Michigan Tech hockey, which this year celebrates its 75th year of
existence, has a unique tradition, one that began back in 1948. Just before
the start of the third period at every home game, the P.A. announcer
proclaims, "And now ladies and gentleman, The Copper Country Anthem." The
crowd then rises, joins arms, and sways back and forth to the MTU Pep Band
playing, "The Copper Country Anthem" (which is actually the Blue Skirt
Waltz).
 
The story stems back to 1948, when Bill Cary, a student and president of
Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, used it as a parody of Frankie
Yankovich, a popular polka king of that era. It seems that Yankovich had
just played for the Sno-Ball at Winter Carnival (which is celebrated each
year, usually during the first week February on MTU's campus) earlier in
the week and Cary, in protest that tyis type of music was the only kind one
could hear on the radio, announced during the Saturday afternoon hockey
game, "Ladies and gentlemen  The Copper Country Anthem." The Huskies Pep
Band began playing its slow rendition of the waltz and the crowd began to
sway. It's been a tradition ever since!!
 
If you've never seen it done, it's actually pretty cool to watch 3,500
people swaying back and forth in unison.
 
Anyway, that's one long-time tradition at MTU.
 
        Dave Fischer, MTU SID