The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 13 uncontrollable things with how they train, how they work, how they play. And there's unanimous support for each other. You never doubt if someone on this team has your back." No more than Sainristil, who will leave for the NFL as one of the best leaders — and probably, one of the best defensive backs — in Michigan football history. "That's what Mike does. There's no- body you would expect more," Minter said. "He's done it all year going back to the second drive of the season, setting the tone for how we were going to play this year with an interception. "The first conference game, he gets a key pick six. Ohio State, Michigan State, the Big Ten championship game — that's what he does. He had a great week of prep and study. To see him make a play like that … no surprise at all." The same could be said for all the guys who contributed throughout a magical season, he would add. But they all ac- knowledged they wouldn't be in that po- sition without their coach. "Just all credit goes to the players on this team, everybody in that facility, but Coach Harbaugh — he's the reason we're here to- day," McCarthy said. "So, just all thanks to him and to everybody on the team." Michigan fans would concur, grateful for one of the most memorable games and seasons in U-M's storied football history. ❏ Jesse Minter's Defensive Game Plan Was One For The Ages Michigan hadn't seen a passing game like Washington's all year with the type of receivers, offensive line, and outstanding quarterback the Huskies boasted in Michael Penix Jr. U-M defensive coordinator Jesse Minter heard that for a solid hour at National Championship Game media day, and to his credit, he handled all of the questions about them with grace. Inside, though, he couldn't help but bristle a bit. After all, his defense had been special all year, ending the season as college football's leader in points (10.4) and yards (247.0) allowed per game. It stifled Washington in a 34-13 victory, holding its high-powered offense to a season low in points. The Huskies entered the game averaging 37.6 per game. His brilliant game plan confused Penix and locked up the Huskies' receivers. "Our guys played with no fear," Minter said. "It was another week of hearing all about the other team's offense and how good they were. Nobody really talked about how good our defense was. "We took that personal. We were at media day, and all we got asked about was how good their quarter- back was, how good their receivers were, how good their offensive line was …" In the end, though, the Michigan defenders owned Penix and Co., taking away the deep ball (for the most part) and holding the Huskies to 301 yards of total offense. Minter gave the players their credit, and they deserved it. They were outstanding all year and at their best in the title game. He proved again why he's one of the top coordinators in the game at any level, and why he'll be a hot com- modity for an NFL team. However, he wasn't talking about that in the postgame locker room. "I love Michigan," he said, noting he just wanted to be a resource for his guys with their own NFL deci- sions to make. And what's not to love? While the media ripped the Wolverines as "cheaters" and essentially discredited everything he did, Minter designed defenses that stifled offenses the last half of the schedule to the point that they looked hapless. He didn't blitz much against UW, but he put his guys in perfect position to succeed. "We sent six a couple times just to just to rush him, which was effective," he said. "Then we sent some simulated pressures at the end, on which we got some body-blow hits on him." Penix's first pass of the second half, pressured by sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham, ended in a highlight reel interception for sophomore corner Will Johnson, the game's defensive MVP. "That was such a tone-setting play for how the half went," Minter said. "We talked at halftime about we needed 2 turnovers, I thought, to control the second half. Lo and behold, the first play, Will makes a great play. "Similar to last week against Alabama, ball disruption wasn't there in the first half, then it showed up in key moments. It's just a credit to our guys and the amount of work they put in on those things offseason and in the season. "Penix took a big hit right there. After that, he was limping, gimping around. From then on, we thought he was going to be sitting back there maybe not moving as much. "We thought we could keep the rush rolling, keep being relentless. It was going to pay off. Even though we had only one sack, I thought our pass rush in crunch time helped win the game." And Minter put them in position — 15 up, 15 down with defense rivaling the 1997 national champs. Who said defense can't still win championships? — Chris Balas Minter's defense stifled Washington in the 34-13 victory, holding its high-powered offense to a season low in points. The Michigan defense was special all year and ended the season as college football's leader in points (10.4) and yards (247.0) allowed per game. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF Late in the fourth quarter, graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil came up with an intercep- tion, which he returned 81 yards to set up Michigan's final touchdown of the game two plays later. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF