Doak Walker called this place home

[maize'n'blue]

So what's a Michigan fan doing on an SMU board, it's pretty simple. SMU has a glorious football history, one that produced a certain player that is one of my favorite pro football team's Hall Of Famers. See in the 1950's the Detroit Lions were NOT the laughing stock of pro football as they are today (I believe this years team is different but I say that every year). In the 50's they were what the 49'ers were in the 80's the Steelers were in the 70's and the Cowboys were in the 90's. Our Star halfback was a fella named Doak Walker. And when he played at the field I'm about to show you some pictures of well, one link of about a million, The Detroit Lions were Champions. The field was Briggs Stadium at the time, most of you knew it as Tiger Stadium. The building met the wrecking ball a few years back after they built the new stadium that has pretty much been grudgingly accepted and the field was set to ruins.... 3 foot tall weeds and trash occupied the Corner of Michigan and Trumbull, where Cobb and Greenberg, Cochrane and Kaline... Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson laced 'em up. Where Bobby Layne, Doak Walker and Joe Shmidt won titles for motown..... Starr,Butkus, Staubach.... You name them they played there... an empty weed filled lot. So about a year ago a bunch of locals said Detroit City you ARE NOT gonna do this to our landmark broke in and rehabilitated the baseball field the best they could.. Hung a flag on the remaining flag pole from the old ball park and keep the field up the best they as they can.... Basically As I understand they have it shut down again for the playoffs. Sorta... But if you want to stand on the mound where Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson and Mark the Bird Fydrich pitched.... And maybe toss a pigskin in the outfield where Doak ran... And you happen to be headed to Motown for the playoff baseball, make SURE you stop by the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. I guess there's a loose spot or 2 in the fence allowing you to walk where Giants did.

this is only about 6 hours old.
http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/10/09/1 ... eedID=3701

[Mexmustang]

You realize that Lane and Doak and Stafford all lined up for the same high school, blocks away from SMU--Highland Park HS, which has produced several SMU greats.

[maize'n'blue]

You realize that Lane and Doak and Stafford all lined up for the same high school, blocks away from SMU--Highland Park HS, which has produced several SMU greats.

YES I DO!!!!!!!! I mean, why would I post that for you guys to read if I didn't know that.. Highland Park HS.... I hope Stafford is the reverse to the Layne curse.

The city of Detroit is pretty closed lipped on this subject, seems like they see dollar signs from a WalMart on Hallowed ground. The Lions and Tigers won world championships on their abandoned lot. I'm glad the Detroit people are breaking the law to do the right thing.

[maize'n'blue]

http://www.tigerstadiumdetroit.com/

There's a lot more pics here on the official Save Tiger Stadium page (we lost kinda) . I was alive and old enough to remember baseball there including going to games there in '84. Watching football there would have been like having the game actually being played in your living room. Joe Schmidt tackling Jim Brown woulda sounded like a train wreck in this ball park. And a Doak Walker TD well 50,000 crazy Detroiters going nuts there probably 5 times as loud as the Big House even after the noise containing modifications. The place was SOOOO small.

[smuuth]

Neat post. We need to respect and honor the past heros and the grounds where they performed. those guys were real players back then. I miss the games on the "frozen tundra" and the elements. Those were real fans at those games too! None of this pink shoe stuff and pretty boys. Glad to see Michigan winning again. Those were neat throwback jerseys with the big M on the front they wore earlier in the season.

[ponyte]

You still going to be nice to us when SMU rolls, Michigan falters and we meet in the Ticket City bowl?

NTTAWWT

[huskerpony]

Michigan is looking pretty good right now. They will probably win the division if Robinson can stay healthy. And they don't have Wisconsin on their schedule.

[Treadway21]

As a HP grad and an SMU grad - love the story. It is sad what has happened to Detroit, but at least your sports have rebounded. I think it all started to come back when the Lions fired Matt Millen.

Thanks for your support, we need more like you.

Lastly, Go Rangers.

[SMU 86]

Michigan is looking pretty good right now. They will probably win the division if Robinson can stay healthy. And they don't have Wisconsin on their schedule.

Would be interesting if they played Wisconsin for the conference championship.

[maize'n'blue]

I thought you guys might like that, Most of us never really think of "the corner" as a football venue but being a Lions fan, I have to look back pretty far to see anything positive, well other than what seems to be going on right now... But they've fooled me before. I think it's great that those guys are keeping that old ball field up. I mean shoot probably 60 to 70 percent of the guys in Canton played there well at least on the visiting side before the team moved in '74 in edition to the all of the AL guys up in Cooperstown.

Rangers / Tigers... Detroit's back is clearly against the wall, The Ranger Bullpen is incredible. I hope the Motor City Kitties can get some runs EARLY tonight.

Michigan,Well they have a serious acid test Saturday in East Lansing. Hoke has re- emphasized how important beating MSU is however whether UM is big and tough enough to beat Sparty in the trenches.... I don't know. I hope they pull it off but MSU always is ready for Michigan and when talent levels are similar, they usually beat the maize'n'blue. Michigan State is still better talent wise. However at this point I'm happy with the improved Defensive scheme and Denard Robinson even though he has absolutely no arm talent... Man is he fast and a good humble kid, I love it when he has the ball. Overall I think Michigan has a chance Saturday and if they win who knows, they got the Huskers coming to AA. No way my little team's beating the Badgers in the Big Ten Championship if they make it though. Wisconsin looks like always only with a quarterback, man what a difference that guy makes.

If we meet in The Ticket City Bowl, of course I'll be nice there's a little thing called sportsmanship out there still. I see M in either the Outback or Gator Bowl though. If Outback vs loser of Alabama/LSU or South Carolina maybe, if Gator...Hmmm, maybe Auburn?

[ponyte]

I sure don't expect it, but if Michigan somehow heads to the Ticket City bowl and SMU makes it, we must find a way to meet up. And regardless, best of luck in beating the absolute Hades out of Ohio State this year.

[maize'n'blue]

Boy do I wish I could possibly have time to attend ANY bowl game. I'll be insanely busy at that time next year or end of this year. I don't currently reside in Michigan, so even games in AA are out of the question. I'm glad that they have a large national fan base though so I get all the games on TV without having to pay extra. However I'll be missing the game against Sparty this weekend... I have a pretty different type of job. I guess. Well, Maybe AFN will have the game. I'm still pretty ticked that whether the Tigers make it or not we're gonna miss the World Series although I KNOW that'll be on. It gets annoying though because there'll be a big play then the ship turns and you lose reception and miss it....

I guess I gotta google the bowl Tie ins. New years Day game I'd imagine wouldn't be the 6 or 7 B1G team. Seems like it'd be higher. But like I say if you all made it and somehow got Michigan or Nebraska or even ohio then you guys could kick the crap out of them too.. That'd be a coup for y'all.

[Pony ^]

Thanks for your service!

[LHS81]

Wasn't the last event at old Tiger Stadium the big KISS reunion tour, where they reunited the original members of KISS, and put the makeup back on around 96-97?

[maize'n'blue]

That was one of the last events, but I think it was later on like in 98 maybe because I was already out of High school when it happened and the Tigers were still playing there till 98 or 99 I think can't remember right now it's all on the site. They had a couple civil rights rallys and a couple minor league ball games there after that KISS I know a few people that went to that KISS show. When they had the Super Bowl at Ford Field Budweiser held a party in a tent on the field. That was the last event not sure how big it was.