The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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understood how values have with- stood the test of time, how integrity builds trust, and how trust allows us to follow." So it went, throughout the night. A dozen seniors gave their speeches on a rainy night in Livonia Dec. 8. There wasn't a championship to hail. There wasn't a bowl game to promote, or anticipate. There were goodbyes, before and after. Emotion bubbled up through- out, like when defensive coordinator Greg Mattison introduced Ryan for earning the Roger Zatkoff Award — as Michigan's best linebacker — for the third straight year. Ryan captured a bigger prize at the end of the evening, becoming the team's MVP. But in the buildup to that moment, Mattison talked about Ryan as a team player. He explained how Ryan dominated as an outside linebacker for years, and how he could write his own ticket in the future by continuing to perform at the position. He recalled distinctly Ry- an's reaction to being asked to move to middle linebacker prior to spring practice of his final season. "He goes, 'Coach, whatever you think is best, we'll do,'" Mattison recalled. "A lot of guys would have said, 'You're crazy.' This guy has done everything as an outside linebacker … "All he does this year is have 112 tackles, and ends up being a finalist for the Butkus Award. That means he's one of five guys in the country as the top linebacker." Mattison thanked the entire defense for the experience of working with those on it. But when he began talk- ing about Ryan, composure got a little tougher. "I've been really, really fortunate to be with some guys over these years. This is the guy," he said, choking up and taking a long pause before con- tinuing. "Coming into that meeting room every day and seeing him, that's why you coach. That's why, to know that he's got a Michigan degree, to know that he's done everything he can for one of the greatest schools in the country, to know you guys are going to be watching him on Sunday … I know that's going to happen." Both University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel and interim athletic director Jim Hackett praised Brady Hoke (above) for his values and integrity. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN