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flyer Five-Star Small Forward Glenn Robinson III Heads Up U-Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Well-Regarded Class Of 2012

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The Wolverine covers all sports at U-M with an emphasis on football, basketball and recruiting. n You’ll receive 11 full-color information-packed issues from August to June. n In July you will receive The Wolverine Football Preview, a glossy, full-color, action-packed magazine full of great information about the upcoming season. n During football season, you will have access to 26 issues of The Wolverine Now, our online newsletter that is published Sundays and Wednesdays during the season.

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n You will also have access to digital editions of The Wolverine at www.TheWolverineOnDemand.com including an archive of past issues. Wolverines Want to Use More players Michigan’s 2010 roster carries 123 names, and almost half (60 or 48.8 percent) of those saw the field against Connecticut, including 11 true freshmen. However, the Wolverines want to use even more players this week at Notre Dame and going forward. U-M employed just 19 players offen-

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The writers of The Wolverine weigh in with their take on U-M football.

• The bad news is, Michigan hasn’t stopped anybody on defense since the wind and slop turbo-boosted the Wolverines’ effort in West Lafayette. The good news is, nobody has put a serious knock on Denard Robinson in more than a month. As has been the case all season, the latter represents Michigan’s best hope against the second MSU on the U-M docket. For the year to end on an upbeat note, Robinson has to be the doit-all force he was in the season’s early games. Prediction: Michigan 35, Mississippi State 31 — John Borton

EXtRa p INts

• Michigan has done well against non-conference opponents in the last two years under Rich Rodriguez, has seen the read option plenty in practice and will play well in its first bowl game in three years. Quarterback Denard Robinson, too, is healthy and will be able to show the same explosion he did in the early part of the year. Mississippi State did a great job slowing Auburn’s Cam Newton in a 17-14 loss, but the Wolverines are going to score points. Unfortunately, so will the Bulldogs. Prediction: Mississippi State 38, Michigan 34 — Chris Balas

U-M Football injury Report Player CB Troy Woolfolk S Jared Van Slyke LB Mike Jones CB J.T. Floyd TB Teric Jones S Mike Williams WR Martavious Odoms DT Mike Martin DE Craig Roh TB Michael Shaw OT Taylor Lewan TB Vincent Smith WR Jeremy Gallon WR Darryl Stonum WR Junior Hemingway

Games Injury Missed Ankle/Leg 12 Clavicle 12 Leg 10 Ankle Four Knee Four Head 12 Foot Six Ankle Three Head None Head Two Head One Head None Arm One Ankle None Head One

Gator Bowl? Out for the year Out for the year Out for the year Out for the year Out for the year Out for the year Possible Will play Will play Will play Will play Will play Will play Will play Will play

• I’m very interested to see how the offense stacks up against the Bulldog D, one of the best in the SEC. Against some of the best defenses they faced this year — Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin — the Wolverines struggled to move the ball early, which, combined with the defensive struggles, put them in a huge hole. Prediction: Mississippi State 35, Michigan 21 — Andy Reid • Under Rich Rodriguez, Michigan has played its best football coming out of fall camp. U-M started with four straight wins in 2009 and five straight wins in 2010. The 30-10 victory over UConn to start 2010 was arguably the Wolverines’ most complete win of the season. Like fall camp, the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl has given Michigan five weeks to prepare for one opponent, so expect a better team than the one that took the field against Wisconsin and Ohio State. However, Mississippi State plays strong defense and will bring a balanced offensive attack — traits that have given Michigan problems throughout the season. Michigan will not have the firepower to outlast the Bulldogs in a tight game. Prediction: Mississippi State 31, Michigan 28 — Josh Helmholdt

7th

By the Numbers

Gator Bowl’s rank among the best bowl matchups this season, according to Rivals.com college football editor Mike Huguenin. Years since multiple U-M defenders had 100 tackles or more in the same year — Sam Sword (109), Jarrett Irons (106) and Marcus Ray (104) in 1996 — until safety Jordan Kovacs (112) and linebacker Jonas Mouton (111) accomplished the feat this fall. The Big Ten’s bowl record since 2003; the conference posted a losing record from 2003-08 before going 4-3 in Safety Jordan Kovacs and line2009. Current Wolverines backer Jonas Mouton both that have previously topped 100 tackles this season for the Wolverines. traveled to a bowl game, inPHOTO bY ERiC bROnSOn/ bROnSOnPHOTO.COM cluding eight fifth-year seniors.

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Junior Michael Shaw (above) and sophomore gamE WEEk poLL Vincent Smith were the only U-M tailbacks to get playing time in the win over connecticut.

What is the best Big Ten bowl matchup?

