The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
lems that wouldn't exist at a place like Marquette or High Point, where they did start from scratch." While those club players may not be as talented as the recruits who will eventually arrive and carry on the Michigan tradition, they're do‑ ing their part to instill the underdog mentality and a spirit of hard work in their younger teammates. "We can definitely run with any‑ one who we play. That's thanks to our seniors," freshman defenseman Charlie Keady said. "I think they un‑ derstand that they're really leaving their mark here. "This is their last year here, and they're definitely using it to the max. They're really doing a good job help‑ ing us establish a culture here that will transcend through the younger kids. They're definitely setting the tone for what a D-I program should be like." For the young players, the dy‑ namic is challenging. They're learn‑ ing the culture of Michigan and the program from their upperclassman teammates, but in many instances they may be more talented than their teammates and mentors. The com‑ bination of senior leadership and young talent is a melting pot that will help the program grow in the long run. "When I watched them play the Blue Jays," Kessenich said of the Wolverines' 17-8 loss to traditional lacrosse power Johns Hopkins, "there were four guys from Michigan who really stood out as being primetime Division I players. Kyle Jackson, Tom Paras is a really good player, midfielder Michael Hernandez has a really bright future, and the goalie Gerald Logan is terrific." Logan, a freshman, was sold on be‑ ing part of something bigger in Ann Arbor, even if wins on the lacrosse field will be tough to come by for the first few years of the program. "I could tell the coaches were very, very hungry," Logan said. "The fa‑ cilities were great, the academics, the opportunity. Like football coach Brady Hoke says, 'This is Michigan, for God's sakes.' It has that aura about it where it attracts everybody. That's why we get good recruit‑ ing classes. Everybody loves this school." Inside Lacrosse associate editor and recruiting analyst Geoff Shannon opines that not every recruit has the same attitude as Logan, who was willing to take on the huge challenge of building a program. Until a few wins start to pile up on the field, U-M will recruit good players, Shannon believes, but not the program-chang‑ ers that could take the team to the next level. "With a lot of those blue-chip guys, they have such a choice of what they want to do in their future," Shan‑ non said. "With Michigan, there's no history there as far as a Division I program. That's where that move from club to Division I hurts them, because you don't get to make a fresh start, a new start. You get a lot of los‑ ing before you get some winning; kids can be a little bit hesitant for that. "There are great assets there in the school and the atmosphere, but there