The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Howard insisted when he heard Hoke speak at his opening press con- ference, the new boss removed all doubt. "We knew what we were listening to when we heard Brady Hoke at the press conference," Howard said. "We knew that this was the man for the job. As I sat there and watched that with my wife, I said, 'Baby, listen.' It was hard. It was long. But Dave got the right guy. He really did." Hoke proved all about the team, not surprisingly, greeting the crowd the same way he greets his squad in meet- ings. "Championships?" he demanded. "Forty-two," came the response, de- noting U-M's all-time Big Ten titles. "Years?" Hoke asked. "132." "Beat," Hoke began. "Ohio!" players and fans thundered back. He then hit all the right notes as it pertained to the team and what it ac- complished. "As the head coach at Michigan, I couldn't ask to be around a better group of guys than the guys who represent Team 132," Hoke said. "I couldn't be more humbled and privi- leged to be around a program that of- fers a global education, and also is the winningest program in the history of college football." Then he added, with emphasis: "And we'll continue to be the win- ningest football program in the history of college football." Michigan's seniors delivered speeches ranging from impassioned to hilarious, as always, and received the "M" rings provided by the University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit, sponsor of the event. In addition to Robinson's award, the following were given: • Fifth-year senior defensive line- man Will Heininger received the Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholar- ship Award as Michigan's top senior scholar. Heininger earned Academic All-Big Ten honors four times, and is graduating with honors and a 3.5 grade-point average, with a major in sports management and a minor in economics. • Fifth-year senior center David Molk garnered the Hugh H. Rader Jr. Memorial Award as Michigan's top of- fensive lineman. The four-year starter also stood out as the Big Ten Offensive 18 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2012 Fifth-year senior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen (shown with assistant coach Fred Jackson) won the Robert P. Ufer Bequest, sharing the honor — given to the seniors demonstrating the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan — with senior tight end Kevin Koger. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Lineman of the Year and the Riming- ton Trophy winner as top center in the nation. He's a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foun- dation and the Football Writers As- sociation of America. Molk shared the Rader award a year ago with then- fifth-year senior Steve Schilling. • Redshirt junior Kenny Demens secured the Roger Zatkoff Award as Michigan's top linebacker. Demens notched a career-high 86 tackles, with three sacks among five tackles for loss, as the middle linebacker in a dramati- cally improved defense. • Fifth-year senior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen and senior tight end Kevin Koger shared the Robert P. Ufer Bequest, representative of those seniors demonstrating the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan. Van Bergen supplied a career-best 41 tackles, with five sacks and three fumble recoveries, while Koger, a captain, made a number of vital catches this season, none big- ger than his touchdown grab against Ohio State. • Martin earned the Richard Katcher Award as Michigan's top defensive lineman, after posting a career-best 54 tackles, with three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Mattison presented the award, quipping that it might be renamed for Martin, since he's won it three straight seasons. The club also honored former U-M head coach Lloyd Carr, who kept his remarks brief and team-focused. "Thanks to the greatest alumni club in the United States of America," Carr said. "I want to say congratulations to an incredible football team, and incred- ible group of football coaches. Thanks, and Go Blue." Go they will, Hoke vowed. He talked about finishing what the Wol- verines started, with an upcoming business trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. He emphasized getting the job done for Michigan's seniors. Hoke noted: "Since day one, at our first meeting, I told the team: 'We're going to coach for our seniors. We're going to play for our seniors. And the expectations of being a senior need to be matched also, with how you produce, how you lead, and how you influence.' "I can tell you, there is not a better group than I have ever been around, of seniors that have gone through strug- gles. We have fifth-year guys who have had three head football coaches, three position coaches, three coaches in the weight room. "These guys came together as a group and made the decision to win for Michigan. I can't tell you how proud I am of what these young men have done this season … "The way they reacted, the way they led … we are indebted to them as a staff, we are indebted to them as under- classmen, and we are indebted to them as a university, and as fans, for what they did for Michigan football." ❏