The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
20 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2023 room over the years, the leadership by Jim and his staff. It just all came together to make a special two-year run, and each year was special in and of itself. "It's great to see, because I know of all the hard work they put into that par- ticular program. The immense, intense scrutiny and pressure that is put on Michigan football here, by themselves and our fans and everyone. It's great when you deal with that level of pres- sure, wanting to succeed, and you do. I can reflect on the reaction of the team at the end of the season, the champi- onships. Those things were just really special." TW: Obviously, the expectations this year are sky high. Do you watch these games with the bottom-line eye of an athletics director or with the passion of a former football player here? WM: "Both. It's gratifying from both perspectives. As an alum of the football program, now being athletic director and supporting our teams, I can't turn off either. I can't turn off my passion for Michigan football, and I can't turn off my being athletic director and making sure everything is in place in what they need to drive the success. "I can tell you what I don't do. I am not one that sits up there and is criti- cal of our student-athletes and our coaches. Every game, I know Jim and this team are working to win. More times than not, the results are a success. "But when they're not, I'm not going to be overly critical of Jim and the team at that moment. I know they've put ev- erything into winning a game. I watch our games as an athletic director and as a former student-athlete, in support of their effort. "When people around me are criti- cal of them, I am quick to snap, to say, 'That's enough.' These particular young men, along with Jim and that staff, are working extremely hard to drive that success. All of us need to put our sup- port towards them and not be critical of every particular thing they do. That's how I approach the game." TW: What are your thoughts on his decision to divvy up the head coaching duties in the first three games among four different men? WM: "I love it. I think it speaks to his belief in his staff and the opportunity that this presented for them to take a leadership role for the three games. When he proposed the idea to me, I thought it was tremendous. It's who he is as a leader towards his staff. "It's a great opportunity for them to lead, to learn, to have that opportunity. Jim said it, and I believe it as well, he has 10 people on his staff that he believes and I believe will be head coaches one day. "The opportunity for our coordina- tors to step up is indicative of his belief in them." TW: It was pointed out after the UNLV game that Mike Hart handling the second half made him the first African American head coach in Michi- gan football history. What are your thoughts in that regard? WM: "It's special to see Mike in that role, with what he means to Michigan athletics and Michigan football, and what he means to me. I've known him since he was a student-athlete here. I know the type of great person that he is. "African Americans being put in leadership positions of teams is some- thing that is not happening enough in college athletics. What it highlights, again, is Jim's belief in him, but also the ability to be ready and to step up in that role, at some point in his career, and be a head coach. "For Mike to be in that role, and for him to be the first to ever be the head coach of Michigan football as an African American, makes me just tremendously proud." "Jay [Harbaugh], who shared the head coaching duties with Mike [in the UNLV game], is also an outstanding coach and an outstanding person — he is more than just Jim's son. I want people to un- derstand that about him." TW: What are your thoughts about the impend- ing Big Ten expansion and the ongoing Big Ten expansion? WM: "I think we're stopping at 18. So, when you say ongoing, I think this is where we'll be. I'm excited about the four universities that are coming into the Big Ten. I've known all four athletic directors during my career. They're tre- mendous people. "The staff of the Big Ten, the ADs, ❱ Manuel "As the athletic director of this program and all of our sports, I just smile constantly thinking about our success and what the student-athletes and the coaches and the staff accom- plished last year."