The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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A Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor on May 7, for the 65th annual Bob Ufer Quarterback Club sports banquet. Former Michigan football coach Jerry Hanlon served as emcee for the event, delivering a mix of hu- mor, poignancy and pride regarding the Wolverines on hand. He quipped about his own short Who's Who of Michigan coaches and student-athletes gathered at stature, and still being able to "eat peanuts" off the top of diminutive hockey goalie Shawn Hunwick's head. Golf coach Chris Whitten came to Hunwick's assistance, not- ing Hanlon could have gotten lost in the rough at the club's outing that day at the University of Michigan Golf Course. The lighthearted barbs all gave way to a profound sense of pride in honoring some of Michigan's best. "I enjoy being at this podium, with successful coaches, who not only produce victories on the field but victories with the young people they teach," Hanlon said. "I feel honored to share this podium with young athletes who represent their school, their sport and their families in such a classy manner … "Sometimes I worry about where Student-Athletes Honored At Quarterback Club Banquet Top row, l to r: Zack Novak (basketball), Keven Koger (football), Amanda Chidester (softball), Jordan Kovacs (football) and Luke Glendening (hockey). Bottom row, l to r: Matt Thompson (golf), Kellen Russell (wrestling), Meagan Bauer (golf) and Shawn Hunwick (hockey). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN college athletics are going. Is it be- coming too much like the pros? And yet I sit, and I talk, and I mix with these young people, and I realize college athletics is still the greatest teaching tool that we have on our college campuses." The gathering heard from a host of U-M standouts, including Senior Athlete Award Winners Meagan Bauer from women's golf, Amanda Chidester from softball, Hunwick from hockey, Kevin Koger from foot- ball, Dan Madwed from men's swim- ming, Kellen Russell from wrestling and Matt Thompson from men's golf. Spirit Award winners Luke Glen- dening (hockey), Jordan Kovacs 12 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2012 (football) and Zack Novak (basket- ball) also spoke. Novak kept the crowd chuckling from the moment he made his way to the podium. "First, I'd like to apologize to my golf team," Novak noted. "Unfortu- nately, the only place I score threes is on the basketball court." Novak also recognized fellow re- it's time we continued the trend of kids who weren't really supposed to be good but turned out being all right." The student-athletes each received cruiting sleepers on the dais, includ- ing Glendening and Hunwick, along with Kovacs. After first marveling at Russell's career record and two national championships, Novak ad- dressed his fellow overachievers. "Then I look at Luke and Shawn and Kovacs," Novak said. "I thought a question to answer, and Novak's inquiry involved incoming freshman Mitch McGary, who hails from No- vak's hometown of Chesterton, Ind. "As an alum, I'm allowed to ex- pect things of the program now, and I'm allowed to be extra judgmental," Novak deadpanned, as the audience broke into laughter. "So all I'm go- ing to say is, I'm really thankful you stopped getting the guys who are not supposed to be so good but might turn out all right.