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Students rejoice on South University

Brendan Morrison's overtime goal in this weekend's NCAA championship hockey game sparked a celebration that stretched more than 250 miles.

While thousands of Michigan hockey fans rejoiced in Cincinnati, hundreds more stormed the streets in Ann Arbor to celebrate the team's first national championship since 1964.

"It was a small group, but it was still kind of crazy," said LSA junior Chris Zammit.

Zammit said he joined the crowd from Rendez-Vous Café, where he was studying.

"The people out there were pretty gung-ho," he said.

Sgt. Bob Neumann, from the University's Department of Public Safety, said the group of fans traveled around campus after the initial celebration on South University Avenue.

"They went to Hatcher Library and made some noise," Neumann said. "Fortunately they had no intent to vandalize.

"Then they headed to the Law Quad where they entertained the reading room for a few minutes," he said.

Neumann said the crowd also visited Angell Hall, the Michigan Union and the President's House.

President James Duderstadt greeted the crowd in front of his house and talked to the group for a few minutes.

From there, Neumann said, the crowd returned to South University Avenue were it eventually dissipated.

Crowd estimates from DPS and the Ann Arbor Police Department say the crowd varied from 200-1,000 people at various times and locations during the traveling celebration.

AAPD officer Martin Morales, who was patrolling South University on a bicycle, said the crowd was well-behaved.

"It's a good crowd because it's sober," Morales said during the celebration. "The basketball crowd was bad because it was drunk."

Celebrations in previous years for the basketball team were marred by violence. In 1992, three arrests were made and police used tear gas to break up the crowd. After the 1993 Final Four, 13 were arrested for malicious destruction of property, assault and related crimes.

AAPD Sgt. Pam Wyess said no incidents were reported. She credited the good behavior to the time of day.

"The daytime atmosphere helped control the crowd," she said. "Nighttime makes it easier to go nuts."

Wyess said AAPD called the Michigan State Police and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department to help monitor the crowds.

Steve Mourad, owner of Touchdown Café, said the crowds were not problematic.

"Everybody got excited, got up and applauded and everybody stepped outside to join the crowd," he said.

Mourad said more than 200 people watched the game at Touchdown Café, but no one caused any problems.

Morales added, "Most of the crazy fans are at Cincinnati right now."