The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
Big Ten title "failure." But challenging to win the Legends Division and falling short is a different type of failure than challenging for the bottom of the league, and the latter anomaly has disappeared in Michigan's rearview mirror. Now it's full-steam ahead, finishing the transition back to power, prostyle football, with a huge emphasis on a nasty, swarming defense. It's bringing in the sort of talent that can win at a high level in the Big Ten, and nationally, the type of talent that has the NFL once again paying attention. Hoke stands as Brandon's highprofile legacy hire to this point, and the boss appreciates what's cooking. The product, Brandon insists, represents the bottom line. "I like everything I see with Michigan football," he said. "I like the way our coaches are working together. I like the way our kids are responding to the coaching they're receiving. I like the feedback we get from our seniors in our exit interviews, when they talk about their experience with this coaching staff and this program. "I like the academic performance that we're seeing from the studentathletes in the program. I certainly like the pipeline of recruits and the way the Michigan brand is now competing for highly talented, highly competitive student-athletes coming out of high school. I certainly like the energy that exists around ticket sales and the fan base, how excited they are about what's happening with Michigan football. It all feels really good to me." It would feel even better if Bran- don watched the sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains in early January 2014. The Wolverines, to a man, believe that's possible. Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner flatly stated the Wolverines are good enough to compete for a championship, including beating Ohio State on Michigan's home turf. Brandon doesn't mind confident talk. He's heard it before. "I remember years ago, there was another quarterback that was predicting a victory against Ohio State," Brandon noted. "My old coach's response to that was if you're going to come out there and say it, you'd just better back it up. "I love that kid. He's special. I wouldn't want him to be thinking anything other than what he's thinking as he prepares for this season, and I support him 100 percent." Brandon didn't accompany Gardner and Michigan's other fourth- and fifth-year performers to the West Coast for their annual leadership training sessions, May 30-June 2. The Michigan AD clearly appreciates that sort of emphasis, though, in the football program. The Wolverines once again trained with Navy SEALs and listened to other motivational speakers on the topic of leadership during their trip to Southern California. They also received some hands-on leadership training by presenting a one-day football camp for underprivileged youth. This year 's trip produced some eye-opening — and maybe even lifechanging — moments.