The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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20 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2021 recent history with the Badgers. They surprised by hammering Wis- consin from start to finish in a 38-17 vic- tory that really wasn't even that close. McNamara threw for 197 yards and two scores, while the defense dominated, knocking Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz from the game early in the second half and holding Wisconsin to a measly 43 rushing yards. A 32-29, come-from-behind win at Nebraska in front of an incredibly rau- cous crowd vaulted the Wolverines to No. 6, where they remained after a 33-7 win over Northwestern. Then came the only blemish. Michigan dominated in stretches and outgained Michigan State, 552 yards to 395, and led 30-14 in the third quarter. It should have been more, but Big Ten officials blew a first-half strip sack and touchdown by the David Ojabo/Hutchinson defensive end duo that would have created more distance. They also dropped the ball on a sec- ond-half non-pass interference and other calls that Harbaugh said the Big Ten admitted were "mistakes" in a 37-33 U-M loss. "You don't make excuses, but the guys deserved better," Harbaugh said. "… As we all expected, all saw, mistakes were made. Yeah, that was the response. They made a mistake on that call … and others. Can't be any more clear than that. "There were [a lot of those missed calls]. The film doesn't lie, you know?" U-M has been on the wrong end of too many of those in the Harbaugh era, and it's derailed other seasons. Not this one — not this team. They vowed to take it out on the rest of the teams on their schedule, and they re- turned with a vengeance. They handled Indiana the following week, 29-7, and then gutted out a 21-17 win at Penn State that left an emotional McNamara in tears during a postgame interview. Sophomore tight end Erick All's 47- yard touchdown reception on a gimpy ankle proved to be the difference late in the fourth quarter. Haskins, though, was the bell cow, running for 156 yards. A hundred and change came after contact, and his running helped U-M finish the game in victory formation. "I love the team. It's really a team in its beginning," Harbaugh said. "I think about all the young players … a moun- tain of guys that have had their best or their first games, catches, intercep- tions, forced fumble, sack, yards gained, touchdown catches. [Freshman receiver] Roman Wilson got two [touchdowns] today. "It's certainly the type of team that you don't know who it's going to be. Is it going to be you that makes the big play? Is it going to be you that steps up this week? … You don't know who it is, but it's that kind of ball team … you just know somebody is [going to step up]. You're confident it will be you that steps up when it's your time to do that." ONWARD That's how it was all year. Oh, there were stars. Hutchinson put himself in Heisman contention with a three-sack, 15-pressure game against Ohio State, the latter a record since Pro Football Focus started keeping the stat for college games in 2014. McNamara finished with 2,301 pass- ing yards and 14 touchdowns against only three interceptions, while Haskins rushed for 1,232 yards and 18 scores. The running back saved his best for last, run- ning for 169 yards and five touchdowns against the Buckeyes. "They might have thought they saw a ghost, but they didn't. It was No. 25, Hassan Haskins," Harbaugh said with a grin. "He was running with great deter- mination, great purpose, great ability. "Five touchdowns on the day ties a school record. He's probably going to break the season touchdown record be- fore it's over, held by Ron Johnson in 1968. That kind of gives you a glimpse of how good of a runner Hassan Haskins is." But it was a true team effort all year, and that's what's made this group spe- cial. The interior defensive linemen, redshirt frosh Mazi Smith and sopho- more Christopher Hinton, didn't get a Redshirt sophomore Hassan Haskins — who rushed for 169 yards and five scores against Ohio State — was among the many foundation players, who according to head coach Jim Harbaugh, "don't just fold or quit at the slightest whiff of adverse circumstances." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Head coach Jim Harbaugh "This team has been beautifully soldered together as a team, as a true team. There are a lot of new players … a new staff that brought new perspective, new ideas, energy. There's a long list of guys like that, that were phenomenal. They brought so much energy and perspective and juice to the squad."