The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1252590
JUNE/JULY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 13 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Getting To Know Men's Tennis Senior Connor Johnston Men's tennis player Connor Johnston's senior campaign was cut short this past season due to COVID-19, but the Novi, Mich., native wrapped up with an impressive overall mark of 14-3 in doubles action. He plans to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA and return next season. Johnston has endured plenty of triumphs away from athlet- ics during his time in Ann Ar- bor as well, most notably when Michigan recognized him as a scholar athlete during the 2018-19 campaign. Here are a few other inter- esting facts you may not have known about him: Nickname: "My initials are CBJ, so my teammates all call me CB in a weird voice, like the way the Migos rappers say it." Favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor: "I used to go to Potbelly [Sandwich Shop] four times a week after practice. I love it there." Best meal he can cook by himself: "I don't cook much but can make a good egg sandwich in the morning. Breakfast is the only time I cook." Hobbies: "I play a lot of video games and like to play soccer a decent amount as well." Favorite TV show: "'Prison Break.' … It was super good." Favorite movie: "I really like 'Shawshank Redemption,' but I feel like that's everybody's favorite movie. I'll just go with that one, though." Dream vacation: "Hawaii." Favorite place he's been to: "Our coach took us to Cannes in the southern tip of France after our freshman year, so we were all very lucky. I honestly can't imagine anywhere prettier than that. We went to Paris as well, so I guess we were all pretty spoiled." Favorite professional athlete: "[Professional tennis player] Roger Fe- derer. He's easy to look up to and is a great role model." Role model: "My former teammate, Alex Knight. He taught both the team and I how to handle our business and how to go about things while being a Michigan tennis player. He's someone I strive to be like." Sports he plays besides tennis: "I used to play soccer and hockey when I was younger, but I don't any more." Why he chose Michigan: "The balance between academics and sports is one of the best in the country, if not the world. There is so much mean- ing behind the Block M because you represent more than just the Univer- sity of Michigan — you also represent everybody who came before you. There is so much significance that comes with the Block M, and that was a big reason I chose to come here." What he hopes to do after tennis: "I was supposed to get a marketing internship this summer, but I don't know what's going to happen now. I might do something with my degree or may wind up becoming a tennis coach." His overall experience at Michigan: "It's been amazing and life chang- ing. There are just too many great things I could go on and on about, so I'll just leave it at 'life changing.'" — Austin Fox Michigan Ranks 12th Nationally In Wins Since Jim Harbaugh's Arrival Since Jim Harbaugh took over the football program in 2015, just 11 teams in the country have won more games. In the five seasons he has been at the helm, Harbaugh holds a record of 47-18 and has won 10 games in a season three times. His Big Ten mark is 32-12. The teams with a better record than U-M since Harbaugh's arrival are Clem- son, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Appalachian State, Georgia, Boise State, Wisconsin, LSU, San Diego State and Penn State. U-M is tied with Notre Dame, Iowa, Memphis and Washington with 47 wins (12th most nationally) over the five-year span. Among Power Five teams, U-M ranks ninth in overall wins since 2015. Furthermore, the only active Power Five head coaches to have won more games than Harbaugh during the span of his tenure at U-M are Alabama's Nick Saban, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Penn State's James Franklin and Wisconsin's Paul Chryst. Harbaugh is tied with Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz as Power Five head coaches with 47 wins over the last five seasons. Washington's Chris Peterson stepped down from his position as the Huskies' coach follow- ing the 2019 season, so he doesn't count as an active head coach, though he, too, is tied with Harbaugh in wins over that span. Here's a look at the teams with the most wins in college football since Har- baugh's arrival: Rk. Team Wins Losses Win % 1. Clemson 69 5 .932 2. Alabama 66 6 .917 3. Ohio State 61 7 .897 4. Oklahoma 58 10 .853 5. App. State 54 12 .818 5. Georgia 54 15 .783 7. Boise State 52 15 .776 7. Wisconsin 52 16 .765 9. LSU 51 14 .785 10. San Diego State 49 15 .766 10. Penn State 49 17 .742 12. Notre Dame 47 17 .734 12. Michigan 47 18 .723 12. Iowa 47 19 .712 12. Memphis 47 20 .701 12. Washington 47 20 .701 — Clayton Sayfie Johnston went 14-3 in doubles action during the shortened 2020 campaign. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY