8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 24, 1997
THE VicToRs!
Spirited fans elated after victory
FANS
Continued from Page IA
During the on-field melee, Plumb turned
to his fellow band members and said, "I
love you guys"
Outside the stadium gates, thousands
of students rushed down South University
Avenue and crowded onto University
President Lee Bollinger's lawn.
"I came to meet the big guy," said
LSA senior Safdar Bandukwala. "I
came to congratulate him."
Bollinger didn't greet the crowd nor
did he invite students into his house as he
did after the Penn State victory, but thou-
sands of fans continued to crowd the
street and lawn, shouting "We want Lee."
Exuberant Wolverines surfed through
the crowds, climbed trees, jumped on
moving cars and videotaped the
mnoment. One student fell 40 feet from a
tree outside the president's house and
was rushed to the hospital, where he
remained yesterday in fair condition.
Partiers celebrated on South
University, which became so crowded
that people couldn't move at times.
One car carried nine screaming fans
on its hood and roof as the crowd sur-
rounded it, chanting "Go Blue" as they
pounded on the car. A person driving a
jeep honked its horn and allowed
strangers to jump into the car.
Five excited Michigan fans doused a
Buckeye flag with lighter fluid while stu-
dents cheered as they watched it burn.
Along South University, indignant
Ohio State fans and rowdy Michigan
fans exchanged insults and victory
cheers, while firefighters and police
stood by to monitor the situation.
Another large crowd of more than 100
students and fans gathered at the corner
of South University and East University
avenues, one side shouting "Go" while
the other responded with "Blue."
LSA junior Kevin Fogelberg, who
screamed from atop a circular bench,
said he felt "amazing" with so many
students gathered in one location.
"I've never seen this much energy
and this much life in this school since
I've been here. It's like (your) birthday
and Christmas all in one," Fogelberg
said.
More daring students, however,
climbed to high branches of a tree outside
the president's house to show their school
spirit.
Students stood under the tree-climbers,
waiting for them to jump from the
branches and shouting insults.
The celebration came to a sudden
halt when a student fell 40 feet from a
that we could get down there on time'
said stadium usher Marsha Kraycir.
But students said the crammed stands
strengthened the camaraderie between
fans. "We're packed in like sardines,"
LSA senior J.B. Baranowski said. "I
love it."
The density of the crowd made it eas-
ier for students to surf atop the fans.
"It was amazing," said Engineering
sophomore Jon Weinert, who was
passed around the crowd at Michigan
Stadium. "It was the best rush. It wasn't
scary because everybody was just hold-
ing (me) up, and I knew they weren't
going to drop me."
Supported by the arms of friends,
Baranowski did a push-up for every point
the Wolverines
had after each
new touchdown.
"I fire up sec-
yd ca m tion 25,"
B a ran ow ski
screamed. "I'm
- Joey English the lifeblood, the
nta, Mich. resident artery of section
25." His cheers
included "Who,
tree outside
the house.
The crowd
of about
1,000 stood
into a chill-
ing hush.
But the
celebration
picked up
"We've got a
namse for Liq
Lord Carr.ff
Atlar
KELLY MCKINNELL/Daily
A Michigan football player signs a football for young Wolverine fan Justin Jansen
following Michigan's triumphant victory over the Buckeyes.
again later
that evening, as students crowded cam-
pus bars, generating long lines down the
street.
During the post-game celebration,
University alumnus Dave Speirs called
the day unbelievable.
"I've been a fan since 1965. I've expe-
rienced disappointment and I'm ready to
celebrate," said Speirs, who was heading
home to watch replays of the game. "I'm
going home to watch the game again, and
a third time tomorrow."
The celebration began long before
the clock ran out. The record-breaking
crowd of 106,982 jammed some sec-
tions so tightly that fans could not walk
through the aisles.
"There's no way if someone got hurt
who, who let the dogs out," and "It's
great to be a Michigan Wolverine."
Maize and blue dotted the crowd,
through painted bodies, clothing and
Wolverine paraphernalia. LSA first-
year student Jared Cardon, who covered
his chest in Michigan colors and came
without a shirt, said his painted chest
convinced stadium ushers to let him
into different sections during the game.
"Obviously, there's tons of support
for the painted guys," said Cardon, who
started off the afternoon running
through fraternity houses to get stu-
dents fired up.
LSA senior Cameron Taylor and
Music senior John Hobart designed
their own silkscreen T-shirts that said
"OSU fuckeyes lick nutz."
