The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 27 igan Football" radio show that the early season grumbling about U-M's sup- posed lack of a passing game erupted prematurely. "When everyone said we can't do any- thing [through the air], it's not that we couldn't do anything, it's that we were choosing to do things differently," Gattis said. "And I think that's the biggest nar- rative that needed to be changed. A lot of people thought we couldn't throw the ball just because we didn't choose to throw the ball, not because throwing the ball wasn't successful. A lot of people thought we can't throw it deep. It's because we were choosing not to. "We were doing what we were doing best, and that allowed us to create an identity. That allowed us to build the team that we wanted to build and we knew could go out and win and put us in posi- tion to play for a Big Ten championship." Michigan's efforts on offense put Gattis in position to secure the Broyles Award, and he proved deeply grateful and emo- tional in accepting the honor. He told the gathering at the award ceremony he couldn't be more thankful for the oppor- tunity, given his and Michigan's recent journey. "I stand before you because Jim Har- baugh took a risk," Gattis said, growing halting in his speech and very choked up. "Jim Harbaugh took a risk three years ago. He hired a longtime wide receiver coach that was a co-offensive coordinator at the time, and gave him a first opportunity to be an offensive coordinator — one of the very few minority offensive coordinators in college football. "It's an honor — I apologize [for getting emotional]. It's hard not to get like this, because of the journey we've been on." Gathering himself, Gattis talked about enjoying a strong first season as Michi- gan's OC, then experiencing the piles of trials 2020 produced. "If anyone has followed the Michigan football program, a lot of things went wrong in the past year," Gattis said. "When I think about the past 12 months, I stand before you so honored. For a lot of people out there, they didn't believe we belonged there. They didn't believe I belonged there. They didn't believe that I was the right man, leading our program, offensively. "I'm forever grateful for Coach Har- baugh because he believed in me. When you have that type of support from your head coach, that means the world." The support went beyond Harbaugh, Gattis noted. Michigan's players dug in and turned everything around, from leadership to commitment and execu- tion. "During our hard times, they never did lose faith in me, they never did lose faith in our coaching staff," Gattis said. "When you have that type of love and support from your players, and they're willing to go out and do anything and everything, and jump through a wall for you, you can accomplish anything. "And that's really what life is all about. In the midst of adversity, in the midst of hard times and tough times, lean on the people that believe in you the most. If they believe in you, and you believe in yourself, there's anything in this world that you can accomplish. I'm a prime ex- ample of that — not because of the things we've done on the field, but because of the things we've done off the field to grow our team, to believe in each other, to make this season special, because of the love and the trust and commitment by every- body that's a part of our Michigan foot- ball program." They've done plenty on the field, and they can certainly do more. Going against a Georgia defense that led the nation most of the year provides an opportunity for another showcase. It will mark a huge challenge. The Wol- verines feel ready for it, given all they've gone through so far. Their offensive coor- dinator certainly welcomes the test. "I feel like I'm truly blessed. I've got the best offensive staff in the country," Gattis said, before detailing the strong attributes of each of the coaches working with him. Michigan reigns supreme as the come- back story of the year in college football. Scores of other comebacks, involving in- dividuals and smaller groups, paved the way. The U-M offense — and its coordina- tor — rank at or near the top of the list. ❑ Mike Macdonald Could Have Contended For The Broyles No one's throwing any shade on the 2021 Broyles Award winner, Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. But Gattis himself knows another Wolverine coordinator who could just as easily have been in the running. Gattis noted at the ceremonies for the nation's top assistant coach that Mac- donald — the first-year DC off John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens staff — "could be standing here in this position as well." That's more than collegial banter. Macdonald paced a Michigan defensive turn- around on par with what the Wolverines did on offense. A year ago, Michigan gave up nearly 35 points per game. This season, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Aidan Hutchinson at defensive end, U-M slashed that average to a Big Ten-best 16.1 points per game surrendered. The Wolverines are tied for No. 4 nationally in scoring defense, and ranked No. 10 in passing efficiency defense (112.38), No. 13 in total defense (316.7) and yielding third-down conversions (32.3), tied for No. 20 in first downs surrendered (217), and No. 22 in passing yards allowed (194.7) and rushing defense (122.0). Perhaps most important, for their fans, their Big Ten title dreams and their Col- lege Football Playoff hopes, the Wolverines clamped down on Ohio State's high- powered offense as few have all season. The Buckeyes entered Michigan Stadium averaging a national-best 47.2 points per game, and left with 27 — and a loss. "I hadn't been around Mike a lot except the times I had been to Baltimore, visited there and talked some football," Jim Harbaugh said earlier this season. "My brother John was like, 'Yeah, this is the guy I would hire. Probably would be our next defensive coordinator here in Baltimore after Wink [Don Martindale].'" "This came from John. I even asked him, 'John, it's pretty awesome you would recommend somebody you think so highly of that's on your staff.' He said, 'Well, I really love Michigan football and I really love you, so I want to see you both be successful.'" It's been a match made in football heaven, to this point. Michigan fans hope it's only the beginning, for a program buoyed by renewed championship hopes. — John Borton