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Football fans welcomed the Michigan Wolverines back to Ann Arbor following their national title win against the Washington Huskies. The university’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, and the players addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support. The team’s victory marked the 12th national championship in the school’s history.
Wolverines Welcomed Back to Ann Arbor by Fans
Wolverine supporters gathered on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor on campus to welcome home the returning football champions. UM head coach, Jim Harbaugh, thanked the crowd for their support, and celebrated the team’s mission attainment and never losing sight of their goals.
Harbaugh compared the crowd’s enthusiasm in the drizzling rain to the resilience of the 2023 Michigan football team. He encouraged the crowd, appreciating their support through the stormy times.
J.J. McCarthy also expressed gratitude to the fans a day after the team’s victory over the Washington Huskies. He thanked the crowd for their support, acknowledging their chants for him to stay for another year, given his last year of eligibility in his college football career.
Speaking to the crowd, McCarthy expressed his love for the team and the fans, appreciating their support and considering them as part of the team.
At the end of the celebration, players and Harbaugh came off the platform to greet the supporters, who attempted to high-five the players, leading to security and police fortifying the barriers.
Fans had earlier moved onto the practice field to greet the team and staff after their victory against the Washington Huskies. Following the win, local fans filled the streets of downtown Ann Arbor. They later filled Schembechler Hall, the home of the football team, holding UM flags and chanting, “It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine!”.
UM alum Nathan Smith described the team’s win as a “full-circle moment”. He remembered their 11th national title win in 1997 and expressed his pride for the team’s accomplishments throughout the year.
The game marked the 12th national championship for the Ann Arbor school with fans considering the win as “earned, not awarded”. Jackie Fogelsonger, a fan, described the win as a sweet victory and vindication.
David Ablauf, the football program’s associate athletic director of communications, revealed plans for a parade with the Champions Circle Collective, a community of fans, alumni, and supporters. The event is set to be finalized Wednesday and is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
“We’re planning a parade right now with the city of Ann Arbor. Be ready: it might be cold, there might be snow, but we want everybody to show up for this parade.” Ablauf said.
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