This week’s Mood: 79 (up 17 from the WMU debacle.) Another historic move, the wildest swings between 2 games since game-to-game tracking started in 2013.
Historic Note from History of Michigan Football Vol I: Saturday marked two anniversaries tied to The Big House. On this date in 1998, Michigan played its first game after the much-despised “Halo” was installed around Michigan Stadium, welcoming Donovan McNabb and Syracuse. The 38-28 beating wasn’t as close as the final score, as TB10 and Super Drew Henson shared the QB duties.
From Vol I, Saturday also marked the anniversary of the groundbreaking for Michigan Stadium in 1926. The site was one of three options considered. The other two were farther south — one where Ann Arbor Golf & Outing sits today, and another where a portion of the U-M Golf Course now bumps up against AAGO and Main Street.
Knowing underground springs existed in the area, Michigan conducted tests that seemed to allay concerns. But the tests were bunk. Well into the excavation, water began pouring into the site and nearly sunk the whole project. Engineers eventually installed a perimeter drainage system to divert the water away, and all was good in the world.
One of the most famous Big House legends is that a crane or steam shovel became stuck during construction and ultimately sank completely into the ground — lost forever — and remains buried somewhere beneath the field. However…according to Dr. Robert Soderstrom, author of the excellent The Big House, there’s actually no evidence that ever happened.
Want more? There are outstanding stories, interviews, photos and more in History of Michigan Football Vol I, including Seth, Craig, Dr. Soderstrom and many others telling the story of the origins and construction of the Big House — especially fitting as we’re watching Michigan play its 100th season inside the stadium.
