In the end, the score didn't come out as planned, but everything else about the Bash at the Big House and YES Expo was a success.

The Bash intended to break the Division II attendance record of more than 61,000. Michigan Tech vs. Grand Valley attracted “only” 50,123 fans to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

But that’s about 47,000 more people than would have seen the game at Sherman Field in Houghton. An estimated 8,000 of those fans participated in a huge tailgate party across the street from the stadium, complete with food and beverages from Houghton's Library Restaurant and Brew Pub.

All told the Bash should bring $300,000 to the football program’s coffers.

The Tech football team came up on the wrong end of a 24-7 score, but finished the season 9-1 and ranked ninth in the country. As the number one seed in the region, the Huskies earned a bye in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and the right to host a second round game.

More than 12,000 middle school and high school students attended the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Expo, presented by Michigan Tech at Crisler Arena, right next door to Michigan Stadium. With dozens of corporate and university exhibitors, the students tuned in to the benefits of a science and/or engineering education.

Hollywood couldn't have written a better script. In the spring of 2003, Michigan Tech's budget cutting included the football program. Six days after the announcement, the program was revived, but without much general fund operating support (although some $550,000 in scholarships remained).

Alumni and the community stepped up and raised funds to continue the program for fall 2003. A few players left, the team struggled, and the future remained in doubt.

A brainstorm for 2004: play a game at Michigan Stadium as a fundraiser and schedule the defending NCAA Division II champions as the foe.

And just like in that underdog-rags-to-riches movie treatment, the football Huskies responded. The 2004 season opened with some impressive victories and Tech entered the game undefeated, including wins against three teams ranked in the top 25 nationally.

Midnight came a little too early for this Cinderella. Though the Huskies earned their first trip to the NCAA playoffs, they were without the services of their starting quarterback and all-conference offensive lineman. Tech bowed to North Dakota, 20-3, to end the season.

Junior Julie Motz (in photo at left) and Senior Becca Kaukola-Subert (in photo at right) were named to the 2004 All-GLIAC volleyball team in voting by the league's head coaches. Motz earned first team honors, while Kaukola-Subert was a second team choice. Senior Kelly Wesemann was an All-GLIAC honorable mention.

The Huskies earned their tenth straight trip to the postseason Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. Tech was seeded eighth among the eight-team field, drawing the #1 seed Grand Valley in the first round.

While the Huskies had defeated the Lakers 3-0 the previous week, Grand Valley took the tournament match 3-0 on its home floor. The Lakers were ranked 14th in the nation.

The Huskies finished the year with an 8-10 conference record and an 11-20 overall record.

Michigan Tech senior quarterback Dan Mettlach was named the GLIAC Football Player of the Year and Bernie Anderson received Coach of the Year honors for the 2004 season. The GLIAC also honored sophomore running back Lee Marana as Offensive Back of the Year and senior Joe Berger as co-Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Marana is also a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, the Division II equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

All told, seven Huskies were named All-Conference first team and three were all named to the second team.

Mettlach (Gwinn, Mich.) guided a high-powered offense, which ranked in the nation's top 10 in scoring, rushing and total offense all season.

Anderson guided Michigan Tech to its first-ever GLIAC Championship. He is also the league's longest-tenured coach, completing his 18th season.

Marana (Ishpeming, Mich.) rushed for 1,484 yards and tallied 21 touchdowns this season, ranking third in NCAA Division II in scoring (12.6 points per game) and 10th in rushing (148.4 yards per game).