Alumni Association of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta: Refounding Fathers Commemorate 5 Years Anniversary:

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].

Michigan Alpha's 2nd Refounding Fathers Commemorate
the 5 Year Anniversary: 2004 ~ 2009

Looking Back and Where are They Now

The The 2nd Refounding Fathers of Michigan Alpha at the Michigan League for the charter installation ceremony at the Michigan League on December 11, 2004

[Posted September 1, 2010] On December 11, 2004, 34 newly initiated Phi Delt Brothers joined with alums to hold the charter installation ceremony at the Michigan League on campus to restore Michigan Alpha as an active chapter of Phi Delta Theta.

The Alumni Association is pleased that the 34 young men who led the rebirth of Michigan Alpha have moved on to bigger challenges in life; however, we will never forget their their contributions to keeping our fraternity's great tradition alive at U of M. We will always remember them as the 2nd Refounding Fathers of Michigan Alpha (the first Refounding Fathers reestablished the chapter in 1887 after it closed in 1869 just 5 years after it was chartered at U of M).

All Refounding Fathers were invited to share their thoughts about the five year anniversary of the chapter’s reestablishment and updates about what they’ve been during since their years as active members of Michigan Alpha. The Alumni Association received 15 responses, and the edited versions were printed in 2010 Spring-Summer issue of the Sword & Shield. The full versions of the responses can be viewed on the Alumni Association’s web site by clicking on the names below.

If you were a Refounding Father who did not have a chance to submit a response at this time, the Alumni Association encourages you to e-mail us your updates/recollections that can be posted on the web site with all the others. The Alumni Association’s e-mail address is [email protected].

The 2nd Refounding Fathers of Michigan Alpha

Antonio Adan

Jacob P. Bach

Matthew Y. Bai

Jason C. Barley

Brian W. Boss

Jonathan T. Buck

Kenneth D. Chaklos

Darren P. Culbertson

Samuel Lynn Davis

Scott J. Dill

Joshua G. Dimkoff