photo by eric bronson/bronsonphoto.com

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sively, utilizing a single backup offensive what we were asked to do, and it helped lineman — redshirt sophomore center us get a win.” Rocko Khoury — while junior Michael Rodriguez gave his top-two backs passShaw and sophomore Vincent Smith were ing grades, but wasn’t ready to champion the only two tailbacks. their efforts quite yet. “I think we probably “I thought they ran could have played more pretty hard. They ran betFreshmen to people,” head coach Rich ter than they blocked,” he have appeared in said. “They’re both usually Rodriguez said. “That’s one thing I wished we would Season Openers pretty good blockers for the have done more, looking most part. There were some Since 2001 back. I talked to the coaches things we’ll get better at, Year ........... Total about that — we need to get but we ran with a passion. 2010 ................. 11 a couple of those guys in There were a couple of runs 2009 .................. 9 there for a couple snaps. we’d like to have back, that 2008 .................. 6 “More offensive linemen, we had negative-yardage 2007 .................. 7 or maybe a running back or plays on. 2006 .................. 5 receiver or two. I wish we “I liked their perfor2005 .................. 4 would have got more guys mance, but we’ve got to 2004 .................. 5 in there offensively. play more of the other 2003 .................. 6 “Defensively, we played backs. They’ve got to give 2002 .................. 1 a lot more people [21]. us the confidence this week 2001 .................. 4 “We should have gotten in practice that we can put more guys in there, but they them in there, and I think have to give us confidence as a staff that they will.” we’re going to get the same kind of execuIf Hopkins sees the field this weekend, tion to put them in there. If they prove they he would become the 12th rookie to do can do that in practice, we’ll get them in so, adding another accolade to the class of there.” 2010’s growing résumé. U-M used more Michigan employed at least three different backs in eight of 12 contests a year ago players Used against and features a depth chart complete with ball carriers of different varieties. U-M connecticut did not utilize redshirt sophomore Michael Category No. Freshmen Cox or true freshman Stephen Hopkins; Offense 19 2 redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint Defense 21 4 missed the game with a knee injury. Special Teams 20* 5* Smith and Shaw, who combined for 99 *Unique to special teams play. yards and two scores, won their coaches’ True Freshman Participants: Jeremy trust throughout the preseason and were Jackson (WR); Devin Gardner (QB); Jideserving of their playing time. breel Black (DE); Carvin Johnson (SPUR); “The biggest thing the coaches look for Cullen Christian (CB); Terrence Talbott is stability and consistency, and we didn’t (CB); Drew Dileo (HO); Will Hagerup put the ball on the ground and we always (P); Marvin Robinson (Special Teams); focused on our reads,” Shaw said. “We Courtney Avery (Special Teams); Ray are guys you can depend on. When our Vinopal (Special Teams). numbers were called in the game, we did

TCU vs. Wisconsin (Rose)

The WOLVeRine

Tim Hard And The away Jr. W Enjoy St olverines And Earn rong Finish An NCA A Bid

true freshmen in a season opener than any other year dating back to 2001 (10 seasons). In Rodriguez’s first three seasons (2008-10), Michigan used 26 rookies in opening games, or 8.7 per season. In Lloyd Carr’s final seven seasons, he played an average of 4.6.

career Starts By U-M’s Season-Opening Starters

OFFENSE Player Pos. Denard Robinson QB John McColgan FB Michael Shaw TB Darryl Stonum WR Roy Roundtree WR Kevin Koger TE Mark Huyge LT Steve Schilling LG David Molk C Patrick Omameh RG Perry Dorrestein RT DEFENSE Ryan Van Bergen DE Mike Martin NT Greg Banks DT Craig Roh OLB Obi Ezeh MLB Jonas Mouton WLB Carvin Johnson Spur J.T. Floyd CB Jordan Kovacs SS Cameron Gordon FS James Rogers CB SPECIAL TEAMS Brendan Gibbons PK Drew Dileo HO Will Hagerup P Tom Pomarico LS

Starts 2* 1 6 14 5 12 10 37 17 4 13 13 13 1 13 32 23 1 3 9 1 3** 1 1 1 13

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* Started versus Wisconsin in 2009 as a wide receiver. ** Started two previous games at wide receiver.

Brady Ho ke to lead Returns to u-M the Wol verines Per iodi cals Cla ssif

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40% Arkansas vs. Ohio State (Sugar) 27% Michigan State vs. Alabama (Capital One) 13% Michigan vs. Mississippi State (Gator) 17%

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331 votes Top four responses shown

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Michigan Vs. Notre Dame all-time head to head in Winning percentage

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School G W L T Pct. U-M 1,227 884 307 36 .7351 ND 1,181 844 295 42 .7324 * Both Michigan and Notre Dame went 7-5 this season.

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2010 FootbaLL sChEDuLE Date Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Jan. 1

Opponent Connecticut at Notre Dame Massachusetts Bowling Green at Indiana Michigan State Iowa at Penn State Illinois at Purdue Wisconsin at Ohio State Mississippi State

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The Wolverine Now, our Internet-based newsletter, is published every Sunday (game reports) and Wednesday (scouting reports) during football season on TheWolverineOnDemand.com.

Denard Robinson’s Incredible Afternoon sinks the Irish, 28-24

Time/TV By John Borton W, 30-10 any Michigan quarterbacks have W, 28-24 stared down the Notre Dame mystique W, 42-37 through the years. A blessed few have even W, 65-21 walked away winners in the shadow of the W, 42-35 Golden Dome. But none has ever shaken L, 34-17 down the thunder on Notre Dame quite like L, 38-28 Denard Robinson did. L, 41-31 W, 67-65 W, 27-16 L, 48-28 L, 37-7 The U-M sophomore put together perhaps 1:30 p.m. the most incredible performance of all time

in Notre Dame Stadium, accounting for 502 of Michigan’s 532 total yards in a gut-grinder of a 28-24 victory by the visitors. The Wolverines needed every yard of Robinson’s 244 through the air and 258 on the ground. Without the final two — Robinson’s twoyard, go-ahead TD plunge with 27 seconds left in the game — Michigan goes away shaking its collective head over another infuriating nugget of Irish lore. Instead, the Wolverines wiped out a Notre Dame comeback from a 21-7 deficit, and left a second straight opposing coach shaking his head. “He’s a tough kid,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly acknowledged. “That’s one thing that stands out. He’s obviously a very explosive player. He throws it as well. When you can run a quarterback 25 times, you’ve got to have toughness.”

