The Original Inspiration for Michigan's Helmets

The Egyptian League

Mr. Peabody: "Welcome again to another episode of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, with our very special guest - Mark II. Sherman, set the WAY BACK MACHINE to the year 1,500 B.C."

Way Back Machine: "WWWWHHHHIIIIZZZZ, WWWWHHHHIIIIRRRRLLLL, ZZZZAAAAPPPP, ZZZZOOOOIIIINNNNKKKK!!"

Mr. Peabody: "Folks, we are here in ancient Egypt at the Tomb of Biakabutuka."

Mark II: "Thanks, Mr. Peabody. As I'm sure everyone knows, Biakabutuka was one of the great pharaohs in Egyptian history, and a direct ancestor of Michigan's great running back of the same name. What is not so well known is that his tomb contains a detailed history of football as it was played during the Egyptian era. Football during this period was played during breaks in pyramid construction. Teams of builders would push a large pyramid stone against each other. Victory was achieved by pushing the opposing team the length of 100 serpents. "

Sherman: "Wow, Mark II. Please tell us more."

Mark II: "Glad to, Sherman. Step over here. [Mark II, Mr. Peabody and Sherman enter the Tomb of Biakabutuka. Mark II dusts off a mummy's casket and pulls out his magnifying glass.] Take a look at these hieroglyphics":

Biakabutuka the Mummy

Sherman: "Gee, Mark II, what does it all mean?"

Mark II: "Sherman, according to the symbols the Biakabutuka football dynasty lasted for the entire duration of Egypt's Old Kingdom (roughly 2,800 - 2,400 B.C.). So Michigan can quite legitimately claim another 400 titles here. Further, the symbols indicate that the Biakabutuka dynasty defeated its opponents by 42.8 points/game. Quite impressive, don't you think?"

Mr. Peabody: "Fascinating, Mark II, but the Egyptian period lasted longer than this, didn't it? What happened during the New Kingdom (1,580 - 1,085 B.C.)?"

Mark II: "Well, it's a dark period for Michigan football, Mr. Peabody. We don't like to speak of it much. But since you asked, these hieroglyphics also tell the story of a new dynasty led by the great and fearsome pharaoh Ska. Legend has it that Ska was the offspring of Neb-Ti (Neb, for short), goddess of the north winds, and Amen-Ra (Ra, for short), the sun god. Ska took the name of his parents and became known as Neb-Ra-Ska. The Neb-Ra-Ska football dynasty perfected the Eye formation and routed all opposition. And what a defense! The dynasty was completely unscored upon for 495 years. The techniques and discoveries of the Neb-Ra-Ska dynasty have profoundly influenced football to this very day."

Pharaoh Neb-Ra-Ska Ruled the New Kingdom

Mr. Peabody: "Well, Mark II, even great dynasties like Michigan are entitled to a few off years, right?"