The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525654
❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS NUMBERS AND QUOTES BY CLAYTON SAYFIE PHOTO COURTESY DETROIT LIONS PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2 Former Michigan players landed on the NFL's list of the top 100 players, as voted on by the league's players — Detroit Lions defensive end AIDAN HUTCHINSON at No. 47 and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary at No. 50. "Last year, Hutchinson finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting with a 9.5-sack finish," NFL.com said of Hutchinson's rookie campaign in 2022. "He built on that in Year 2, hitting double digits in sacks (11.5) in the regular season while adding three in the playoffs, and ranking second in the league in total pressures (94). Add on his 7 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception, and Hutchinson's second effort was enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl nod." "Playing on the fifth year of his rookie contract and making his return from an ACL injury that cut short what looked to be a break- out 2022, Gary had something to prove in 2023," NFL.com wrote. "Highlighted by his first 3-sack performance in Week 3, Gary showed enough by the end of October for the Packers to reward him with a four-year, $96 million extension. Gary finished the season as the team leader in sacks (9) and QB hits (22)." No. 3 Is where MICHIGAN STADIUM ranked on ESPN's list of the top venues in college football, behind only LSU's Tiger Stadium and UCLA's Rose Bowl. ESPN polled 14 of its college football writers to determine the rank- ings. "No parameters, no criteria," ESPN noted. "Writers were asked to submit their top 20 stadi- ums in order. We then awarded points: 20 for first- place votes, 19 for second and all the way down to 1 point for a stadium voted No. 20." The Big House earned 182 points, trailing 247 for Tiger Stadium and 209 for the Rose Bowl. The next-highest rated Big Ten venue was Penn State's Beaver Stadium at No. 5 with 172 points. "Size matters with stadiums, and Michigan re- mains the largest by capacity at 107,601, edging fellow Big Ten venues Beaver Stadium (Penn State) and Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)," Adam Rittenberg wrote. "In 2013, Michi- gan drew 115,109 for its game against N otre Dame, the largest crowd ever to at- tend a football game on campus. The listed capacity has ended in '01' since 1956 with the 'extra seat' belonging to former Michi- gan coach and athletic director Fritz Crisler. "The stadium went through a $227 million renovation in 2010 that brought club suites and private suites and significantly increased the noise level around the large bowl. Games at 'The Big House' — a phrase coined by former commentator Keith Jackson — begin dramatically with the Wolverines touching a 'Go Blue' banner as they enter the field." No. 8 Is where Michigan stood in the preseason coaches poll, trailing No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 7 Notre Dame. Penn State (No. 9) and Florida State (No. 10) rounded out the top 10. Georgia (46), Ohio State (7) and Texas (1) joined Michigan (1) in receiving at least one first-place vote. Michi- gan will play three of the top four teams in the poll this season — Texas (Sept. 7), Oregon (Nov. 2) and at Ohio State (Nov. 30). The Wolverines will also take on No. 23 USC in their Big Ten opener Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines also checked in at No. 9 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, flipping spots with Penn State from the coaches poll. I'm going to give it my all every day. I trusted the process this long, trusting in God this long. It's my time. I'm going to go out there and dominate and be one of those dawgs." — Senior offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi It's one of those feelings that's not going to wash off in the shower. That stays with you." — Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh on winning the 2023 national championship (via Barstool's "Pardon My Take" podcast)