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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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Michigan Alpha Celebrates 150th Anniversary

More than 160 Attendees at Sesquicentennial Events

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[Posted November 6, 2014]  During the 2014 Homecoming weekend that started on October 31, the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association and active chapter jointly celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Phi Delta Theta (PDT) Michigan Alpha Chapter at the University of Michigan (U of M).  Although Michigan Alpha was actually established on November 28, 1864, the Alumni Association felt that celebrating the Sesquicentennial a little early in conjunction with the 2014 Homecoming afforded the best opportunity to maximize alumni participation. 

The main event of the weekend was the 150th Anniversary Dinner which was held in a ballroom at the Michigan Union on Friday night.  The next day, the 2014 Homecoming Open House was held at Michigan Alpha's historic, 111 year old residence at 1437 Washtenaw which is not far from the center of campus.

The 150th Anniversary Dinner was attended by more than 160 alums, guests of alums and active members.  The event began with a cocktail reception prior to the sit down dinner.  Leaders of the active chapter, Alumni Association and PDT General Headquarters (GHQ) spoke during the dinner program that highlighted the rich history and impressive accomplishments of the fraternity on the U of M campus as well as across the nation.

Active chapter President Arshnoor Singh '16 and Alumni Secretary Drew Nikolai '15 made remarks to welcome guests and provide an overview of the state of Michigan Alpha.  Nikolai's presentation detailed points of pride such as the chapter's growth to more than 95 members, back-to-back top finishes in the U of M intramural sports Fraternity League, an all-member grade point average (GPA) of 3.38 (above the all-Greek and all-campus GPAs), and the 6th Annual Box Car Derby that raises money and awareness to fight Lou Gehrig's disease.

He also announced the first winner of the "Craig-Waldinger Service Award" as being Adam Evanski '14.  This new annual award recognizing the active member who best demonstrates service above self to the fraternity, University, community and, or, nation was established to honor U.S. Navy aviators Phil Craig '63 and Scott "Harv" Waldinger '86 who were killed during active duty about 25 years apart.  It was particularly special to inaugurate this award at the dinner given that alums from their eras were in attendance.

Buck speaking1The Alumni Association President J.T. (Tom) Buck '77 commended the active chapter members for excelling in a range of activities including scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and responsible social events.  Buck said, "We all should be proud of our fine past, but even prouder that Michigan Alpha's renewed commitment to Phi Delt's Cardinal Principles will ensure that the fraternity's best days are yet to come."

The program included a Legion Ceremony for alums deserving of Silver Legion, Golden Legion, Palladian 60 Years Legion or Palladian 65 Years Legion recognition.  Active chapter member Craig Kaplan '15 served as the master of the ceremony that awarded twenty-five Silver Legion, ten Golden Legion, four Palladian 60 Years Legion and one Palladian 65 Years Legion pins.  Several of the Golden Legion awardees were active members of Michigan Alpha during its Centennial Celebration in 1964.

The Phi with the longest tenure in the fraternity was Dr. Loyal Jodar '48.  The doctor was introduced as the Low Bond Number (# 710) by 127 men, and thanked for his many years of support for the Alumni Association.  Dr. Jodar made impromptu comments about his gratitude for the recognition while he expressed his sense of great privilege to be able to maintain a life-long relationship with PDT.

The speaking program also featured speeches by PDT GHQ Associate Executive Vice President Sean PDT_MA_150th_Dinner_wagner_stephensWagner (Widener '02) and PDT GHQ General Council Member-At-Large Moe Stephens (Southern Indiana '99) that praised the achievements of Michigan Alpha and the fraternity as a whole. 

Wagner's remarks highlighted Michigan Alpha's distinguished place in the history of PDT being the sixteenth chapter established and the ninth oldest currently in operation.  Stephen's comments touted the renewed growth of PDT across the nation, and the GHQ's strategic plan to keep the momentum going.  He also presented the Michigan Alpha with a framed proclamation from GHQ commemorating the chapter's sesquicentennial anniversary.

Prior to the football game that pitted the Michigan Wolverines against the Indiana Hoosiers, the 2014 Homecoming Open House was attended by more than 125 alumni, guests and active chapter members.  The active chapter held a barbeque with a variety of traditional tailgate food favorites.  Alums were invited to view historical displays, memorabilia and composite pictures.  Many ventured to the second and third floors to visit their old rooms that were left open for the occasion.

PDT_MA_150th_Dinner_1960s_alumsBy the end of the weekend, alums had reminisced with the each other and the actives.  They renewed old friendships and made new ones while learning first-hand about fraternity life today. 

Alumni Association 150th Anniversary Committee Co-chair Greg Karmazin '87 summarized the weekend, "The Alumni Association felt it was very worthwhile to appropriately celebrate this major milestone, but most importantly, we wanted to firmly demonstrate to the actives that Phi Delta Theta can truly be a fraternity for life. 

We also wanted the actives to better understand the tradition of excellence that they have been entrusted to carry on and improve.  This knowledge should help them to transmit the fraternity in better shape to those who will follow after as the Pledge Oath challenges them to do.  In fact, it is our hope that many of the current actives will be present in Ann Arbor when Michigan Alpha celebrates its Bicentennial in 2064."

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