The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 33 "Any school has a rivalry, number one," Hart said. "But it's really special when you play at that school and you understand what it truly means. Whether it's Michigan State or Ohio State, they're special. "As you know, Michigan-Ohio State is one of the biggest rivalries in the country. But Michigan State's just as big. We live in the state of Michigan, is what I tell people. My neighbors aren't Ohio State fans, they're Michigan State fans. "You have to walk around every day with that. Those are two games you circle on the calendar, two games you work for all year. That's what you train for. I'm excited to be a part of it. I know how special they are. I know what the fan base is, the players, the history of the coaches — they're special. "I've been part of some really big ones, and some great ones. I'm looking forward to being on the sideline and enjoying them as a coach." The "Little Brother" game isn't the one that pops to mind first for Hart. It's an even bigger comeback from his freshman year. The Wolverines trailed MSU by 17 points in the fourth quarter before Michigan rallied to a 45- 37, triple-overtime victory over the Spartans. That experience went even beyond foot- ball, when a miracle played out over the final 5:44 of regulation. "That was my first experience in that game, and it changed my mindset as a player and as a coach," Hart insisted. "Everyone says, 'Don't quit. You can come back.' Ever since that game, I truly believe it. I truly know it. You can win any game, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is left. "That's even something I bring home to my son, from that game. It affects your life. It's easy to say, but when you actually do it and live it, it's different. It's way bigger than football." Regarding Michigan's other huge rivalry, Hart can't pry his thoughts away from the 2006 showdown. It underscored to him how huge this one really is, and how badly he wants it in the future. Hart recalled: "We didn't come out vic- tors, but just the magnitude behind that game — Bo passing, how big that game was, how big that game is between the universities, the impact it has nationally on people. "… We didn't win it, but it was a special game — one of the best games I've been a part of, even though we lost. I just learned you could take a positive from a loss. Not that you want to lose, ever, but you can find something positive." He's finding plenty of positives these days. He can't wait to be back in a packed Michigan Stadium, ready to compete. He's back in the town where he met his wife, the place where for years he's been asked when he'd return. He's always told people he had a job to do, wherever he coached at the time. Now that job happens to be where he made a lot of magic. "It's obviously really special for me," Hart said. "I'm really happy to be back." And the aspect to which he looks forward the most? That's easy. "Winning," he assured. "I'm most excited about winning, and getting this thing back on track." ❏ Prior to embarking on his coaching career, Hart was a two-time Michigan MVP (shared the honor once) and finished fifth for the 2006 Heisman Trophy, then spent three years playing in the NFL, where he was a part of the Indianapolis Colts team that reached Super Bowl XLIV. PHOTO COURTESY U-M ATHLETICS Jansen: Hart Brings A Credible Voice When former Michigan All-American and two-time captain Jon Jansen talks about offensive line play, or leading, or winning, people listen. It makes sense, given his role on the Wolverines' 1997 national championship squad. It shouldn't be any different when Mike Hart speaks up in a room full of U-M running backs, Jansen pointed out. Hart, Michigan's new running backs coach, has proven he knows what he's talking about. "It brings credibility to that running back room," Jansen said on his 'In The Trenches' podcast. "This is no slight on anybody that was there before, but when you have the leading rusher in Michigan football history [talking], who has paid his dues in the coaching ranks — whether it was at Eastern Michigan, at Western Michigan, at Syracuse, at Indiana — he has learned how to be a coach. "He's learned to take what he knew as a player and be able to impart that onto the student-athletes that he is now coaching. It's a room loaded with talent." Jansen watches the Wolverines practice these days. He also watched when Hart piled up more yardage than any running back in modern Michigan football history, and stonewalled much larger blitzers intent on crushing U-M quarterbacks. He says the current Wolverines would do well to listen up. "He brings instant credibility," Jansen reiterated. "When Mike Hart says, 'Here are some techniques we need to work on. Here is what we need to do. Here is how we secure the football.' … His ability to protect the football at that position is something that I hope we see translate from coach to player." — John Borton