The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 17 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2016 Megan Betsa fired a four-hitter with eight strikeouts to shut out LSU, 2-0, in Michigan's opener at the 2016 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The June 3 contest featured Betsa's ninth complete-game shutout of the season. First baseman Tera Blanco supplied all the offense Betsa required with a bases-loaded double to right in the sixth inning, scoring the only runs of the game. The Wolverines were locked in a scoreless battle with the Tigers when they loaded the bases with no outs. Blanco launched a 2-2 pitch by LSU reliever Carly Hoover over the right-fielder's head. Betsa (28-3) finished in dominating fashion, setting down three straight LSU hitters to close out the game. "I was looking for a good pitch to hit and get it out in front," Blanco observed. "She throws hard and I was just looking to hit the ball on the ground. I was really excited when I saw the ball off my bat, and I'm pretty sure everyone else was, too." Betsa noted she wasn't intimidated by the WCWS stage. "Well, I throw to a lot of my own hitters, and I think we have one of the best offenses in the country," Betsa said. "So if I can beat my own hitters, I can beat anyone in the country." 10 YEARS AGO, 2011 Michigan's Craig Forys garnered second-team All-America status with his ninth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeple- chase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 10. Forys became the Wolverines' first All-American in that event since John Mortimer pulled it off some 13 years ear- lier. Forys clocked a time of 8:44.88, despite rain wetting down the track during the day. His time marked the fifth-best effort in Michigan history. 25 YEARS AGO, 1996 Present Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel re- turned to U-M following a brief hiatus, setting the stage for his leadership of Wolverine athletics now. Manuel played football at Michigan, earning his under- grad degree in 1990 and a Master's in social work in 1993. He served as coordinator of Michigan's Wade H. McCree Jr. Incentive Scholars Program from June 1990 to August 1993. He then left to work as an academic advisor with the Georgia Institute of Technology Athletic Association, prior to becoming athletic director of academic affairs. But it was his return to Ann Arbor in June 1996 that laid the groundwork for his AD future. He became an executive staff assistant in Michigan's athletic department. Within two years he was promoted to assistant athletic director, overseeing operational aspects of Michigan athletics. Some 18 years later — after venturing away from Michigan to begin his AD career — Manuel returned to take over U- M's athletic program. — John Borton Michigan football continues to pro- duce NFL talent, with eight former Wolverines having been picked in the 2021 draft — Kwity Paye (first round to the Indianapolis Colts), offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield (third round to the Atlanta Falcons), wideout Nico Col- lins (third round to the Houston Tex- ans), cornerback Ambry Thomas (third round to the San Francisco 49ers), linebacker Cameron McGrone (fifth round to the New England Patriots), fullback Ben Mason (fifth round to the Baltimore Ravens), running back Chris Evans (sixth round to the Cincinnati Bengals) and long snapper Camaron Cheeseman (sixth round to the Wash- ington Football Team). It has now been 83 straight years that U-M has had at least one player cho- sen, a streak only USC can match. Eight selections were tied with Flor- ida for the fifth-most out of any school in 2021, with Ohio State and Alabama tying for the most with 10, and Geor- gia and Notre Dame tying for third with nine. LSU just trailed U-M with seven, while UCF, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Penn State all had six to tie for having the eighth most. This year's total for U-M makes it 39 draft picks in the six years that head coach Jim Harbaugh has been in charge, and props the aggregate up to 387 all-time selections, which is the fifth-most out of any school in the country. It's important to note that the draft began in 1936. Notre Dame (520) and USC (516) have a wide lead from the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, while Ohio State (473) and Oklahoma (402) are the two other teams ahead of U-M, which has a slight lead on Alabama (384). Here is a look at the top 10 schools at producing NFL Draft picks: All-Time Rk. College NFL Draft Picks 1. Notre Dame 520 2. USC 516 3. Ohio State 473 4. Oklahoma 402 5. Michigan 387 6. Alabama 384 7. Penn State 367 8. Florida 364 9. Nebraska 363 10. LSU 359 — Clayton Sayfie THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY Warde Manuel returned to his alma mater and began working as an executive staff assistant at Michigan in June 1996, helping lead him to his current role as the U-M director of athletics. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN Michigan Has The Fifth-Most NFL Draft Picks Of All Time