Even before the game started, the two
seniors were confident of a Michigan
victory that would allow them to relive
a celebration from the Wolverines' vic-
tory over the Buckeyes two years ago
when the students ripped Ohio State
flags off cars and urinated on them.
"We're gonna overdo that today," said
Taylor, who got out of bed to begin
drinking at 6 a.m.
Also confident of a Michigan win
was Ann Arbor resident Robert
Margraves, who brought 26 dozen roses
into the stadium to sell to fans.
"1 think if Michigan wins, they're
going to Pasadena, you should buy a
rose," Margraves said.
Fans came to the game from across
the country to witness the Wolverines
earn an invitation to Pasadena.
"We left last night," said Joey
English, of Atlanta, Mich., who drove
more than 200 miles to see the game.
"We've got a new word for Lloyd Carr
now (up north). We call him Lord Carr."
Former Michigan player Sean
LaFountaine, who played on the tri-
umphant 1989 Rose Bowl team, said
yesterday's win brought back a legacy
accomplished by previous teams.
"I feel good that they're going to be
able to taste Big Ten championship
again," LaFountaine said. "I feel it's
about time that Michigan proves that
they're back in contention again."
Bars opened as early as 9 a.m. to
accommodate game watchers, but lines
still stretched out the doors hours before
kickoff.
But, not to be outdone, OSU fans
boasted that Columbus bars open at 6
a.m. on game days. In Ohio, fraternities
also hold "kegs and eggs" parties,
where students wake up with a hot
breakfast and a cold beer.
Although some Ann Arbor bar-
crawlers were not at the stadium,
they were enthused by the game.
Chants ridiculing the Buckeyes
filled the air in Scorekeepers on
Maynard Street, along with the
favorite, "Hail to the Victors."
After the failed last-minute fourth-
down attempt by Ohio State, the bar
crowds went into hysterics.
"It was awesome. We kicked ass.
Michigan is No. I," said Dejah
Marinkovski, a Business junior.
OSU fans who watched the game in
Ann Arbor faced the agony of defeat.
"The sun shines on every dog's ass,"
said Eric Kaufman, who hails from
Ohio. "It should have been a closer
game."
Michigan's victory made Ohio State
fans rethink their team devotions.
"My heart is with Ohio, but since
we lost, my dedication is with
Michigan to win the national champi-
onship," said John Guardodo, an Ohio
native. "We need to see a Big Ten
championship."
Other Ohio State fans said they are
not tremendously disappointed by the
loss.
"It was a good game overall," said
Buckeye fan Terry Bogan. "I'm glad to
see them come back at the end so it
wasn't a total blowout. They are both
very good teams."
Some Wolverine fans used the victo-
ry as a way to raise money for charity,
including the fraternity Beta Theta Pi,
which charged $1 for people to use a
sledgehammer to smash a van with
Ohio State written on it. The proceeds
went to the Special Olympics.
Many fans said they plan to follow
the Wolverines to Pasadena, including
LSA first-year student Kari Kristan.
"It's awesome. It's amazing," Kristan
said. "We go to the best school in the
country."
University alumni Mark Grueber
and Dave Gamin said they plan to take
their undefeated lucky signs with them
to Pasadena. The signs, which they've
brought to every Wolverine home
game, consist of a capital letter "D"
and a cardboard fence to spell
"defense."
"We owe it to the team to take them,"
Gamm said.
Other students said that while they
will not make the trip to Pasadena, they
plan to watch from home.
"I'm going to be in New York, but I'll
be with them in spirit," said Business
School junior Sara Cady. "This is just
so excellent"
- Reported by Daily Staff Reporters
Megan Exley, Heather Kamins, Chris
Metinko, Katie Plona, Alice Robinson
and Peter Romer-Friedman.
Fall from,
tree quiets
celebration
By Jeffrey Kosseff
and Chris Metinko
Daily Staff Reporters
The celebration of Michigan's vi
tory over Ohio State was brought to a
shocking halt when a 23-year-old
man fell about 40 feet from a tre in
front of University President Lee
Bollinger's house.
Thousands of students on South
University blocked traffic as they cele-
brated the Wolverines' invitation to the
Rose Bowl. They cheered on tree-
climbers as they climbed trees ai
swung on branches.
The person who fell was the one who
climbed the highest; he made his way
to the top branch.
"His goal was to get to the top," said
LSA student Nathan Robbe. "He was
holding little branches like he was a
monkey. I knew from the beginning
that he would fall. He must have been
drunk."
When he reached the top of t
tree, he began to dance and mo
around, while crowd members sur-
rounding the tree shouted, "fucking
moron."
"He went right on top, shaking the
tree, then he lost his footing," said
Engineering senior Amit Advani.
After being on top of the tree for a
few minutes, the climber slipped from
the tree. As he fell, his back hit a
branch, causing the branch to break; he
landed face down on the grass-covere
part of the sidewalk,
"He was flipping as he fell," said
LSA first-year student Ronjit Das.
When he fell, the students in the
crowd moved onto the sidewalk to
allow the Department of Public
Safety and Huron Valley Ambulance
officials to care for the injured per-
son.
One crowd member attempted to
take photographs of the man, but oth
people in the crowd yelled at hirm and
physically prevented him from getting
closer to the victim.
Even after the ambulance brought the
injured man to University Hospitals,
silence blanketed the once bois tus
crowd on South University Avenue.
"It was surreal watching him i4l,"
said LSA and Art sophomore Emily
Linn. "Then, it was just completely.
silent."
Over the weekend, the victim's statu
moved from serious to fair condition,
and he is currently at the Univesity's
Trauma and Burn Center, said
University Hospitals spokesperson
Mike Harrison.
Harrison said the victim's name and
injuries are not available to the p tc.
MARGARET MYERS/Dadly
Michigan fans storm the field near the 20-yard line after Saturday's game.
Thousands of fans made the seven-foot jump from the stands onto the field.
Students rise early to prepare for game.
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By Stephanie Hepburn
and Alice Robinson
Daily Staff Reporters
Students shivered outside Gate 9 of Michigan
Stadium at 8 a.m. Saturday morning as a TV news
helicopter hovered above to document the day's
events.
About 100 student volunteers, dressed from
head-to-toe in Michigan garb, tore themselves out
of bed to distribute 45,000 maize- and blue-
striped pom-pons on bleachers in the student sec-
tions. In return, each student received a free tick-
et in either section 27, 28, 29 or 30 of the student
section.
The pom-pon distribution was just one example
of the Michigan pride displayed all over campus
prior to the kickoff of the Michigan-Ohio State
game.
At 503 Hill street, Architecture senior Mike
Krug and LSA sophomore Tom Littlefield beat
the "Go Blue" cowbell melody, usually played at
home games in student sections, on a drum from
their open window,
Two hours before the game started, 500 students
gathered for free roses, frappaccino and live music at
the first-ever student tailgate party at Elbel Field,
between East Hoover and Hill streets.
The early morning pom-pon distribution team
displayed temporary 'M' tatoos, painted faces,
Michigan baseball hats, skull caps and sweat-
shirts. Some members of the University swim
team stood with wet hair after their Saturday
morning practice.
The students distributing pom-pons were very
excited about the upcoming events of the day.
LSA junior Jill Schmidt said that it was rewarding
to see a dedicated group of students at the stadium --
even at 8 a.m.
"It's a nice way for everyone to come together and
show school spirit," Schmidt said.
Schmidt said that when she saw arriving fans
react to the pom-pons, it made her feel like she
contributed to the exciting atmosphere.
"It was a great day. It was one of the best days of
my life," Schmidt said. "It was cool to see people
using the pom-pons to cheer on our team and won-
dering who put them there. Then I thought 'yeah I
did it.' People were excited to have some way to
express their school spirit."
The participating students learned about the volun-
teer effort, which would earn them a ticket to the
game, through an e-mail from the Student Athletic
Advisory Committee, which often coordinates special
events such as the pom-pom crew.
University Athletic Director Tom Goss saidthe
idea for a pom-pon crew came from a student sug-
gestion.
"I finally had them produce the pom-pons for
$16,000,' Goss said. "It was a student who recOmn
mended it. We don't come up with all the ideas, ju@
most of them."
Students from the group Spiritchange, which orga-
nized the tailgate party, said the idea for the tailgate
sprung from their Organizational Behavior 314 class,
where they were asked to design a class project that
inspired change. The tailgate party was their effort at
increasing school spirit.
Whereas many private tailgate parties are held
by individual student groups or groups of friends,
Spiritchange organizers emphasized that all mem^-
bers of the University community were welcorr*
to attend the Elbel Field event.
"I think people are willing to tailgate together, but
they just need a place to do it," said LSA senior Jon
Newsom, a member of Spiritchange. Newsom said he
hopes the tailgate party will become an annual-tradi-
tion.
-Daily staff reporter Peter Romer-Friedman
contributed to this rport.
MARGARET MYERS/paily
Public Health second-year graduate student Jeff Holtzhausen, known at Michigan
sporting events as Superfan, enters the empty stadium before Saturday's game.