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    • Michigan Football Pays Tribute to Hype Video Voiceover James Earl Jones
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    Michigan Football Pays Tribute to Hype Video Voiceover James Earl Jones

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    In addition to his legendary acting career, James Earl Jones will be remembered as the voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King.”

    But for those who are bloodthirsty, his voice will forever be linked to American football at the University of Michigan.

    The Michigan Wolverines mourned Jones, a University of Michigan alumnus who died Monday at age 93, with a message on X (formerly Twitter) that accompanied the hype video that played inside Michigan Stadium before the start of football games.

    “In honor of the greatest voice in acting history and a Michigan icon. Rest in peace, James Earl Jones,” Michigan Football (@umichfootball) tweeted. The post was accompanied by the video, narrated by Jones, that plays before every football game at Michigan Stadium.

    The video, which debuted in 2015, was the brainchild of Jim Harbaugh, the former U-M football head coach who now plays for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. It features footage of the Ann Arbor campus, Michigan Stadium, affectionately nicknamed the Big House, and historical and current footage of the team — plus a clip of Jones donning his headphones and, with a dramatic pause, beginning to recite, “This … is the University of Michigan.”

    The video is so intertwined with the traditions of Saturday games that fans in the Big House chant certain lines, such as “the best university in the world,” in unison.

    On Monday, Harbaugh tweeted his own tribute to Jones, writing, “James Earl Jones has passed away! He created a magical moment in our lives with his introduction of the Michigan football team at every home game… ‘WE ARE MICHIGAN’ and memories of my youth with his role in ‘Sandlot’ and ‘Field of Dreams’ LEGEND!”

    Harbaugh recruited Jones for the ivideo and personally watched his recording session in New York. “It was a great experience to see Mr. James Earl Jones doing the voice-over part. It must have been like when Willie Mays did batting practice,” Harbaugh said in 2015 on WXYT-FM (97.1).

    Harbaugh’s signature lines graced the script, as the Free Press reported in 2015, including: “We will attack with a zeal unknown to humanity.”

    University of Michigan President Santa Ono also weighed in on Jones’ passing on Monday, tweeting: “Mourning the passing of University of Michigan graduate James Earl Jones. Your inspiring career and your inspiring words — heard at every home game — are heartfelt to our university community. We will miss you. RIP.”

    Contact Julie Hinds, pop culture critic at Detroit Free Press, at [email protected].

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