The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/402034
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL gling … we'll start [practice] on the right hash. That will be the start of practice, and we'll bring him back down the right hash because that was where, at one time, he had a little problem. "If he misses a couple in a row, I'll just tell him don't overthink it. Sometimes he just flat-out overthinks it instead of just going up there and swinging your leg." Not anymore. Wile admitted there were too many times he'd think, "I really don't want to miss this kick," rather than, "I am going to make this kick." When doubt creeps in on the sideline — and it still happens, he admitted — he'll eliminate it with thoughts of the referee raising his hands (as in, "it's good"). Wile improved to 5 of 9 after his poor start and then made all three of his attempts, from 37, 42 and 45 yards, in an 18-13 win over Penn State. His performance earned him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He thinks he might have even drilled a 56-yarder to give the Wolverines a late lead at Rutgers in a 26-24 loss had the kick not been blocked. "I definitely would have liked to have seen how that turned out otherwise, because I thought I hit it very well," Wile said. "But the guy's thighs [Rutgers' Kemeko Turay] were Heralded Michigan sophomore safety Dymonte Thomas played one of his better games in an 18-13 win at Penn State, and he's starting to meet the hype. He discussed his past, present and future recently dur- ing U-M's bye week. The Wolverine: Your dad, Frank Thomas, was a mili- tary guy, a Marine. What was that like growing up? Thomas: "My friends would come over, and my dad would tell me to go put my shoes away, and I'd be like 'Okay, I'll do it, dad.' Ten minutes later it was, 'Come here son.' 'Yes dad?' 'Twenty push-ups.' So I'd do them, and my friends would laugh, so my dad would be like 'Oh, you want to laugh?' "He'd make my friends do push-ups. Then I'd start laughing, and the next thing I know I'm doing more push-ups. The bond my dad and I have is really strong, and it really pushes me." The Wolverine: How did that help you when it comes to football? Sitting Down With Sophomore Safety Dymonte Thomas Thomas made four tack- les (three solo) in the Wolverines' 18-13 win over Penn State Oct. 11. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS