The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1147681
AUGUST 2019 THE WOLVERINE 43 photo captured the moment Bush stood his ground while the Spartans, helmets and all, walked toward him arm in arm and refused to stop while Bush and a few of his teammates stood their ground. Dantonio later lied and said he wasn't part of it, though videos show him walking behind his team with a smirk on his face. The Spartans' mischief backfired when Bush and his teammates held them to 94 total yards in a 21-7 win. "It was probably one of the crazi- est photos I've ever seen and one of the best games I played in," he said. "It was super cool just everything that happened that day. They beat us the year before on our home field; we circled the name on the schedule waiting on them the next year. "When that day came, everything was fun … the bus ride, getting off the bus, sleeping overnight, getting into that stadium. The whole deal that happened before and through the game … that was just one of best games I played in. It was super fun to be able to go out there and perform the way we did." Though he's a Wolverine for life, Bush is now also a Pittsburgh Steeler, having signed a four-year, $18.8-mil- lion contract May 12 that's fully guar- anteed. Many called him the perfect fit for the organization and a fan base that takes pride in the fact that its teams thrive on toughness and leav- ing it all on the field. Head coach Mike Tomlin has al- ways liked Michigan Men and has had several play for him over the years (including linebackers Larry Foote and LaMarr Woodley, running back Fitz Toussaint and others) and found Bush to be his kind of guy. "I realized that probably like a day after the draft that it was a great fit for me, being able to come in and play linebacker in a place that prides itself on defense and has a lot of great linebackers," Bush said. "Playing for [an organization] that stands for that … I was pretty happy about them trading up and believing in me and my skill set and being able to help the team out. "They just told me to come in and be Devin Bush, and that's my plan. Ever since I've been drafted, since I've been practicing with the team, that's been my mindset: to learn what I've got to do, learn the game, the pro life — but to be me. That's why they drafted me … to be me, not somebody else." But he'll always be affiliated with the state of Florida and U-M, and he'll never forget his roots. He'll look back fondly at his days as a Wolver- ine and his picture will forever adorn the Schembechler Hall walls as a Michigan captain and All-American. "If I had five times to choose again, I would pick Michigan five times," he said. And Michigan fans would take him 100 out of 100. ❏ Filling Out The Top Five Male Athletes Michigan featured several elite male athletes across all sports in 2018-19. Here's the best of the rest: 2. Anthony McCallum, gymnastics — The senior easily could have been first on this list. He was the 2019 NCAA vault champion, becoming only the second three-time national champ in the event during the modern era of NCAA men's gymnastics. Despite missing a portion of the season due to injury, he registered the highest score in the country on vault to capture the title with a 15.266 at the NCAA Finals (April 20) to achieve All-America status. 3. Felix Aubock, swimming — The 2017 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year became a 2019 NCAA champion, capturing first place in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 14:23.09 that was less than a second from setting a new national record. The junior was honored as an All-American for that event and was on an All- America honorable mention relay. At the Big Ten Championships, he won the 500-yard freestyle (4:09.37) and 1,650-yard freestyle (14:29.58) while also placing third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:33.34). 4. Jordan Brewer, baseball — In his first season in Ann Arbor, the junior who said he "wasn't even supposed to start" wound up the Big Ten Player of the Year and a College Baseball Foundation first-team All-American. He led the Wolverines to an NCAA runner-up finish at the College World Series after bat- ting a team-best .329 with 12 home runs (tied for third on the squad) and 59 RBI (second) in 63 games played. The outfielder also paced the Wolverines in stolen bases (25), doubles (20) and slugging percentage (.557). The St. Joseph, Mich., native was the third from U-M to come off the board in the 2019 MLB Draft, being selected in the third round (106th overall) by the Houston Astros. 5. Quinn Hughes, hockey — Hughes registered a team-best 33 points (five goals and 28 assists) in 32 games, to lead all Big Ten defensemen in points and assists during his sophomore season, signing with the Vancouver Canucks — who drafted him seventh overall in 2018 — when it was over. The Orlando, Fla., native was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award given annually to the nation's best college hockey player, and earned first- team AHCA/CCM All-America recognition and first-team All-Big Ten honors. — Chris Balas Senior Anthony McCallum became just the second three-time NCAA vault champion in the modern era of men's gymnastics. PHOTO BY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY