The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 35 It's just crazy. I'm kind of speechless right now. I don't know what to say." That's rare, his teammates note. Hutchinson is seldom at a loss for words, and always there to lend a helping hand. He's made life in the United States much easier for German import Julius Wel- schof, a redshirt sophomore defensive lineman. "Aidan is a really big help for me, on the field and off the field," Welschof as- sured. "We love to compete. We golf, in the weight room, we always compete. We push each other pretty good on that. Football-wise, he helps me. "His dad came to me after the [Wash- ington] game, and he told me what I can do better. They really supported me." JOSH ROSS Ross looked to be a solid piece of the puzzle coming into his fifth season in a Michigan uniform. He's become more than that in the early part of the year, ap- pearing to gain speed and explosiveness in getting to the quarterback. Macdonald appreciates his efforts, es- pecially given the host of much younger linebackers coming on and learning all around him. "It gives him a role on third down," Macdonald said of Ross' pass-rushing ability. "Now you can keep the same peo- ple out there and present different looks. I give a shout out to Coach [George] Helow on that one. "He does a great job of coaching those guys up on how to blitz. Speed and inten- sity is a big emphasis for him, and Josh has a great knack for it. He coaches me up on some of the things he does, some things different from what I've taught guys I've worked with in the past, and probably a little bit better." Ross certainly looks better than he ever has in a Michigan uniform, noted U-M radio sideline reporter Doug Karsch. "Josh Ross sometimes looks like he's shot out of a cannon," Karsch said. "From the sideline, it can be just a blur, and you wonder, who's that? It is often Josh Ross." Leading isn't new to Ross, who like Hutchinson and Vastardis was chosen as a captain last year. Earning the players' votes and confidence this season delivers an additional jolt. "The feeling of getting voted by my teammates as a leader, as a guy to look to, to motivate, to lead … to be that guy, it's an emotional feeling," Ross said. Ross also piled up some serious num- bers in Michigan's first three games, lead- ing the team with 23 tackles, 10 more than anybody else. His other stats included five quarterback hurries, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. All four of the captains, Bell included, are looking to maximize what they can deliver for the 2021 crew. They're off to a strong start, but looking to finish. ❏ Redshirt junior linebacker Josh Ross entered the season with 136 career tackles and is off to a great start with 23 stops through three games, 10 more than anybody else on the roster. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan Captains Expanded Under Schembechler From David N. DeTar in 1879 through Jim Mandich in the initial year of the Bo Schembechler era (1969), Michigan featured only one captain per season. Under their new field general in 1970, all that began to change. Schembechler featured Don Moorhead and Henry Hill as captains for the 1970 season. He kept the two-captain status quo for the five years after. In the Big Ten championship season of 1976, the Wolverines featured three captains for the first time ever. Kirk Lewis, Rob Lytle and Calvin O'Neal were called upon to lead the Wolverines. From 1977-81, Michigan went back to two captains per season. They featured three in 1982, with Anthony Carter, Paul Girgash and Robert Thompson getting the nod. The Wolverines also featured three in the top-five 1985 campaign, with Brad Cochran, Eric Kattus and Mike Mallory doing the honors. Present head coach Jim Harbaugh served as a captain in his senior season of 1986, during a six-year period in which the Wolverines went back to two desig- nated captains. U-M featured three twice in the 1990s, including 1992 (Corwin Brown, Chris Hutchinson and Elvis Grbac) and 1999 (Tom Brady, Steve Hutchin- son and Rob Renes). The 2000 season marked a first, Michigan going with four captains. Steve Hutchison again got the call, along with Anthony Thomas, James Whitley and Eric Wilson. They've since featured four in 2013 and 2018, as well as this year. U-M named seven captains in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Also, in 2008, 2009 and 2014, captains were selected for each game. Permanent captains were then chosen at the end of each of those campaigns. Last year, Aidan Hutchinson joined his father, Chris (1988-92), as a Michigan captain. The junior defensive end got the call once again this season. — John Borton