web
www.pdtumich.com

Michigan Alpha Centennial 1964

  • PDT MA Cen 7
    The Centennial Celebration 1964 jointly hosted by the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association and active chapter.

Homecoming 2013

  • PDT HC 13_993
    Homecoming 2013 at 1437 Washtenaw.

Harmon BBQ 2013

  • HBBQ9999999
    BBQ at the chapter house to honor Tom Harmon '41.

Homecoming 2012

  • 999
    BBQ revives tradition attracting strong alumni attendance.

Mud Bowl

  • F 998 90 MB 90
    A PHOTO HISTORY OF THE MUD BOWL 1934 to 1997 ~ MICHIGAN'S GREATEST FRATERNITY ATHLETIC RIVALRY During the fall of 1934, Phi Delta Theta (PDT) active member E. Reed Low '37 challenged the "house across the street" (Sigma Alpha Epsilon -- SAE) to a friendly game of "touch" football on the morning of Homecoming in a little used valley in their side yard along South University. Low is considered the founder of the Mud Bowl. The men of PDT and SAE fought a close match which SAE narrowly won 8 - 6. Given the intense rivalry between the two fraternities which were located only a couple hundred feet apart, it was decided that the Mud Bowl would be an annual event. The Mud Bowl became a revered Homecoming tradition as PDT and SAE fiercely battled each year for nothing more than pride. In the early years, the game essentially was a rough intramural football match played on a field that was wetter and shorter than regulation. As the annual contest matured, it was decided that the challenge and entertainment value of the game could be enhanced by tilling the ground and flooding the field. Eventually, the Ann Arbor Fire Department contributed to making the mayhem on the field even more muddy by pouring approximately 10,000 gallons of water into the valley shortly before the game. By kickoff of games played in the 1970s through the 1990s, it was not uncommon for the mud to be more than one foot deep with water covering the west end of the "field." The PDT-SAE rivalry series in the Mud Bowled ended in 1997 after the 60th game between the two fraternities was played. The records about these 60 games are a combination of fact and myth, but no one disputes that this was the greatest fraternity athletic rivalry in the State of Michigan if not the entire nation. The Mud Bowl grew into such a spectacle that crowds numbering in the thousands showed up each year to witness the game. The game attracted coverage by Sports Illustrated, ESPN, ABC Sports as well as campus, Ann Arbor and Detroit media. The Mud Bowl became so popular that national brewing companies -- at first Stroh's, and then Miller -- sponsored the event. Of course, some people have speculated that the presence of sororities playing football, or speedball in some years, during the half-time may have garnered most of the great public interest in the event. Nonetheless the athleticism and intensity of the PDT-SAE matchups proved to be very entertaining for the fans. While the exact win-loss tally is subject to dispute, it is believed that PDT rightly boasts a few more victories in the series than SAE. Given that SAE hand picked the referees for each Mud Bowl, a PDT victory typically required overcoming the opposing players plus the men in stripes. For this reason, PDT's hard fought "losses" remain as much a source of pride as its many victories. If you have pictures or memories of the Mud Bowl to share with the Alumni Association's Heritage Project, please contact us at [email protected].

« Boxcar Derby | Main | North Porch Restoration »

Active Chapter President's Report
for Spring 2009

By John Sturgis, VII '11

PDT-actives1[Posted July 1, 2009]  Legendary Michigan Football Coach Schembechler was famous for saying, "You can never stay the same. You either get better or you get worse.”  The Coach was obviously talking about a team, but the same thing could be said about a fraternity. 

Even though Bo was a SAE while an undergraduate at Miami of Ohio,  Michigan Alpha has embraced his philosophy.  We are not going rest on our past laurels.  I am proud to report that during the 2008-2009 year, Michigan Alpha got better.

Here are some highlight of our recent achievements:

*  A total of 23 men pledged and were inititiated between the fall and winter semesters.  Our total active membership was more than 65 for the first time since 1998. 

*  Top five in Intramural Sports overall points for the Fraternity League.

*  Active social calendar including events with Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi and other sororities.

*  1st Annual Boxcar Derby Race took our successful philanthropy programs to fight Lou Gehrig's Disease to new heights.  To learn more about our newest philanthropy tradition, please read the article about the race and view photos on this Web site (http://pdtumich.typepad.com/michalpha/2009/07/boxcar-derby.html).

*  Members hold leadership positions in Greek System including the Greek Activities Review Panel, Hazing Task Force, Interfraternity Council Executive Board and Junior Interfraternity Council Executive Board. 

In summary, Michigan Alpha is a leader in the Michigan Greek System, and we believe we offer the best overall fraternity experience on campus.  If you know  a well-rounded young man attending U of M, please encourage him to rush and see first-hand what we have to offer.

On behalf of the active chapter, I wish to thank all alums for their generous financial support for maintaining the chapter house and backing our programs.  Please know that you are always welcome to visit 1437 Washtenaw and this is still your fraternity for life. 

I am, and will always remain, proud to be a Phi! 

Posted in Active Chapter |

|