The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
OCTOBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 37 our players, the way he empowers our coaches. "He breathes confidence into our team with how he operates. There's a level of respect that everybody has, not only for him but the way he builds us up as well. I think it allows us to thrive in those situa- tions if we have to." MIKE HART BECOMES MICHIGAN'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COACH Before the UNLV game, Hart joked he hoped Jay Harbaugh would have the team in good shape at the half so he could coast through the second. That's how it played out, with the Wolverines taking a 21-0 lead on the way to a 35-7 victory. Michigan only had four offensive possessions in the first half be- cause of how they controlled the ball, scoring on three. The younger Harbaugh looked com- posed and in command in leading the team in the first half. "It was an honor," he said. "I just love being a part of a team, and it's an honor to be given that privilege and responsibility. We have the kind of team and coaches and culture that makes that kind of thing pretty easy for us to be able to step in just because it's a well-oiled machine. It's running really well, and players make things easy when they play great football like they did today." Going in, Hart talked about the honor of coaching next to his friend, calling him a "phenomenal coach" who "doesn't get a lot of the respect that he deserves. "He's coached offense, he's coached defense, he's special teams coordinator. He knows football well," Hart said. "He's one of the hardest workers I know. To be able to share this opportunity with him is an honor." U-M took a 35-0 lead before the back- ups played most of the fourth quarter, Hart at the helm as Michigan football's first African American head coach. It was an emotional day for the U-M legend and running back (2004-07). "It's a great honor. I had a chance to play for Tony Dungy, I had a chance to play for Jim Caldwell [in the NFL]," Hart said. "My first coaching job was with Ron English at Eastern Michigan. We have an athletic director in Warde Manuel that's African American. I've had a close rela- tionship with him since he's been here. "I just had a lot of great coaches who are African American who I've looked up to. It just really let me know that it can happen, it's a possibility. "Hopefully, we see more African American coaches in college football. We need more. Hopefully, I will be one of those one day, "This is my university, I played here, this place changed my life. To have that opportunity to always say I was the first African American head coach here is huge." Moore would become the second only a week later, leading the Wolverines to a 31-6 win over Bowling Green. He echoed his colleagues' sentiments about their boss, and even sounded like Jim Har- baugh when he met the media before the game. "It's an honor to represent this univer- sity … to represent these players," Moore said. "But it's really not about me; it's about the players. I just want to have a chance to make sure we're doing every- thing right on game day. "It's not about me. It will never be about Coach, even. He'll say it's about the players and this university." Having Moore back was huge, Hart said, and it proved big against the Fal- cons, too. "Him being able to call the offense, his energy, how smart of a coach he is. I would say that having Coach Moore back made the job a lot easier," Hart said. But all of them were excited to get Harbaugh back for the Week 4 Big Ten opener against Rutgers. "It was awesome having an oppor- tunity, but we miss Coach Harbaugh. Without a doubt, he's the one that runs the show," Hart said. "The culture he's placed with the coaches, how we operate on game day, doesn't really switch much." "Certainly, we'll be better when he gets back because he's our head coach, and I think he's the best head coach in college football." Minter added. "We'll definitely be excited to get him back but glad we were able to be a guardian of vic- tory." ❑ PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Four Michigan assistants — (left to right) Jesse Minter, Jay Harbaugh, Mike Hart and Sherrone Moore — each got a chance to serve as interim head coach during the first three games. Week 2, Second Half Week 3