Years ago, one of the traditions of a Michigan game day was to have Slippery Rock's score announced to the Michigan Stadium crowd. That tradition faded away in recent years, but it was brought back this season thanks to Dave Brandon.
↵In the two home games so far this season, the announcement of Slippery Rock's score has drawn huge cheers. Most of the student section was rather confused over the announcement, however. One student said, "Who cares about a no-name school like Slippery Rock." Another, just as confused, asked what Slippery Rock had to do with anything.
↵I am probably one of the few students out there who knows the story behind the Slippery Rock score, both because I've been going to games since 1997 and because my dad told me about the tradition. For the students who are confused every time Slippery Rock's score is announced, here is a history lesson from MGoBlue:
↵↵↵Fans in the Big House have noticed a special return on the out of town scoreboard this year -- Slippery Rock University. They've joined the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Boise State on the big screens. The tradition began in 1959 when public address announcer Steve Filipiak reported the scores to the Big House crowd. Filipiak announced the score every Saturday until his final season in 1971, but the tradition lived on.
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Slippery Rock has actually played at Michigan Stadium twice -- in 1979 and 1981. The '79 game drew a Division II record of 61,143 fans, showing just how popular the school became with Michigan fans back in the day.