The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499505
JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 61 ❱ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? "Ann Arbor is different, but I needed to grow. I remember this from one of my biology classes, for a new species or an organism that's introduced into a new environment, it's either going to adapt or fall prey. And the competitor in me was like, 'Damn it, I'm going to adapt, and I'm gonna be an alpha.'" Wheatley passed the challenge with flying colors and emerged as the alpha that he wanted to be at U-M, earning 1993 Rose Bowl MVP honors. He rushed for 4,187 yards with 47 touchdowns on the ground and had 51 catches for 510 yards and 6 receiving scores in his Mich- igan career. He currently ranks No. 5 all-time in rushing yards in program history behind Mike Hart, Denard Robinson, Anthony Thomas and Jamie Morris. Wheatley also owns the eighth-best rushing perfor- mance in program history, going off for 235 yards in 1992 against Washington. His 47 career rushing touchdowns are third-most in team history behind Willie Heston and Anthony Thomas. The Wayne State head coaching job is the second time that Wheatley has led a college program in his career after a prior stint at Morgan State from 2019- 21. Wheatley also served as the running backs coach at Ohio Northern (2008), Eastern Michigan (2009), Syracuse (2010-12), Buffalo Bills (2013-14), U-M (2015-16), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-18) and Denver Broncos (2022). He began his coaching career as head coach of his alma mater, Robichaud High School, in 2007. His success at all levels of the sport has not been a surprise to current U-M analyst and former running backs coach Fred Jackson. "I've coached a lot of great players. The difference was Tyrone was always searching for ways to get better on the football field and off the field as well," Jackson said in a statement when Wayne State hired Wheatley. "He didn't just want to be great. Ty- rone was always chasing greatness. He was always trying to put himself in a po- sition to be a better player. I knew he would be a fantastic coach." But a move from the NFL to Division II football is a totally different beast. Wheatley has coached games in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, but his team will play its home games in front of around 6,000 people at Tom Adams Field in Detroit. For Wheatley, it is a matter of giving back to his home area and carving his own destiny, platform be damned. "I see all these great men, these great football coaches trying to get their seat at this big table," Wheatley explained. "I said, 'The hell with it! I'm going to go make my own table. I don't care how big or how small, it's my table.' And guess what? I can invite who I want to invite at my table because it's mine. "Coming back home, I want to feed my people. I want give to my people. We talk about the opportunity, I understand the circumstances, and I can speak to them and tell them, 'Hey listen, you may want this, but that's not the right path here. Here's the circle. "I walked in the shoes you walked, and I walked the streets you walked and ate the same food. We are one. We're actually from the same cloth.' "For me to come back home and sit in this seat and to be at Wayne State Uni- versity in Wayne County with my people it's one of the greatest feelings in the world." ❏ A three-time first-team All Big-Ten selection, Wheatley rushed for 4,187 yards with 47 touch- downs on the ground and posted 51 catches for 510 yards and 6 receiving scores in his Michigan career. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN ❱ The Tyrone Wheatley File Michigan Accomplishments: Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (1992) … 1993 Rose Bowl Game MVP … Three-time first-team All-Big Ten (1992-94) … All-American in the 110-meter high hurdles for the track and field team (1995) … Fifth all-time in rushing yards (4,187) and third in rushing touchdowns (47). Professional Accomplishments: First-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft by the New York Giants … Head coach at Robichaud High (2007), Morgan State (2019-21) and Wayne State (2023-present) ... Running backs coach at Ohio Northern (2008), Eastern Michigan (2009), Syracuse (2010-12), Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Michigan (2015-16), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017- 18) and Denver Broncos (2022). Michigan Memory: [After I won Rose Bowl MVP,] I brought my offensive line in the media room, and I walked out. I told the people in the interview room to wait one minute. I went and got my guys and I made them all sit down. I said a couple things, and I got up and I left. I did have some memorable moments, but once again, I don't have them without my boys." Family: Kimberly (wife) and five children: Ty- rone Jr., Terius, Tyrique, Tiana and Tamari. ❱ Fred Jackson, current U-M analyst and former running backs coach "I've coached a lot of great players. The difference was Tyrone was always searching for ways to get better on the football field and off the field as well."