The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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16 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2025 I call Bryce a unicorn. He's one of one. He's definitely an impact player. He's going to learn on the job, but ultimately, he's going to develop into a truly elite quarterback." — Quarterback University founder and trainer Donovan Dooley, who works with U-M QB signee Bryce Underwood The energy in the building was crazy. People are feeling Michigan basket- ball is back, and there's just great spirit there." — Former U-M basketball coach John Beilein on attending the Wolverines' 85-83 win over Iowa Dec. 7 School is a big thing with me. My education is everything. And also, me pushing my hometown state, my hometown college to the next level, to win a couple national championships." — Michigan quarterback signee Bryce Under- wood on why he signed with the Wolverines A felony? I'll tell you what should be a felony: Losing to a .500 football team at home when you're a three- touchdown favorite after bragging to the entire world that you spent $20 million to assemble the greatest roster ever. I never thought I'd see anything softer than Texas fans trying to ban the horns down gesture, but the state of Ohio said, 'Hold my beer, we can top it.' 'Soft' doesn't even begin to describe this behavior. 'Broken' is a better word. The Buckeyes are broken." — Daily Wire host and former U-M quarterback David Cone on Ohio 41st district representative Josh Williams introducing a bill that would make planting a flag at Ohio Stadium a felony 12.3 Million Viewers watched the Michigan-Ohio State game, making it the second-most watched regular-season college football game of 2024, versus 19.1 million in 2023. This was the first time since 2020 that "The Game" did not rank as the most-watched col- lege game of the regular season. Overall, 5.2 million viewers on average watched Michigan on a weekly basis during the 2024 regu- lar season, according to sports business insider Joe Pompliano. That ranked sixth nationally, behind Georgia (8.6 million), Ohio State (6.8 million), Ala- bama (6.6 million), Texas (6.4 million) and Tennes- see (5.4 million). Most Watched Regular-Season Games Of 2024 1. Georgia-Texas — 13.19 million (ABC) 2. Michigan-Ohio State — 12.3 million (Fox) 3. Georgia-Alabama — 11.99 million (ABC) 4. Alabama-Tennessee — 10.23 million (ABC) 5. Tennessee-Georgia — 9.96 million (ABC) Source: Sports Media Watch $1.9 Million Annual base salary for Michigan athletics direc- tor Warde Manuel, whose five-year contract extension was approved by the U-M board of regents Dec. 5. The former U-M lineman will also receive an annual retirement plan match of $350,000 and can score a maximum $150,000 from an incentive program. His term will run through June 30, 2030. Manuel has been in his current role since 2016. The CFP committee chairman was the recipient of the 2024 National Football Foundation John L. Toner Award for the athletics director of the year. 10 Points for Ohio State in a 13-10 loss to Michigan Nov. 30, its low- est total in a regular-season game since a 24-6 loss to Miami on Sept. 17, 2011. 4th Is where the 2023 Michigan team checked in on ESPN.com writer Bill Connelly's ranking of all 52 College Football Playoff teams (since 2014) before this year's event got under way. The Wolverines, who finished 15-0 and won the national champion- ship, slotted behind only 2020 Alabama (13-0), 2019 LSU (15-0) and 2022 Georgia (15-0). 2 Michigan class of 2025 signees were named Gatorade Football Player of the Year in their state or district: quarterback Bryce Underwood (Michigan) and defensive back Kainoa Winston (Washington, D.C.). 2nd-Highest Paid assistant coach in college football this season is defensive coordinator Wink Martindale at $2.3 million, per USA Today. LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker checks in first at $2.5 million. Mar- tindale is one of nine assistants who raked in $2 million or more. 4 Michigan players had accepted invites to the Reese's Senior Bowl as of Dec. 13 — running backs DONOVAN EDWARDS (7) and KALEL MULLINGS (20), edge Josaiah Stewart and long snap- per William Wagner. The game will be played on Feb. 1, 2025 at the University of South Alabama. ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL NUMBERS AND QUOTES BY CLAYTON SAYFIE