Where'd it go?

Banner theft irks 'U' officials

Has anyone seen our banner?

The Michigan "Go Blue" banner hasn't turned up since it was stolen from Crisler Arena late Friday or early Saturday morning.

Elizabeth Hall, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said the banner had "not been recovered and there are no suspects."

The banner is of "sentimental value to the University," Hall added.

FILE PHOTO The 1995 Michigan football team takes the field by running beneath the famous blue banner. The banner was recently stolen from Crisler Arena.

Bruce Madej, director of media relations for the Athletic Department, said he was surprised Saturday to find that the banner had been taken.

Madej said the incident did not lessen the "morale of the football team."

The banner, the University's second since 1962, is about 40 feet long and four feet wide, Madej said.

"The actual cost is not all that much, but the banner was priceless for the Athletic Department" he said.

Due to the game's excitement and all of the preparations, many areas in the arena were open to the public Friday night, Madej said.

WARREN ZINN/Daily The football team runs under its temporary banner.

The Athletic Department has already taken steps to replace the old banner.

The new banner should be in place for the football players to burst through at Saturday's football game against Eastern Michigan.

Anthony Jordan, a Michigan linebacker, said some of the players were disappointed they could not reach the old banner.

The new banner, Madej said, will be "as similiar as possible to the one that was stolen."

University spokesperson Julie Peterson said the university would hate "to lose the banner."

"We know that this is the time of year for pranks," Peterson added, "But whoever took it as a prank or as a momento, we encourage them to bring it back."

Hall encourages anyone that has information to contact the Athletic Department or DPS.

09-15-98