The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS The Wolverine: You've talked for a few years about how much better this group would be with experience. How much of the improvement is based on them being older? Mattison: "A lot of these kids are ju- niors now, eligibility-wise, and they've been here for three years. They've got- ten stronger. They understand football better. They've got a lot invested. "Any time you've played three years, you've got a lot invested, and now you want to start reaping some benefits … and it's time. This is a group of guys up front who have played a lot of football, and some of them played before they should have." The Wolverine: What have you seen from senior Royce Jenkins-Stone in injured senior Mario Ojemudia's ab- sence? Mattison: "When he goes in, he's making plays. That's what you want [at that position]. The next guy always steps up. Royce understood that. "He went in and played very hard [in a 38-0 win over Northwestern], did some really good things and played with good technique. That didn't sur- prise me a bit." The Wolverine: Your group is getting much of the credit for the defense's return to glory, but how much of their play is magnified by what's going on at the other positions? Mattison: "It's never just one group. … Our secondary is playing so well, our linebackers are doing some really good things. All those things, hand in hand, help the front be able to play better. "It's a team deal, all the way." — Chris Balas THEWOLVERINE.COM POLL RESULTS Each month, TheWolverine.com runs a new poll for its readers to vote on. If you would like to vote, go to www.the- wolverine.com. The poll is located on our premium message board, The Fort. What is the most heart-breaking Michigan defeat of the past 30 years? 2015 Michigan State — 59 percent 2007 Appalachian State — 18 percent 2006 Ohio State — 16 percent 1994 Colorado — 5 percent 2004 Texas — 2 percent 855 votes Michigan State stunned the Wolverines and the entire college football world with its last-second fumble return for a 27-23 win at the Big House. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL