• RIP Captain Bob Derleth, 90

      From the U-M Bentley Library, left hockey captain Derleth from ‘44, and right seated next to Fritz Crisler in the ‘46 football team photo Thanks to reader TM for passing this along: Robert "Bob" Derleth Age 90, passed away December 16 at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan in Lansing due to complications from a stroke. Bob was born and raised in Marquette, Michigan and graduated from Bishop Baraga High School in 1941.  He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1947 with degrees in chemical and metallurgical engineering.  Bob won six varsity letters as a member of Michigan’s football (’42, ’43, ’45 and ’46) and hockey (’43 and ’44) teams, and was captain of the 1944 hockey team. During World War II, he served on active duty as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy (1944-1945), and played football for the Iowa Seahawks Navy pre-flight team in 1944.  Bob was President of Motor Wheel Corporation from 1967-1979.  He was actively involved with many community and charitable organizations in Lansing, including the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the Board of Trustees of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, The Board of Directors of the United Community Chest, the Advisory Board of St. Lawrence Hospital, the Board of Directors of the Greater Lansing Urban League, President of Junior Achievement,…

  • Sap and the Outback Jersey Breakdown

    Ed. Instant historical analysis of the Outback Bowl jersey reveal compliments of Steve Sapardanis aka Dr. Sap: HELMET The matte finish is a first for the U-M headgear.  Back in the 70s and 80s there was no gloss finish on the Michigan helmets.  Much like their coach, there was no flashiness to them – they were maize and blue and that was that.  You’d be surprised at how basic and crude those old helmets look compared to the newer ones of today.  From 1977: If you wanted the old ones to look shiny, you would have to rub some car wax on them!  In the past 10 years or so the paint used has been more automotive grade with a much more durable and glossy finish to it.  As long as it’s not a chrome finish, I can deal with it.  The blue color seems deeper and darker, but might have more to do with the matte finish more than anything else.  Can’t really speak to the yellow unless I see it next to a current helmet that has the newer "neon" yellow color to it.   The Outback Bowl helmet seems to have a more deeper yellow than (older helmet) orange hue to it. Via mgoblue.com photo gallery JERSEY You have to go back to Jim Mandich in 1968 to…

  • Floyd, Hawthorne, Hagerup Suspended

    There are no fourthsies in these parts so I’m guessing Hagerup won’t suit up again at Michigan again.   He’s a wildly talented punter so I’m sure he’ll go somewhere else.  Best guess–he’ll end up at Arkansas with Beilema. Via U-M Media Relations: Michigan football senior cornerback J.T. Floyd (Greenville, S.C./J.L. Mann), senior linebacker Brandin Hawthorne (Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee) and junior punter Will Hagerup (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay) have been suspended for the Outback Bowl game against South Carolina for a violation of team rules and will not travel with the team.  "It is an honor to play football for the University of Michigan, and we have high standards and expectations for everyone that represents our program," said Michigan football head coach Brady Hoke.   "These young men used poor judgment in each circumstance, and these suspensions are teaching moments for our team."   Follow MVictors on Twitter

  • Legends of the Ann Arbor Fall

    One more addition to the 2012 U-M Holiday Gift list for fans, a special offer from artist Ben McCready:   This historic commemorative print features a capacity Michigan Stadium crowd with a distinctive Block M background.   Ringing the stadium are dramatic depictions of Harmon, Carter, Chappuis, Oosterbaan, Kramer and Howard.  McCready shared some background on how this came to be: This print was issued by the athletic department in 1997 and was featured in every home game program that year. For the past decade or so I have been donating prints every year to children who are patients at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and to the University of Michigan athletic department.  The renovation of Michigan Stadium sparked a renewed interest in the prints and I have decided to make them available again at a special price with a portion of the proceeds going to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Price?  A special offer from McCready: * $50 for the large, Limited Edition Print * $25 for a signed, smaller print. More info here.   Follow MVictors on Twitter

  • Old 98 Rides Again

    Cheers! Schwing!!  Via Media Relations: Michigan to Face Notre Dame in Primetime, Honor Tom Harmon as Michigan Football Legend Ann Arbor, Mich. – The University of Michigan football team will face the University of Notre Dame in a nationally-televised primetime game at Michigan Stadium, it was announced Tuesday (Dec. 11) in a joint announcement with ESPN. The athletic department will honor 1940 Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, installing him as a Michigan Football Legend during a pre-game ceremony. The actual game time and ABC/ESPN platform for the Sept. 7, 2013 contest will be announced at a later date. This will be the third consecutive night game played between the winningest programs in college football history. “Our athletic department is looking forward to recreating the night game magic from two years ago,” said Dave Brandon, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “We have more in store for this game than the initial night game and will work hard to create many WOW moments. One of those magical moments will be the honoring of Tom Harmon. He is one of the greatest athletes in school history and we are excited to celebrate all that he accomplished at Michigan. Having Tom’s ‘Old 98’ back on the field will be special. This will be a memorable evening for everyone at Michigan Stadium or…

  • PSDs, Ticket Prices Hold and the New Transfer Policy

    Note:  This website is NOT affiliated with the University of Michigan Via Media Relations.  Notes: Validates the $500 transfer policy for all tickets.    I stubbed my toe on that last week. Implements required donation for ALL seats.  Previously if you had tickets in the end zone (prior to when they started the PSD program in 2005) areas you weren’t required to make a donation:  Season ticket holders of record prior to the 2005 season will have their PSD phased in over two seasons ($37.50 per seat in 2013, $75 per seat in 2014). New end zone season ticket accounts since 2005 will be adjusted to $75 per seat starting in 2013. The new PSD prices:  The PSD levels will be adjusted to the following prices per seat in the bowl for 2013: Victors ($600), Valiant ($475), Maize ($350), Blue ($200) and End Zone ($75). Full release: Link: http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/121012aaa.html U-M Announces 2013-14 Preferred Seat Donation Plan; Football Per Game Ticket Prices Remain Same ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan Athletic Department announced Monday (Dec. 10) its comprehensive 2013-14 Preferred Seat Donation program for football, men’s basketball and ice hockey. Michigan will also provide season ticket holders with the opportunity to transfer their season tickets to another individual for a one-time donation per season ticket. The per game season ticket…