The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2020 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS STEVE HUTCHINSON ELECTED TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME On Feb. 1, the National Football League announced the selection of former U-M offensive guard Steve Hutchinson to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hutchinson played with the Wolverines from 1996-2000. With the selection, the big man joins elite company and becomes just the 10th indi- vidual with ties to U-M to be honored in Canton, Ohio. Hutchinson is one of two players in school history to be recognized as first-team All-Big Ten all four seasons. He earned those honors from his redshirt freshman season (1997) through his fifth-year senior season (2000). He was a t wo - t i m e Al l -Am e r i c a n , in 1999 and 2000, and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2000. Hutchinson star ted in 45 of 47 career games, helping the Wolverines to a 41-8 re- cord during that time, which included the 1997 national championship and four con- secutive bowl victories. After his days in Ann Arbor were over, Hutchinson was picked No. 17 in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, and went on to play 12 years in the NFL with three different teams — the Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans. He was included on the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team, made seven Pro Bowls and was a seven-time All-Pro selection, including five first-team laurels. MICHIGAN RANKED NO. 1 IN BASEBALL AMERICA'S POLL FOR FIRST TIME EVER The Wolverines played four games in the season's open- ing weekend, starting with a matchup against defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Vanderbilt Feb. 14. U-M used late-game heroics to surge past the Commo- dores in the team's first game of the weekend's MLB4 Tour- nament in Scottsdale, Ariz. Fifth-year senior Matt Schmidt hit a two-run homer to left field in the top of the ninth to give the Wolverines a 4-3 victory. U-M beat Cal Poly 8-5 the next day, before traveling to Tempe, Ariz., for a matchup at No. 3 Arizona State, a game not affiliated with the MLB4 Tournament. The Wolverines shut out the Sun Devils 5-0 behind a stellar performance from redshirt freshman starting pitcher Steven Hajjar, who allowed no runs and just three hits in six innings of work. U-M then was back in tournament action Feb. 16, and fell 7-1 to Connecticut. With the 3-1 start and two wins over top-five opponents, the Wolverines were ranked No. 1 in the country by Baseball America Feb. 17 — for the first time in school history — after being the preseason No. 13 team. JULIE HYRNE SELECTED TO THE CWPA HALL OF FAME, WILL BE HONORED IN ANN ARBOR Fo r m e r U - M wate r p o l o p l a y e r J u l i e H y r n e , w h o played for the Wolverines from 2006-09, has been selected to the Collegiate Water Polo As- sociation Hall of Fame. She is just the third U-M player to earn such the honor, joining Shana Welch, a 2016 inductee, and Betsey Armstrong, a 2008 inductee. She will be honored during the 2020 CWPA Cham- pionship April 24-26 in Ann Arbor. "It is such an honor," Hyrne told MGoBlue.com. "Obviously, it was a wonderful surprise to get the call. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss water polo or my team and that collective drive to accom- plish a goal. I am excited to represent the school. Shana and Betsey are both phenom- enal water polo players and accomplished so much, so it is an honor to be a part of that group." Hyrne, a two-time captain, led the Wolverines to back-to- back CWPA championships and NCAA appearances in her junior and senior seasons, 2008 and 2009. During her career, Hyrne was a third-team AWPCA All- American in 2008 and was tabbed as an honorable mention All-American in 2009. Hyrne was the 2008 CWPA Eastern Championship MVP and a two-time Western Division MVP. She also earned all-conference honors each of her four years. Hyrne ranks second all time on Michigan's career goals list with 237, and is tied for ninth on the career assists list with 118 and fourth with 355 career points. She is especially excited to be inducted to the Hall of Fame this season, a year in which the CWPA Championship is be- ing hosted by the school she played for. "That is the best part of it," Hyrne said. "Michigan was such an instrumental and foundational part of my life and, ulti- mately, is who I am. I have an incredible amount of gratitude for the opportunities, experiences and relationships that came with it. I am excited to go back to Michigan and watch the team play and be a part of that energy and excitement again." — Clayton Sayfie Hutchinson is the 10th with ties to the Wolverines to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK