The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Former Michigan quarterback and new Detroit Lions draftee Jake Rudock epitomized the spirit of the 69th an- nual Bob Ufer Quarterback Club gath- ering on May 2, even though he's been around a shorter time than all of the other student-athletes honored. The Senior Athlete Award winner — who transferred from Iowa a year ago to lead Jim Harbaugh's first Michigan squad to a 10-win season — said he wished he had more time at Michigan. "I haven't been here for four years, un- fortunately," Rudock told the apprecia- tive crowd at Barton Hills Country Club. "I wish that I had. After meeting all of these wonderful people, I wish that I had." The others hailed every moment they were afforded. Emcee John Bacon, the acclaimed author and U-M professor, kept the evening lively with a host of stories and colorful introductions of coaches, who then turned the podium over to some of their finest performers. Senior Athlete Award winners, in ad- dition to Rudock, were women's track standout Cindy Ofili, men's swimmer Dylan Bosch, softball star Sierra Romero and ice hockey goalie Steve Racine. Spirit Award winners were women's basketball player Madison Ristovski, men's golfer Chris O'Neill and basketball performer Spike Albrecht. Head basketball coach John Beilein spoke about his team's season and the frustrating end to it — losing a 12-point halftime lead to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament. Beilein brought the house down, though, with his example of the passion of even the youngest Michigan basketball fans. "Expectations are strong in my house- hold, as well," Beilein said. "In the Notre Dame game, we had a good lead, but we lost that lead and we lost the game. "The next morning … we had to get up early in the morning to catch this flight back here. At 6 a.m. — and we'd just gotten back to the hotel at 2, be- cause it was one of those 10 p.m. games — I'm struggling to get out of my room, upset about how we blew the lead. "I get out of my room, and there's my three-year-old grandson, coming out of his room and looking at me, eye to eye. I said, 'Good morning, Johnny.' "And Johnny says: 'Poppy! You were up 12!'" That caused the banquet room to rock with laughter, and even Beilein cracked a smile. "That's all I need in the morning," Beilein said. "'Up by 12, Poppy.' He hitch- hiked back." Rudock, meanwhile, noted the drive for higher ground goes on unabated — except, perhaps, by the clock. "Coach Harbaugh and his entire staff — we're an NFL team," Rudock said of the Wolverines. "That's how they train us. That's how they go about things. "There are 20 hours [of NCAA-allowed practice time per week]. We go to ex- Seniors Honored At Ufer Quarterback Club Banquet