With the attendance records to back their statement, students and football players affectionately call Lubbers Stadium the "the Little Big House."
On November 6, the Lakers and their fans will experience a game in the real Big House, when Grand Valley meets Michigan Tech at Michigan Stadium.
Football coaches and athletic departments from both universities held a news conference on May 11 to tout the game and kick off ticket sales. Tickets are $18 each ($3 for handling charges) and can be purchased at the Athletic Department or by calling x18800. They are also available online at www.bashatthebighouse.com or by calling 888-642-4832. Seating will be by general admission by sections; fans are encouraged to buy tickets early for the best seats.
The game could break NCAA Division II attendance records. The current record of 61,143 was set in 1979 when Shippensburg beat Slippery Rock, 45-14, at Michigan Stadium. In the only other Division II game played at the University of Michigan's "Big House," Wayne State beat Slippery Rock, 14-13, before 36,719 fans in 1981.
The game will largely serve as a fund-raiser for Michigan Tech, which last year briefly canceled its 82-year football program because of budget constraints. Football coach Bernie Anderson said proceeds from the game will likely support the program "well into the future." Support from students and alumni to keep Tech football was overwhelming, he said.
"In three days, we received 1,400 e-mails from 13 different countries and 35 states," Anderson said. "That surely proved people cared about Tech football."
Grand Valley head football coach Chuck Martin said he admires how Anderson and MTU reacted to adversity.
"The true test of who you are in life is what you do when faced with adversity," Martin said. "This game will be a day when everything that's good about college athletics is on display."
Academic units of both universities will be on display that Saturday at the Michigan Youth Engineering Science Expo at Crisler Arena.
