The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Nov. 29: Michigan keeps it close for three quarters, but ultimately falls 42-28 to Ohio State. The 5-7 finish, with a 3-5 conference mark, is not good enough for a bowl bid, end- ing the season for Team 135. Dec. 1: Ryan is voted to the All-Big Ten first team by the coaches and media. In addition to Ryan, Funchess is voted a second-team all-conference performer by the coaches and an honorable mention by the media. Defen- sive end Brennen Beyer, defensive back Blake Countess, punter Will Hagerup and defensive back Raymon Taylor also earn honorable men- tion. Gardner is named Michigan's sportsman- ship award honoree. Dec. 2: Interim athletics director Jim Hackett announces that Hoke will not return as head coach in 2015. Dec. 9: Ryan is tabbed Team MVP at the An- nual Football Bust. Both Ryan and Gardner are voted team captains for the 2014 season as well. Dec. 17: Freshman left tackle Mason Cole is named to the Sporting News True Freshman All- America first team. Cole is also recognized as a Freshman All-American by ESPN.com. Dec. 30: Hackett announces that former Wolverine quarterback and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been hired as the 20th coach in program history. Jan. 6: Brian Cole and Alex Malzone sign financial aid agreements and are set to join Michigan football as early enrolling freshmen and members of the 2015 recruiting class. Jan. 8: Harbaugh announces the first hiring on his assistant coaching staff — D.J. Durkin will be the Wolverines' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Durkin joins Harbaugh in Ann Arbor after spending the past five sea- sons at the University of Florida. Jan. 9: Tim Drevno is hired as the team's San- ford Robinson Offensive Coordinator. Drevno is also announced as the offensive line coach in addition to coordinating the offense. In ad- dition, former University of Michigan running back Rob Lytle is one of 15 collegiate players named to the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame class of 2015. Lytle will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame after passing away in November 2010. Jan. 12: Kevin Tolbert is hired as the pro- gram's director of football strength and condi- tioning. Tolbert returns to the program where he served as an assistant coach during Lloyd Carr's tenure from 2001-07. Harbaugh also an- nounces that he will be retaining Greg Mat- tison as part of his coaching staff. Mattison will assume duties as the defensive line coach. Jan. 14: Greg Jackson is hired as Michigan's 140 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW By The Numbers -16 Michigan's turnover margin in 2014, put- ting the Wolverines No.124 in the country. 1 The storied jersey number given to wide re- ceiver Devin Funchess before the season opener against Appalachian State. 2 The day in December when Brady Hoke was fired as head coach. 2:24 The length of the weather delay (in hours and minutes) for Michigan's home contest against Utah, when a storm partially flooded The Big House. 3 Losses at home in 2014, with two of them coming in September. The Wolverines were 14-0 at The Big House during head coach Hoke's first two seasons, but just 9-5 in his final two. 15 The number of starters that returned from Michigan's 2013 team. 24 Number of teams in the country, including Michigan, that didn't have a play of more than 70 yards. 43 Offensive plays of 20 yards or more for the Wolverines in 2014, the lowest tally of any season since CFBStats.com began tracking long-scrim- mage plays in 2010; U-M had averaged 63 such plays from 2010-13. 258 Number of games in a row in which Michigan has reported a crowd of more than 100,000 fans. 333.0 Total yards of offense per game by the Wolverines, worst in the Big Ten and No. 115 in the country. 1967 The last time Michigan started 0-2 in Big Ten play, before 2014. 104,909 Average attendance at M ichigan Stadium in 2014, ranking Michigan No. 3 nationally behind Ohio State (106,296) and Texas (105,122). This marked the first time since 1997 that Michigan didn't lead the na- tion in average attendance. Former Wolverine quarterback Jim Harbaugh was tabbed as the 20th head coach in program history on Dec. 30. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN tion in average attendance. THEY SAID IT "Doug is a highly respected offensive coordinator and has earned a reputation as being a great mentor to quarterbacks, specifically, where he's coached Pro Bowlers, top NFL Draft choices and Heisman Trophy finalists." — Michigan head coach Brady Hoke on the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier "It's Notre Dame. It's the last game in the rivalry, and we wanted to come out on top and obviously that didn't hap- pen. But it is just one game — it is not even a league game. Our goal is to win this Big Ten championship. We are still on course to do that, and that is what we are working toward."— Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner on the 31-0 loss to Notre Dame "If our trainer says one thing, I'm not going to say the other because he knows that. If our doctor says one thing, and this guy has studied in the field and knows that, doesn't make sense for me to override." — Hoke on keeping Shane Morris in the Minnesota game after suffering a blow to his head "I've been with this team for fi ve years and I'm proud of them and I just have to move forward now. Coach Hoke told us to keep our heads up and we fought." FIFTH YEAR SENIOR LINEBACKER JAKE RYAN AFTER SEASON- AND CAREER-ENDING LOSS TO OHIO STATE "I met with Coach Hoke today and informed him of my deci- sion to make a change in the leadership of our football program. This was not an easy decision given the level of respect that I have for Brady." — Interim athletics director Jim Hackett on the firing of Hoke "I feel very fortunate to have been an assistant and head coach at the University of Michigan. I will always support the university and this football program. This is a special place and one that Laura, Kelly and I have enjoyed representing during our time in Ann Arbor. I leave with fond memories of my experience at Michigan. Thanks and Go Blue!"" — Hoke's closing statements after being fired Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan was named fi rst-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media after posting a team-high 112 tackles. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN