The Wolverine

December 2011

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK STARTING OVER • Michigan will graduate two seniors on its offensive line, and three on its defensive line. While the Wolverines return largely intact at almost every other position on the field, they will have to address the holes up front to be successful in 2012. "I think next year's offensive line will be really good," fifth- year senior center David Molk said. "Obviously we're losing me and [right tackle] Mark Huyge, and those are two posi- tions that will have to be filled, but [redshirt sophomore left tackle] Taylor Lewan and [red- shirt sophomore left guard] Mike Schofield on the left side played great, and as the sea- son wore on they really came together. "I look for good things from future seasons between the tackles and the offensive line." U-M's defensive line will have tremendous voids to fill, with PHOTO BY PER KJEDSEN tackles Mike Martin and Will Heininger, and defensive end RYAN VAN BERGEN leaving. Junior Will Campbell will be handed immense responsibility, and Martin thinks redshirt sophomore Quinton Washington will also have an opportu- nity to start for Michigan. "The improvement that Quinton has made is obviously something not everyone gets to see because he doesn't get a lot of playing time, but he's made huge strides," said Martin, who also had praise for Campbell. "And Will has done a superb job of just paying attention to details and all the things that go into playing defensive line. "I have full faith that those guys will be able to reach the expectations for the position." URBAN LEGEND • Ohio State landed its man. After seemingly endless speculation, the Buckeyes an- nounced Nov. 28 that Urban Meyer would return to his Ohio roots and lead the institution where he started his college coaching career under then-Buckeyes boss Earl Bruce in 1986-87. He is slated to make a steep $4 million per year with bo- nuses over the next seven seasons, according to a statement released by the university. Meyer's task is to rebuild a team that finished 6-6 for the first time since 1999. He's done it before. In 2001, Meyer inherited a Bowling Green team that was an abysmal 2-9 the year prior. He immediately led the Falcons to their first winning season in 17 years on the shoulders of a defense that led the conference in total defense, scoring defense and rush defense. In two seasons, Meyer led Bowling Green to a 17-6 overall record before bolting for greener pastures out West. Meyer won 10 games in 2003, his first season with Utah — the greatest debut by a Utes coach in program history. That same season, the Utes locked up their first outright Mountain West Conference championship since 1957, and appeared in the Liberty Bowl. In 2004, Utah made Football Bowl Subdivision history, becoming the first ever non-BCS conference team to earn a berth in a BCS bowl game. The Utes finished the season 12-0 following a 35-7 lambasting of Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. Meyer would man the Florida sidelines from 2005-10, turn- ing the Gators into a national powerhouse. Under his watch, UF claimed two BCS titles while racking up a 65-15 record and three 13-win seasons. His teams excelled in the post- season, posting a 5-1 bowl record — their only loss a 41-35 defeat to Michigan in the 2008 Capital One Bowl. He would leave the Gators after an 8-5 season in 2010, cit- ing health issues while wanting to spend more time with his family. Less than a year later, he's back at the helm of a major college football program. "Urban Meyer is a quality guy," Michigan athletics director David Brandon said. "I've met him, spent some time with him, I think he has a great track record of success as a coach, and he's a bigger-than-life figure not only because of his coaching success but because of his time as a broadcaster. "I'm sure he will bring a lot of energy and high expecta- tions to Columbus. That will create some battles with Brady Hoke and Michigan. I think it will be a lot of fun to watch over the next few years." NIGHT GAME FUTURE • After Michigan staged a wildly successful first-ever night game at The Big House Sept. 10, the expectation grew that U-M would schedule another one for 2012, another one for 2013 and on and on, with at least one per season. Brandon, however, doesn't feel there is a game on next season's slate that warrants a night game. "No, not at this time," he said. "Once we get into the early part of next year, what we have to figure out is our first neutral-site game down in Texas because there are a lot of new things we have to deal with and confront to get that right. So that will be the next priority. "Once we get that done, we'll think about the balance of the 2012 season, but right now I haven't identified a home game on our schedule that I think would be appropriate for our second night game. And if we don't schedule one, that's fine, we'll look at the next year." TEN-TEAM TANGO • With Purdue's 33-25 victory over Indiana Nov. 26 during the final weekend of the regular season, the Big Ten confer- ence has 10 bowl-eligible teams for only the second time in its history. In 2007, while still an 11-team conference, the Big Ten ac- complished the feat for the first time. However, only eight of the 10 eligible teams were invited; Iowa and Northwestern were the odd teams out. The conference went on to lose five of those eight games, including lopsided losses by Ohio State in the BCS champi- onship game and Illinois in the Rose Bowl. Michigan, however, produced one of the Big Ten's wins — a 41-35 victory over Meyer-led Florida in Lloyd Carr's final game. DECEMBER 2011 THE WOLVERINE 45

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