The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/71730
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS coaching the Buckeyes and his for- mer assistant, Bo Schembechler, was coaching the Wolverines has a Mich- igan-Ohio State game been as antici- pated as this coming season's contest. — ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach on the 2012 matchup between the two rivals against Alabama, we will know early in the year if the Wolverines are a na- tional title contender. Michigan is back among the top 10 teams after a suc- cessful 2011 season, and coach Brady Hoke has this program poised to win the Big Ten title in 2012. "Even if Michigan loses to the Crim- "With an opening week matchup son Tide in the opener, finishing the season with just one loss should keep them in the mix for a spot in the na- tional championship. on claiming Michigan is one of 10 teams that could keep an SEC team from win- ning a national title in 2012 " — Athlon Sports will tell you they love the fact that Michigan is back to being Michigan again." — Former tailback Ricky Powers (1990-93), relishing the Wolverines' 11-2 campaign in 2011 "You ask any former player, and they contributing there next season as a freshman and throughout my career. I'm not really even thinking about the NHL Draft. I don't have any con- trol over where I'm taken or who picks me, and it won't just make me a better hockey player overnight. I still have a lot in my game I need to get better at, and I'm going to do that at Michigan." — Incoming freshman defenseman Ja- cob Trouba, expected to be a first-round pick, on his commitment to playing for the Wolverines "My focus is definitely on Michigan, PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL how social media sites like Twitter and Facebook have helped create a sense of family between U-M's 18 commitments role in our success, both on and off the field. We're all headed up there from different places, and we're all going to a new place for the next four years of our lives. Building relationships before- hand helps ease us into the process a little bit. "Even though I'll be a freshman on "I think the bond will play a huge campus, I'll already be comfortable with the guys I am going to be around. That is huge. " — 2013 tight end Jake Butt on years. So where's the threat?" — Michi- gan State football coach Mark Danto- nio in an interview with ESPN, providing plenty of bulletin-board material to the Wolverines "We've beat Michigan four straight this chance after everything I've gone through" — Former U-M signal caller Tate Forcier (2009-10) on signing to play with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. "I'm so excited and happy to have We just grew up accepting it, a lot of people did. Eventually, there were "The theory was, 'Girls couldn't run.' some people who said, 'Wait a min- ute. What are we doing?' Those people were pioneers. He heard a different drummer." — Former football coach Lloyd Carr in paying tribute to Red Sim- mons, who died April 13 at the age of 102 following a long life championing women's athletics in the draft. I thought he would be a fifth-round pick. A kid who was a dominant player at times, a neutralizer. He battled Mike Martin in practice, he worked against some very good de- fensive tackles in game situations, and held his own. "I think it was a nice pick for that late Kiper on the San Diego Chargers' selec- tion of former Wolverine center David Molk in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. " — ESPN draft analyst Mel JUNE/JULY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 19 "Perhaps not since Woody Hayes was THEY SAID IT " Michigan athletics director Dave Brandon on the potential of a FBS plus-one championship game "I'm not opposed to 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, plus-one concept. I don't see it as a true playoff system. It's a clever way to come up with one more football game. I'm not sure I call that a playoff, but if it makes everybody feel better, call it a playoff."