The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS THEY SAID IT "Brunette girls." — Redshirt sopho- more kicker Brendan Gibbons on what he was thinking about in the moments preceding his 37-yard Sugar Bowl-win- ning field goal "It shows everything we put in from day one, all the long days, long nights. Man, I'm telling you, it feels too good, man. Too good." — An emotional fifth- year senior wide receiver Junior Heming- way following Michigan's Sugar Bowl victory "He said that the other day. 'I don't think I've ever been punked on the court.' Most guys say that, and I'd be like, 'Yeah, right. At some point in high school, you probably got worked by somebody.' He says that, and I believe it." — Senior guard Zack Novak on fresh- man point guard Trey Burke's defensive abilities "Man, we were going crazy down- stairs in the players' lounge. Everybody had us losing because they were hat- ing on us — especially those Ohio State guys — but we won a bowl, so what can you say. Everybody heard us cheering downstairs." — Michigan commit Ondre Pipkins on Wolverine pledges watching the Sugar Bowl while in San Antonio for the Army All-Ameri- can Bowl "The program is left in great hands with Hoke. There's a talent on this team to continue this success and there's no doubt this team should continue on what happened this year." — Senior center David Molk on the future of the Michigan football program "This was Michigan's season wrapped up in one perfectly rugged, ragged, hard-to-fathom bundle. This was De- nard Robinson heaving and hoping and gasping, and making the big plays when needed. This was Virginia Tech going goofy with inexplicable mis- takes. And ultimately, it was the Wol- verines' defense hanging around long enough to find a way to win it." — The Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski on Michigan's Sugar Bowl victory "I really like what he can do, what he brings to the table. He's aggressive to the spot, far more athletic than given credit for. He puts himself in position and makes the play, and he's physical. He brought that in the game, espe- cially in first half, immediately making hits." — Rivals.com recruiting analyst Chris Nee on Wolverine commit Joe Bolden's performance in the Under Ar- mour All-American Game "There hasn't been a stage I've played on bigger than this and making that play, in this game, I'm going to remem- ber it for the rest of my life. Whether I never play football again, next sea- son, whatever — I'm always going PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN to remember this one." — Freshman defensive Frank Clark on his acrobatic interception in the third quarter of the Sugar Bowl "Hockey has gone full circle. When I grew up playing, we always played outdoors and it was a special event when we played indoors. These kids grew up playing indoors and it's a spe- cial event for them to play outdoors." — Hockey coach Red Berenson on the Wolverines Jan. 15 outdoor matchup with Ohio State at Progressive Field in Cleveland FEBRUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 19 Athletics director Dave Brandon on the progress of Michigan's football program after Brady Hoke's first season "Michigan football is back where we need to be and where we want to be."