The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 hoping to fit in somewhere. He delivered the message with strength and convic- tion, as much for his own crew as for the scribes gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Team 145 has really done a really good job up to this point in taking the necessary steps to be elite, to do all the things that we set out to do — win the big games, beat our rivals, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, go to College Football Playoff and win it," Moore said. "For us, that's something we strive to do. Tough, smart, dependable, relentless, enthusi- astic, and together is how I describe our team. We're going to do everything we can to strive for perfection. Everything we do every day is a process, and we'll continue to strive to do that. We'll con- tinue to do that with a contagious enthu- siasm unknown to mankind." Even for the newcomers, there's a deep understanding of Michigan. Not just Jim Harbaugh Michigan, but de- cades upon decades of physically domi- nant, tough, grinding Michigan football. Asked about Moore's approach, new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale noted: "First of all, the easy answer is he wants us to be Michigan, stay Michigan, who we are since back to Bo, Fielding Yost. He wants to carry on the tradi- tion of Michigan. What stands out with Sherrone is how much he cares about the kids, the players, how much he cares about you as a coach. How much he cares about people, how he likes to up- lift people. And I just think that he has all the characteristics of being a great leader. And he was that when he stepped in for Jim last year. And it's going to be a fun journey to go with him on this, and I'm really looking forward to it." Whereas Michigan's defense once again figures to present a solid bully boys front, offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell — despite an all-new starting offensive line — remains completely on board with breaking the will of those across the line. "I was born in Western Pennsylvania. I have a blue-collar mentality," Campbell said. "Football back when I played was in a shoebox. It was physical, downhill, stop the run, nosebleed, play-action pass. I truly feel like that is still the identity you want. You want to run the football first, but you want to complement with great play-action pass, great ball-control pass game with your skill players." Harbaugh has his sights set on a new mountain to climb. Moore wants more of what the Wolverines produced last season. He makes it clear he's not Har- baugh. But the way the Wolverines play ought to deliver a comfortable, recog- nizable feeling to The Big House crowd, and renewed unease for visitors. "I can't be Jim Harbaugh, and I never will be," Moore said. "I go as I go. I'm not going to change how I am. When I get ex- cited, I'm going to get excited, and when I want to yell 'Smash!' I'm going to yell 'Smash!' When I want us to play violent, I'm going to let our players know. That's what I'm going to do. When I love them, I love them. When I feel like they need a hug, I'm going to give them a hug. I'm just going to be me. I can't change that, and I don't want to change that." ❏ Jake Butt Says Nine Wins Is The Floor Jake Butt experienced the Jim Harbaugh difference as a player, becoming an All-American tight end at Michigan in 2015 and '16. Now, as a Big Ten Network analyst, he's been impressed with how both Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore go about their business. In Butt's estimation, the starting point for Michigan football in 2024 is nine wins. It goes up from there, he noted on "The Next Round" broadcast. "With their defense, nine wins should be the absolute floor," Butt said of the Wolverines. "And in the Big Ten Conference, with the expanded [College Football] Playoff, you should expect that Michigan should be striving to get a Playoff berth and make some noise. That's still one of, if not the best, defenses in college football. That defensive line … it's them and Ohio State, realistically, with the best defensive line in college football. "They've got the best corner in college football, the best interior defensive lineman, the best tight end. They have elite running backs with experience, and even though this O-line is completely revamped, the guys that they're relying on have played a ton of football, which is a benefit of the fact that Michigan blew out a ton of their opponents. "The limiting factor to me is, who's the quarterback, and how does that affect their offensive identity? Also, can they stay healthy? Depth was one of their biggest strengths in the past years. I think depth is a question mark, at this point. The other piece of this is, that schedule is so much harder. The national media was ripping on Michigan for not playing a tough opponent until Penn State. "Well, now you're got Texas, you've got USC — the schedule is so much harder. You're going to need to rely on your depth sooner in the season." — John Borton ❱ Moore "Tough, smart, depend- able, relentless, enthusias- tic, and together is how I describe our team. We're going to do everything we can to strive for perfection." Sophomore offensive guard Nathan Efobi worked for leverage against senior center Greg Crippen in a drill during fall camp, with both embodying the team's "Smash!" mentality. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS