Following the Korean War in approximately 1954, a small group of Michigan sports fans (possibly Michigan graduates) – around 8 or 9 of them – started getting together to discuss Michigan sports. It was very informal with each person bringing his own lunch and meeting in the basement of the athletic ticket office (now the Marie Hartwig Building).

  By 1960 the group had grown and they were meeting in the basement of the Beef Buffet restaurant on East Stadium (where King’s Pianos was located before their move a couple of years ago). There were many different meeting places over the years to the North Campus Union, U of M Golf Course, the American Legion Hall. In about the middle of 1968 the club moved the luncheons to Weber’s. The big problem was finding a darkened room so they could show game films. In 1969 there were approximately 250 members.

​

​  Originally it was Wally Weber and not the head football coach who met with the club. Bump Elliot was the first football head coach to come and speak at the Monday luncheons. Johnny Orr was the first basketball coach to meet regularly with the club.

​  Oral history indicates that the sports media wanted Bo Schembechler to come to Detroit on Mondays for his press conference. Bo allegedly did not want to make such a long trip and decided to have the press conference at Weber’s after he spoke at the Ann Arbor U of M Club luncheon.

  The club’s sponsorship of the annual Basketball Awards banquet (a.k.a Basketball Bust) started in 1968. Prior to that it had been an informal gathering, but Johnny Orr wanted something more formal. Women were invited to the banquet for the first time. The first “Bust” was held at the Ramada Inn. 

  The membership of the club has grown since its beginning but has varied with the success of the football and basketball programs. With the Cazzie Russell-lead NCAA Basketball Championship team in 1965, the membership grew. This was followed by the Schembechler era during which football became more and more popular and this was reflected by a growth of interest in the U of M Club of Ann Arbor.  The highest number of members for which there are available records appears to be in the mid-800s in the 1980s.

  The club provides scholarships for students. The club’s financial support of local area students by giving scholarships started in 1957. The club has also contributed to an endowed football scholarship and basketball manager’s scholarship. In prior years donations have been made to various men’s and women’s sports.

​

​

​

​

​