Average Joes spark Michigan win

Meet Joe Black.

Joe Black did not hit a basket last night. He did not grab a rebound. He did not sink a free throw. He's not even a basketball player.

But when Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe addressed the media after the Wolverines stunning 82-70 victory over No. 8 Indiana last night, Joe Black was the first person Ellerbe thanked.

Why? Because Black, a senior at Michigan who has held season basketball tickets for four years, put on a T-shirt and got a little rowdy.

Black was one of 500 students, all sitting in three sections along the side of the court, to receive free bright yellow "Maize Rage" T-shirts, part of Ellerbe's brainstorm to make Crisler Arena a feared environment.

Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe pointed to the increased fan support, visibly clad in maize T-shirts, as part of the reason for the Wolverines' emotional victory over Indiana.

"It's a great idea," Black said. "They do things like this at other universities, but this is the first time they've done it in my four years here."

So Black and 499 others put on their shirts, and then responded, pumping some life into the arena monikered "The Morgue." Forming a yellow wave of bouncing bodies, flailing limbs and throaty cheers, the crowd pushed the Wolverines to their most important win of the season.

"The crowd was worth 10 points," Ellerbe said. "They inspired us."

The T-shirts were just a small part of the Maize Rage, a long-term project to resuscitate "The Morgue" headed by Michigan Director of Marketing and Communications, Tom Brooks.

"We want to increase student involvement on gameday," Brooks said. "With the T-shirts, we've given them their own uniform. We hope they wear them every game."

Yesterday's game was picked to launch the initiative for several reasons. With a top-10 opponent and long-time rival in Indiana, it was sure to draw a big crowd. With students just coming back from winter break, it was the first Big Ten game that students could attend. And with ESPN providing a national television audience, the program could get some widespread exposure. All in all, it was the ideal springboard.

"This is just the beginning," Brooks said. "Later in the season, we're going to have all sorts of promotions, like tuition give-aways."

The program was Ellerbe's idea. He approached Brooks before the season and said he wanted Crisler to be intimidating. The two came up with Maize Rage, modeled after a similar program at Georgia Tech, where Brooks used to work.

"We chose the name Maize Rage because rage implies chaos and energy, and that's what we want in Crisler Arena," Brooks said.

There may not have been chaos last night, but there was definitely energy. The yellow-clad students were on their feet for the entire game, bellowing and raising signs, including one that read "Impeach Bobby Knight" and another that said "Fife needs a spanking."

"The crowd is much more into it today," said sophomore Jeremy Fagel, wearing his new yellow shirt. "There wasn't much excitement about this team, but they're a competitive group of guys and it's nice that the school will get behind them."

One of Brooks' long-term goals is to move all of the students down to the lower level, completely surrounding the court, like Duke's Cameron Indoor Arena.

"It's on the horizon," Brooks said, but added that there was a lot of red tape to cut before it happens.

In the meantime, Joe Black will stay where he is, in the same student section he has sat in for four years. Only this go-round, he has his own uniform.

SARA STILLMAN/Special to the Daily

01-06-99