The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 9 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan had a re- union of sorts the morning of the spring game on April 20, bring- ing back players and coaching staff from last year's 15-0 season and run to a College Football Playoff national cham- pionship to award each their title rings. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who departed for the Los Angeles Char- gers 16 days after U-M's 34-13 win over Wash- ington on Jan. 8, was in attendance along with members of the staff that joined him in the NFL and the team's departing stars, such as Blake Corum and J.J. McCarthy. Jostens designed and handcrafted U- M's championship jewelry, which in- cluded four custom rings that celebrated the CFP title, trip to the CFP, the Rose Bowl win over Alabama and the program's third straight Big Ten championship. "Jostens is proud to partner with Michigan to celebrate their remarkable 2023 season with four uniquely designed championship rings that capture all the most meaningful pieces of their story. It is our distinct honor to help bring that story to life on these rings," said Chris Poitras, senior vice president and GM of Jostens. The shape and size of the main ring was inspired by Michigan Stadium and in- cludes hand-set stones that "reflect the team's unshakable confidence, unrelent- ing determination and incredible legacy." The tip has white stones that includes the block "M" logo in a custom-cut blue stone. The left side of the ring has the name of the recipient and NRG Sta- dium in Houston with the score of the Washington game and each player's jersey number. The Harbaugh family catchphrase — "WHO'S GOT IT BETTER THAN US? NOOOOBODY!" — begins on the left side and wraps around the bezel. The right side features the "Michigan vs. Every- body" slogan with the team's national title logo. "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions" is imprinted on the inside of the ring along with the season record (15-0) and official CFP logo. The back of the band features the word "BET," ref- erencing the rallying cry from the 2023 stretch run and Harbaugh's Big Ten sus- pension at the end of the regular season. Harbaugh also followed up on his promise to get a tattoo if the team finished the job. His new ink in- cluded a skinny "M" logo and "15-0" underneath it on his right shoulder. The Michigan ring cer- emony, where each ring recipient also received a copy of The Wolverine's national championship commemorative maga- zine, served as a passing of the baton from Team 144 to the current group. "I felt some great juice when I got those four rings the other day," current head coach Sherrone Moore said days after the event. "Last year was last year. We're still celebrating it, we're ex- cited that we did that and we'll look at those rings all the time — that's all the juice we need." All four rings have special meaning, but Moore said the title ring is the one that carries the most weight. "It's a hard one to decide," Moore said when asked which was his favorite. "Probably the national championship one. The Rose Bowl one might be my fa- vorite, though. The national champion- ship. It's the natty, you've got to wear that one. I wore all four the other day." Team 145 was on hand for the presenta- tion ahead of its split-squad scrimmage later that day. "We were so happy to get the rings, but at the same time, we had business to handle, too, with spring ball," sophomore receiver Fredrick Moore said. Corum had some advice for the next iteration of Wolverines before everyone left town and went their separate ways. "My message to this team is, 'Just be brothers,' just like we did last year when people were try- ing to tear us apart. We locked arms," Corum said on the FOX broadcast of the spring game. "We had a goal in mind, to finish the goal. Don't change anything. The cul- ture is phenomenal. We love our brothers. Just do that. Work hard, and just go one day at a time." ❑ ❱ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Team 144 Gets Its Rings, 2024 Squad Gets Inspiration Michigan players, coaches and staff all received four special rings from the 2023 championship season. PHOTO COURTESY KRIS JENKINS Copies of The Wolverine's special commemorative national champion- ship magazine were waiting for Team 144 underneath their ring boxes. PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTINA DERUYTER