Like most children growing up in Ann Arbor, Brent Kirshner only knew of one collegiate athletic program: The University of Michigan.

Kirshner and his family would attend numerous sporting events, including Saturday football games at Michigan Stadium.

This Saturday, the Kirshner family will once again be at The Big House. Only this time, Brent won’t be in the stands, he’ll be on the field as part of the Michigan lacrosse team.

“To get the opportunity to play in arguably the most famous and most well-known football stadium in the country is a blessing and I’m very excited for it,” Kirshner said. “I think it means a lot for guys from Michigan to grow up going to those games as kids and to finally go from being the fan, to the one on the field.”

When the Wolverines take the field at 3 p.m. Saturday against Bellarmine, it will serve as the first official home game at Michigan Stadium since the team was granted varsity status.

Kirshner is one of 11 players on the roster that attended high school in the state of Michigan, but only he and goalie Cy Abdelnour are from Ann Arbor. Abdelnour went to Pioneer High School and Kirshner attended Huron.

“To be able to have the opportunity to go to the Big House and play, I couldn’t even believe it,” Abdelnour said. “It’s a really surreal feeling that we even get to play in there.

“To even have a name tag above the locker space and be where all the other great football teams have been, it was really exciting.”

For Rob Healy, a Rochester native and a senior, he thinks playing at the stadium is signal of where he and the program have gone in the last few years.

“It’s all sort of come full circle, to be here and to be the one that people are going to eventually come see is pretty awe inspiring. Not to mention that we get to wear the block M when we get out on the field,” Healy said. “It’s going to be a very unique experience and something that I’ll be able to remember for the rest of my life.”

While excited for his team and his guys from Michigan, coach John Paul hopes his players remember there is a game to be played, too.

“We’re so much more focused on how we’re playing and what we’re doing that it doesn’t really matter where we play,” Paul said. “It’ll be special, it’ll be a special moment, but that’s not productive for us to focus on that right now.”

Lampley named to All-MAC Third Team

Eastern Michigan men’s basketball senior Darrell Lampley was named third team All-Mid-American Conference. The senior point guard averaged a team-high 13.3 points and 3.3 assists per game and was a key factor in the Eagles' first MAC West Division championship. This is the first All-Conference award in Lampley’s career.

Wolverines earn athlete of the week awards

Two Michigan athletes received weekly honors in their respective sports.

For the third time this season, men’s gymnast Sam Mikulak earned the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week. Mikulak placed first in three separate events when the Wolverines took on No. 1 Oklahoma last week. Mikulak took first on the pommel horse, high bar and parallel bars. He also was the all-around champion in the Wolverines' 355.50-348.950 loss.

In women’s water polo, Kelsey Nolan was named CWPA Western Division Co-Player of the Week. Nolan scored six goals while the Wolverines went 3-1 at the Marist College Red Fox Invitational.

Nolan was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season.

Upcoming home schedule:

FRIDAY

EMU baseball: 3 p.m. vs. Niagara at Oestrike Stadium

U-M women’s gymnastics: 7 p.m. vs. Michigan State at Crisler Center

SATURDAY

U-M women’s water polo: 8 a.m. vs. Salem International at Canham Natatorium

U-M women’s water polo: 9:15 a.m. vs. Gannon at Canham Natatorium

U-M women’s water polo: 11:45 a.m. vs. Cal Lutheran at Canham Natatorium

U-M men’s tennis: Noon vs. Michigan State at Varsity Tennis Center

U-M lacrosse: 3 p.m. vs. Bellarmine at Michigan Stadium

EMU baseball: 3 p.m. vs. Niagara at Oestrike Stadium

U-M men’s gymnastics: 7 p.m. vs. UIC at Cliff Keen Arena

U-M women’s water polo: 7:15 p.m. vs. Siena at Canham Natatorium

SUNDAY

U-M women’s water polo: 8 a.m. vs. Concordia Calif. at Canham Natatorium

U-M women’s tennis: Noon vs. North Carolina at Varsity Tennis Center

EMU baseball: 1 p.m. vs. Niagara at Oestrike Stadium

U-M women’s water polo: 2:15 p.m. vs. Mercyhust at Canham Natatorium

WEDNESDAY

U-M women’s tennis: 4 p.m. vs. Notre Dame at Varsity Tennis Center