The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
OCTOBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 13 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Tom Brady, a cross country and track and field standout for Michigan, is the 2023 Big Ten cham- pion in the outdoor 10,000 meters, a 2022 first- team All-Big Ten honoree, a 2021 second-team All-American (indoor 3,000 meters) and the school record-holder in the indoor 5,000 meters. A computer science and engineering major, Brady was named a 2022-23 College Sports Com- municators first-team Academic All-American. Here are some things about Brady that you may not have known: Best Aspect Of Being From Park Ridge, Ill.: "It's very walkable and a quick drive to O'Hare Airport." Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "Jolly Pumpkin." Best Meal He Can Cook By Himself: "I made paella once. It was pretty good, actually. I was happy with it." Favorite Professional Athlete: "As a Chicago Bears fan, the guy that got me the most excited was Johnny Knox, a Bears receiver in the 2010s." Sport He Enjoys Playing Besides Running: "Be- fore I committed to running in high school, I played football, basketball, baseball and soccer, but I wouldn't say I was a standout in any of them. Football was the most fun." Favorite Television Show: "'Parks and Recre- ation.' I'm a big Ron Swanson fan." Favorite Movie: "This is bad as a runner, but 'Forrest Gump.' It's a classic. Sometimes when I'm running, I hear, 'Run, Forrest, run,' and it's about the most annoying thing. It happens too much." Why He Chose Michigan: "Coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to do computer science and I knew I wanted to run for a school. I just tried to find the best balance of computer sci- ence and running. "Michigan was just a great fit. I liked the team, I liked the coach, and I love sports. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to a great town in Ann Arbor and have great sports teams and a great culture. Michigan was just the right choice for me." What He Hopes To Do After Michigan: "I want to be a software engineer working for some kind of tech firm in Chicago." Favorite Memory At Michigan: "It wasn't our best day as a team, but hosting the Big Ten Cross Country Championships last year at the golf course was pretty cool. Having the championship atmosphere on our home campus with lots of alums and people supporting us was pretty cool." Overall Experience At Michigan: "It's been pretty incredible. I live with five other athletes, and to be able to have my days going to practice, traveling to competitions, competing with my friends, being able to enjoy every step of the process and getting to represent Michigan — it's a great opportunity. "It's so cool when we travel to different parts of the country, and random people will be saying, 'Go Blue!' You feel the weight of it, but you also feel pretty proud of representing the block 'M' and knowing what it means to be a Wolverine." — Clayton Sayfie ❱ Getting To Know Men's Cross Country And Track Graduate Tom Brady Tom Brady ran a 29:01.25 to win the 10,000-meter title at the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Championships. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS