Michigan eager to snap winless streak at Wisconsin
There was a tinge of contrition Monday as Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and selected players spoke to members of the media, a day and half removed from a 20-13 win over Rutgers that featured some good, some bad and some elements of an escape.
A review of the film confirmed their suspicions that the first half was an excellent performance while the second left much to be desired , but the end result was a win that pushed the Wolverines to 4-0. The collective message ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Wisconsin was simple: We have to clean up the mistakes.
Here are some takeaways from Monday’s media session:
Snapping the streak
Harbaugh and his players made clear they’re keenly aware of how long it’s been since the Wolverines won a game in Madison, Wisconsin, a storyline they’d like to change.
Not since 2001 has Michigan gone to Camp Randall Stadium and boarded its flight home as victors. On that day, Nov. 17, 2001, kicker Hayden Epstein connected on a 31-yard field goal in the waning seconds to give the Wolverines a 20-17 win. Quarterback John Navarre threw for only 58 yards, but B.J. Askew and Chris Perry combined for 111 yards on the ground while Marlin Jackson scored on a 43yard punt return.
“It’s been a really long time since we’ve beaten Wisconsin at Wisconsin,” Cade McNamara said. “So I think obviously we know it’s a big game against a big team. I think we’re just putting ourselves in that mindset that we have to do everything we can to win. We just need to be prepared.”
The common refrain from Harbaugh to McNamara and from left tackle Ryan Hayes to defensive tackle Donovan Jeter, all of whom spoke Monday outside Schembechler Hall, was the importance of rising to the occasion and meeting the challenge of beating coach
Paul Chryst’s team in a raucous atmosphere.
Their message sounded similar to the way Rutgers coach Greg Schiano described last week’s game during his weekly news conference earlier in the week. Just as the Scarlet Knights viewed their trip to Ann Arbor as a measuring stick, Michigan is framing its first road game through a nearly identical lens.
“They’re a good, solid football team,” Harbaugh said. “Paul Chryst has done a great job there. Their entire staff. They’ve got experienced players. They’ve got really good players. They’ve been a darn-good football team. It’s exciting to have this opportunity, this challenge, see how far our football team has come, see if we can win on the road. Meet that challenge, and we’re preparing for it. It will be a big task. No question about it.”
Keeping morale high
After the win over Rutgers, tight end Erick All said several members of the offense stepped forward with words of encouragement during a rough patch in the second half that saw Michigan go three-and-out on four consecutive possessions.
McNamara, center Andrew Vastardis and right tackle Andrew Stueber seized the moment in a display of leadership the Wolverines hadn’t always experienced in recent years.
“I think overall, as the course of my career has gone on, I’ve been put in situations where I can really influence my teammates in a verbal scenario like that,” McNamara said. “And I think it’s really kind of my job do that. And I think my teammates really expect that out of me. I think that was a big part of me winning the quarterback job was my ability to deal with adversity.”
Added Hayes: “I think there was a lot of guys. Andrew Vastardis was obviously bringing us together as a captain of our O-line and brought the whole offense together. He was doing a great job of just keeping people in it. People weren’t hanging their heads like maybe in the past. Cade was doing a good job rallying us. Coach (Sherrone) Moore was doing a good job. It just felt different from the past.”
What was it like in the past?
“Sometimes we’d get a little down on ourselves when adversity would hit. We’ve done a bunch of stuff this offseason trying to eliminate that, and I think it’s working.”
Ross probable for Wisconsin game
Harbaugh offered a brief injury updated on inside linebacker Josh Ross, who suffered a stinger in the second quarter against Rutgers and did not return. Ross is expected to play against the Badgers on Saturday.
“When Ross went out particularly, we were affected there,” Harbaugh said, “the eye discipline of the linebackers. The responsibilities on the option and the read option game was really stressed. Good learning experience for us. As I said, for the most part I thought those three young linebackers played extremely well. Get Michael Barrett going again this week. He’ll be more in the mix. And Josh, you know, I think he’s probable at this point for the game.
“But good learning experience for those young linebackers. They were stressed in that read option game, the quarterback read option game. They’ll learn from it and grow.”
The Wolverines relied on the trio of Nikhai Hill-Green, Junior Colson and Kalel Mullings to fill Ross’ spot against Rutgers.