The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/50790
"Mike Martin and Ryan [Van Ber- gen] and Will Heininger and these guys, they just said, 'Next day, okay, let's do it again. Let's go.' That makes you proud, to see the look in their eye and how they feel about their defense." FITTING FINISH They feel even better about the overall result. No, they didn't win the Big Ten. But they felt they reestab- lished something very positive inside Michigan Stadium, a sense of pride they carried up the tunnel following the win over Ohio State and will take to New Orleans and beyond. "It means a lot," Koger said. "Com- ing in, people weren't expecting us to do much. This senior class pulling together and getting the young guys behind us created something special this year." "It's a big deal," Martin con- firmed. "It's special. The story of all the things we've been through as a class through the past few years, and just the way we finished it, the way Coach Hoke came in and instilled all his beliefs in how to coach a football team, and how guys should play — it just all came together. It's something Captains Join Long List Of 10-Win Leaders Seniors Mike Martin and Kevin Koger, along with fifth-year senior David Molk, will be standing a little taller at future gatherings of Wolverines. They'll be able to say plenty about the team they led as captains in their last season in a winged helmet. They pushed Michigan to 10 victories heading into the Sugar Bowl, after three seasons of below- or near-.500 records. They knocked off Nebraska in the first showdown between those elite programs as Big Ten foes. They put a stop to the misery against Ohio State. That last category gives them plenty of bragging rights at future reunions, but here's another roll call they'll enjoy appearing on captains who have helped guide Michigan teams to double-digit wins. — John Borton 2011 (10-2) 2006 (11-2) 2003 (10-3)* 2002 (10-3) 1999 (10-2) 1998 (10-3)* 1997 (12-0)*# 1991 (10-2)* 1989 (10-2)* 1986 (11-2)* 1985 (10-1-1) 1980 (10-2)* 1978 (10-2)* 1977 (10-2)* 1976 (10-2)* 1974 (10-1)* Kevin Koger, Mike Martin, David Molk Jake Long, LaMarr Woodley Grant Bowman, Carl Diggs, John Navarre Victor Hobson, Bennie Joppru Tom Brady, Steve Hutchinson, Rob Renes Jon Jansen, Juaquin Feazell Jon Jansen, Eric Mayes Erick Anderson, Greg Skrepenak J.J. Grant, Derrick Walker Jim Harbaugh, Andy Moeller Brad Cochran, Eric Kattus, Mike Mallory Andy Cannavino, George Lilja Russell Davis, Jerry Meter Dwight Hicks, Walt Downing Rob Lytle, Calvin O'Neal, Kirk Lewis Dennis Franklin, David Brown 1973 (10-0-1)* Dave Gallagher, Paul Seal 1972 (10-1)* 1971 (11-1)* 1947 (10-0)*# 1905 (12-1) 1904 (10-0)*# William M. Heston 1903 (11-0-1)*# Curtis G. Redden 1902 (11-0)*# 1901 (11-0)*# Hugh White 1898 (10-0)* Harrison "Boss" Weeks John W. Bennett * Conference champions; # National champions Senior defensive tackle Mike Martin led by example, notching a career- high 54 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL JANUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 27 Tom Coyle, Randy Logan Frank Gusich, Guy Murdock Bruce Hilkene Fred S. Norcross that's special, that guys are never go- ing to forget." What does it mean? That's easy, Molk quietly assured. "Everything," he said. "It's some- thing I'll look back on when I'm 50. This will be something I tell my kids. It will be something I tell my grand- kids. It's a storyline that is really nice. "To see how down everything got … I don't know if I'd be able to deal with it and live with myself if I left here and we didn't bring Michigan back to where it is supposed to be." All of them, from Hoke to the cap- tains to the seniors and on through the last rookie on the roster remind each other the job isn't finished. And for those whose Michigan careers are about to be, New Orleans isn't just a holiday trip. "To get 10 wins, that was a big point for this team, and something we talked about," Martin said. "We've just got to finish it right. We don't want to be a senior class that didn't win a bowl game in four years. That's another thing that's big for these 22 guys. There are a lot of things that go into it. We've just got to make sure we finish." q