The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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8 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2024 J uwan Howard leaves Michigan in the right way, even after a season in which the Wolverines lost their way. He gets full credit for his classy goodbye, after a year almost guaranteeing his exit. He thanked the University, Michigan's Board of Regents and Athletics Director Warde Manuel in his farewell statement. He highlighted the good times, when he earned Associated Press National Coach of the Year in 2021, when the Wolverines were stopped one three-pointer away from a Final Four. He noted his health challenges of the past year, including open-heart surgery before an 8-24 cam- paign. He didn't make excuses. He spoke from the heart. Then he spoke directly to the players. "You guys were and always will be my EVERYTHING!" Howard proclaimed. His everything and their everything on the court resulted in a steep decline in re- sults after that golden 2020-21 campaign. Howard's own temper cost him dearly, from dust-ups with other coaches to a square off with his own strength and con- ditioning coach, resulting in Jon Sand- erson's departure. The combination just grew to be too much, even for one who would draw consideration on a Michigan basketball Mt. Rushmore. Howard will coach again, likely as an NBA assistant. Michigan fans should wish him nothing but the absolute best — with his health, his family and his career. There were times in Ann Arbor when he per- ceived enemies that didn't exist. The hope here is, he'll find a place where his passion and relationships are always channeled in an upward arc. Bottom line — it's about winning at this level. Many Michigan football fol- lowers were shrugging off Jim Harbaugh's flirtations with the NFL before the last three seasons unfolded. Whoever follows Howard has to win big, as well. That will require more NIL resources than Howard enjoyed, along with better roster con- struction — understanding that these days, the two work hand in hand. There's no doubt a sadness over what might have been, concerning the Fab Five icon. But as his football counterpart is inclined to say: Onward. * * * On the other end of the ledger, the Michigan hockey team is steaming to- ward the NCAA Tournament via a heart- ening win streak come tournament time. The Wolverines' 2-1 victory over No. 6 Minnesota on March 16 surged Brandon Naurato's crew into the March 23 Big Ten Tournament championship contest against Michigan State. Sophomore for- ward Gavin Brindley's second-period goal secured Michigan's fourth straight one- goal victory — the first time the Wolver- ines put four in a row on ice by a single goal since 1926. Grad goalie Jake Barczewski turned away 23 shots, and the Wolverines kept the accelerator down on a late-season run putting them in position for a Big Ten title and even bigger considerations. They've won six out of seven heading into the showdown with the Spartans, and the signs are there. When you win the close ones at one-and-done time, that's ev- erything. The Wolverines are doing exactly that, in an upswing hot enough to soften the ice. * * * Continuity looms large when you're doing it right. Michigan's football team did everything right in 2023, winding up 15-0 and national champions. Despite the massive exodus of coaches and top players detailed in this space last month, Michi- gan executed an amazing job in mitigating the losses, putting themselves in position to continue competing at a high level. J.J. McCarthy smiled when a reporter implied the Wolverines will experience a precipitous drop-off this year. He re- torted: "You keep thinking that way." Michigan football isn't. In Sherrone Moore, they feature a head coach that al- ready guided the Wolverines to wins over Penn State and Ohio State — in a head coaching capacity on game day. His new offensive coordinator, Kirk Campbell, knows exactly how it got done, as Michi- gan's quarterbacks coach last year — a role he retains. New defensive coordinator Wink Mar- tindale laid the foundation the past two DCs — Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter — used to fashion crews that blunted Ohio State for three years, along with Alabama and Washington at title time this season. Martindale smells what the Wolverines are cooking, and he loves it. Physicality, on both sides of the ball, will keep Michigan punching people in the nose, he insisted. "Starting with Sherrone, it's one of those things you have the advantage be- ing at the University of Michigan, because of the offense and how Sherrone runs the offense," he said. "I think that puts us in the great mindset to play the right de- fense, because you better be physical if you're going to play at the University of Michigan." Moore and Martindale both assure U-M will be extremely physical. There's no better place to begin. ❑ WOLVERINE WATCH ❱ JOHN BORTON Highs And Lows On Full Display A Michigan icon as a player, Juwan Howard only lasted five years as head basketball coach but exited with a classy farewell to all involved with his program at the university, with a special heartfelt message to his players. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Editor John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @JB_Wolverine.