Hundreds gather to welcome back UM team after clinching NCAA title
Ann Arbor — The University of Michigan's championship-winning men's basketball team got a hero's welcome as they returned to Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena Tuesday afternoon, greeted by hundreds of fans. About 200 people of all ages gathered to greet the team as they returned from Indianapolis. Most of them were decked out in blue and maize.
One fan raised a flag; another held a sign that said “Morez 4 Prez," referring to UM forward Morez Johnson Jr. "You guys are amazing," said Coach Dusty May when the team finally appeared before the crowd. "You made this year very, very special for me and for us.
" Diane Gross, 66, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1981 and was among the crowd who greeted the team. She was in town from Fort Collins, Colo. on Tuesday to visit her mother and decided to welcome the team home with the rest of the fans.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Gross, who watched the Wolverines win the 1989 title. “We love the ‘89 team, but we’re happy to have a new team. ” The players and coaches emerged on top of the roof between the football stadium and Crisler Arena around 3:30 p.
m. to cheers from the crowd. Some addressed the crowd.