The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS THEWOLVERINE.COM POLL RESULTS Each month, TheWolverine.com runs a new poll for its readers to vote on. If you would like to vote, go to www.the- wolverine.com. The poll is located on our premium message board, The Fort. Who should be named this year's Team MVP at the Dec. 12 Michigan Football Bust? David Molk — 6 percent Denard Robinson — 60 percent Fitzgerald Toussaint — 7 percent Ryan Van Bergen — 4 percent Mike Martin — 10 percent Jordan Kovacs — 12 percent 1,246 votes Staff of The Wolverine's consensus: Denard Robinson. Paul (center, in gray shirt) is the head coach of the Michigan men's lacrosse team, which will begin varsity competition in the spring of 2012. PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION JOHN PAUL NAMED LACROSSE MAGAZINE PERSON OF THE YEAR Lacrosse Magazine, the official publi- cation of U.S. Lacrosse (the sport's na- tional governing body), named Michi- gan men's coach John Paul its Person of the Year. Paul served as the head coach of Michigan's club team for 14 years, before becoming the first var- sity coach when the team was added this year. Paul's efforts behind-the- scenes to help create a varsity program earned him the honor. In today's economic landscape, it's more likely for college athletic depart- ments to cut sports, rather than add any. That is not the case in Ann Arbor, however. In May, Michigan athletics director David Brandon announced the Wolverines would be adding men's and women's lacrosse as varsity sports. The teams begin competition in the spring of 2012 and the spring of 2014, respectively. The men's team is the first added at a Bowl Champion- ship Series-level school since Notre Dame took the plunge in 1981. "Michigan going varsity was a land- mark moment for college lacrosse," said Lacrosse Magazine editor Matt DaSilva. "John Paul made it happen. He did it for love of the game." Paul's work towards a varsity pro- PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 14 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2011 gram took place not only behind ath- letic department doors, but also in the arena of fundraising. A former mem- ber of the athletic department's de- velopment office, he had plenty of ex- perience in the field. He put together a group of 70 donors — composed mostly of lacrosse alumni and players' families — and raised almost $6 mil- lion to fund the creation of the men's and women's varsity programs. "We wouldn't be where we are now without a great group of people who are all passionate about two things I love, the University of Michigan and lacrosse," Paul shared in the article. "I'm incredibly fortunate to be part of this, and I'm thankful to Lacrosse Magazine for recognizing our efforts." For the previous 14 years he had built the Wolverines' club program into a powerhouse. Michigan com- peted in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, the top collegiate club league in the country. During U-M's final four seasons in the league, the team lost just two games, and won three consecutive national titles. The Wolverines will see a roster up- grade for the 2013 season, when the first recruiting class of the varsity era will take the field. That class includes two ESPNHS top-100 players. Louis- ville (Ky.) Trinity midfielder Brad Lott is ranked as the No. 15 overall player in the class of 2012, and the nation's top faceoff specialist by ESPNHS. Carlsbad (Calif.) La Costa Canyon at- tack Brendan Gaughan is ranked No. 27 overall and as the No. 7 attackman in the class. The first season of varsity lacrosse for Michigan features a 14-game schedule with contests against three NCAA Tournament teams from 2011, and a headliner April 14 when the Wolverines take on Ohio State in The Big House prior to the football spring game.