The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Hoke drew a standing ovation from the crowd, and played it as expected. He waved off any attention directed his way, and insisted the night was all about the players. Those players, in return, recognized him. "He didn't have to be here tonight," pointed out senior walk-on wide re- ceiver Anthony Capatina. "But he is, because he's a man of integrity." In announcing Michigan's perma- nent captains for the 2014 season, Hoke shed a little further insight into his thought process about not nam- ing them before the year began. He wanted to make certain the winners earned it. "It's one thing we did a little dif- ferent, and there are reasons why you change things," Hoke said. "We voted on captains after our last foot- ball game. Part of that was, sometimes there is entitlement that comes into programs. I felt there was too much entitlement from the year before. "Making guys earn it every day was vitally important, to see how guys would come out. Players always choose the captains, because they are the ones who are in the locker room, they're the ones in the weight room, they're the ones running in the sum- mer, they're the ones who know their team best." He assured Ryan and Gardner are worthy selections, to go onto a list of luminaries. "This is voted by his teammates," Hoke said. "Whenever you're voted by a group of guys that you're com- peting with every day, fighting with every day … I think this team got it right." Later, Gardner noted: "For my teammates to vote me a captain after the season makes it that much more special." Hoke gave little acknowledgement to the season recently ended, other than noting how the Wolverines per- severed through a difficult time. He said all along they never stopped fighting in an effort to succeed, and reiterated those thoughts at the Bust. In a season that saw the resigna- tion of an athletic director, Michigan thrust into the national spotlight over a concussion controversy and increas- ing questions over the head coach's job status, the Wolverines stood firm, Hoke pointed out. "This football team showed great resiliency, throughout the season that saw many external distractions," he said. "We're united together. As a team, they played every Saturday. I'm very proud of that for them. I'm very proud of what this coaching staff did. "These seniors are special. They've been through the trials and tribula- tions. They've been through coaching staffs. They've been through all the distractions that may be out there. This group of 12 guys did a great job." Former Wolverine Jon Jansen, mas- ter of ceremonies for the evening, backed the notion that Team 135 han- dled with aplomb much of what was thrown its way. "This team may be better prepared than any other," he said. "You've had wins and losses, challenges and controversy. You've been asked ques- tions that no other team has had to answer. In an age of social media and