'My ultimate football dream has been fullfilled'

PASADENA, Calif. - For the thousands of Michigan fans who traveled across the country to Pasadena to watch the Rose Bowl, it was truly "great to be a Michigan Wolverine."

"I can die right now," said University alumnus Greg Galdes, as he smoked a cigar while videotaping the celebration at the stadium. "My ultimate football dream has been fulfilled. We're No. 1."

As time ran out on the clock, Wolverine fans embraced friends and strangers alike while unleashing screams of victory.

"It was incredible," said Engineering senior Scott Wigton. "There are not any words to describe that. It's absolutely the best feeling I've ever had."

University alumna Leslie Sibery said after years of near misses, it was great to witness Michigan win the national championship.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan fans cheer together in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 as they watch the Wolverines beat the Cougars, 21-16, during the 84th Rose Bowl. Fans used their voices and maize-and-blue pom-pons to help cheer the Wolverines to victory.

"We've been the bridesmaids so many times, it's nice to finally be the bride," Sibery said.

As disheartened Washington State fans silently filed out of the stands, Wolverine fans lingered in the stadium to savor the sweet feeling of victory and watch the presentation of the Tournament of Roses trophy. Some ascended to the top of the stadium to catch a glimpse of the entire celebration, while others attempted to move toward the players.

"This is the most exciting day of my life," said Engineering senior Dave Hilger, who cited Charles Woodson's interception as the highlight of the game.

The possibility of a Washington State comeback made the Wolverine victory more climactic for Michigan fans.

"I felt like I was either going to throw up or celebrate in the last two minutes," said LSA sophomore Mike Siegel.

"It's awesome," said LSA senior Adam Garbooshian, who received a high five from Michigan quarterback Brian Griese during the post-game celebration. "We're seniors and we waited four years to do this, and it's a great way to start the new year."

The Rose Bowl staff was well prepared for post-game chaos. Security guards stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a ring around the field, backed up by two other loose lines of police and security.

Fans "were going up the rails on the side," said security guard Tony Noble. "One guy got sprayed with mace. Just the general police officers had mace."

Many of the fans who jumped onto the field were stopped by police, although several nimble fans sprinted toward the players in the center of the field, where police used physical force to guide them back to the stands.

But the boundary of security guards and police didn't prevent the players from walking to the students' section with open arms.

"Charles Woodson came over to us," said LSA sophomore Jeff Blank. "The cops tried to stop us, but he came straight to us. He was waving his arms and raising the roof. We pushed and tried to get on. We stormed past them and got on the field. This is something I'll tell my kids about."

Woodson, the Heisman trophy winner, took a victory lap around the field, followed by a few young Wolverine fans who tried to keep pace with the exuberant cornerback.

Back in Ann Arbor, South University Avenue was crowded with fans singing "The Victors!" and cheering.

Enthusiastic fans ran down South University and stood on the steps of the Michigan Union to savor the afterglow of victory and continue their cheers.

"We've been here (at Touchdown Cafe) since noon," said Jason Sinlon, a student at Eastern Michigan University. "It's going to benefit (Michigan's) reputation. But you can't make it any better than it is already."

Early in the afternoon, 230 people filled Touchdown Cafe to capacity.

"It was a great game. The bars around were full - Touchdown was packed," said Jim Grueber, a recent University graduate.

High costs prevented many students and fans from traveling to Pasadena, but the crowd of about 500 people was there in spirit.

Huron High School senior Kosta Johnston was cheering with the crowd for more than one reason. He will play football this fall with the Michigan football team. "I'm so fired up," Johnston said. "I'll be playing (in Pasadena) the next four years."

Hours before the game began, Michigan fans arrived at the stadium in Pasadena to tailgate, purchase tickets and souvenirs and enjoy the perfect southern California weather.

"This makes the four years of hellish Michigan weather worth it," said University alumnus Joe Navaleza, who sported a short-sleeved maize-and-blue T-shirt for the game. "I'm glad I graduated and am here in sunny California."

Navaleza said the Wolverines' performance made him proud to wear maize and blue. "I'm going to Europe for six months and all I'm wearing is Michigan clothing," he said.

In the parking lots surrounding the stadium, fans opened car trunks filled with tailgating food and beverages.

"We've been tailgating since 8 a.m.," said LSA junior Nora McGillicuddy.

