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Athletics History

The Bentley Historical Library preserves and shares the rich history of the University of Michigan and its legendary athletic programs.

What are you here for?

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Roster Databases

Browse individuals who have been part of varsity sports programs at the University of Michigan from 1864-present.

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Image Bank

Thousands of images from U-M sports, from the earliest football and baseball images to modern athletics photos, can be found here.

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Collections Guide

This overview will help familiarize you with some of the many Bentley resources related to intercollegiate athletics.

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Featured Athletic Resources

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Resource

Football Game Films

More than 590 Michigan football game films spanning 55 years of history have been digitized from 16mm film reels and made available online.

The films, often referred to as the “coach’s films,” are shot with a single camera from the press box, silent, and mostly black and white until the late 1960s.

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Resource

Michigan in
the Olympics

From the second modern Olympic Games held in Paris in 1900 to the 2026 Games in Milan, the University of Michigan has made its mark in Olympic competition.

Explore Olympics
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Resource

Statistics Archive

Browse through the statistical history and record books of some U-M sports. Search by athlete name, statistical category, season or opponent.

Search Statistics
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Resource

Hall of Honor

Wolverines inducted into the Hall of Honor since 1978 for making significant contributions as U-M athletes, coaches, and administrators.

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Athletics Stories and Exhibits

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Featured | Article

The Symbol of the Wolverine

A brief history of U-M’s relationship with this ferocious animal.

Michigan does not have a live mascot comparable to Ohio’s Brutus Buckeye. The Athletic Department has steadfastly maintained that such a symbol is unnecessary and undignified and would not properly reflect the spirit and values of Michigan athletics. Instead, it continues to rely on the wolverine itself as the symbol of Michigan sports.

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Article

Michigan vs Ohio State

The ongoing rivalry between The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan was established the first time the teams went head-to-head in 1897.

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Article

A Sporting Chance: Women's Athletics at the University of Michigan

Women at U-M fought to have athletic facilities where they could exercise and play sports, same as the men. They had to carve out spaces for themselves.

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Exhibit

The Art of Football

For more than a century, the game program has been a part of Michigan’s football tradition, promoting and celebrating the team and the university.

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Article

The Michigan Stadium Story

From the time the student Football Association was first organized in 1873, informal games and practice sessions were held on the “playground” on the north edge of campus.

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Article

Michigan's Winged Helmet

Michigan’s football helmet is surely one of the most instantly recognizable icons in college sports. The famous “winged” design dates from 1938. when Coach Herbert O.

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Exhibit

Wills Ward:
More than the game

Willis Ward is indelibly identified with the U-M vs. Georgia Tech football game in Ann Arbor in 1934, but his legacy is more rich and complicated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

New to the library? Need a specific answer about how to research or where to park? These FAQs can help.