The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 17 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 6 College football teams that "started ranked and now need a do-over," according to ESPN.com's Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg, and Michigan is one of them. The Wolverines are joined by Florida State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ari- zona and USC. "That's insane," a Big Ten defensive coordi- nator said of Michigan's decision not to take a portal quarterback, per ESPN.com. "If I'm [opposing] teams, I'm loading up in the box and not letting them run the ball and make them throw." 28 Fast-break points for Michigan bas- ketball in a 101-53 season-opening win over Cleveland State Nov. 4, the most it had in a game since Nov. 22, 2019, when it posted 34 in a 111-68 victory over Houston Baptist. The Maize and Blue averaged 12.8 seconds per possession, per the KenPom analytics site. The Wolverines averaged 10 transition points per con- test and 17.8 seconds per play last season. I do think that our fans appreciated the way our guys played the game tonight. And that's something that we talk about even late in the game, that unselfish- ness and spirit and passion that you play with, you don't ever turn that off. And that's why we told them before the game today, this place probably will be half full tonight. And by next month, be- cause of the way we play and the way we interact with each other and the way we represent Michigan, we want it to be full. We'll give 'em a month." — Michigan basketball head coach DUSTY MAY following a 101-53 season-opening win over Cleveland State Nov. 4 I haven't sat down and thought about the long haul. When you're 61, you just try to think about tomorrow. I'm glad that I'm here. I love the players that we have, and I think it's obviously a different game. But it's a lot better than being at some places that are 2-7." — Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale on if he plans to stay in college football for the 'long haul,' potentially throwing shade at the New York Giants, who were 2-7 at the time of the Nov. 6 comment It's just another opportunity to play football. It's important to everybody. Everybody wants to get on my field." — Junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant on potentially playing in a bowl game I thought The Big House atmo- sphere Saturday night was really, really good. I know that people aren't as happy with the results this year, but I think most people get it, in terms of what they lost. It didn't look like a lot of people sold their tickets to Michigan State fans. The thing about college football is that magic can happen in ways that I'm not sure can happen in other sports. Other sports don't have the raw passion that college football has, and the sense of tradition." —Michigan football radio play-by-play commentator Doug Karsch after the 24-17 win over Michigan State Oct. 26 It gets loud on third downs. It's a special place. There is obviously a lot of history here." — Oregon head coach Dan Lanning following the Ducks' 38-17 win at Michigan Nov. 2 Those guys are every bit as elite as you see on TV. Every day, they bring an attitude to the facility. It really shows me what it takes." — Sophomore defensive tackle Trey Pierce on playing behind junior defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant 11th Overall is where Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Val- ley Northwest five-star Michigan offensive tackle commit ANDREW BABALOLA ranks among all 2025 recruits, per On3. He's the No. 3 offensive tackle nationally and top-rated player in Kan- sas, having made his commitment Oct. 21. The 6-6, 295-pounder is the Wolverines' first five-star pledge since junior cornerback Will Johnson in 2022 and the program's highest-rated offensive lineman commit in the On3 Industry Ranking's da- tabase, which goes back to 2004. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL