ANN ARBOR, Mich. — During the second quarter of Michigan’s game against Michigan State on Oct. 17 — a matchup that would be decided in the Spartans’ favor by an agonizingly botched punt — an out-of-town score whose relevance was not immediately apparent was shown on Michigan Stadium’s main video board: Slippery Rock 35, Mercyhurst 24.
The crowd of more than 110,000 cheered raucously — perhaps the loudest nontouchdown applause of the afternoon.
Mercy, indeed.
At a program that has no shortage of traditions, Michigan fans have been cheering the Rock, which currently competes in Division II’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, for more than a half-century.