For fans who didn't get enough partying before entering the stadium, beer vendors sold cups of brew inside the gates for $5 per cup.

"This is the first time I've ever gotten to drink beer and watch a Michigan game live and I love it," said LSA senior Stephan Merriweather.

Like any home game, there were a few eccentric fans who stood out in the crowd, including a row of students who wore maize-and-blue clown wigs and numerous fans with painted faces.

"There's probably more maize and blue here in the crowd than there is at home," said LSA senior Ethan Holtz.

Among the unique fans was Engineering junior Tim Dirrenberger, who wore several maize-and-blue pom-pons around his waist to create a skirt. "I've been drinking a lot, so that probably had something to do with it," Dirrenberger said.

Other fans, like Engineering first-year Mike Haller, used their voices to shoe their spirit.

"I yelled myself hoarse," Haller said. "I was screaming til I just couldn't breathe."

For many Wolverine fans, the trip to Pasadena became an expedition, with crowded airports and long drives from cities as far away as Ann Arbor.

"It was hell," said University alumna De Bates. "We left on Christmas day. Northwest's hub in Detroit was a nightmare. I flew to my sister's house in San Jose and drove out. It's great. I'm going to call everyone I know."

Anesthesiology Prof. Brian Woodcock arrived with his wife in a small sedan blasting the Michigan fight song and shouting, "Go Blue." He said his long, rough trip was worth it to see a national championship victory.

"We flew to Vegas and drove here with our Rose Bowl flags," Woodcock said. "I'm English, but I'm the biggest English Michigan fan ever known."

Many fans made the trip to Pasadena even though they lacked tickets. Desperate fans walked around the stadium holding up fingers and signs, and offered as much as $900 for tickets.

University alumnus Gary Balliet was infuriated as he announced to pedestrians that he was willing to pay more than $1,000 for three tickets.

"I was the captain of the Michigan golf team," Balliet said. "I didn't get tickets because I didn't pay enough money to the Victors' Club."

Many of the fans looking to purchase tickets on game day were unlucky, not able to find tickets and finally resorting to nearby bars.

"I'm going to watch the game in a bar," said University alumnus Joe Bates. "My dad, my sister and I all requested tickets. We got nothing except a card saying, 'Thank you for your support.'"

For ticketholders, a few hundred dollars was not a fair trade for a chance to see the Wolverines play in the Rose Bowl.

"I always wanted to go to a Rose Bowl," said University alumnus Paul Jones. "We had someone offer us $500 for each ticket. I even heard $900, but I wouldn't sell for any less than five grand."

Cavan Brunsden said that being able to watch Michigan's Rose Bowl victory made the money he's spent to send his son Andrew to the University of Michigan worthwhile.

"It was $28,000 and it was worth every penny of it," the elder Brunsden said.

When University alumna Mary Forberg and her brother Paul couldn't find tickets for less than $200 apiece, they decided to use another method of getting into the game. The brother and sister offered money to 10 door guards before one guard accepted $260 to let the pair into the stadium.

"We didn't have $300 to match the going rate," Paul Forberg said, after buying his sister a rose to celebrate their feat. "My sister deserves a rose."

According to Washington State fans, the last Cougar team to play in the Rose Bowl 67 years ago swore after its victory that the next game would have the same outcome as the first.

But after losing a tough battle to Michigan, some Cougar fans were positive, even though the prediction didn't come true.

"It was a hard-fought contest," said Washington State alumnus Michael Irvin. "I'm glad we came. We gave Michigan a run for its money."

Other Cougar fans confessed admiration for the Wolverines and Michigan fans.

"Michigan showed me a lot," said Washington State alumnus Don Slagel.

"They're a complete football team. I think they should be the national champions," Slagel said.

Wolverine spirit was alive even on New Year's Eve, when students from both Michigan and Washington State filled California bars with their respective fight songs.

"Everyone's here," said LSA senior Ethan Holtz, who joined Wolverine fans at the Westwood Brewing Co., where a disc jockey played "The Victors!" "There are thousands of people from Michigan. We made a great showing."

-Daily Staff Reporter Heather Wiggin contributed to this report.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Fans share in the excitement of the Wolverines' national championship-clinching win over Washington State at the Rose Bowl.

SARA STILLMAN/Daily The Big Ten Conference float makes its way through the streets of Pasadena on Jan. 1. The parade preceded the Wolverines' victory in the Rose Bowl.

01-07-98