Stories from the construction of Yost Field House (now Yost Ice Arena) from 1922-1923, based on the research and interview with Dr. Robert Soderstrom, author of 'The Big House'. In particular, Fielding Yost's challenges with the brick
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Yost’s Field House | This Week in Michigan Football History
This week takes a trip back to the roaring 1920s. World War I was over (we won!) and Michigan was back in the Big Ten conference in the middle of a athletics arm-race. Large new football stadiums started to pop up around the conference but Fielding Yost took a different route - at least a first. He decided to build the largest indoor sports complex of its kind -- Yost Field House. On November 10, 1923 thousands, including 2,000 members of the Marine Core, packed into the new arena for the official dedication. Here's the story:
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Michigan 3, Michigan State 2 (Photos)
Sadly somehow it was a subdued mood in old Yost tonight for a Michigan-Michigan State game, but a 3-2 victory nonetheless. As a nod to my post on the 1928 canary unis, the Wolverines donned the maize sweaters with blue numerals. A few shots from the early evening tilt, including Derek DeBlois just burying this one in the 2nd period to make it 1-1: DeBlois being DeBlois Boys being Boys “Celebrate weird times, come on!” Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Restoring Yost
Those in town may have noticed some crews working on the outside of Yost Ice Arena again this year. It raised an eyebrow from me, given the issues they had last season which caused the postponement of a game and given the timing—why would they be working on it during hockey season? Fear not. I spoke with Matt Trevor in hockey media relations who told me the work is simply "masonry restoration and cleaning." Trevor advised they did some of the work over the summer, and continue to work their way around the building. I also noticed the cement ‘M’ in one of the corners was removed: I asked Trevor if they were <gulp> changing any of the design. Once again, fear not. "They’re just cleaning and restoring what’s there," he told me.’
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Just Win. Something. (MSU 3, Michigan 2)
Anything. Thumb wrestling. Yes, Corey Tropp returned to Yost and he and his Spartans got over on Michigan 3-2. Tropp scored a beautiful top-shelfer right in front of me for an extra kick in the nads. I felt nothing. The game was for the most part free of violence, although it seems the Wolverines had a guy in the penalty box most of the night. The Spartan goal that turned out to be the game winner looked a little suspicious (it was reviewed) although I haven’t seen a replay, but overall I think MSU played a bit better tonight. I don’t know what the deal is with this team. It seems they had everything going in– the right chemistry and leadership, plenty of talent, etc.,—but it’s just not working right now. I heard some say that Michigan outplayed Miami last Friday (despite losing) before getting crushed Saturday. They didn’t outplay the RedHawks in either game and State deserved to win tonight. From my hockey novice eyes, it seems like Michigan never really gets rebound chances or their sticks on any pucks bouncing around the net. The scores seem to come on bang-bang finesse plays and their opponents have kept them from getting good angles for shots. On the other side, teams seem to be finding the loose pucks and…
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Tropp Returns to Yost tonight
To this day, the most read post on these pages remains the breakdown of the Conboy-Tropp-Kampfer mauling from January’s Michigan-Michigan State game. Spartan Andrew Conboy was kicked off the team and left school, opting to take his chances within the Canadiens organization. It looks like he’s currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Corey Tropp was also kicked off the MSU team but earned his way back onto Rick Comley’s squad, and will return to Yost tonight. Wolverine Steve Kampfer is of course still skating for coach Berenson. Should be an interesting night tonight. Here’s a look back, first at Red’s comments from January on the weekly coaches’ show at The Arena just after the incident: [display_podcast] And here are those stills that I took from Section 22: Conboy and Tropp zero in on Kampfer Conboy gives Kampfer the old clothesline from behind …and takes Kampfer down. Tropp cocks his stick, but actually pulls back a bit Then Tropp gets a look… …and then takes a swing.. …and connects. Michigan immediately dispatches the team doctor To Conboy’s credit, he appears to shove Corey Tropp with his right arm… ..and then pushes him away with his left
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Don Canham’s Gift
Prior to the Purdue game I sat in for a segment on WOMC’s Tailgate Show. Just before I went on the air, host Lucy Ann Lance summoned over Peg Canham, widow of legendary Michigan athletic director Don Canham. Mrs. Canham was wearing a stunning necklace and it caught my eye. Lance knew a bit about it and mentioned that it was a gift from the former AD, made from an old Wolverine football championship ring. I wanted to know a little more, so I connected with Mrs. Canham afterward and she was kind enough to send along a photo: I knew there was something very familiar about her necklace, and it didn’t take long to figure out why. I’ve featured a few Michigan championship rings on eBay Watch over the years including this one from 1977: Along with the photo, Mrs. Canham was kind enough to share a few memories about the ring. “He surprised me with the necklace for Christmas shortly after we were married in 1995,” she told me. “As I’m sure you can figure Don had a jewelry box full of rings but this one was always my favorite because it is the Michigan Stadium, and he knew it.” She also noted that in the famous photo of Don Canham at his desk (the same one you…
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Pearson on WTKA: Mitera could return in a couple weeks [audio]
A much anticipated call into to WTKA this morning as Andy Evans spoke with Michigan assistant head coach Mel Pearson. They discussed of course the ugly incident at the end of the Michigan State game Saturday night, where Steve Kampfer was taken down and then slashed by Spartan players [photos]. As expected, Pearson kept out of the fray. He said kind things about coach Rick Comley and the Spartan program and he offered he’s confident that Comley and MSU will do the right thing. He believes Tommy Anastos and the CCHA will act swiftly to send a message. Pearson also talked about the upcoming series with #1 Notre Dame this weekend which is going to be ridiculously awesome. Two positive notes: * Pearson confirmed that Kampfer is doing ok although they are still waiting for some test results to confirm there was no concussion. * He advised that Mark Mitera is doing very well and skating. Pearson offered this info up unsolicited, and said Mitera is “coming along very nicely. He looks great, he looks great. He’s probably a couple weeks away still..” Pearson added his return is a “real possibility”. Here’s the full audio [display_podcast] Here’s more podcasts from WTKA, including an interview this morning with new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson.
