Amidst a roaring crowd of 65,000 fans, reveling in the Detroit Lions’ historic playoff triumph at Ford Field, the cameras focused on one tear-streaked face for a reaction. It’s a moment of raw emotion, authenticity, and a poignant symbol of what the team signifies to the city.
However, the story behind those tears and why Arron Wikaryasz openly embraced them goes beyond the joy of a single victory.
“Detroit crybaby guys,” he playfully remarks, entering his family’s home in Burton.
Arron was among the fortunate tens of thousands witnessing the Lions’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. As the win became a reality and celebration ensued, the Lions fanbase erupted with jubilation.
On live TV, cameras captured Arron holding a hat in his right hand, screaming in unison with the ecstatic crowd around him. The clip quickly went viral, amassing over a million views online.
Yet, according to Arron’s stepdad, Dave Schmieder, there’s a deeper significance.
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“I think Joe did it. I don’t know what you believe in, but we do,” says Dave, referring to Joe, Arron’s father and a lifelong Lions fan who introduced him to the team.
Arron reminisces about Joe getting them season tickets in ’99, creating a bond centered around their shared passion for the Lions. Joe, an ironworker involved in building Ford Field, inspired Arron to enter the same trade. Tragically, when Arron was 14, Joe lost his life in a truck crash while returning home from work.
During his funeral, Joe was laid to rest in his cherished Lions jersey.
“Yes, I wanted so bad to save it for his son, but it was something I just had to let Joe take with him because that’s how much he cared about the Lions,” reveals Marcy Schmieder, Arron’s grandmother.
With profound sentiment embedded in one football team and an entire NFL season, Arron emphasizes that “it wasn’t just a game to me.”
“Thirty years without winning. There are a lot of people that aren’t here with us anymore that would have loved to have seen them win on Sunday. And I think that’s where the emotion comes from. My dad would’ve loved to have seen that.”
While Arron doesn’t currently possess tickets to the next Lions’ playoff game, his commitment to watching, whether in the stands or not, remains unwavering.
