[Ed 11/10/22 – Bumped, in honor of Red Simmons’ induction into the Michigan Hall of Honor Friday night (11/11/2022).] Former women’s track head coach Red Simmons is a fixture on the athletic campus, whether it’s attending football, hockey, or basketball games, or working out each morning at Crisler Arena. Oh, did I mention Simmons turns 100 in three weeks? I recently sat down with the Michigan legend to talk about his amazing life for a piece for GoBlueWolverine Magazine for next month. Definitely check that out, but in the meantime, I wanted to share this nugget. Simmons was a track star at Redford High School and was offered a slot on the U-M track team. He told me that part of his desire to come to Ann Arbor stemmed from a trip he and his pals took when he was 17 years old: Simmons: “My heart was set on coming to Michigan. In 1927 when the football stadium was opened, two other guys from Redford and I hitchhiked up here to see the game. At that time I thought, ‘Boy I’d love to go to this school.’” It didn’t occur to me until after the interview that Simmons is very likely the last living person to attend the first game at Michigan Stadium. I’d love to know if anyone knows…
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The Legend Bennie Oosterbaan | This Week in Michigan Football History
This Week in Michigan Football History returns for the home opener with a honoring the Michigan legend Bennie Oosterbaan who was officially launched into the Michigan Football Legends program on this Saturday back in 2012: Check it out Saturday live from the Go Labatt Blue Victors Lounge and on WTKA 1050AM starting at 8am. script after the jump:
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That’s Dedication!
Dedication day ticket from 1927 on eBay right now Marking eight-six years today, Michigan Stadium was dedicated on October 22, 1927. The Wolverines shutout the Buckeyes 21-0 on this historic day, and cameras were on hand for the spectacle: One of my favs, check out how the Ohio State student newspaper felt about the our new bowl-shaped abode. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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The Final Piece of the Puzzle (1943)….Found!
This month I submitted a piece on Ann Arbor resident Jack Briegel and his extraordinary collection. His focus is on ticket stubs and get this, of the 517 games played at Michigan Stadium to date, Briegel has a full ticket or stub from all of them but one. That's right – he's missing 1!
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Coffee Service for Fielding Yost’s Service (1927)
On the Friday before Michigan Stadium was officially dedicated back in 1927, the University Press Club hosted a dinner honoring Fielding Yost. Attendees included Michigan alumni and the editors from the various papers that covered the Wolverines over the years.
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Michigan Stadium Construction Photos, and The Buried Crane Myth (1927)
A few rare, possibly never seen before by the public, photos of the Michigan Stadium construction (1927):
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Fielding H. Yost’s Bust (1927)
In the past couple of years, I’ve featured posts on Fielding Yost busting the Galloping Ghost and highlighted a program from the 1953 Football Bust which featured autographs from a few of the Yost’s finest players. Thanks to reader Craig B., this edition of eBay Watch takes a look at a statue bust of the old coach as presented in a wire photo: Along with the note, Craig asked an excellent question: So, what we know from this is that there was a bust of Yost in Yost Field House, but I have never, in my life, seen it. Do we know where it is today? Can we get it put back into Yost? Am I just missing it somewhere? Anyway, I shall eagerly await any potential news you have on this, in post or reply form. Thanks much! The photo is dated October 27, 1927 and if I had to guess at the blurry plaque below the bust, it reads “Fielding H. Yost – illegible – University of Michigan – then I think it might say, ‘University of Michigan Club of Chicago’ – 1927: As Craig points out, the auction description hints that this statue might have been associated with Yost Field House but given the date of the photo itself, it may have been presented to Yost…
