The Wolverine

September 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL to make sure we keep his progress going." unprecedented sanctions against Penn State — a four-year postseason ban, a $60 million fine and scholar- ship reductions — for its complicity in a child sexual-abuse scandal per- petrated by former defensive coor- dinator Jerry Sandsuky, a scenario was created in which current Nit- tany Lions players could transfer to any other Division I school without penalty. Typically, a transfer student-athlete PURSUE PENN STATE PLAYERS When the NCAA handed down MICHIGAN CHOOSES NOT TO must sit out at least one athletic year before becoming eligible. Nine Penn State athletes had al- ready taken advantage of that situ- ation as of Aug. 9, with quarterback Rob Bolden headed to LSU, tailback Silas Redd venturing out west to Southern Cal, tight end Kevin Haplea transferring to Florida State, safety Tim Buckley on his way to North Carolina State, placekicker Anthony Fera a future Texas Longhorn, offen- sive lineman Ryan Nowicki joining Illinois, wide receiver Justin Brown now an Oklahoma Sooner, defen- sive tackle Jamil Pollard opting for Rutgers and linebacker Khairi Fortt pledging to enroll at California. Michigan — which could have FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK NIGHT AFFAIR • Brady Hoke has never been a big fan of night games, and that's no secret. He's not about to start griping about them, though, just prior to a campaign featuring a host of them (including the potential for one the first weekend in December, in Indianapolis). So, as far as night contests against Alabama in Dallas, at Notre Dame, at Nebraska … Hoke says bring them on. It's not like he's never been through such a stretch before. "My last year at Ball State, we had seven night games," Hoke recalled. "We got a pretty good blueprint and for- mula of what we do, to help the guys. We really like what we're doing there. "At San Diego State, you played great job of getting himself in shape, where he has endurance. It maybe helps his speed a little bit, and all those things. Hoke also noted Campbell's devel- opment was likely hindered by posi- tion switches, not to mention hav- ing a player like Mike Martin starting ahead of him. "Sometimes, when you have some- " body playing in front of you who is pretty good, you don't see that you're going to have an opportunity, said. "That opportunity is how many days away?" quite a few night games in the Moun- tain West. The blueprint for what we use, from the itinerary, to the night before, to the day of the game, is pretty good. "The negative is when you get back from Dallas at 4 a.m., and you're get- ting ready for your [next] opponent on Sunday. used help along the offensive and defensive lines, and at wide receiver — chose not to pursue any of the PSU players, though. "I'd be lying if I said we didn't look at the roster to some degree, but we made a decision that we're going to stay and recruit the guys we have been and keep our business our busi- ness," Michigan head coach Brady Hoke said. Hoke wasn't the only Big Ten coach noted. "It's hard on them," he said. "It is an issue. These are students. You kind of look at what you do on Sunday. The issue becomes Sunday — how much do you do? Later in the year, maybe you do less. His concern is for the players, he " doubt, the Michigan head coach as- sured. "Do I like them?" he asked, rhetori- As far as preference, there isn't any " cally. "I'd like to play at noon, every Saturday. " ROLE MODEL • Hoke says he expects senior Will adopting a hands-off approach; Wisconsin's Bret Bielema and Ohio State's Urban Meyer also vowed to steer clear of current Nittany Lions. "I think one of the things that I've loved and appreciated about being in this conference is there is a genuine respect for everybody in our league," Bielema said. "We're a group of coaches that have a network that's beyond anybody's expectations and helping us in recruiting. "I'm not casting doubt on any- body or questioning anything, but Campbell to experience the best year of his Michigan career this fall. That involves more than the fact that it's his last chance, Hoke pointed out. Campbell finished the summer at 308 pounds, in the best shape of his career. He has advanced in any number of ways, the U-M head coach cautioned. "There is always a maturity aspect, Hoke said. "He's the youngest of all the seniors. He just turned 21 a week or two ago. There is all kinds of growth that a young man makes, and I think he's done a tremendous job. "The weight loss is huge. He's done a " Ricardo Miller has practiced at both wide receiver and tight end during his U-M career, and he may see action at both those spots this fall. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL SEPTEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 57 recruiting class as a potential impact contributor at wide receiver, but after one fall at his natural position, Miller moved to tight end, spending the 2011 season learning the nuances of the post. Miller returned to wide receiver BACK AND FORTH • Ricardo Miller arrived in the 2010 " Hoke in the spring despite weighing 234 pounds. By the 2012 preseason camp, he was tipping the scales at 226, and reports were he could see time at both wideout and tight end. "From a weight standpoint, he's still going to be an edge guy, a U-Back guy, a wide receiver guy, "He's working on both. We have some depth issues there [at tight end] that's part of it. We've also got some depth you want to look at wide receiver, too. " Hoke said. "

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