University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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I, I Have Priority In This Area ers

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By Carly McEntee As the home of the Big House, the Uni- versity understood the importance of school spirit. Not many universities got the chance to watch a football game with 110,000 fans at every home game. The football experience at the University gave the students a true sense of community. All students had a different routine on Saturday mornings, before the football games even started. Junior LSA student Sarah Ziegler said of her Saturday mornings, Sometimes I like to wake up on game days, blast out of bed and jump into my super-Michigan tights, cape and uniform. I crank up the Michigan Marching Band CD and as the announcer presents the 236-member marching band to...TAKE THE FIELD, 1 fly from door to door of each and everyone of my roommates ' bedrooms to ensure that they too get to enjoy the miracles and glories of Michigan spirit. sigh . Students decided to create even more school spirit by instituting different themes for different football games. Marching band drum major Matt Cavanaugh came up with the idea of the maize out for the Penn State game. At this game the student section showed a sea of maize as the students wore all the maize clothing they could find. Cavanaugh said of the maize out, The ' maize out ' idea was one of the many ideas that came from the members of the band, when they were presented with the challenge of improving the atmosphere in the Big House. The color of maize was chosen because it stands out among all other colors, and is highly visible across the expanse of the Big House. Visible unity was the first step in getting this crowd together. A different theme, created along the same line for the football game against Michi- gan State University, came from seniors Melissa Roach, Maggie Malone, and Rebecca Feferman. They instituted the blue out where students all wore blue sweatshirts, shirts and jackets. The players and other fans could look at the stadium and know where the students sat. This show of spirit not only brought a rush to the fans, but also to the players on the field. The football stadium was not the only sporting event where spirit could be shown. At Yost Ice Arena many students showed up to cheer on the hockey team. Students at the games found the atmosphere not only to be exciting, but extremely energizing. They displayed their spirit by yelling chants at certain points of the games and cheering the team on. School spirit could also be found out- side of the sports arena. Throughout the campus, the University ' s logo could be found on many students ' clothing. Cavanaugh said, It is a pride that all students feel by spending time with and learning from all of the diverse and amazing people around here. It is the realization that we are all taking part in a tradition of excellence that began so very long ago. Whether cheering for the teams or walking around campus, stu- dents showed spirit and pride in the University. A student buys a blue out shirt on the Diag prior to the Michigan State game. The event, new to campus, helped unify fans in the stands on game day. L. Proux photo Yelling from megaphones, these would-be cheerleaders rile up pass- ersby. The Dtag housed the epicenter of everyday spirit on campus, with actMties benefiting most sports and Clubs. Y. Qranata photo MICHIGAN LIFE 43

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- Students and University employees wait patient as the Dus stops out- fethe Law Quad. Riding the Dus a daily routine for commuters, north Campus residents and stu- fcents. and people just trying to get ifrom one end of campus to the other. Y. Qranata photo - J - I Wheelcha HavePr iS