?

My older brother (Wes) has been a good influence on me in a number of ways, but none better than getting me into rugby.  I started out at Michigan thinking I would play lacrosse, but didn’t make the team and switched over to rugby soon after.  I wish I would have made that decision from the start of freshman year.

What honors/awards did you receive?

In my senior year, we won the midwest in the fall and traveled to nationals in the spring.  There’s no greater honor than getting to represent the blue at that level of play!

What are your favorite memories/teammates?

The van trip back from midwest playoffs stands out as an amazing time celebrating with teammates.  Although nationals in Albuquerque didn’t end as we hoped, getting to play at that level was wonderful.  My brother and some other recent grads drove out from LA for the tournament.  Their support meant a lot and they helped in consolation when we lost our first game and in celebration after winning the second.  It’s a special thing playing for a really good team and realizing game by game how good the team can be.  That core group previously went down to Columbus to beat Ohio State, and I still remember a beautiful try that went through just about every forward’s hands in a series of offloads.  As the fall season progressed in ’07, we kept getting better and better each game.  

Of course, every year of tour leaves amazing memories.  A few memories from each of mine:

Thailand – Smolandering into the middle of a busy road in Bangkok for a blurry cell phone picture.  Playing against the British club and a great social in their beautiful clubhouse.

Mexico – The sheer volume of ruggers on the tour.  Also, a magical day with endless beverages on the beach in Acapulco.  

Argentina – Highest standard of rugby I’d seen yet on tour.  Finding our way into a VIP room of a huge club and eating free ice cream for hours.

Southern USA Prowl – An ill-fated bus trip.  Mike Eller and Corey Kanitz were fantastic hosts in New Orleans.  Getting to know and play with some of the younger guys on the team over the course of the trip.

Prague and Munich – The Green Machine and a series of foosball games that resulted in a stranded teammate.  

Lots of fond memories at 144 Hill and at the Mary Ct. house.  I’m pretty sure we were the only house on campus with a hot tub in the front yard.  

What have you done after Michigan Rugby?

Rugby-wise, I played in matches with the Ann Arbor men’s club here and there in the first years after graduation.  After that, I lived in Florida for one year and had a great time playing with the Fort Lauderdale Knights.  I played for a short time with Glendale’s D2 side in Denver, but by that point injuries were starting to push me toward the coaching side.  I coached with a high school team in Highlands Ranch (suburb of Denver) for four years and am proud to say we finished 3rd in the state my first year as head coach.  From there, I lived in Malaysia for four years and coached a high school team at the international school where I worked.  Tens rugby is big in Malaysia and it was cool to adjust to coaching in a very new rugby environment.  

Career-wise, I’m in my 10th year working as a school psychologist.  I’ve worked at a few high schools in Denver and the metro area, and worked overseas for four years at the International School of Kuala Lumpur.  Now, I live with my wife and one year old in Denver; the little one got her first rugby ball for Christmas this year.  

How has Michigan Rugby affected you outside of the athletic world?

One way of saying it: I went for a walk with my daughter shortly after getting the email about Alumnus of the Month, and couldn’t stop smiling about rugby memories for the duration of the walk.

Michigan Rugby brings amazing people.  There are a lot of teammates that I don’t get to see very often, but will be excited every time I see them for the rest of my life.

Rugby is also a great bridge for meeting new people, especially internationally.  I’ve made a lot of positive connections through coaching and watching rugby with people.

Congratulations again to Tim Farrow!