Photos by Aaron J. Thornton
It was a big week for football in Michigan, but before the Detroit Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years, it was the Michigan Wolverines celebrating the team’s first National Championship since 1997 when Brian Griese was under center for the Maize and Blue.
But after 26 years, the Wolverines have another National Championship trophy to add to the trophy case at Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the team celebrated its 34-13 National Championship win over the Washington Huskies with fans during a parade on campus followed by a celebration ceremony at Crisler Center.
Despite mid-20-degree temperatures and snow flurries blowing in the cold wind, South State and South University streets were packed with thousands of fans of all ages alongside the parade route, which started at the university president’s home and ended at Schembechler Hall before Team 144 met ticketed fans inside Crisler Center.
Michigan’s journey this season was indeed not typical and had its challenges. The Wolverines saw their head coach Jim Harbaugh suspended on two separate occasions, each for three games at a time. The first time for potential recruiting violations for which Michigan implemented a self-imposed suspension on their head coach. The second for accusations of sign stealing as it was discovered that a Michigan staffer attended opponents’ games in person which is against NCAA rules. Nevertheless, the team rallied around what came at them and stayed together as one to win their third straight B1G Conference crown en route to a Rose Bowl victory and National Championship triumph.
The parade, which started at 4 p.m. and was less than a mile long, featured the university’s Board of Regents, the Michigan Marching Band, and of course the Wolverines’ coaches and players, who rode in the back bed of about a dozen pickup trucks. Some of the coaches and players, including Harbaugh, starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and standout running back Blake Corum, were shuttled along the route in an older and classic model fire truck. With all the flashing lights, sirens, cheering, and playing of The Victors by the band, it was certainly an energetic and joyful experience that made fans forget just how cold it was.
The celebration then moved from the street to indoors. The sold-out event inside the Crisler Center, which was also televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed on the FOX sports app, began around 7 p.m., where the coaches and players were all introduced. The Master of Ceremony was none other than former Michigan Wolverine Football Player and former NFL Lineman Jon Jansen, who was a part of the last National Championship team in 1997.
U.S. Congresswomen Lisa McClain and Debbie Dingell were also in attendance and spoke, congratulating the Wolverines at the event. Athletic Director Warde Manuel’s words gained what was probably the biggest cheer of the night when he let the crowd know he was working on a new contract with hopes of keeping Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan as Head Coach.
Coincidentally, though, Harbaugh on Monday, was interviewed by the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers to fill their vacant head coaching role. Harbaugh hasn’t yet made any decisions about his future, and wasn’t immediately available for comments about Monday’s interview.
Fans were able to hear from McCarthy, who was greeted with chants of “one more year” as he spoke at the podium. McCarthy, who is a junior, has since announced that he will forgo his last year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft, dashing the fans’ hope to see him at the helm for another year to Michigan attempt for back-to-back national titles.
Additionally, the team captains Trevor Keegan, Michael Barrett, Kris Jenkins, Zak Zinter, Mike Sainristil, and Corum all kept the crowd fired up before Harbaugh walked to the podium for a message to the 13,000 plus in attendance and the additional fans watching at home.
“Team 144, you are Michigan football legends, beloved sons of Michigan, mighty men, and now known simply as National Champions,” Harbaugh stated.
About Post Author
