The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
In her first season as head coach at Michigan, Kim Barnes-Arico led the Wolverines to a school-record-tying 22 wins and an NCAA bid. Photo by Per Kjeldsen really good, but we had been in that spot before against Nebraska and we didn't panic. "I think our next two games may have been our best all year. We were up against this monster team, and we were pushing them around." Suddenly leading, and on the cusp of advancing, the Wolverines took over the role as prey — the Longhorns were hunting now, and they again unleashed an assault, beating U-M 25-12 in game four. The match would be decided by the fifth game, and in that one, Michigan trailed 7-6 when it appeared to tie the score. However, a call went against the Maize and Blue, tilting the set in Texas' favor. "They hit a ball out of bounds that was well over the top of our block but someone called a touch," Rosen said. "It was a blown call, but it happens. We've had those go for us and against us in the past. You have to overcome, but that was a pretty big swing because we could have put all the pressure back on Texas. "They beat us and showed to be a little better than us, but I was really proud of our kids. We could have just given up after that first game when it became apparent just how skilled Texas was, but that wasn't who our team was. They never gave up on themselves and they never gave up on each other. They played like the truest sense of the word team, and that's why we had the season we did." ❑