When Michigan fell behind with 3:41 remaining, on a 95-yard Dayne Crist-to-Kyle Rudolph bomb, plenty of Wolverines needed to summon up some toughness. That’s precisely what they did, taking their cue from the winged-helmeted warrior who has the nation buzzing from Pasadena to New York’s Downtown Athletic Club. Facing a second-half shutout because of missed field goals and more yellow laundry than equipment manager Jon Falk handles washing U-M’s game pants, Robinson and the Wolverines desperately needed to respond. They did so with a game-winning drive to remember, covering 72 yards in 12 plays. Asked what he said prior to the fateful march, Robinson responded: “It’s time to put it in. It’s time to put the game away. We let them stick around too long, and it was time to put the game away.” “It was crazy,” acknowledged wideout Roy Roundtree, who hauled in eight Robinson throws for 82 yards and a touchdown. “They score, and everybody is all, ‘Aw, there goes Michigan down again.’ But until it’s zeroes on the clock, we’re going all out.” Robinson has proven all in, time after time in this young season. He’d already posted most of his 28 carries for 258 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He’d put the lion’s share of his passing effort (24 of 40, 244 yards, one touchdown) in the books. But he

In a performance to remember, robinson ran for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw for 244 yards and another score. photo by Eric bronson/bronsonphoto.com

needed to cover enough ground to win with just 3:41 remaining. What happened next probably sent Dr. Lou right to the psychiatrist’s couch. Robinson simply carved up the Irish. Starting from his own 28, he tucked the ball away and bolted 12 yards. He then hit Darryl Stonum for 16 more on the sideline. With the

game on the line, he banged out a one-yard run on fourth-and-inches to the Notre Dame 34. Robinson found running back Michael Shaw for two more quick tosses, taking the Wolverines down to the 17. Then he took a peak at Roundtree, who seven days earlier was coughing up blood on the sidelines after a devastating hit against UConn. The redshirt sophomore was ready to make someone else bleed and let Robinson know how he felt without a word. “He gave me a wink before the play,” Robinson marveled. “He winked at me. I knew I could go to him, and I knew I could count on him. It was time.” “When I winked at Denard, he just smiled,” Roundtree recalled. “When he threw that ball in the air, I knew I had to go get it. I know the defender was on me, but that’s what receivers do. You’ve got to go get the ball. You’ve got to attack the ball.” Roundtree and Robinson attacked at the same time, the former slanting across the middle in front of a defender, and Robinson firing one on the numbers. The 15-yard connection put the Wolverines on the Irish doorstep, and Robinson took just one more play to put them away. “I’ve got my shoes untied, in honor of Denard,” U-M head coach Rich Rodriguez quipped. “He kept his poise the whole game.” Robinson and the rest of the Wolverines needed to do so, given a script that seemed made for a drama considerably less fraudulent than “Rudy.” The Irish lose their starting quarterback, fall behind by two touchdowns, see him trudge back onto the field, rally furiously for 17 straight points and pull off a victory before a raucous home crowd of 80,795.

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 inside this Issue photo by per kjeldsen

Glenn Robinson III Headlines Michigan’s 2012 Recruiting Class Page 20

Kim Barnes Arico Takes The Reins Of U-M’s Women’s Basketball Program Page 36

photo by Marko Tomich

 Also Inside

 On The Web

• Tracking Team 133’s offseason commitment • Insight into college football’s new playoff proposals Go To TheWolverine.com for the latest Michigan

The Big Picture........................................ 4 Wolverine Watch/John Borton................ 8 From Our Readers...................................10 Inside Michigan Athletics.......................12 Basketball Recruiting: Class Of 2013.... 24 Basketball Recruiting: Class Of 2014.... 28 John Beilein Q&A................................... 32 Women’s Basketball Recruiting............ 40 Hockey Recruiting.................................. 42 Michigan Football.................................. 46 Softball Donors...................................... 50 Michigan Recruiting.............................. 52 Football Recruiting................................. 54 Commitment Profile............................... 58 Master List............................................. 59 Prep Profiles.......................................... 60 Baseball................................................. 62 Softball................................................... 64 Olympic Sports Postseason Recaps....... 67 Where Are They Now?.......................... 76 Michigan In The Pros............................. 78 Maize N’ View/Michael Spath............... 82 Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter! www.facebook.com/TheWolverineMagazine www.twitter.com/TheWolverineMag

June/July 2012  the wolverine 3

the big picture

 five-peat Michigan’s softball squad celebrated winning the Big Ten championship, marking the Wolverines’ fifth straight conference crown. Photo courtesy michigan athletic media relations

 head to head Prior to this year’s spring game, head coach Brady Hoke got a close-up view of redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Richard Ash (54) and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Kenny Wilkins (41) lining up across from each other for a blocking drill. Photo by per kjeldsen

the big picture

Wolverine WATCH  john borton

An Early Look At Football In 2012

he leaves on the trees popped out early in Ann Arbor, given 70-degree temperatures in March, following the Winter That Wasn’t. Guaranteed, they’ll be turning brilliant colors before you can say FlyBy Summer. That’s why it’s never too early to take a good, hard look at how the Wolverines might follow up their first feel-good season under Brady Hoke. He termed that one a “failure,” at least according to the narrowly defined criterion of his top priority — winning a Big Ten championship. There weren’t many heads hanging among Michigan fans, though, following an 11-2 finish that included wins over Nebraska, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. As for the encore, here are a handful of thoughts … 1. Alabama represents a national title test. Who would have even dreamed, a year ago, that the Wolverines might have a shot in this showdown to gain a leg up in the national championship talk? That’s what this one means, despite the persistent, nagging notion that the battle at Cowboys Stadium figures as overscheduling for a second-year program under Hoke. The defending national champs go into this one as favorites, perhaps by double digits. Michigan, meanwhile, comes out with a senior quarterback, a pair of 1,000-yard rushers, and a confidence-restored defense, none of which care about the odds-makers. The Wolverines can be competitive in this one, if they limit turnovers and establish the ability to throw the football. If they keep it close and lose, it’s like the old days under Bo Schembechler. They’re getting ready for a Big Ten run. If they somehow turn the Tide, all bets are off. A confidence-sapping, lopsided loss — or a significant injury — renders this a scheduling swing and a miss. Same holds true if it became the third loss in an otherwise BCS Bowl season. But there’s plenty to gain, including a world of experience and toughness for a crew that faces a gauntlet this

