Why Is Slippery Rock University Such a Big Deal at U of M Games?

University of Michigan football is full of traditions but one tradition is the celebrations that go on after Slippery Rock University scores are read at home games but why?

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Who Is Slippery Rock University?

Slippery Rock University is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1889 and started as a teacher training school. In 1926, the school became a four-year college.

It was 1906 when Slippery Rock University hired its first football coach and the team went on to play in 112 seasons. The team has won 9 PSAC Championships and made 10 appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Why is this university so popular with Michigan Wolverines fans?

Michigan Fans Get Loud For Slippery Rock University Scores at The Big House

There is a history of Michigan Stadium announcers showing some love for Slippery Rock University when announcing scores of other games. When the announcer gets to Slippery Rock and they are winning, the crowd goes nuts and this has gone on for 60 years.

According to the NCAA News, it was Michigan Stadium announcer Steve Filipiak who started announcing Slippery Rock Football scores and would usually save them for last on his run of scores.

Filipiak always went big with the announcement of the SRU score and this led to Michigan adopting the university as a DII school of their own. U of M supporters eagerly wait with anticipation for the score to be announced each home game at the Big House. When the SRU score is announced, it always gets the crowd going and gets the loudest cheer of any score announced.

In the 1970s, this same announcing of Slippery Rock scores bled into Television when sports anchor for ABC Dave Diles would announce football scores and always save a small school for the end of each week SRU was one of those teams that got some love.

Slippery Rock University is known as "The Rock." A catchy name has gone a long way for the team and continues to fire up fans at Michigan Stadium today. Next time you are at the Big House, be ready for that Slippery Rock score.