Michigan Leads Nation in 1998 Football Attendance

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the 24th time in the last 25 years, the University of Michigan has led the nation in average home attendance, according to figures released by the NCAA. U-M, which attracted 665,787 fans for six home dates in newly expanded Michigan Stadium, drew an average crowd of 110,965 in 1998, becoming the first team to average 110,000 in a season.

Michigan Stadium

The Wolverines now own the NCAA attendance records for home season average (110,965 in 1998), home season total (745,139 in seven games in 1997) and single game. Having increased the seating capacity of the "Big House" from 102,501 to 107,501 this past summer, the Wolverines set an NCAA single-game record with a crowd of 111,012 against Syrcause on Sept. 12 and reset the mark two weeks later by drawing 111,238 for Michigan State on Sept. 26.

Among the 1998 home attendance leaders, Michigan finished ahead of Tennessee, which averaged 106,914, the second-best mark in NCAA history. Penn State (96,532) and Ohio State (93,502) were third and fourth, respectively, giving the Big Ten Conference three of the top four schools.

Since the NCAA began compiling national attendance totals in 1948, Michigan has led the nation in average home attendance 29 times, including every year from 1974 to 1996 before Tennessee interrupted the 23-year streak in 1997.

The Wolverines have drawn over 100,000 fans for each of their last 148 games, dating back to Nov. 8, 1975.

Michigan, ranked 15th in both national polls, will face No. 11 Arkansas in the 1999 CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla. The Wolverines, 9-3 on the season, shared the Big Ten championship with a 7-1 league mark.

1998 NCAA Division I-A Football Home Attendance Leaders

 Rank, School G Total Ave. 1. MICHIGAN 6 665,787 110,965* 2. Tennessee 6 641,484 106,914 3. Penn State 6 579,190 96,532 4. Ohio State 6 561,014 93,502 5. Georgia 6 513,710 85,618 6. Florida 6 511,792 85,299 7. Alabama 7 578,693 82,670 8. Auburn 7 567,773 81,110 9. Florida State 6 482,941 80,490 10. Louisiana State 6 481,739 80,290

Michigan 1998 Home Attendance Totals

 Date Opponent Attend. Sept. 12 Syracuse 111,012 Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan 110,438 Sept. 26 Michigan State 111,238* Oct. 24 Indiana 110,863 Nov. 7 Penn State 111,019 Nov. 14 Wisconsin 111,217 * NCAA Record

Contact: Jim Schneider, Bruce Madej (734) 763-4423

University of Michigan Athletics

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