The Wolverine

April 2013

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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costume, wearing superhero outfits, speedos, jerseys and much more. I went with a Michigan onesie — a full-length pajama — a wool cap that looked like a wolverine and some five-finger shoes. When it came time to jump, I braced myself and then sailed high into the air before submerging in the frigid tub. Rising to my feet, I struck Desmond Howard's famed Heisman pose, then grabbed the ladder, exited the pool and sprinted for the lockers and a very long, very, very hot shower. After a change of clothes, more and more plungers arrived in the locker room, including a few participants that have competed at the Special Olympics. In seeing their smiles, and listening to them boast about their dives, the reality settles in quickly — this event isn't about you but about them, and providing athletes often cast aside by society with the opportunities that so many of us have perhaps taken for granted. I met one special needs plunger who couldn't contain his excitement, high-fiving everyone, grinning from ear to ear while he explained how the water wasn't really that cold. Another was in no rush to hit the showers, instead reveling in the zeal of the moment, the blue in his lips a sign of incredible achievement on a day when he performed the same physical act that the other 337 plungers did. On that day, there was no dividing line separating athlete from Special Olympics athlete. Two pools, two arctic pools, where we were one and the same. All a little bit nuts. *** Roy Manning will coach Michigan's outside linebackers, a position he knows well after spending most of his U-M career there. But with such a specific, singular, task on the field, it's clear that Manning's primary responsibility is to recruit. At least for now. That makes sense. The Wolverines said goodbye to a dynamic young recruiter in Jerry Montgomery, who was responsible for landing five-star tailback Derrick Green and five other prospects in this 2013 class. In Manning, Michigan now has another vibrant youthful coach only nine years removed from his final game in the winged helmet. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, at 62 years old, is well regarded for his recruiting prowess, but as trends change in college football, recruiting is becoming more and more of a young man's pursuit, and Manning could be an asset. In fact, he has to be. With only one out of 11 posts to coach defensively, the Saginaw, Mich., native should be expected to contribute even more off the field by earning the signatures of top talents. An alumnus, he's probably here for the long haul, too, and in time, his role will evolve. For now, though, his success will be measured more on National Signing Day than during the three months of the 2013 season. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.

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