The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542067
JANUARY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 15 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2021: Michigan basketball let the Big Ten know it stood ready for anything on Jan. 22, 2021, thumping Purdue in the always-tough Mackey Arena, 70-53. Isaiah Livers scored 22 points to lead the Wolverines, who ran their record to 13-1, 8-1 in Big Ten play. Michigan stormed to a 34-21 halftime lead, holding the Boilermakers to 32.1-per- cent shooting (9 of 28) in the opening 20 minutes, including an 0-of-6 effort from three-point range. The Wolverines limited Purdue to overall season lows of 53 points and 30.9-percent shooting from the field. U-M increased its lead to 57-40 with 8:41 remaining on a bucket by Franz Wagner, part of a 50-percent Michigan shooting effort in the final 20 minutes. The Boilermak- ers never got within striking distance thereafter, Livers hauling down 10 rebounds and Eli Brooks adding 11 points to the Wolverines' suffocating defensive effort. The win kept Michigan coach Juwan Howard undefeated at Mackey. He went 3-0 there in his Fab Five playing days and moved to 2-0 as a coach with the victory. "They all did a great job," Howard said of his team. "It was not easy because Trev- ion [Williams] is one of the best bigs in this conference and also one of the best in the country. I know tomorrow they're going to wake up sore because they earned it. This was an old-school, Big Ten type of game. The Big Ten has always been a physical conference and tonight's game was really about physicality." 10 YEARS AGO, 2016: Jim Harbaugh's first Michigan team finished 10-3 by running over Florida 41-7 in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2016. The Wolverines piled up 503 total yards to the Gators' 273, led by game MVP quarterback Jake Rudock. Rudock completed 20 of 31 throws for 278 yards with 3 touchdowns. He got the Wolverines going following an early 7-7 tie, Michigan scoring 34 straight points to overwhelm the Gators. Meanwhile, Michigan running back De'Veon Smith paced the ground game with 109 yards on 25 attempts. Florida found itself still in the game at the half, down 17-7, but U-M scored on its opening two possessions of the second half to quell any comeback delusions. The dominant third quarter featured the Wolverines gaining 160 yards to Florida's 2. "I'd say this was the best game we played all year," Harbaugh commented af- terward. "I don't think I've ever seen our offense play better. And our defense was magnificent." Florida head coach Jim McElwain predictably proved not as effusive. "This was a case of getting your rump kicked in," McElwain said. "That's what it was." 25 YEARS AGO, 2001: Michigan running back Anthony Thomas ran wild on Auburn in a 31-28 cliffhanger of a Citrus Bowl victory on Jan. 1, 2001. Thomas gar- nered game MVP honors by rushing for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns on 32 carries. Michigan quarterback Drew Henson connected on 15 of 20 passes for 294 yards with 2 touchdowns. Auburn actually out-gained the Wolverines, 486 yards to 453, but Michigan hung onto the victory after building a 31-21 lead late in the third quar- ter. Tigers quarterback Ben Leard threw a 21-yard touchdown pass with 2:26 remain- ing to pull Auburn within three, but Michigan's Ron Bellamy covered an onside kick and U-M ran out the clock. Thomas became the all-time leading rusher for the Wolverines in the game, fin- ishing his career with 4,472 yards and 55 rushing touchdowns on 972 carries. David Terrell had 4 receptions for 136 yards, while Marquise Walker gained an even 100 on his 4 catches. "As a quarterback, it's everything you could ask for — a running back that can block and playmakers on the outside," Henson said afterward. "It's nice to go week to week knowing we had those weapons." — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY DID YOU KNOW? • Your address will be automatically changed to the mailing address on file with USPS? ALL addresses are cross-referenced with the USPS National Change of Address database. • It can take up to 7 days for the USPS to update your address in their database? To prevent missed issues, please notify them right away. • Your postal forwarding order expires in 60 days or less? Most forwarding requests expire in 60 days and DO NOT always include periodical mail. Issues are discarded at their discretion. • You should call your local post office to verify your delivery address? Don't assume the post office knows your vacation or moving schedule. Avoid Costly Delays & Replacements! Wolverine Customer Service: 1–800–421–7751 We are happy to assist, but due to privacy laws — postal address changes must be completed by you.