The Wolverine

April 2017

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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FEBRUARY 2017 THE WOLVERINE 43   MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Italy, April 22 for three practices April 27, 28 and 29. Head coach Jim Harbaugh noted some players with final exams at a later date might have to join the team later in the week; several students will also stay in Europe to study abroad follow- ing practice. JEREMY CLARK WON'T RETURN FOR A SIXTH YEAR Michigan fifth-year senior corner- back Jeremy Clark could have been a huge help to the Wolverines' secondary in 2017, but his petition for a sixth year due to a knee injury was denied by the NCAA. Head coach Jim Harbaugh had said during the December football bust he'd hoped to get Clark back for one more season to help bolster a young secondary. Clark notched three interceptions and six passes broken up over his final 17 games, but he was lost for the 2016 season after tearing an ACL during a September win over Penn State. "He is one of the finest [guys on the team]. Character at the highest level, very popular among his teammates, a good, genuine, down-to-earth person," Harbaugh said. "We're making an ap- peal." He then turned to director of athletics Warde Manuel to put the onus on him. "Warde, your office … we need that appeal to bring this man back next year," he said. "Bring back Jeremy Clark." Michigan had to prove Clark missed time during his redshirt season (2012) due to injury. The documentation they provided wasn't enough, apparently, and Clark has moved on, taking part in the recent NFL Combine. He has con- tinued to make progress in his recovery and has added 15 pounds of muscle, now checking in at 6-3, 220. "I'm running around and every- thing, but my process is different than the other guys," Clark said from In- dianapolis. "They were training for sprints. I was training just to be able to run again." Clark said he'd be willing to play either cornerback or safety in the NFL, though he prefers the former. "My physicality, my competitive- ness, the desire to win … I just feel like I would be able to dominate at corner, so whatever team drafts me, that's what I feel like they can get — a dominant corner," he said. NORTH CAROLINA JOINS MICHIGAN IN SPORTING JORDAN BRAND GEAR It was only a matter of time before another school joined Michigan in wearing Nike Jordan Brand gear, and most figured it would be Michael Jor- dan's alma mater, North Carolina. Most were right. UNC became the second football program to become part of the Jordan Brand family the weekend of March 4, making the announcement that the football program would join the bas- ketball program in wearing the coveted gear. Jordan was in Chapel Hill, N.C., as part of the announcement. Michigan signed a $173.8-million, 15- year contract with Nike last August, at the time the largest apparel deal in the country, in a deal schedule to run through the year 2027. Ohio State ($252 million) and Texas ($250 million) both signed 15-year deals with Nike after Michigan's agreement that eclipsed the Wolverines' total. ❏ Clark appeared in 36 games during his five years in Ann Arbor, totaling 49 tackles, seven passes defended and three intercep- tions. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh told The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami that last season's three-loss finish has left the Wolverines hungry for more. "This past season is as close to being perfect as any team I've ever been on without being perfect as we lost two games by one point, lost a third game — a championship game [at Ohio State] — in overtime by three points," Harbaugh said. "But good. I'm glad we lost them. Maybe that will make us better, be the thing that will push us and motivate us to do a better job as coaches and players." • Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defended his brother Jim at the recent NFL Combine. The younger Harbaugh has taken heat for being aggressive on the recruiting trail. "I can tell you this about my brother, Jim Harbaugh — that is who he is. It's not a tactic, he's not trying to be something he's not; he's not trying to prove anything," John Harbaugh said. "He's just being himself. He's going to have fun." The elder Harbaugh said he would love to play for his brother if he were a recruit. "He's going to enjoy himself. If a football gets stuck up there in a tree, he'll be the first one climbing up there to get it," John said. "If it's shirts and skins and he's on the skins team, his shirt is coming off. Whatever. That's just who he is." • Michigan has announced student ticket pricing for the 2017 football season. Students will be charged $25 per game, or $150 total, for the six-contest home football schedule. The Federal Pell Grant eligible price is $90 for the season ticket. Michigan's athletic department and Central Student Government reached a deal with the Office of Financial Aid in 2014 to offer the need-based seats. • After not playing since Sept. 6, 2014 (a 31-0 victory for the Fighting Irish), Notre Dame and Michigan will renew the rivalry when both squads open the 2018 season on Sept. 1 in South Bend. The Irish will return the trip for a game in Ann Arbor Oct. 26, 2019. • Phil Steele recently ranked the toughest 2017 football schedules, and U-M's slate checks in at No. 42 nationally. It stands as the fifth-toughest group of op- ponents in the Big Ten, with Michigan's foes compiling an 85-69 (.552) record in 2016. The Wolverines will face eight squads who played in a 2016 bowl game, including six who finished with a winning record and four that were ranked among the final top 25.

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