The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540586
24 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2025 BY JOHN BORTON T h ose W h o S tay Wi l l Be Champions most certainly applies to Michigan graduate student center Greg Crippen. He stayed, throughout four years of seek- ing a full-time spot in the Wolverines' starting lineup, and became a three-time Big Ten champion, along with a national champion. H e m o v e d into the starting lineup midway t h r o u g h l a s t season, against Wa s h i n g t o n . Po s i t i o n s a re only rented, as f o r m e r h e a d man Jim Har- baugh liked to say, and Crip- pen had to pay the price to become the tip of the offensive spear again, even af- ter successful starts in victories against Ohio State and Alabama at the end of the 2024 campaign. Along with that opportunity came a challenge. Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome delivered it after the Wolverines issued defense-led dismiss- als of the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide. "I have to give him a shoutout," New- some said. "We sat him down after the season last year and had a blunt, tough conversation." It happens every year, in postsea- son, individual evaluations. The mes- sage in this case left no room for misinterpretation. "We need you as a unit, for you indi- vidually and us as a team, we need you to take that next step as a run-blocker," Newsome said. Crippen responded to the challenge, working throughout the winter, spring and summer to hone his 6-foot-4, 309-pound frame into a more mobile, powerful mover of massive amounts of defensive meat. When presented with that op- p o r t u n i t y i n Michigan's road s h owd ow n a t Nebraska ear- lier this year, he d i d n 't d i sa p - point. T h e Wo l - verines racked u p 2 8 6 r u s h - i n g ya r d s i n Lincoln, com- pared to a paltry 43 by the Cornhuskers. Michigan pounded away at times, but scored explosively on some serious real estate acquisitions — a 75-yard touch- down bolt by junior running back Jus- STAYING THE COURSE Center Greg Crippen Persevered When He Wasn't Playing, And Now He's A Starter During his career at Michigan, Crippen played sparingly on three Big Ten title teams and a national championship squad before becoming the starter at center last season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL