Berry Tramel

Tulsa World Sports Columnist

NORMAN — Let’s start with the winged helmets. Those gorgeous, blue and maize helmets, the most iconic headgear in college football.

Fritz Crisler implemented the helmets when he became Michigan’s football coach in 1938. The Wolverines’ basketball arena is named for Crisler, who also was Michigan’s 27-year athletic director.

Then that fight song. “The Victors.” Written by Michigan student Louis Elbel in 1898, after celebrating a Wolverine victory over the University of Chicago. Amid the revelry in the streets of Chicago, Elbel decided his school needed a song.

So Elbel went home and penned: “...Hail, to the victors valiant! Hail, to the conqu’ring heroes! Hail! Hail to Michigan, the leaders and best!” More than 50 years later, Elbel still would

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