8 the wolverine  June/July 2012

season. And just maybe, a whole lot more. 2. Michigan makes it four straight over Notre Dame. Yes, we’ve got a great view of the aforementioned leaves from our position out on this limb. After all, the Wolverines have gone down to the wire in three straight victories over the Fighting Irish. The law of averages — Michigan hasn’t won four in a row in the series since taking the first eight, from 1887-1908 — says the Irish light up the Wolverines under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium. The Law of Shoelace says otherwise. Denard Robinson has served as Irish Kryptonite in two straight seasons, piling up an almost obscene tally of 948 combined total yards in a pair of comeback wins. He’s accounted for eight touchdowns in those games, five through the air and three on the ground. Robinson knelt in thanksgiving after each of those touchdown runs. It’s enough to render Touchdown Jesus both nervous and appreciative. 3. Michigan State gets circled twice this year. Michigan remains ever aware of its sassy sibling to the northwest, and yes, it’s always personal. Let’s just say there’s an added dimension of competitive fire under the winged helmets entering that Oct. 20 conflagration at The Big House this year. From the Spartans’ four straight wins in the series (for the first time since 1959-62), to MSU’s personal foul panorama last year, to head coach Mark Dantonio’s “Where’s the threat” bravado toward the program he hates more than any other, this one has the Wolverines’ full attention. Mark it down as a mission, and failure is not an option. 4. Still plenty to prove against Ohio (State). Yes, every Michigan player, coach and fan basked in pride and relief over taking down the Free-Tat Tresselites last November. All of the Wolverines enjoyed ending a miseryinducing losing streak against the Buckeyes, however tainted the skein, due to perfidious player procurement and maintenance.

After four straight losses to the Spartans, the Wolverines will be looking to notch a big win over Michigan State in The Big House on Oct. 20.

photo by per kjeldsen

The streak is history, but so is Hoke’s breakthrough win. The Wolverines have all sorts of proving to do, with a new sheriff (probation officer, perhaps?) at the helm in Columbus. Michigan has to get it done on the road, in what the Buckeyes have already identified as their bowl game in 2012. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison used to work for Urban Meyer at Florida. Mattison, for all his satisfaction in beating the Buckeyes last year, isn’t one bit happy over surrendering 34 points in that game. If they bring out the duffle bagsniffing dogs this year, one might just get punched in the nose. 5. A Big Ten championship is the key to the season. Michigan upsetting Alabama would send shockwaves through the college football world. But the Wolverines’ schedule (and quite possibly its team, at this point) simply isn’t built for a national title run this season. That makes it easier, in a way. Job One and Goal One are the same — get to Indianapolis in December, and win. ❏ Editor John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@comcast.net and follow him on Twitter @JB_Wolverine.

 from our readers Another Vote For Cazzie

June/July 2012 • Vol. 23, No. 11 ISSN 1048-9940 Editor John Borton Associate Editor Michael Spath The Wolverine.com Editor Chris Balas Football Recruiting Editor Tim Sullivan Staff Writer Andy Reid Managing Editor Chris Riffer Contributing Editor Steve Downey Contributing Writer Ryan Tice Editorial Intern Kevin Minor Layout And Design Cory Lavalette Jeanette Blankenship Contributing Photographers Lon Horwedel Per Kjeldsen Cover Photo Brianna Goodfriend Publisher Stu Coman Business Manager Linda Autry Circulation Manager Gail Evans Marketing/Merchandise Manager Beverly Taylor Director Of Advertising Dave Searcy The Wolverine is published monthly. A one-year (12 issues) subscription is $49.95. The Wolverine is printed at The Papers in Milford, Ind. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27701. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information, call 1-800-421-7751 or write The Wolverine, P.O. Box 1304, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. The Wolverine is a publication of Coman Publishing Company, Inc., 324 Blackwell St., Suite 560, Durham, NC 27701. E-Mail Address: thewolverine@comanpub.com Subscription questions: gevans@comanpub.com Web Site: www.thewolverine.com

10 the wolverine  June/July 2012

Dear The Wolverine: Kudos to Dick Gates of Harrison, Mich., for his suggestion of a statue of Cazzie in front of Crisler. It’s the perfect way to honor the greatest Wolverine and one of the best college basketball players in the history of the game. There is no finer example of a “Michigan Man” than Mr. Russell. Dale McDonald Higgins Lake, Mich. No one who watched Russell play, and has watched his life after his playing days were done, would argue with you, Dale.

Time To Honor Berenson

Dear The Wolverine: I did color on WCBN in the ’50s and saw Red Berenson score his first goals in Cobo Arena against the German National Team. I also saw him score his first NHL goal for Montreal in Olympia. Why has his No. 9 not been retired? Can the athletic department weigh in on this? No. 9 is legendary in the NHL with Howe, Richard, Hull, Duff and Bathgate of the original six all wearing the hallowed No. 9. Red deserves this honor. Robert Oade Via the Internet Michigan’s athletic department is moving away from retired numbers, like we’ve seen in football, Robert. That said, Michigan will certainly honor Berenson in a significant fashion when he puts a capper on his college coaching career.

