G: The PEP RALLY & GAME DAY

  

G                       THE  PEP RALLY   and  GAME  DAY                                                      

PEP RALLY Thursday October 12, 1967

“Wolveriney” appeared at the Michigan Pep Rally Thursday night before “The Game”. The legendary professor of astronomy Doc Losh, famous for her grading system: 

               A for Athletes,     

               B for Boys,   and    

               C for Coeds,

asked that her picture be taken with Wolveriney.

Newspapers photographed Doc Losh with Wolveriney proudly wearing the Greek Letters,  of his abductors, DELTA  SIGMA  PHI. 

Friday night a large group of Spartan Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers visited the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house and demanded the return of Sparty.  Steve "politely" told them, 

                   “After the game tomorrow.”

THE MICHIGAN DAILY, the Michigan student newspaper on October 14, 1967, the day of “THE GAME” published

“Stage Set for Wolveriney”

It chronicled the events of the previous 12 days:

· The Kidnapping on October 2nd.

· The ruse of the Lost & Found ad with the University of Wisconsin’s phone number.

· The repainting to a “patriotic maize & blue.”

“It is scheduled to pop up again today at the game.

The Michigan cheerleaders will be in charge of poor  humiliated Sparty. A spokesman for Delta Sigma Phi, said. 

‘ The  head may be turned over to State at halftime.

We are interested to know what they would do with 

 a Maize & Blue Sparty.” 


GAME DAY, Saturday October 14, 1967


POLICE ALERT 

Early the day of the Michigan-Michigan State game, Ted visited Michigan Stadium with the Michigan Cheerleaders, all of whom were members of the Men’s Gymnastics team.

The Cheerleaders had agreed to bring Sparty through the tunnel onto the field.

Ted overheard a police officer being instructed on his walkie - talkie,

“If you see the HEAD, 

DO NOT let it into the Stadium.”

The courageous Michigan Men were not to be deterred. 


ENTERING THE STADIUM

The Wolverine van stopped at the Northwest corner of the Stadium, and  Wolveriney was quickly hustled to the gate. 

The ticket taker did not collect the kidnappers’ tickets, 

he just smiled a big Michigan grin, and let Wolveriney and his kidnappers though the gate.

Although both teams had losing records, the Sparty abduction and the emergence of Wolveriney created huge interest nationwide. 


ENTERING THE STANDS

"Hail to The Victors"  played as Wolveriney walked down the aisle in the middle of the student sections towards the field, the band played Jack Berry of the Detroit Free Press wrote:

“Michigan drew a roar and a laugh from the huge sellout crowd of 103,210 when U-M students paraded in the stolen fiberglass head of the MSU Mascot, Sparty, painted in "WOLVERINE MAIZE & BLUE."ERING THE FIELD

Wolveriney climbed over the brick wall and onto the field directly in front of two Police Officers to tune of "Hail to the Victors."

The Police Officers  realized that it was too late to:

“NOT let it into the Stadium”

Wolveriney then walked toward the middle of the field with his arms raised to greet the largest crowd to have ever watched a football game.

The MSU freshmen football players ran across the field  demanding the return of Sparty, Steve responded,

“You can have him after the game!”  

Wolveriney cheered on the Wolverines along with the Michigan cheerleaders throughout the game. 

Unfortunately, the Spartans won yet again.


SPARTY’S REPLACEMENT 

Despite the fact that the newspapers had widely reported that the beautiful Maize & Blue colors were painted with water colors and that Wolveriney would be returned on Game Day, Michigan State created a new Mascot to replace the Original Sparty, (aka Wolveriney).