The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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8 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2023 N o program in the history of col- lege football has ever posted 1,000 victories on the playing field. That ends this fall. Michigan stands poised for a grand breakthrough in 2023, sitting on 989 all-time wins going in. It might sound arrogant to assume 11 wins out of any program with kickoff still more than a month away. So be it. It's happening, and there's nothing a trio of tomato can nonconfer- ence foes and an overmatched Big Ten can do to stop it, barring a disastrous spate of injuries. The Wolverines come in loaded, from one of the best offensive lines in the na- tion to a backs trio in junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, senior tailback Blake Co- rum and junior tailback Donovan Ed- wards that might be as strong as any the Wolverines have ever trotted out. On the other side of the line, a re- loaded Michigan defense stands ready to once again dominate opponents, chop Ohio State's scoring average in half and rectify its one big Playoff slip. You say the 1,000-win mark rep- resents only a sidebar on what could unfold into an historic season? You'd be right. The Wolverines want more — more than they even accomplished during the past two years of stunning revival. More than making the College Football Playoff. More than close but no crown. But they can't arrive there without first reeling off the 11 regular-season victories getting Michigan to 1,000. It says here they make it — emphatically. Matter of fact, it's entirely possible they get there in their opening 11 games. East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green? Sorry, no offense intended. In fact, you three will likely fare better than last year's woeful warmups. Colorado State, Hawai'i and Connecticut merely found themselves outscored 166-17 by a Michigan team on its way to a second straight Big Ten title. You can do better … we think. Rutgers, Purdue and Indiana in The Big House? Goliath once took a rock straight to the sinciput, although from what we've seen, your aim isn't nearly as good. Road games in the Big Ten al- ways present a challenge, and that's where the likeliest extender in the race for 1,000 occurs. The last time the Wolverines played at Nebraska, the visitors endured a wild, 32-29 scramble for victory. A repeat doesn't seem likely with the Cornhusk- ers in Year 1 of a new Rhule (Matt), but it could happen. Minnesota with P.J. Fleck is building but doesn't likely possess the firepower to hang with U-M, even at home. Michigan State would love to bring the fight to the Wolverines, but only if it can isolate one or two of them long after the final whistle. And Maryland's trap- game status — wedged between Penn State and Ohio State — won't likely make up for Michigan's personnel and strategic advantages. In other words, if the Wolverines hold serve through the first 10 games, culmi- nating in a frenzied atmosphere in State College on Nov. 11, Maryland becomes win No. 1,000. But if the Nittany Lions push back enough to take down the Wolverines — like some are predicting — win No. 1,000 might arrive in fitting fashion back in Ann Arbor, against a scarlet- clad villain-to-be-named-later. Penn State lost to both Michigan and Ohio State in five of James Franklin's last nine seasons. Some insist he's going to flip that script this season, invad- ing Columbus for a victory and pulling out a frigid win over the Wolverines. Of course, some said the Nittany Lions were going to win going away on Judg- ment Day in 1997. Jim Harbaugh himself said it in the spring: "This is the best version of foot- ball I've seen since I've been here the last eight years. This is not the time to regroup or to rest, or to take a step back. Now's the time to attack." He has a highly motivated, hugely talented roster at the ready. The one shortfall in a 13-1 season last year sticks in Michigan's gut like a live coal, burn- ing throughout the offseason and right through the heat of the summer. The Wolverines themselves aren't backing down from the challenge to be great. "If we don't win the national cham- pionship, it's not a successful season in my eyes," Corum told M-Live. "I came here with goals — we reached some of them, but that'd be icing on the cake." The icing would also include a grand addition to the Wolverines' already elite history. If it's time to attack, Michigan has the bomb bays packed. ❑ WOLVERINE WATCH ❱ JOHN BORTON Taking Aim At 1,000 And Beyond Senior tailback Blake Corum and the Wolverines have national title aspirations, and 11 victories along the way would make Michigan the first college program to reach the 1,000-win mark. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Editor John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @JB_Wolverine.