U-M Started Script Ohio

Dear The Wolverine: I want to respond to the excellent letter to the editor from Bob Sawyer from Northville, Mich., in the April issue of The Wolverine. I am a retired high school band director from Port Huron, now living in South Bend — which, as you can imagine, is not the easiest place in the world for a diehard Michigan fan to live. I couldn’t agree more with everything Mr. Sawyer said in his letter, with one exception. Ohio certainly doesn’t have the “worst damn band in the land.” While they fall quite

short of equaling the U-M band, they have an outstanding band. Now for some rather interesting news of which you and probably 95 percent (and 99 percent of Ohio fans) are not aware. The world famous “Ohio State” script that the Ohio band performs at every game was first conceived, designed and performed by the University of Michigan Band in 1932! Pleased see the enclosed insert for verification of this information. This is my first copy of The Wolverine. My brother in Big Rapids has just given me a gift subscription, and I love it. Eric Payton South Bend, Ind. Welcome aboard, Eric. Had you arrived sooner, you’d be aware that we’re very aware of the origins of Script Ohio, and have presented them in this magazine before. While more Michigan fans know that story than you might think, we agree many Ohio State fans (and some younger Michigan fans) can definitely benefit from a refresher course. The material you included came from the library at Ohio State. It spells out how the Michigan Marching Band first performed the maneuver in Ohio Stadium in 1932. It notes: “Ted Boehm, OSU marching band member in 1935 and 1936, and considered an ‘authority’ on Script Ohio, wrote that indeed, Michigan had performed the first Ohio in script.” Boehm then went on to put forth the argument that Ohio State refined the formation: “We submit that the script aspect is only one part of the overall event that is signified by the name. Of course, the script is the one essential element, but there is more; all of the parts have merged, starting with the triple revolving block Ohio as the lead off formation, the peel-off into the script movement, the interlaced shoestring movement, the pervasive driving beat of the venerable Le Regiment de Sambre et

 Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters • P.O. Box 1304 • Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Or e-mail: jborton@comcast.net Letters may be edited for clarity or length.

 from our readers

Meuse, the dotted “i” and the concluding vocal chorus. But most powerful of all are the emotional overtones from thousands of proud participants and an ocean of caught-up observers, sharing a common nostalgic experience which lasted more than forty years.” The OSU library materials conclude: “So which marching band performed a script Ohio first? Michigan. Which marching band created ‘Script Ohio?’ Ohio State.” There is no mention of who created a decade of deceit, along with NCAA stonewalling and hollow success, ultimately ensuring “Script Ohio” won’t be performed in any bowl venue this season.

How About More On Mott?

Dear The Wolverine: I have read, with pleasure and appreciation, The Wolverine for many years. I very much appreciated the picture of the traditional Teddy Bear Toss. I was in Ann Arbor for 11 years and went to many hockey games, but it was before Teddy Bear. It demonstrates the demeanor and quality of Michigan athletics. Along that line, I would like to see you do a piece about the tradition Michigan athletes have maintained with their relationship with the children at Mott Children’s Hospital, as featured in the fall 2011 issue of Medicine at Michigan. These two activities are indicative of what Michigan athletes are all about, and make me very proud. If I may, I would like to comment on a couple of articles in your January 2012 issue. One is the story about the Michigan football captains who have led teams that have won 10 games. The other is about total running yardage by a pair of running backs in any given season. All of these records were accumulated in 12-game seasons. For many years, Michigan football had only nine scheduled games and no postseason play was allowed. In 1948, the Rose Bowl became available, but only to the Big Ten Conference winner. No other conference teams were allowed postseason play. The stated reason was that more games would put too much pressure on the players’ academic efforts. It is possible that these two pieces

left out consideration of many Michigan football players. Thad C. Stanford, MD Salem, Ore. Those two pieces, without question, left out of consideration many great Michigan football players, Dr. Stanford. The lists weren’t meant to be allinclusive, and that’s what happens in transitions from era to era, from home run champions in baseball to Mike Hart producing more rushing yards than Tom Harmon. Lists like those aren’t intended

to diminish what others have accomplished. Obviously, a team that doesn’t play 10 games can’t win 10, but over the past four decades or so, a 10-win season has taken on special significance in college football (although it’s diminishing in light of potential 14- or 15-game seasons). Also, we will continue to document the relationship of Michigan athletics and Mott, like we have often done in the past. We appreciate your interest and emphasis on that area, just like that of the players and coaches who put so much into that effort. ❏

 From Our Web Site • If we were to pick up [Laquon] Treadwell and [Ty] Issac, would this class be considered the best offensive class in Michigan history? I understand that there have been a lot of classes, and that these guys haven’t stepped on the field for their senior season yet, let alone wearing the winged helmet. That said, our offensive line class is ridiculous, and there is a chance that only [Logan] Tuley-Tillman will be ranked outside the top 100 when all is said and done, and make no mistake he has loads of potential. We have a top-notch QB, would have two great running backs whose styles complement each other, would have three big and skilled wide receivers, and a rare top-100 tight end. This doesn’t even factor in [Khalid] Hill, who has shown well at camps, or [Wyatt] Shallman, who is rated as an athlete. Man I hope we get these guys. This class could go on to do amazing things. brenn_man20 • [David] Terrell, [Drew] Henson, [Justin] Fargas, [Walter] Cross, [Marquise] Walker, [Bennie] Joppru, 1998. Henson the top quarterback, Fargas the top player in the nation, Walker and Terrell were top three receivers, and Cross a top-100 player. Doesn’t get much better than that. TWheatly • In my view, yes. The 1998 class had top, top-tier guys at quarterback (all-everything Henson), running back (No. 1-ranked running back Fargas, and a lower-ranked but still top-100 type in Walter Cross),

