The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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to take on Alabama, a venue and op- ponent the Wolverines remember well. Not surprisingly, Chryst downplays the import of the opener, although it certainly provides a measuring stick, he noted. "You are who you are, and how do you get better?" Chryst offered. "Do you want to do well? Do you want it to be right? Yeah, all that stuff. Every day is so important. It's not any more important because you're a new coach. Last Five Debuts For U-M Coaches Jim Harbaugh faces a tougher task than most first-year Michigan head coaches when it comes to the opening game. Playing at Utah represents a major challenge for a team humbled at home by the Utes last season. Most new U-M bosses haven't dealt with that kind of a first-game challenge, or even close. Here's a look back at the last five openers for first-year Wolverine head coaches. 1969 — Bo Schembechler: Schembechler's first crew rumbled past Vanderbilt, 42- 14, on its way to a stunner of a win over No. 1 Ohio State, garnering a Rose Bowl berth. 1990 — Gary Moeller: Moeller's Wolverines endured a 28-24 loss at Notre Dame after he took over for Schembechler. The showdown between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 4 Michigan featured the Wolverines entering the fourth quarter with a 24-14 lead, only to see the Irish rally for the win at home. 1995 — Lloyd Carr: Carr's debut drew a smattering of boos while the Wolverines fell behind Virginia, 17-0. That all turned around in a memorable rally at The Big House, Mercury Hayes hauling in a late touchdown catch to give U-M a stirring comeback win, 18-17. 2008 — Rich Rodriguez: Rodriguez made it two losses in the last three games for Michigan coaching debuts. The Wolverines dropped a tight one at home to Utah, 25-23, on their way to a 3-9 season. 2011 — Brady Hoke: Hoke's crew hammered Western Michigan, 34-10, in one of the strangest opening games ever. Officials actually called the game in the third quarter due to lightning storms, in what Hoke himself described as a "wet and wild" contest. — John Borton Harbaugh's coach, Bo Schembechler, led the Wolverines to a 42-14 win over Vanderbilt in his Michigan debut, kicking off an 8-3 campaign that ended in the Rose Bowl. FILE PHOTO