Mighty Michigan

Michigan, like most colleges, has a song which it sings in victory or defeat:

Hail to the victors valiant! Hail to the conq'ring heroes!

Hail! Hail, to Michigan, the champions of the West!

But last week Michigan's well-coached* athletes were singing it as if they meant it. Michigan's basketball team danced around Iowa (51-35) to become champions of the Dig Nine. Then the players made a beeline for Coach Ozzie Cowles, and shoved him under a shower, clothes and all.

Two nights earlier, Michigan's swimming team swam rings around Ohio State, which had won 19 straight meets. Michigan's hockey team, about the best in college competition, won two more games last week to make the record; won 18, lost 2, tied I.

The man behind the winning coaches is shrewd, 49-year-old Fritz Crisler, who as Michigan's athletic director bosses all university sports, besides coaching football. He had already done his share for Michigan this season by turning out the nation's No. I football team.

* Harvard obviously thinks so: both its new football coach (Arthur Valpey) and basketball coach (William Barclay) are Michiganders.

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