With a brilliant January sun slanting in over the distinguished campus buildings, Michigan’s national football champions were cheered by thousands of fans who lined an afternoon parade route Sunday.
Ann Arbor police estimated the crowd at 100,000.
Later Sunday, a raucous capacity crowd honored the team at a rally in Crisler Arena.
“I say, let ’em whine, let ’em moan in Nebraska, because this is the one recognized around the country as the most significant national championship,” said emcee Don Shan, a local broadcaster, before introducing the team.
Michigan (12-0) was ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll of writers and broadcasters. Nebraska (13-0) was voted No. 1 in the coaches poll.
“All of these years, I would have sworn that coaches were smarter than writers,” coach Lloyd Carr said. “I have to admit, I was wrong.”
Fans watched highlight reels and sang “The Victors”–the school’s fight sung–then watched as the team was presented again with the AP trophy as well as the Big Ten and Rose Bowl championship trophies.
The afternoon parade was thrown together hastily after many fans expressed disappointment at not being able to buy tickets to the rally in the arena, which seats only 13,560.
Earlier Sunday, Michigan fans learned that free safety Daydrion Taylor, who missed the final three games of the season because of a neck injury, has ended his playing career. Taylor will be an undergraduate assistant coach and complete work on his degree.
