The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FROM OUR READERS SWEET AFTERTASTE March 2012 • Vol. 23, No. 8 ISSN 1048-9940 John Borton Editor Associate Editor Michael Spath The Wolverine.com Editor Chris Balas Football Recruiting Editor Tim Sullivan Staff Writer Andy Reid Managing Editor Chris Riffer Contributing Editor Steve Downey Contributing Writer Ryan Tice Editorial Intern Kevin Minor Jeanette Blankenship Layout And Design Cory Lavalette Contributing Photographers Lon Horwedel Per Kjeldsen Insets courtesy Rivals.com and Tim Sullivan Cover Photo Michael Gennaria Publisher Stu Coman Business Manager Linda Autry Circulation Manager Gail Evans Assistant Circulation Manager Jason Jones Marketing/Merchandise Manager Beverly Taylor Director Of Advertising Dave Searcy Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27701. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information, call (12 issues) subscription is $49.95. The Wolverine is printed at The Papers in Milford, Ind. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The The Wolverine is published monthly. A one-year sweet victory for Team 132 — a re- juvenated, well-coached unit led by a determined, outgoing senior class! The Wolverines took full advantage of this unexpected BCS bowl bid, an opportunistic home-game schedule, and a rigorous first year of transition under Brady Hoke to post a re- markable 11-2 record and a final national ranking (No. 9 by USA Today) that led the Big Ten, with- out actually winning the Big Ten championship! No talk of "bare cupboards," Dear The Wolverine: The 2012 Sugar Bowl was a very first-year coaching jitters, or a "bridging season" needed here. This team started fast and fin- ished even stronger. Some char- acterized the Sugar Bowl win as "ugly," yet it was so rewarding to so many — players and fans alike — and certainly far prefer- able to the mauling that U-M en- dured in its last BCS appearance in '07 at the hands of the Men of Troy. Now what to do for an encore in share our Sugar Bowl experience to let everyone know how special Denard Robinson really is. We ran into him in New Orleans, and my youngest son, who just turned 10, is a huge fan. He had been wanting to meet him for the last two years. He had met other play- ers, and they were nice and took pic- tures with him and signed programs. I spotted Denard A SHOELACE SPECTACULAR Dear The Wolverine: My husband and I would like to Denard Robinson drew praise from a reader for his engaging personality. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 2012? Formidable challenges and high expectations lie ahead, starting with the "Saban Revenge Bowl" matchup with defending national champ Ala- bama in September and a tough road schedule. Solid teamwork, resourceful coaching, and the ongoing need for size, speed and skill will all be put to the test early and often this upcom- ing season. The Wolverines already appear to be up to the task. Who can doubt their determination and resolve after what we saw this year? Go Blue! Uldis Sipols Norwell, Mass. 1-800-421-7751 or write The Wolverine, P.O. Box 1304, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. The Wolverine is a publication of Coman Publishing Company, Inc., 324 Blackwell St., Suite 560, Durham, NC 27701. thewolverine@comanpub.com Subscription questions: gevans@comanpub.com Web Site: E-Mail Address: www.thewolverine.com 10 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 but a year under this system — especially given the kind of year it was — won't hurt. Keep your eye on both sides of the line of scrimmage. That's what the coaches will be doing, because they know that's where success will rise and fall. The 2012 schedule is a monster, Uldis, Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters • P.O. Box 1304 • Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Or e-mail: jborton@comcast.net Letters may be edited for clarity or length. as many pictures as we asked and shook my husband's and my son's hand. I know the players have very little on the street with several other play- ers and ran up with my son. I told him that my son was his biggest fan and was dying to meet him. He took the time to ask my son his name, comment on his special flashing U-M hat, posed for free time and we tried not to take too much of his time, but he truly did not rush us or make us feel like we were intruding on him. I also told him how we have a difficult time getting my son to tie his shoes because of him and he laughed and told my son to make sure he tied his shoes. I ran into his sister at the game and told her that I would greatly appreci- ate it if she would tell her parents for me that they did an awesome job rais- ing him. My son also made a Denard poster for the game and when Denard saw it he waved to him and laughed. My son could not stop talking about Denard the whole way home. We had the photo blown up and it is now hanging above his bed. I hope whatever is in his future that he does not lose this wonderful quality. Not only is he an outstanding athlete, he is truly a special person. Kim Wroblewski Boyne City, Mich. and over about the soon-to-be-senior quar- terback, Kim. These stories are what you hope to hear. Thanks for sharing yours. Special is the word everyone hears over