The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
Wolverine WATCH john borton C Title Drought Brings Flood Of Urgency had Henne and Mike Hart "Yeah, it is … it really is," were rookies, perhaps Manning concurred. "When I came figuring: hey, here out of high school, this isn't so tough. Brady Michigan was the Hoke served as the school. We won three second-year head coach championships when at Ball State, focusing I was here, and we've his energy on fixing the always had the players Cardinals rather than that have been good fixating on his once and enough to do it. It's just future destination. a matter of getting it U-M assistant coach done. Roy Manning was a "That's definitely one Head coach Brady Hoke and fifth-year senior back the Wolverines are focused of my personal goals, in 2004, celebrating a on breaking an eight-year to help this team win Big Ten championship. streak without a Big Ten a championship. The He hoped he'd be standards here are high. championship. photo by lon horwedel It's not good enough to back someday. He sure didn't figure the Wolverines win eight, nine, 10 games. The goal, would be seeking a shutout-buster every year, is to win the Big Ten championship upon his return. championship and hopefully the That's the deal, any way you try national championship." and polish it up. Michigan stands 0 "It amazes me … yes it does," for 8 in hoisting the conference title noted Fred Jackson, running backs hardware it so desperately covets. coach for the past four Michigan For some, "shock" isn't too head coaches. "I know the league's strong a word to describe such a been better, but that's no matter. circumstance. It amazes me because we haven't "It's very shocking," starting won it, and that's the goal. Every quarterback Devin Gardner insisted. day it's a goal and a challenge. The "As you know, Michigan competes emphasis is on it." for national championships, and Reasons for the drought go well they win Big Ten championships. beyond the strength of the Big Ten, That's just something we have to get and everyone knows it. Plenty of back to, and what we're working non-potable water flowed beneath towards." the title-championship dam since