The Wolverine

June-July 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK coach at Michigan for one year, and he's vaulted to No. 24 on Sporting News' list of the top coaches in the na- tion. The publication recognized the reclamation jobs he did prior to arriv- ing in Ann Arbor. It noted: "Kind of hard to believe, WHERE HE RANKS • Brady Hoke has been the head isn't it, that Hoke was a sub-.500 coach pre-Michigan? But he slowly built Ball State into a prime MAC team, then turned San Diego State around more quickly. His first season in Ann Arbor was a mind-blower. It seemed Hoke has improved throughout the first decade of his career — and that he's exactly the right guy at the right time for the Wolverines. "'Brady Hoke is the right fit for Michi- gan,' said program icon Desmond Howard. 'A lot of coaches are passion- ate about football. Hoke is passionate about Michigan football. Alabama's Nick Saban, in the opening contest of the season. Other familiar names in the top 10 are Ohio State's Urban Meyer, at No. 3; former Michi- gan assistant and LSU head man Les Miles, at No. 4; and Frank Beamer, boss of the Virginia Tech team the Wolver- ines defeated in the Sugar Bowl, at No. 10. Big Ten coaches listed ahead of Hoke Hoke faces the top coach on the list, '" racked up 266 stops and five sacks among 21 tackles for loss. He's posted four career interceptions, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups. The Lott IMPACT award is named fied, but all indications are it will also be a night contest. after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and is given to the college Defensive Player of the Year who best exempli- fies "integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. Promoters claim it's the only award recognizing both athletic performance and personal character traits. Voting will be conducted throughout the football season, with the winner feted at the ninth annual Lott Trophy dinner on Dec. 9 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. Marching Band would not travel to Dallas for the Sept. 1 kickoff against Alabama, due to a lack of athletic de- partment funds, U-M reversed course. "We worked to create a solution," as- HAPPY ENDING • After announcing the Michigan sociate athletic director Dave Ablauf wrote in an e-mail to the Detroit Free Press. "It's time to move forward. are Wisconsin's Bret Bielema, at No. 12; and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, at No. 13. Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is listed at No. 18. Hoke goes head to head with the latter two during the course of the regular season, and it's not inconceivable that he could see Bielema in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis come December. vacs has been recognized as one of 42 players nationally on the ninth an- nual Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list. He wound up a semifinalist for the award last year, earning Player of the Week honors with his 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Western Michigan. The veteran wound up starting 12 games and recording 75 stops, includ- ing four sacks among eight tackles for loss. He also forced a pair of fumbles and recovered one. For his career, he's NOMINATED • Fifth-year senior safety Jordan Ko- April that the band would not be pres- ent, it was met with a social media backlash, putting Michigan under the spotlight. "I do have to say, even through this whole thing, the athletic department and band have a very good relation- ship, the Free Press. "Our relationship with athletics is very positive. I'm very glad this decision is what it is. " coming game against Illinois have been released. The Wolverines and Il- lini are set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 13 in a game ABC will broadcast live from Michigan Stadium. The contest is actually the earliest GAME TIME ANNOUNCED • Details on Michigan's 2012 Home- " band director Scott Boerma told When the story first broke in late " " safety Josh Furman has been rein- stated, head coach Brady Hoke an- nounced April 30. Furman had been suspended indefinitely prior to spring practice after being arrested Feb. 11 on misdemeanor counts of domestic violence, assault and battery, and il- legal entry. However, he was acquitted of all charges April 26. REINSTATED • Michigan redshirt sophomore Redshirt sophomore safety Josh Furman has been reinstated to the team. He appeared in 12 games in 2011, mostly on special teams, and he totaled 10 tackles. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL start time of the four that have been announced thus far. The Wolverines tee it up against Purdue's Boilermak- ers at 4 p.m. in West Lafayette, Ind., on Oct. 6, and already have two night games scheduled: 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame on Sept. 22 and 8 p.m. at Ne- braska on Oct. 27. The official start time in the opener against Alabama, Sept. 1 in Dallas, has not been speci- to run its course and evaluating the situation, we have reinstated Josh as a member of our team," Hoke said in an official statement. "We met multiple times over the past few months, and Josh understands the responsibilities and expectations that come with be- ing a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan. "It is our job to make sure he contin- "After allowing the judicial process ues to grow and mature off the field as well as on the field. 2011, mostly on special teams, with two appearances at safety. He made 10 tackles for the year, and also blocked a punt against Nebraska. Furman appeared in 12 games in " JUNE/JULY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 49

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