Michigan Stadium Press Box Letters and Eagle

Submitted by anup414 on
Very random question. On the current press box there is the "MICHIGAN STADIUM" lettering. Does anyone know if that will be on the renovated stadium plans? Also, there is an Eagle up there too on the south end, no one really knows about it, what is the story behind that? I've looked everywhere on the internet about it, can't seem to find anything. And once again, is that in the plans for the renovated stadium? If you have no idea what I am talking about, look at the banner for the blog "Hoover Street Rag" - you can see the eagle too
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Michigan Stadium Press Box Letters and Eagle

TMos53

August 28th, 2008 at 12:17 AM ^

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Eagle on the pressbox is the reminder that Michigan Stadium is dedicated to the memory of all those that died or were injured in World War II. But, I don't really know. I really hope they keep the pressbox, I've seen pictures of the renovation and it's not included, but I hope they keep it.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 30

ts

August 28th, 2008 at 8:50 AM ^

After Coach Yost retired in 1941, alumni mounted a campaign to have the name of the facility changed to Yost Stadium. However, Yost asked that it be dedicated instead to the memory of university men and women who gave their lives for their country. It was so dedicated by the regents in November 1945, and was thereafter known as Memorial Stadium. To further embody this memorial, the American Eagle sculpture was placed in the southwest plaza in 1950. Memorial Stadium, the largest war memorial on campus, is now more commonly called Michigan Stadium, and has a current capacity of 107,501.

http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/planner/sculpture/south/michiganstadium.htm

http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/planner/sculpture/south/eagle.htm

Also, the current pressbox wasn't added until 1956: http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/pressbox.htm

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Bando Calrissian

August 28th, 2008 at 12:20 AM ^

The eagle is there to scare the crap out of birds...  No more, no less.

 

I for one would really like to see the letters retained on top, but they've been there for 50 years, they are a bit on the dated side, but in a good way.  It would be a cool way to nod to the previous Stadium design, but I don't expect it to happen.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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anup414

August 28th, 2008 at 1:08 AM ^

http://mgoblog.com/content/michigan-stadium-press-box-letters-and-eagle…;

I found an image of what they plan on doing! So they will put GIANT "MICHIGAN STADIUM" letters on top of the west structure that will house the press box and then put a GIANT eagle on top of the south end of that structure to scare away giant birds. I guess they are really doing everything to scale, so instead of $226 million, it will probably cost about $230 million. (The extra $4 million being for the giant bird and the lettering, I am assuming they don't make giant 50 foot eagle statues and letters, so they will have to be custom made.) Hahahahhaa...enjoy. Go Blue!

Joined: 08/14/2008

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MRG

August 28th, 2008 at 10:19 AM ^

...will be moved to the top of the tunnel from where the players emerge.  I have no idea if this is true or not, nor do I remember where I read that (probably here somewhere).

The current press box is toast as of 2010.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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