The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
the top of universities to play other schools and doing some of that crazy stuff. The idea that we have an East and West, to me, is much better than Leaders and Legends." Momentum Past March Excitement over Michigan's most scrutinized sports kept right on churning, long past the Wolverines' ill-fated ending in the Outback Bowl. John Beilein's crew pushed to the brink of a national championship, falling only a difficult second half against Louisville shy of that dream. When Brandon thinks back over the season, though, the wild scene in Atlanta isn't what first pops into his mind. He goes back to a less-heralded moment over the course of the long campaign. He remembers how the Wolverines reacted when their hopes seemed to come crashing down. A loss at struggling Penn State appeared to signal a spiraling down in March, rather than a resurgent rise through the madness. "We didn't play well, and Penn State played great, and the world thought we were going to win that game," Brandon recalled. "Penn State had had a very disappointing year, even though they had lost a number of games by a very small margin. We were heavy favorites going into that game, and we got upset. "It was at a very pivotal time in the season. From my perspective, it was a real test. It was a test of the character of the team, and a test of their perseverance. "All of the naysayers were out there, talking about how Michigan wasn't as good as they were supposed to be. All the negativity started to swirl, because we had a disappointing loss that put us in a very tough position relative to the conference race." Brandon watched carefully and felt gratified over Beilein's crew righting the ship in dramatic fashion. "That's when you really find out about your coach's ability to coach through that kind of adversity and your senior leadership of that team. Can you hold it together?" he said. "Can everybody regroup and relaunch and figure out a way to get back on the right trajectory? "That's the part of the season that I felt was most impressive, and something I'll long remember about that basketball team." Beilein's crew certainly appears primed for a good, strong run of success. Facilities, once a negative recruiting target, stand unassailable, with Crisler Center a jewel among basketball venues. The "can Michigan win" questions from top recruits were swept away, first in an increasing trickle through a Big Ten championship season, then in a torrent via March Madness 2013. Instead of, can Beilein win big at Michigan, the question becomes "how often" and "for how long?" Brandon treads lightly in that area, wary of being ushered into a corner with a crystal ball. At the same time, undeniable plusses exist. "What I will tell you is that this program has reset itself in a way that