The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE / JULY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 43 A lmost everything went right for the Michigan football program in 2021, a season that resulted in a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appear- ance. Much of the success has been cred- ited to the culture built by the staff — that head coach Jim Harbaugh made some changes to — and team leaders like defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and others. Three of Michigan's cap- tains — Hutchinson, offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis and linebacker Josh Ross — have graduated and moved on this offseason. There also was a bit of shuffling on the assistant coaching staff, with a trio of replacements, in- cluding a new defensive coordinator in Jesse Minter. However, it appears the U-M culture is intact. "I love where the program is at right now, as a group — players, coaches," Harbaugh told Lindsay Huddleston of Sports Psychology Solutions. "Every- body is pulling in the same direction. That's so enjoyable, when you've got everybody pulling in the same direction. It just makes it enjoyable, makes it fun." That's why, earlier this spring, Har- baugh described the state of Michigan football as "scary good." In addition to the talent the Wolverines have re- turning, especially on offense, the vibe around the building is positive heading into summer. Harbaugh had great cultures at other points during his Michigan tenure, but even redshirt junior wide receiver Ron- nie Bell — who has seen several differ- ent team dynamics during his time in Ann Arbor — said he believes the cur- rent makeup is what the coach had been aiming for in the past. The Michigan head man explained how the team has gotten to this point, highlighting the group as a self-moti- vated bunch that feeds on camaraderie. "That's a really great question — how do you get people to do it?" Harbaugh said. "It comes down to what I tell my- self, it's the same thing I try to tell the players: 'Hey, you're valuable; you're good. Keep doing you.' I know that's what I'm gonna do — I know who I am. I'm gonna keep doing me; it's working. You keep doing you; it's working. "And if you want to get a little better at something, just work a little harder. I tell myself, 'If I want to get a little bet- ter at something, I can just work a little harder at it.' And then last but not least, just don't fall into the trap of getting the big head. "Everybody here is, 'Hey, we're to- gether in this. You're good; you're valu- able.' I wake up every day trying to rise up to the competence of everybody else, showing them I can contribute. That's what motivates me to be a part of this great team." "Tradition" is a buzzword for Michi- gan football. The Wolverines have won more games than any program in the sport and produced 11 national titles, 43 Big Ten championships and three Heis- man Trophy winners. Huddleston asked how "tradition" actually translates to the Michigan program's day-to-day op- eration. "It starts with people that respect things," Harbaugh explained. "Respect everything — respect another person, 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time Sept. 3 Colorado State TBA Sept. 10 Hawai'i TBA Sept. 17 Connecticut TBA Sept. 24 Maryland TBA Oct. 1 at Iowa TBA Oct. 8 at Indiana TBA Oct. 15 Penn State TBA Oct. 22 BYE Oct. 29 Michigan State TBA Nov. 5 at Rutgers TBA Nov. 12 Nebraska TBA Nov. 19 Illinois TBA Nov. 26 at Ohio State (FOX) 12 p.m. MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Jim Harbaugh: 'I Love Where The Program Is At' In an interview with a sports psychologist, Harbaugh talked about the great culture within the Michigan football program. "Everybody is pulling in the same direction," he said. "It just makes it enjoyable, makes it fun." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL