The Unlikely Tradition of ‘Mr. Brightside’ with Michigan Football. Every college game has that song that rocks the stadium and evokes the feeling you can’t find anywhere else. Alabama has “Dixieland Delight,” and Virginia Tech rocks to “Enter Sandman.” Needless to say, for Michigan Football, to get the crowd pumped and on their feet “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. But how did a song released in 2003 become the unofficial anthem for the Wolverines? Let’s do a quick dive into the story.
The tradition began in 2016, the Michigan Athletics team, which tested all sort of songs, in hopes of finding one that would appeal to students and fans alike. One Saturday, they played “Mr. Brightside” much to their amazement, the students knew all the lyrics word for word. It quickly drew a passionate response, with viewers singing along to the song passionately as if it were their own anthem.
“We marked it off as a song that worked,” one Michigan staff member recalled, mentioning how they didn’t play it again for the rest of the season. It wasn’t until the rainy 2017 match against Michigan State in the third quarter that the magic really happened.
The Turning Point: “Mr. Brightside” at the Michigan State Game 2017
The rain fell in sheets that night, but this did not stop the fans. The student section was still going, so in the third quarter, Michigan opted to play “Mr. Brightside”. And it took off. The students, the fans, everyone sang together to it. Making ‘Mr Brightside’ not just a fantastic song; it became a Michigan chant and perhaps a tradition.
In the last couple of years, Michigan Football has dominated. Three wins against Ohio State, three Big Ten Championships, and a National Championship. Through it all, they have had that one song flow through the crowd and be the beating heart of that stadium.
What makes this anthem special is how it brings together 110,000 fans in The Big House every Saturday. As one player noted, “When ‘Mr. Brightside’ comes on, we all sit back and watch them.” It’s a moment when the players and fans are in sync, sharing a connection that goes beyond the game.
The energy is contagious, and no other school can play that song without thinking, “That’s Michigan.” Much Like “Jump Around” at the University of Wisconsin.
So next time you hear “Mr. Brightside,” remember – it’s more than a song. It’s the heartbeat of Michigan Football. Go Blue!
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