The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW steeling Brady's resolve. By then, the confi- dence he'd built and his raw talent combined to produce results. "He's Tom Brady," Flannelly said. "Tom Brady thinks if he was on the Titanic, it wouldn't have sunk. Just remember that, always." Michigan fans were only beginning to find out. Following that wince-worthy beginning, the Brady-led Wolverines went out and won eight straight, and 10 of their final 11. They took down Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl along the way. They couldn't overcome the Buckeyes in Columbus, losing 31-16, but still tied for the Big Ten championship. Brady had the next ring — and a brand new challenge at hand. On that 1998 roster loomed a freshman quarterback, surely the next superstar signal- caller at Michigan. Drew Henson, Mr. All- Everything out of nearby Brighton, captured the imagination of local fans and stirred a huge debate over Brady's chances to hold onto his job as a fifth-year senior. Flannelly will never forget a certain media day when players were seated at different venues in Michigan Stadium for autograph signing. Brady probably hasn't forgotten, ei- ther. Flannelly sat near the smoldering Brady for an hour, watching him carefully. "The line for Henson — and they changed media day because of this — was from the end zone to the 50-yard line," Flannelly re- called. "Tom is sitting by the tunnel. I think he signed three autographs all day, and one was my niece. Another kid thought he was Scott Dreisbach. Brady is the only player in NFL history to be named the Super Bowl MVP four times, and he also boasts three league MVP honors. He's the oldest player to receive both distinctions. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS/KEITH NORDSTROM BRADY'S NFL POSTSEASON RECORDS