The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1412876
32 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2021 BY JOHN BORTON R o n n i e B e l l s t u b b e d h i s way along on the Michi- gan Stadium surface, a pair of crutches assisting. He pumped his fist, awash in the adulating screams of maize-clad partisans. The junior wide receiver desper- ately wanted to be playing in the night showdown with Washington in The Big House. But football realities are some- times cruel. So the Michigan captain did what he could, urging the crowd on. They're all doing what they can. Four Michigan captains — Bell, sixth-year senior center Andrew Vastardis, junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and redshirt junior linebacker Josh Ross — are battling to put 2020 so far in the rearview mirror you'd need a telescope to see it. So far, so good in that respect. Every- one in the program claims a new energy, new dedication, and it's obvious there are new coaches peppering both sides of the line of scrimmage. The captains are given the task of leadership, by the vote of the team. That vote went away for a season last year, along with a lot of other positives for the Wolverines. It's back, and they're back, they claim. Now it's a matter of proving it over the course of the season, and the captains are determined to serve as the tip of the spear for change. FOUR DEMANDING MORE Michigan's Captains Are Driven To Produce A Greater Outcome Players elected four captains this year in a team vote — junior wideout Ronnie Bell (No. 8), junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (No. 97), redshirt junior line- backer Josh Ross (No. 12) and sixth- year senior offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis (No. 68). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN