The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 tle brother,'" he said. "That's pretty much all I heard when I first got on campus. "Finally being able to beat them was a big one. Finally winning a Big Ten cham- pionship, back-to-back, that's big. And we're going for a three-peat. Those are the biggest accomplishments." After the win in Columbus, Barrett could be seen running around the field at Ohio Stadium, waving a huge Michigan flag for all to see, friend and foe alike. It's a memory he's tucked away in the treasure chest. "That one tops everything," he said. "I contributed a lot more in my first time actually starting against them. I played when we played them here, but I was a third-down Mike [middle] 'backer. I was getting limited snaps. "Being out there and actually contrib- uting, and actually being one of the rea- sons for the win, that one pulls a little more weight." AN HOURGLASS EMPTIES Now, Barrett's days in the uniform grow short. His chances to grasp the greatest thrills in a Michigan uniform — another win over Ohio State, a cham- pionship ring — come down to singular efforts. He thinks about it. He can't dwell too long on his own situation. But looking around, he can't help but take a moment. "I try to take advantage of living in the moment a little more, looking around and realizing it's coming to an end," he said. "I try not to think about it or weigh on it too much. But anytime I step out on the field, especially game days, I know it's one less day that I'll be able to be out there in that winged helmet, Anytime I walk through Schembechler, I think about it like that. I try to soak in the moment a little more. "I try not to let my emotions get the best of me. I may feel it for a bit. Then I shake it off. I've got bigger things to be worried about right now, instead of soak- ing in my own thoughts." If he passes on his passion for Michigan football, his knowledge about making it through the tough times, and about find- ing his way to moments like the Wolver- ines experienced in Columbus, he'll have done plenty. His head coach urges all of Michigan's younger linebackers to follow his footsteps, along with those of Michi- gan's other veteran linebackers. "The two linebackers, [junior] Junior Colson and Michael Barrett, and [sopho- more] Ernest Hausmann as well … if I was a young linebacker, I would be wearing those guys out," Jim Harbaugh said. "I'd be around them at all times to the point that they would have to beat me off with a stick. "Let them lead and follow their exam- ple. Emulate them. Watch them. Copy them. Then go try to make a Michael Bar- rett proud of you." Those words mean plenty to one who has been through it. "Being able to be a guy that the younger guys can look up to feels great," Barrett said. "I had Khaleke Hudson, Josh Uche, Devin Bush, Devin Gil, all those guys that I looked up to and wanted to replicate. "Hearing that from Coach Harbaugh and other people was great." What he hears from those outside Schembechler Hall — and he knows plenty are talking — means little. He'd like to prove his point only to the inner circle. "I tell all the guys, 'It's just us, here in this building. We've got to prove it to each other. We've got to trust each other. We're the ones out there making the plays, making it happen,'" Barrett said. "It's more being able to prove to the coaches, prove to the players, your brothers beside you, that you know what you're doing, that you'll be there. That's where the proving comes from." Any other proving can be accom- plished without a word. Barrett and his teammates have a chance to provide a nonverbal answer to all detractors. "That's the goal," he said. "Everybody's got their own opinion. Everybody wants to say what they want to say. At the end of the day, you can't deny dominance. We've got to just keep going out there and dom- inating, play-in, play-out." ❏ Michael Barrett Could Top The List Of Games Played For Michigan Sixth-year grad linebacker Michael Bar- rett suffered through Michigan's COVID- shortened season in 2020, but it actually lengthened his career. Because he and others received a free season due to all the issues, Barrett could wind up playing in more football games than any Wolver- ine in history. The Penn State contest marked Barrett's 59th in a Michigan uniform. With an ap- pearance at Maryland, he'll tie placekicker Jake Moody for the Michigan record in games played, at 60. Depending upon how many games the Wolverines have remain- ing — and that's dependent upon their success — others could move up. But un- less Barrett sits out for some reason, he'd leave Michigan as the king of the hill in game appearances. Here's the all-time list, through the Penn State game: ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED AT MICHIGAN — John Borton Player Games Years Jake Moody 60 2018-22 Michael Barrett 59 2018-23 Mike Sainristil 57 2019-23 Cornelius Johnson 56 2019-23 Brad Hawkins 56 2017-21 Jordan Glasgow 52 2016-19 Khaleke Hudson 52 2016-19 Player Games Years Brandon Watson 51 2015-18 Mason Cole 51 2014-17 Craig Roh 51 2009-12 Chris Wormley 51 2013-16 Ben Gedeon 51 2013-16 Sione Houma 51 2012-15 Joe Bolden 51 2012-15 Barrett made time for a selfie with fans after U-M's 49-0 romp at Michigan State on Oct. 21. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN