The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/917835
JANUARY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 15 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS When New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady spoke to the Michigan football team before the 2013 season, he told them the greatest achievement of his athletic career was being named captain of the U-M football team his final two seasons (1998-99) in Ann Arbor. It should be noted that Brady was a three- time Super Bowl-winning quarterback at the time. U-M ice hockey senior for- ward Tony Calderone had a similar statement when asked what the biggest achievement of his athletic career has been. "Being named captain at the University of Michigan," he said without hesitation. "It was an absolutely amazing feeling. I grew up in Michigan and have seen all the captains who have come through here, so being included amongst them is very special to me." Calderone has also excelled mightily in the classroom dur- ing his four years at Michigan. "I've been named Academic All-Big Ten twice," he revealed. "I should be able to get that honor once again this year. It's something I take a lot of pride in. Being an economics major and an athlete at the same time makes it pretty hard to keep your grades up, but I'm pretty proud of how I've han- dled it." Economics usually isn't a ma- jor many student-athletes choose because of the heavy workload it entails, but Calderone couldn't imagine studying anything else. "I like it because it's relevant," he explained. "I've sat in so many classes through- out the years and have gotten bored with a lot of them. I've noticed I can relate to a lot of the things being talked about, though, in my economics classes. "It also involves a lot of math, which I like. The relevancy is what drew me to- ward it." Calderone knew from a young age that Michigan was the place he wanted to spend his collegiate years. The Trenton, Mich., native said the program has always been special to him, which led him to Ann Arbor. "Growing up so close — only about 45 minutes away — was a big part of it," he recalled. "Watching the Michigan-Michigan State rivalries when I was young and always wearing my Michigan gear during it was another reason. "I love their colors, The Big House — I just love everything about it here. Michi- gan has always been in my blood and in my family. A couple relatives went to [Michigan] State, but Michigan was always my first love." The senior is just a few months from receiving a coveted U-M degree and noted how impactful that will be. "A degree is why I'm here," he said. "I need a plan for when my hockey days are over, because they're only going to be around for so long — that's why this degree is so important." Calderone admitted he doesn't yet know what he wants to do after his playing days are over, but said a career in finance is something he'd be very interested in. — Austin Fox Student-Athlete Of The Month Ice Hockey Senior Forward Tony Calderone Calderone, an economics major, has already received Academic All-Big Ten accolades twice dur- ing his time in Ann Arbor. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL THREE HOCKEY WOLVERINES SELECTED TO USA'S WORLD JUNIORS PRELIMINARY ROSTER The 28-player preliminary roster for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team was announced by USA Hockey Dec. 5, and three Wolverines were selected — fresh- man defenseman Quinn Hughes, fresh- man forward Josh Norris and sopho- more forward Will Lockwood. Hughes won a gold medal for Team USA in the 2017 Under-18 World Cham- pionships in Slovakia, and is actually the youngest player in Division I NCAA hockey (18 years, two months in Dec.). Lockwood won the Hal Downes Tro- phy as Michigan's most valuable player last season, and was selected 64th over- all (third round) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Like Lockwood, Norris was also se- lected in the NHL Entry Draft, with the San Jose Sharks choosing him 19th overall in the 2017 edition. The 28-player preliminary roster will be trimmed down to 23 Dec. 23. If the U-M trio winds up being selected, they could potentially miss Michigan's participation in the Great Lakes Invita- tional Jan. 1-2, but would be expected to return for the Wolverines' home con- test with Notre Dame Jan. 5. U-M FOOTBALL TEAM SAYS GOODBYE TO TWO COACHES The Michigan football team will need to replace two of its assistants — safe- ties coach Brian Smith, and strength and conditioning coach Kevin Tolbert. It was reported Dec. 8 that Smith left to take the defensive coordinator job at Rice. He was in his second year on the job, having replaced former U-M sec- ondary coach Greg Jackson in the spring of 2016. Under Smith's guidance this year, Michigan finished the regular season with the best statistical pass defense in the country, only allowing 142.7 yards per game through the air. Sporting News, meanwhile, reported Dec. 13 that Tolbert would not return to his position either. He had been on the staff for all three of head coach Jim Harbaugh's seasons in Ann Arbor — the two had also worked together at Stan- ford and in San Francisco with the 49ers. Tolbert was in his second stint with the Wolverines, having worked under former head coach Lloyd Carr from 2001-07. — Austin Fox