The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1514918
14 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2024 BY JOHN BORTON T hey stayed, they came back, and they came back with a purpose — to win the national championship. When the confetti flew this year, it flew maize and blue. The veteran Wolverines weren't shy about talking national championship, even back in the dead of a Michigan winter after a deflating College Football Playoff loss to TCU. Even before the first snap of spring football, and the first pad- ded pounding of fall camp, much less the opening September snap in earnest. Senior tailback Blake Corum stood be- fore a Crisler Center crowd and predicted a national title. Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy doubled down on the notion, repeatedly. Veterans such as senior guard Zak Zinter, grad guard Trevor Keegan, grad wideout Cornelius Johnson, senior wideout Roman Wilson, grad defensive back Mikey Sainristil, grad linebacker Mi- chael Barrett and senior defensive line- man Kris Jenkins all talked about the ulti- mate prize, unafraid to speak their dream. Then they and many others went out and played their dream into existence. They backed their call. They made it happen. They're forever 2023 college football national champions. Corum told a Crisler crowd at this year's championship celebration: "Last year, I believe it was Feb. 9, I came to a basket- THOSE WHO STAY THOSE WHO STAY… … Michigan's Champions Called Their Shot — Then Did It Offensive guard Trevor Keegan (77), running back Blake Corum (2) and defensive back Mike Sainristil (0) were among a core group of graduates and seniors who stayed for "one more year" and were rewarded with the CFP National Championship trophy in Houston on Jan. 8, 2024. PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CERITANO