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Michigan Alpha Centennial 1964

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    The Centennial Celebration 1964 jointly hosted by the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association and active chapter.

Homecoming 2013

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    Homecoming 2013 at 1437 Washtenaw.

Harmon BBQ 2013

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

Homecoming 2012

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    BBQ revives tradition attracting strong alumni attendance.

Mud Bowl

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    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].

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Homecoming 2012

BBQ Revives Tradition Attracting Strong Alumni Attendance

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[Posted November 1, 2012]  For Michigan Alpha alums, few places on the University of Michigan campus bring back more good memories on Homecoming than 1437 Washtenaw.

Back in the day, no Homecoming visit by an alum was truly complete without walking up the steps of the portico entrance and swinging open the massive solid wood doors to be greeted by active and alumni brothers in the foyer. That's exactly what more than 35 alums -- from classes of the 1950s through the 2000s -- and their guests experienced during Homecoming 2012.

Homecoming History

Due to a range of reasons, Michigan Alpha's Homecoming tradition faded in the late-1990s and finally ended when the active chapter's charter was suspended in 1998. The closing of the active chapter also unfortunately marked the demise of the Phi Delta Theta - SAE Mud Bowl rivalry game that began in 1934, and was the oldest Homecoming tradition on campus after the varsity football game.

Today, SAE (AKA "the house across the street") doesn't regularly hold the Mud Bowl on Homecoming as they have turned it into a philanthropic tournament open to all fraternities that make a donation to the Mott's Children's Hospital.

When the active chapter was revived in December of 2004, the Alumni Association made the reestablishment of a Homecoming event with alums a top priority. Homecoming during the mid- and late 2000s consisted of opening the chapter house with light refreshments and a brief program to welcome alums. Alumni attendance gradually grew as more alums learned that a trip back to the old "Red Brick Barn" was an enjoyable experience. But, the event still didn't have the high energy of past years.

2012 Homecoming Revival

Seeking to fully restore the tradition, Alumni Association President J.T. (Tom) Buck '77 challenged the active chapter's leadership to co-host a old-style barbeque during Homecoming 2012 that would attract strong attendance of alums and active alike.

The actives responded by firing up the grill on the South Porch and preparing an impressive menu featuring Italian sausages, hamburgers and hot dogs along with side dishes and snacks. They got the inside and outside of the chapter house in tip-top shape. They also made sure the Trophy Room was well organized showcasing many pictures and memorabilia of past Michigan Alpha glories.

Approximately 60 actives and their sorority girl guests combined with alums to pack the first floor which produced an especially lively atmosphere when the stereo was cranked up. As always on football game days, alums were permitted to park their cars on the lawn for free, but this year it was nearly at capacity.

Buck said, "The alumni attendance for Homecoming was the best it has been since the 1990s. I was especially encouraged to see alums bringing their wives and children to the chapter house in some cases for the first time. The actives did an outstanding job of organizing the event, and everyone had a great time. The Alumni Association plans to work with the actives to build on this success and keep the momentum going."

Alumnus of the Year Award

Moore Buck alum of yearThe highlight of Homecoming 2012 was the presenting of the "Alumnus of the Year" award to Patrick Moore '09. The Alumni Association board of directors unanimously chose Moore for his dedication to complete about 2 years of grueling training to become a Pararescueman in the U.S. Air Force.

Fewer than 1 in 10 men who start this elite training program complete it. The Pararescue program has highest training dropout rate in the entire U.S. Special Operations community. Moore's mission is now to aid and rescue American pilots stranded anywhere around the globe -- including behind enemy lines.

Buck said, "Moore is an example of the high quality of young men joining and graduating from Michigan Alpha today. During a time of war, he chose to serve in one of the military's toughest programs rather than accept his admission to law school. While we look forward to learning of his future career accomplishments, Moore has already brought honor to Michigan Alpha by demonstrating the fraternity's core principle of duty to serve and make a positive difference in society."

Alums Welcome to Visit and 2013

Events If you didn't make it to the chapter house during Homecoming or another football weekend this year, feel free to drop by and visit any time you are in Ann Arbor. Please remember, however, that the doors of the chapter house are locked at all times. If active members are present, they will let you in if you knock on the door.

Of course, the best way to be sure of seeing the inside of the chapter house is to attend a function held by the Alumni Association. We will send out 2013 event information when confirmed, and look forward to seeing you back at our 109 year old historic chapter house.

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