The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 29 says he's intimidating. But he's a great coach. He knows so much about football. "He's taught me more football than any I've learned in my entire life. He helps everyone else in the room, makes our secondary better." But they have to be willing to put in the work, too, and not just on the "fun" stuff. The seven-on-seven games, for example, help them hone their coverage skills against outstanding receivers, but tackling technique is the grunt work. In an era in which there's not as much hitting in practice, Clinkscale and Har- baugh's groups were still elite at getting guys on the ground. "I think it all started in camp," Moore said. "Mondays, we know we have walk- throughs. A lot of us won't hit the sled, but we'll walk through tackling steps and the way to approach someone who has the ball. Tuesdays, when we have our pads on, we're always hitting the sled or hitting each other, things like that. "We emphasize tackling, because if the secondary can't tackle … we're the last line of defense. If we're not tack- ling, there are touchdowns. We em- phasize that as much as covering. If we complete the deal with those two, we're going to be an elite secondary." Especially if they can catch, too. Moore has proven he can do that, as well, hav- ing picked off a pair of passes this year. Cornerback Will Johnson is coming on in that respect, too, notching two in the Big Ten title game win over Purdue. As a group, they and their teammates seem well prepared for the playoff run, starting Dec. 31. Moore said the first title ring last year was great, but it left him itching for more. "I'm super confident. We're going to play TCU … I believe we're going to the national championship game and going to win it," he said. The first step is coming up quickly, and he can't wait. ❏ Sophomore safety Rod Moore notched 9 tackles (5 solo) as a true freshman starter in a 42-27 win over Ohio State in 2021, an incredible performance few would have seen coming. He made outstanding open field tackles and was around the ball the entire game, playing through injury to lead Michigan to a win over his home state team. Here are four other memorable "out of nowhere" perfor- mances by Ohioans in U-M wins over the Buckeyes: John Kolesar's 77-yard touchdown reception from Jim Har- baugh, 1985 — The Wolverines were clinging to a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter against a talented Ohio State team, and the Buckeyes had the momentum after a Cris Carter touchdown re- ception. Harbaugh hung in and took a shot from a blitzing safety, releasing just in time to find the Westlake, Ohio, freshman re- ceiver streaking behind the OSU secondary. Kolesar recalled that his contact lens flipped up just as the ball started to descend, but he made the play and took it the distance to cap a 27-17 win. The Wolverines would finish 10-1-1 and No. 2 nationally. Jarrod Bunch's 70-yard game in 1989 — Coach Bo Schem- bechler's last home game was also his final shot at Ohio State, and he turned to the Ashtabula, Ohio, native to help him get it. Bunch, a fullback, got 12 carries and ran roughshod over the Buckeyes in the fourth quarter. He picked up 70 yards on those carries, including a 23-yard touchdown run, averaging 5.8 yards per carry in a 28-18 win. The Wolverines clinched the Big Ten with the victory. Charles Woodson's 2-interception game in 1995 — A Fre- mont, Ohio native, Woodson had been good as a freshman starter, but the 31-23 win over the Buckeyes was his coming out party. OSU receiver Terry Glenn predicted a victory and that he'd exploit Woodson — instead, with Michigan ahead 10-9, Woodson notched a leaping interception of Bobby Hoying in front of Glenn. On the Buckeyes' last possession, they were driving, down eight points, when Woodson sealed the win with his second pick of the game, a fingertip grab that secured the upset. Courtney Avery's game-sealing interception in 2011 — The sophomore corner out of Lexington, Ohio, notched only 1 tackle in a 40-34 win, but it forced a fumble on a kickoff that led to a score … a huge play in the game. Then, with OSU driving late, Avery picked off Braxton Miller to seal the Wolverines' first victory over the Buckeyes since 2003. — Chris Balas 'Out Of Nowhere' Moments By Ohioans In 'The Game' Charles Woodson had his coming out party with two interceptions in a 31-23 win over the Buckeyes in 1995. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN