HT to Papa Dools for this one from this weekend’s WSJ. It’s a piece on Michigan grad Arthur Bartner (left) who’s commanded the USC marching band since 1970. Of note: Mr. Bartner, who played football and basketball in high school in New Jersey, gave up sports to join the marching band at the University of Michigan, where he eventually earned his doctorate in music education while directing local high school bands. At Michigan, he said the band felt emotionally disconnected from the football program. So when he took the helm at USC in 1970, he took the unusual approach of trying to marry the band and the team together, modeling his program as closely as he could after the team and maximizing the interaction between them. Hmm. So from googling around I assume Bartner’s band tenure was in the early 1960s. I also understand that Bo did things to create a tighter bond between the band and the football squad. That said, I’m curious from past or current band member—do/did you feel an emotional connection with the football team? Do you care? Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Willis Ward at 100
Born on this day a century ago, Willis Ward. The former Michigan track and football star was honored this season at Michigan Stadium: His involvement in the controversy around the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech game is of course chronicled in the documentary Black and Blue. October 20, 2012 was declared “Willis Ward Day” in the State of Michigan. Have a toast tonight to Willis Ward!
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Santa Delivers
Here’s Santa himself paying the Michigan football team a visit in Pasadena back on Christmas Day in 1947: Fullback Jack Weisenberger receives a gift from Kris Kringle and one can only assume the old man handed over USC’s offensive and defensive playbook. A few days Fritz Crisler’s magical crew stomped the Trojans 49-0 to seal the national championship. Wiesenberger scored three touchdowns! Merry Christmas and Go Blue! Follow MVictors on Twitter and get it quick
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Cheers to Charlie
Check out the nice piece on longtime U-M golf course manager Charlie Green in today’s Ann Arbor News. Charlie last official day at the helm is December 31, concluding an amazing 52 years of services at the course. From today’s piece: His memories at Michigan are good ones. “The athletic department has been like a second family for me,” he said. “There is a warmth here, people look out for each other, and even the big shots come around and visit.” Green was on a first-name basis with the people who have had buildings named after them — Crisler, Oosterbaan, Keen, Canham, Schembechler. He isn’t old enough to have Fielding Yost on the list, he said. Green recalls the day eight years ago when Bo Schembechler came to his office, sat down and said, “What’s this I hear about you?” That was shortly before Green was scheduled to have open heart surgery for an aneurysm. Bo had had his share of heart problems by then. “I’m going to show everyone that I’m as tough as you are,” Green replied. To which Bo said, “You’re not that tough!” and got up and stormed out. “I have met so many men, tough and hard-nosed on the outside, but, like Bo, who really cared,” Green said. “Those are my memories. Now we have…
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Original Michigan Stadium Print | Check Out What Grandma Gave Me
Reader Dylan sent images of this over recently—it’s what appears to be an original print of the stadium design produced by Osborn Engineering of Cleveland OH, the firm that won the contract to design the stadium:
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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,…
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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…
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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
