Wandering the Streets of A2

Mikoyan, proprietor of the photography-based blog Michigan Exposures and frequent MZone contributor, recently wandered the streets of A2, camera in hand.  Don't know about you, but I never tire of seeing the campus.  Even more so now that I don't live close enough to make it there on a regular basis.  And with many of our readers also spread across the country, thought you'd like to get ready for Meeechigan's upcoming season with a stroll around A2.

Let the memories commence!

No stop to U-M's campus would be complete without walking past the Endover Cube or, as it's more commonly known, The Cube.

Remember the first time you spun it?

Next up is the Fleming Administration Building. Need to know more? Take it away, Mikoyan:

This building was designed by Alden Dow who was the son of the founder of Dow Chemical and resident of Michigan. He started out his academic career at the University of Michigan and was studying engineering to work at his father's company. After three years, he transferred to Columbia University where he studied architecture. He worked with the Saginaw firm of Frantz and Spence for a while and then he studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. After which he returned to Midland and opened his own firm.
Construction on the Fleming Building started in 1965 and was completed in 1968. It houses the Adminstration of the University. It almost looks like it could be used as a fortress if necessary.

I agree about the fortress assessment.  And because the Fleming Administration Building has been the site of many-a-student protest over the years, it's probably a good idea!

Ready for its next student protest

Ah, The Michigan Union. One of my favorite buildings on the entire campus. Below, Mikoyan looks up at the Michigan Union Tower.

Any alums of the U-M law school? Then the pic below of the reading room will bring back some memories. Or as I call it, "that place you went after you realized the Ugli wasn't for studying."

SHHHHHH!

Below is a shot Mikoyan took looking north on State Street.  While the names of the restaurants and bars may change every couple of years, thankfully, it still looks the same.

Obviously school's not in session: nobody is almost getting run over!

What better place to end our quick trip around A2 than a walk through the Diag. Here's a shot of West Engineering building.

Last, but not least...

I still won't step on the damn thing!

If you look close, you'll notice the "M" at the center of the Diag was a gift from the class of '53.  Talk about the ultimate class gift!  There is no way to top that.  You just know the class of '54 was going, "We are so fucked!"

Which is probably why I don't believe my class did anything (at least not to my knowlege).  I'm guessing everybody post-'53 just said, screw it. 

Jim Tressel now sells stir-fry and wears his cellphone on his belt

Jim Tressel: From Coaching Great to Marketing Slogan in Mere Months

MZone reader William sent us this pic taken at Washtenaw and Huron Parkway in A2 on August 14th.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Speaking of Tressel...

Carr and Tressel: The MZone Transcript

SiC and Ex sent us the story about Jim Tressel and Lloyd Carr both showing up on the sidelines on the sidelines of a Cleveland Browns training camp practice. 

JIM TRESSEL: "Lloyd, remember when I said I didn't sic those bomb sniffing dogs on your team bus?  I lied about that, too."

LLOYD CARR: "No surprise.  Hey, don't know if you heard, but I was just elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.  So how's your summer going?"

JIM TRESSEL: "Well, I traded in my vest for the black cellphone holder I now wear here on my belt.  Awesome, right? I just got a job in middle-management at Target."

Damn right I'm a Jim Tressel fan...for $11 bucks!

Our top secret spy behind enemy lines in Columbus, SiC, who sent us the pic earlier this week of the Sugar Bowl shirts on sale, has sent us another.

I guess those Tressel hats ain't fetching what they used to!

P.S. No, I don't have any idea where the hell SiC saw this. Judging by the background, it looks like he was shopping at someone's garage sale.  Then again, this looks like exactly the sort of place that would sell a hat like this.

Reader Submissions: Why a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Leave it to you, the MZone reader, to keep the site chugging along during the summer off-season.  Got a couple good pics in Ye Old Inbox over the weekend and had to share.

Two cars.  Two schools.  Two lives.

West Coast reader TG was in a grocery store parking lot in California when he spotted two cars parked next to each other - a BMW 5-series and a Honda Accord.  One had an Ohio State alumni license plate holder, the other sported a Michigan license plate holder.

Care to guess which was which?

click image for larger view

All Degrees Are Not Created Equal

Everything Must Go!

Our good buddy and frequent contributor Surrounded in Columbus who, as his screen name indicates, is forced to actually live behind enemy lines, sent us the picture below from a local sporting goods store.  They were selling 2011 Sugar Bowl gear for 50% off. 

I guess my question is: shouldn't these items be free since the game has since been washed from the Tosu* record books?

P.S.  No word from SiC on what red sweater vests are now selling for in C-bus.

To Ohio State, Integrity is Garbage

Over the weekend, got the following email from our pal SiC who, sadly, lives in C-bus:

Taking the wife to a concert @ Value City Arena. Swear to gawd as you walk in they have a tosu trash can with "integrity" posted on it. Had to take a pic.

As SiC said in a follow up email, you can't make this stuff up if you tried!  

Ohio State trashes its integrity

Caption contest, anyone?

UPDATE: Our pal Mikoyan did a little 'Shop to the pic and...

Welcome to a Future Wolverine!

Congrats to MZone reader SG and his wife who welcomed their first child.  As you can tell from the picture below, the future Wolverine is already being prepped to catch his first game in the Big House.