Going out in style

Final chapter concludes fairy tale season

In the beginning, it was just another football season.

But the final statistics of the fairy tale year are anything but typical - 12 victories, a trip to the Rose Bowl, a Heisman Trophy winner, coach of the year, and, in the minds of the more than 100,000 fans who packed Ann Arbor yesterday for a parade and pep rally, an undisputed national championship.

"We'll all remember this for the rest of our lives," Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson told the students at last night's rally at Crisler Arena, which brought more than 13,000 fans to their feet. "You'll remember this for the rest of your lives.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan quarterback Brian Griese and Charles Woodson, Heisman Trophy winner and Michigan All-America cornerback, wave to the crowd of fans and University students during yesterday afternoon's parade to celebrate the football team's undefeated season, Rose Bowl victory and national championship.

I love you guys."

Players, coaches and University President Lee Bollinger all spoke of an unforgettable season that even attracted fans who never cared about football.

"It's like a dream," freshman tailback Anthony Thomas said about Michigan's first national championship in 50 years. "This is what we worked so hard for all summer. The fans always came out to support us on game day and now we can see them. This does not compare to anything. I'm on top of the world."

Students said yesterday's events were an appropriate way to thank the team for increasing national pride for the University.

"I love going to a university like this," said LSA sophomore Catherine Hanzl. "It's amazing going to a school with such a great football team. The whole scene is overwhelming."

Pep rally speakers shared jokes and stories from the championship season. When Bollinger spoke last night, students shouted "Party at Lee's house," referring to Michigan's win over Penn State, after which Bollinger opened his home for an impromptu party of more than 1,000 students.

"I have a new rule," Bollinger said. "The rule is that if our team beats Penn State by over 30 points and establishes itself as the No. 1 team in the nation, you're all welcome at the president's house."

Most speakers proclaimed Michigan the only No. 1 team in the nation, although the team technically had to split the title with Nebraska, which took the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Some players and coaches even said sports fans should disregard Nebraska's share of the national championship, poking fun at the coaches' poll and Nebraska's lobbying effort for the title.

"All of these years, I could have sworn coaches were much smarter than writers," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said, smiling. "But I have to admit I was wrong."

As senior co-captain Eric Mayes stood next to three out of a possible four national championship trophies, he asked the crowd to answer a simple equation.

"There were four given out and three are here, so you do the math," said Mayes, who suffered an injury early this season but still emerged as one of the team's inspirational leaders.

"Here is a perfect season with a perfect celebration," said Engineering junior Hamshirray Dnamrat. "I'll never forget it."

Last night's victory pep rally capped off a day that began with a 1.8-mile parade through campus and downtown Ann Arbor. The Department of Public Safety estimated that more than 100,000 fans crowded the streets to celebrate the Wolverines' No. 1 ranking.

"It's a perfect end to a perfect season," said LSA senior Bhavin Patel, as he watched the team roll past. Some players held roses between their teeth to symbolize the Rose Bowl victory, while others threw small footballs into the crowd.

The final day of celebration drew eccentric Michigan fans to the streets of Ann Arbor, many of whom brought along their superstitions - stuffed animals and hats that they believe contributed to the national championship.

"The people I sat around last season told me I was a jinx," said Bob Purcell, a University alumnus. "Every time I went to the bathroom, the Wolverines would score. So I didn't go to any of the games, and they won them all."

One man shaved an M into his chest and another wore a maize-and-blue hat in the shape of a Wolverine. But one of the most outrageous sights of the day was a group of five clowns from Pontiac who played pranks near the Michigan Union.

"My son was not happy about us coming here," said Ed Landry, who called himself Frenchy the Clown. "We crashed his dorm. He said he wouldn't come to the parade as a clown with us. His roommate named John wanted to be a clown."

The parade began at 2 p.m. next to Elbel Field on Hill Street. The procession of bands, cheerleaders and players' cars moved down South State Street, Liberty Street, Main Street and back to Elbel Field, in a lofty display of maize-and-blue spirit.

The Michigan cheerleaders and marching band played "The Victors!" and shouted "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine." Closely behind followed cars and floats carrying players.

When the crowd saw a red Jeep carrying Rose Bowl MVP Brian Griese and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, their shouts only got louder.

Woodson, who declared this past Friday that he would forego his senior year at the University and enter the NFL Draft in April, extended the Heisman Trophy and a single rose toward the crowd.

"I'm sorry I have to leave this university early," Woodson said later at the rally. "I was going to come back, but coach Carr didn't want me to play quarterback."

Wolverine fans, many of whom traveled hours to attend the parade, were unrestrained in their enthusiasm.

"It's unbelievable," said University alumnus Don Campagna, who drove more than two hours yesterday morning from his home in Grand Rapids. "I absolutely couldn't ask for a better day to have a national championship parade for the No. 1 team in the nation."

Bollinger said he was impressed by the students and fans who came out for the parade.

"It's commendable spirit, and it's best both for the community and Ann Arbor," Bollinger said.

Roger Philip, an Ypsilanti resident, was among the many who showed up before noon in front of the Union. Although it was a chilly morning, he said he was determined to take his son to the event.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's been 50 years and it may be another 50 years. I just want to make sure my son Colten sees this," Philip said. "If it were 40 (degrees) below zero, we'd be here at least two hours early."

LSA junior Dan Gryniewicz said that after growing up in Ann Arbor, he has became accustomed to celebrating Michigan victories. But this celebration was special.

"I was born and raised in Ann Arbor," Gryniewicz said. "I've been around when Michigan won the Rose Bowl before, but never a national championship."

Students and Ann Arbor residents alike said the parade brought the entire community together.

"It was a good idea because everybody doesn't get to go to the celebration," Rackham student Michael Montes said about the pep rally. "It's good for the town to be involved in the celebration. I think it's great. It's my first year here and I'm really excited we won."

Due to the limited seating at Crisler Arena, rally ticket recipients were chosen by a lottery of the 66,000 football season ticket holders, with only 7,000 tickets allotted to students.

Although some students were frustrated that they were unable to attend the rally, Engineering senior Chris Schad said the parade compensated for the shortage of tickets.

"The parade gives everybody a chance to see things that they wouldn't otherwise get to see," Schad said. "This way, everybody gets a chance to celebrate."

And in a happy ending, Carr told the crowd at the pep rally, "I just want you to know that the best team - the best college football team in this country - they go to school in Ann Arbor."

- Daily Staff Reporters Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud, Megan Exley, Lee Palmer, Diba Rab and Carly Southworth contributed to this report.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan wide receiver Tai Streets is surrounded by teammates at last night's pep rally as he bats a balloon to celebrate the Michigan football team's Rose Bowl victory and national championship.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan co-captain Eric Mayes holds up the AP National Championship trophy at last night's pep rally for the Wolverines. Mayes was out for most of the season due to a knee injury.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Linebacker Dhani Jones adorns himself yesterday with roses as he thanks the parade crowd for their support this past season.

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