wide receiver (Terrell and Walker were the top two receivers nationally in many rankings), but didn’t have much beyond that. There was only one offensive lineman (Joe Denay), and he wasn’t highly ranked, and the tight end was a reach as well (Deitan Dubuc, the Canadian). With the addition of Treadwell and Isaac, you’d have the following: QB: Shane Morris RB: Ty Isaac, Deveon Smith FB: Wyatt Shallman, TE: Jake Butt, Khalid Hill WR: Laquon Treadwell, Csont’e York, Jaron Dukes OL: Patrick Kugler, Chris Fox, Kyle Bosch, David Dawson, Logan TuleyTillman That’s likely the top offensive class in the country, the top running backs haul, a top 2-3 quarterback, and amazing depth and quality at each offensive position. Maybe there were other classes that are better comps but since I’ve been following Michigan recruiting (early ’90s), I haven’t seen one. CFloyd7 • I love how this staff pulls the trigger. Wait around and you may lose the chance to become a Michigan Wolverine. I know Laquon Treadwell is an excellent prospect, and he may still be a Wolverine. But, I absolutely love how Hoke & Co. just continue to hammer the recruiting trail! The bottom line is no one recruit(s) is going to stop U-M from finding and securing great prospects. You snooze, and you may lose the chance to have a great career as a Michigan Wolverine. Big-blue June/July 2012  the wolverine 11

 athletics

Inside Michigan

Who’s Who of Michigan coaches and student-athletes gathered at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor on May 7, for the 65th annual Bob Ufer Quarterback Club sports banquet. Former Michigan football coach Jerry Hanlon served as emcee for the event, delivering a mix of humor, poignancy and pride regarding the Wolverines on hand. He quipped about his own short stature, and still being able to “eat peanuts” off the top of diminutive hockey goalie Shawn Hunwick’s head. Golf coach Chris Whitten came to Hunwick’s assistance, noting Hanlon could have gotten lost in the rough at the club’s outing that day at the University of Michigan Golf Course. The lighthearted barbs all gave way to a profound sense of pride in honoring some of Michigan’s best. “I enjoy being at this podium, with successful coaches, who not only produce victories on the field but victories with the young people they teach,” Hanlon said. “I feel honored to share this podium with young athletes who represent their school, their sport and their families in such a classy manner … “Sometimes I worry about where college athletics are going. Is it becoming too much like the pros? And yet I sit, and I talk, and I mix with these young people, and I realize college athletics is still the greatest teaching tool that we have on our college campuses.” The gathering heard from a host of U-M standouts, including Senior Athlete Award Winners Meagan Bauer from women’s golf, Amanda Chidester from softball, Hunwick from hockey, Kevin Koger from football, Dan Madwed from men’s swimming, Kellen Russell from wrestling and Matt Thompson from men’s golf. Spirit Award winners Luke Glendening (hockey), Jordan Kovacs

12 the wolverine  June/July 2012

Student-Athletes Honored At Quarterback Club Banquet

Top row, l to r: Zack Novak (basketball), Keven Koger (football), Amanda Chidester (softball), Jordan Kovacs (football) and Luke Glendening (hockey). Bottom row, l to r: Matt Thompson (golf), Kellen Russell (wrestling), Meagan Bauer (golf) and Shawn Hunwick (hockey). photo by per kjeldsen

(football) and Zack Novak (basketball) also spoke. Novak kept the crowd chuckling from the moment he made his way to the podium. “First, I’d like to apologize to my golf team,” Novak noted. “Unfortunately, the only place I score threes is on the basketball court.” Novak also recognized fellow recruiting sleepers on the dais, including Glendening and Hunwick, along with Kovacs. After first marveling at Russell’s career record and two national championships, Novak addressed his fellow overachievers. “Then I look at Luke and Shawn and Kovacs,” Novak said. “I thought

it’s time we continued the trend of kids who weren’t really supposed to be good but turned out being all right.” The student-athletes each received a question to answer, and Novak’s inquiry involved incoming freshman Mitch McGary, who hails from Novak’s hometown of Chesterton, Ind. “As an alum, I’m allowed to expect things of the program now, and I’m allowed to be extra judgmental,” Novak deadpanned, as the audience broke into laughter. “So all I’m going to say is, I’m really thankful you stopped getting the guys who are not supposed to be so good but might turn out all right.

 inside michigan athletics

Maize And Blue Notebook

Just Say No • In recent weeks, both Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine have reported on the abuse of drugs, most prominently marijuana and ecstasy, by college athletes at programs such as UCLA and Oregon. Michigan has taken steps in its athletic department to enforce a strict anti-drug policy among its student-athletes. “We made it very clear one of our goals at the University of Michigan is to be a drug-free athletic program,” athletics director David Brandon said. “We’re not going to put up with it. We think it’s bad, and we’re going to do everything we know how to do to prevent it. “We have strong feelings about it, and we have a strong policy around it, and we’re committed to that policy. “I’m very, very proud of our student-athletes. In the last year, I would put our results up against anybody in the country, and we test for both synthetic and actual marijuana, as well as other drugs. Our student-athletes understand that if they want to be here and participate, it’s something they’ll have to live up to, and they do.” Honored • Former Michigan coach Dale Bahr was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in April while former U-M wrestler Michael DerGarabedian entered the Downstate NY/Friends of Long Island Wrestling chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, also in late April. An NCAA champion in 1968 and three-time All-American for Iowa State from 1966-68, Bahr coached 21 seasons at Michigan from 1978-99, accumulating a 221-119-6 record (.647 winning percentage). He led U-M to a Big Ten title in 1988, and top-10 NCAA finishes in 1979 (10th), 1985 (fifth), 1986 (10th), 1988 (sixth), 1989 (fifth), 1994 (fifth) and 1996 (ninth) before turning the program over to one of his own, Joe McFarland, in 2000. During his tenure in Ann Arbor, Bahr also coach Mark Churella (1978-79) and Kirk Trost (1986) to individual national titles while his wrestlers garnered All-America honors 45 times. A letter winner from 1983-85 with the Wolverines, DerGarabedian helped lead U-M to fourth-, fifth- and third-place “He’ll be a really good player for us. Finally, a good player out of Chesterton. We’ve been thirsting for this for a long time. The 80 people there deserve it.” Koger sounded some more serious notes when reflecting back to the start of the 2011 football season. He admitted fretting about how his senior season might turn out. “You go into media day, and you give the right and political answers,” Koger said. “You always expect to win … but I had my worries. I had my doubts. I’d been through a coaching change. I’d been through a 3-9 season. “I know how it is. I know how it

finishes at the Big Ten Championships, respectively. In his senior season, he missed the conference tournament to sit for the Law School Admission Test. While in University of Bridgeport School of Law, he coached Fairfield Prep to a fourth-place finish at the New York State Tournament. He has held various coaching positions through- Dale Bahr was U-M’s wresout his life since, has joined the tling coach from 1978-99. Board of Directors for the Friends photo courtesy Michigan atHletic media relations of Long Island Wrestling Chapter (where has sat since 1992) and has hosted free clinics. Hoops Matchup Announced • Michigan will host N.C. State for its 2012 Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Crisler Center. All Challenge games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, with platforms and times being announced at a later date. After expanding to a 12-team event last year, following the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten, the 2012 Challenge will be played over a two-day period, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 27-28. Each day of the Challenge will be split evenly with three home and three road contests for each conference. The first day of play will feature U-M’s home contest against North Carolina State, Minnesota hosting Florida State and Indiana facing North Carolina. Big Ten road games will be Northwestern traveling to Maryland, Iowa heading to Virginia Tech and Nebraska going to Wake Forest. The second day will feature Illinois hosting Georgia Tech, Penn State playing Boston College and Wisconsin taking on Virginia in Big Ten home games. The three remaining games will be Ohio State traveling to Duke, Purdue at Clemson and Michigan State heading south to face Miami. The Big Ten has claimed the last three Commissioner’s Cups after an 8-4 series win in 2011. Overall, the ACC has won 10 of the 13 Challenges.

feels. I know how much it hurts. Not going to a bowl game two years in a row, and going down to Jacksonville in 2010 and giving that embarrassing display, that’s not what a Michigan Man is. That’s not what Michigan is all about. It was really embarrassing.” All of that changed with Brady Hoke and his coaching staff coming into Ann Arbor, Koger assured. “It was the expectation at Michigan,” Koger said. “The job the senior class and I did this year is the expectation. I appreciate all the praise, but it goes to Coach Hoke … that’s what we should do. That’s what Michigan should be. I really

feel like the program is headed back in that direction.” The Bob Ufer Quarterback Club — named for the iconic Michigan football broadcaster whose recorded voice still peals throughout Schembechler Hall during big rivalry weeks — also presented the 2012 Oosterbaan Award to former baseball standout Ed Hood. A captain on the 1962 national champions, Hood went on to a distinguished career in law. The club itself has awarded some $565,000 worth of scholarships to Michigan for students from Ann Arbor high schools, and the Bob Ufer Memorial Scholarship Fund now totals more than $483,000. June/July 2012  the wolverine 13

 inside michigan athletics

 Sitting Down With

Olympic Gymnast Syque Caesar Syque Caesar, an outgoing senior on the Michigan men’s gymnastics team, may be done with his Maize and Blue career, but he is headed to an even bigger stage — the 2012 London Olympics. Caesar will be competing for Bangladesh, his father’s native country. The Wolverine: How excited are you to be going to the Olympics? Caesar: “To be able to go to the Olympics is a dream come true. Every young, aspiring gymnast goes into the sport thinking that they can go to the Olympics, and when you tell someone, ‘I’m a gymnast,’ the first question they ask is, ‘Are you competing in the Olympics?’” The Wolverine: What’s your relationship with Bangladesh? Caesar: “My dad is a former professional soccer player for the Bangladesh National Team. When he got married and moved to the United States, he kept in contact with people from Bangladesh. Some of his teammates and family members have pretty high positions within the sports realm in the country. They have a lot of pull with the sports federation. “My dad is a permanent citizen of the United States under a green card, and my mom got her citizenship. I was able to get dual citizenship through my dad. That was almost a two-year process. The first real break in terms of getting into the Olympics was competing in the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo last October. One thing led to another, with a lot of hard work and a lot of political conversations, and I got the word a couple weeks ago.” The Wolverine: What happens from here? Caesar: “I will be the only gymnast competing for Bangladesh. In total, we’ll only have four to six athletes that go to London. Because the average amount of athletes for Bangladesh has been six or less, they have the ability to qualify athletes in any sport, because the International Olympic Committee wants as many athletes as possible, so this is a good opportunity to send more athletes. “I’ll be training in Ann Arbor all summer, with the Michigan coaches. I’ll 14 the wolverine  June/July 2012

Caesar will be competing in the Olympics for Bangladesh, his father’s native country.

photo courtesy michigan athletic media relations

be taking [U-M assistant coach] Geoff Corrigan with me to London. He’ll be my coach there.” The Wolverine: With so few athletes competing for Bangladesh, do you have a sense of the support you’re going to receive? Caesar: “Every time the Olympics come around, my family and I look to see what Bangladesh has. We’re always really excited to see that, even though

it’s never many athletes. Now that I’ve won a few medals for the country, I’ve gotten the word out; people are talking about it, and my name is in the papers over there. The word has even been spread to the Prime Minister, which is exciting. There’s definitely a lot of support. I think all the people in Bangladesh will be happy to see someone representing their country.” — Andy Reid

 inside michigan athletics

U-M Athletic Department Sets The Record Straight Michigan’s athletic department insists the numbers of BusinessofCollegeSports.com are a little off, when it comes to net income. In this case, they’re almost $17 million off, the department advises. That website provided financial data from 2010-11, noting it was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. It claimed net income for the University of Michigan athletic department to be $26,649,449, with total athletic department revenue of $122,486,490 and expenses of $95,836,991. The Wolverine cited the first figure in its May issue, in the “By The Numbers” section, showing Michigan behind only Penn State (a reported $31,619,687 surplus) in the Big Ten. Not so, Michigan countered. Not even close. Athletic department officials provided the following figures from 2010-11: revenues of $116,796,000 and ex-

penses of $107,872,000, resulting in an operating surplus of $8,921,000. The website noted, in providing the initial information: “The data from the Department of Education is by no means perfect. Throughout this series, net income was calculated by subtracting the ‘grand total expenses’ from the ‘grand total revenues’ that the athletic department reported to the Department of Education. Expenses in this instance included: head and assistant coach salaries, athletically related student aid, recruiting expenses, operating (game-day) expenses and ‘not allocated’ expenses. “The expenses faced by athletic departments, however, may be greater than those reported in this snapshot provided by the Department of Education. For example, an athletic department may have capital expenses outside of those expenses included in the report.”

Addition To Football Schedule On Its Way

Michigan has two open slots to fill on its 2014 football schedule, and one of them could go to a Pac-12 opponent. The Big Ten and the Pac-12 signed a deal to pit its teams against each other beginning in 2017, but Michigan State has already announced a home-andhome with Oregon in 2014-15, and the Wolverines are also actively pursuing a home-and-home series slated before the official deal begins. “I think we’re going to have something to announce in that regard soon,” U-M athletics director David Brandon said, though he didn’t offer any hint about which Pac-12 teams he’s negotiating with. Michigan will open the 2014 season by welcoming Appalachian State to The Big House Aug. 30. The Mountaineers, who became famous for becoming the first Football Championship Subdivision team to upset a ranked Football Bowl Subdivision program when they knocked off the fifth-ranked Maize and Blue in 2007, are transitioning from the FCS level to the FBS level. U-M will travel to Notre Dame Sept. 6, and then has open dates Sept. 13 and Sept. 20, before the Big Ten campaign commences Sept. 27 at Indiana. The 2014 season is ideal for hosting the first of a home-and-home series against a Pac-12 opponent because Michigan can afford to go on the road in 2015 with premium home games scheduled against Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State. In 2013, the Maize and Blue will host Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Akron before a road trip to Storrs, Conn.,

In 2013, U-M will face UConn on the road, completing a deal that saw the Huskies open the 2010 season in The Big House. Michigan picked up the win that year, 30-10. Photo by per kjeldsen

to take on the Huskies, concluding a deal U-M struck to bring Connecticut to Ann Arbor for the 2010 season opener. “We have a contract with UConn to go to their campus and play that game, and that contract is one we’re absolutely going to honor, as we do with all our contracts,” said Brandon, who addressed rumors Michigan is trying to move the game to New York. “Certainly, there are ways to probably make that game bigger, in terms of venue, and we’ll have conversations in that regard, but right now UConn is in control of that decision.” Michigan’s 2012 season, of course, kicks off with a bang when the Maize and Blue travel to Texas to take on defending national champion Alabama Sept. 1. U-M returns home then to meet Air Force and Massachusetts before venturing to South Bend to play Notre Dame.

“Our schedule this year is one that will test our team every week,” Brandon said. “There are some programs that don’t want to be tested every week, but that’s not Michigan. It’s not me, our coaches or our kids. “They’re looking forward to the challenge of playing Alabama and Air Force. They always look forward to Notre Dame. Those are games you work out all summer and prepare for. You get yourself up for and play hard, because you know they’re going to be tough. “I feel good about our schedule, and as we look forward to scheduling in the future, we’re looking for teams that are going to challenge us and keep us playing at our best.”

TheWolverine.com Poll Results

Each month, TheWolverine.com runs a new poll for its readers to vote on. If you would like to vote, go to www.thewolverine.com. The poll is located on our premium message board, The Fort. Would you be in favor of Michigan scheduling Rich Rodriguezled Arizona to fill an open date in 2014? Yes — 43 percent No — 57 percent 1,192 votes Staff of The Wolverine’s consensus: No. June/July 2012  the wolverine 15

 inside michigan athletics

By The Numbers 3.6

Average number of true freshmen that played per season for Bo Schembechler (1972-89), after the introduction of freshman eligibility in 1972. The tally increased for each subsequent head coach: 4.2 for Gary Moeller (1990-94), 6.5 for Lloyd Carr (1995-2007) and 10.0 for Rich Rodriguez (2008-10). Eight played in Brady Hoke’s first season.

Different positions played by Steve Watson (2008-11) during his career at U-M, believed to be a Michigan record: tight end, defensive end, defensvie tackle, linebacker and fullback.

6:1

Odds of Michigan winning the Big Ten this season according to ESPN.com conference beat writer Brian Bennett, who afforded Michigan State the same odds, ranking the rivals ahead of Wisconsin (8:1) and Nebraska (10:1).

Senior quarterback Denard Robinson’s rank among the top players in college football for 2012 per Sporting News. He ranked second among Big Ten athletes behind Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball (No. 4).

Wolverines selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft since 2000, tying for the most in any round (round two) during the past 13 years; U-M has had nine first-round picks in the same time span.

Junior offensive tackle Taylor Lewan’s rank among the top 25 draft prospects for 2013 according to ESPN. com’s Mel Kiper. He also listed Denard Robinson as the No. 5 wide receiver prospect.

Michigan’s preseason rank for the 2012 college football season acording to both ESPN.com and SI.com.

Career home runs for senior catcher Coley Crank, including 12 this season, placing him third all time at U-M behind Casey Close (46, 1983-86) and Nate Recknagel (43, 2006-08).

500,000

The cost in dollars of a high-rise curtain that will hang around the upper bowl of Crisler Center, aimed to improve the atmosphere for crowds of less than 5,000.

2,856,785

photo by per kjeldsen

16 the wolverine  June/July 2012

Fans that attended 222 Big Ten men’s basketball home games in 2012, setting a conference record. The league’s 12,868 per-game average led the nation, with more than 1,300 more fans each night than any other conference.