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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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Unofficial Michigan Alpha Alumni 2018 Homecoming Tailgate Before & After Game Outside Michigan Stadium

All Alums & Guests Welcome to Attend, Eat & Drink

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[October 5, 2018]  As the Alumni Association has previously announced, the Michigan Alpha chapter house was leased to another fraternity (Phi Kappa Psi) for the 2018 Fall Semester because of the closing of Michigan Alpha's active chapter following the 2018 Winter Semester. Thus, unfortunately, there will not be any Homecoming festivities at 1437 Washtenaw this year. It is also important to note that there will not be any parking available on the lawn of the chapter house.

While the Alumni Association is very disappointed to be unable to host a Homecoming event at the chapter house as we have done each year since the refounding of the active chapter in 2004, we are pleased to inform alums that Tom "TK" Kelly '82 and Sean Vasquez, University of the Pacific '96, have once again graciously opened up their legendary tailgate in the Blue Lot to Michigan Alpha alums and their guests who wish to enjoy the finest BBQ being served anywhere in Ann Arbor on Saturday. In addition, the tailgate will feature a full open bar.

TK will be providing straight from his farm no less than two pigs, two lambs and sirloin beef for the BBQ -- a total of more than 500 lbs. of meat! The BBQ will be professionally cooked by the award winning Kevlar BBQ. In addition, there will be side dishes including baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw plus desserts.

Attendees who eat and drink at the tailgate are encouraged to make a minimum donation of $20 per person at the donation box to cover the costs of the event. People who just stop by to say a quick hello do not have to make a donation.

The tailgate is not hard to find if you look for the only PDT flag (likely the only fraternity flag) flying proudly in the Blue Lot on the northeast side of the stadium (about 400 feet north of Gate 1 and the Suite Entrance). If you want exact directions, view the web link to the location map (http://www.pdtumich.com/files/tom-kelly-tailgate-2014.pdf).

While it's not the same as gathering at our beloved 1437 Washtenaw, we guarantee there is not another fraternity alumni Homecoming event on campus that will match this one in terms of quality of food, beverages and camaraderie!

One other note about 2018 Homecoming. The SAE Alumni Association (AKA "Michigan Mudbowl Club") has decided not to host the Mud Bowl on Homecoming this year for a variety of reasons. The 2018 Mud Bowl will be hosted on the morning of the Michigan vs. Penn State game on November 3.

The Alumni Association hopes to soon have an encouraging update about long discussions we have been having with the SAE Alumni Association on the possibility of reestablishing the rivalry between the two fraternities in conjunction with future Mud Bowls.

One final point. Please understand that the tailgate at Michigan Stadium is not sponsored by the Alumni Association; rather, we are providing this information to alums as a courtesy. No fraternity funds are being used for, or will be collected at, the event.

Posted in Alumni Updates and News, Events |

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