The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 15 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2020: The Big Ten dropped the COVID competition hammer on Aug. 11, 2020. It announced it would be immediately postponing all fall athletic events in- volving conference teams. The sports indefinitely postponed included cross country, field hockey, football, soccer and vol- leyball. The Big Ten noted it was considering several options regarding those sports, including having them compete in the spring. Michigan announced its suspension of all organized team practices. Athletes were allowed to participate in voluntary activities, within NCAA guidelines. Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel issued a state- ment that U-M combined with the Big Ten announcement. It read as follows: "For the second time in five months, the Big Ten Conference made the unfortunate but necessary decision to postpone an athletic season in order to protect the health and well-being of our student-athletes, staff, and community members. As a result, all fall sport schedules have been post- poned. This latest decision was reached after careful consider- ation and the grim knowledge that this pandemic continues to affect our country adversely. I am deeply saddened for our stu- dent-athletes and remain committed to our ongoing promise to provide them with a world-class education. We remain grateful to our global Michigan family for their unwavering support." The Big Ten ultimately reversed its decision a month later and a shortened football season officially began Oct. 23 with attendance restrictions in place, resulting in cardboard cutout fans in Michigan Stadium. 10 YEARS AGO, 2015: Utah's football team prepared hard to host Michigan and new head coach Jim Harbaugh in the season opener on Sept. 3, 2015. In the days leading up to the showdown, the Utes used some extra motivation — Har- baugh's celebrity status — to gear up for the contest through the dog days of August. Utah players weren't thrilled about Harbaugh stealing the spotlight for the showdown in Salt Lake City. They let their thoughts be known in a story by the Associated Press, which listed Harbaugh headlines over the past several months, from nationwide satellite camps to the new Michigan coach getting photographed shirtless at one such camp to the FOX Sports pro- motional tour bus featuring staff in Harbaugh's trademark khakis. "For me, really, it's getting annoying," noted Utah running back Devontae Booker. "They can have all the hype. We love being underdogs and proving teams wrong. Honestly, I feel like it's overhyped. I don't care if it was Michael Jackson or somebody. We're just going to go out there and play hard and not worry about all the celebrity stuff." "You can't let the hype get to you," agreed Utah linebacker Jared Norris. "It's a big story for newscasters and all that. At the same time, [Harbaugh] is not the one playing the game." Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham garnered more fuel for the fire when a calendar produced by the publication Popular Mechanics hyped the Harbaugh debut and listed Michigan's opener as a "cupcake game." Alerted that it had infuriated the Utes, Popular Mechanics actually sent cupcakes to Utah foot- ball to try and mend fences. "I like cupcakes, so shoot, I can't wait to get there. I'm hun- gry," Utah running backs coach Dennis Erickson exclaimed. "If you can't be physically and mentally ready with a lot of enthu- siasm for the first game on national TV against the University of Michigan, you shouldn't be playing the game." Utah ultimately spoiled Harbaugh's debut, winning 24-17 behind Booker's 126 combined yards (69 rushing, 1 touch- down; 57 receiving). 25 YEARS AGO, 2000: Many breathlessly awaited Drew Henson's appearance as Michigan's full-time starting quar- terback in 2000, after he'd shared time with Tom Brady in the 1999 campaign. Henson and his legion of fans were put on hold in late August, though, after the announcement that he'd miss at least the first three games of the 2000 season with a broken foot. "It's going to come down to how fast it heals," U-M head coach Lloyd Carr said in an ESPN.com story dated Aug. 25, 2000. "He's not going to play until he feels ready." Henson broke the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot in a preseason practice, attempting to avoid a tackle. He planted his foot and changed direction, but the injury changed the di- rection of Michigan's early season, with the relatively untested John Navarre called on to start the season at quarterback. "I have tremendous confidence in John Navarre," Carr said. "He'll step in and do a great job until Drew returns. John Na- varre, just like Drew … is going to be surrounded by a good football team. "I think he's got all the qualities you want in a quarterback. He's hardworking, he's tough. He's a dedicated guy. He'll make some mistakes, but any guy that's playing for the first time will make some mistakes. "He's got a great arm. There aren't any throws he can't make. He's a guy that can get the ball out there." The Big Ten announced on Aug. 11, 2020 that it was indefinitely post- poning football and all fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference later reversed its decision on Sept. 16 and held an abbre- viated football season starting Oct. 24, with attendance restrictions resulting in cardboard cutout fans in Michigan Stadium and elsewhere. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY