The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
coaches and media, perhaps even this season. Meanwhile, a third Glasgow, Jordan — a 6-1, 200-pound freshman safety — is intent on keeping the family leg- acy going. "He's one of the hardest workers I've ever met, but time will tell [if he makes a similar contribution]," Ryan said. The Glasgow track record almost promises that Jordan will. "This has really been an incredible family that has great passion for Mich- igan, but I don't know that their moti- vation was to ever prove any coaching staff wrong or prove that they should have been five-stars coming out of high school," said Heininger, who has had dealings with the Glasgows while serving in a role within the Michigan athletic department. "I think they're football players that came to Michigan for the same rea- sons that most kids do — to show what they're capable of and to do that within the framework of helping Michigan win. "In that way, they're just like every- one else, but they've separated them- selves by becoming starters and key players during their careers." ❏ Walk-On Nation Contributes At Michigan From 1990-99, five walk-on football players started at least one game for the Maize and Blue, totaling 61 starts, including 22 from 1997 national champion- ship-winning quarterback Brian Griese. From 2000-05, however, not a single walk-on started a game at Michigan. That drought came to an end in 2006, when fullback Obi Oluigbo started four con- tests, and his emergence helped usher in the era of the walk-on starter at U-M. Over the past 10 years, 15 walk-ons have started at least once for a total of 156 starting assignments. "That is awesome," said Will Heininger, one of those 15 when he started 12 games along the defensive line in 2011. "As walk-ons, we never want to be separate from the overall team, but we do call ourselves 'Walk-On Nation' and there is a tradition that is passed down from the older guys to the younger guys. "I think coaches today are less committed to the black and white thinking that you're a scholarship player or not. They are watching the tape and letting film show who the best players are. "College football truly is a meritocracy, where if you work at your craft and you get really good at it, you have a shot." Though five of the 15 have started along the offensive (two) or defensive lines (three) — positions that reward work ethic and sound fundamentals — Michi- gan has also started walk-ons over the past 10 years at quarterback (one), full- back (three), tight end (one), receiver (two), linebacker (two) and safety (one). "One of the classic misconceptions is that if you're a walk-on you're not any- where close to as good physically as a scholarship player," Heininger said. "But if