The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/347495
D efensive ends Rondell Biggs and LaMarr Woodley started for a 2005 Michigan team that went 7-5 — at the time the worst record by a U-M team since the 6-6 1984 squad, and they knew what Maize and Blue fans were saying about them. However, the trio, along with teammates and coaches, kept faith, believing in time the team would accomplish great things. In 2006, Michigan opened the season 11-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country before falling to No. 1 Ohio State, 42-39. Reflecting back on that campaign, and on the current group of Wolverines, the former players preach patience from the U-M fan base. "Every great program, from the NFL to the NBA, hits a snag," said Biggs, who had six sacks in 2006. "It just happens. It was just so long ago at Michigan that people forget about it and don't expect to ever change, but being in the program, it's a develop- ment process. "The older guys teach the younger guys. When you're a young guy, you're not where you need to be mentally and MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Former Wolverines Preach Patience Head coach Brady Hoke's team will feature only nine scholarship seniors and 15 scholar- ship juniors this season, meaning that upperclassmen will represent only 29 percent of the Wolverines' 82 allotted scholarships for 2014. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN