The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/402034
Look no further back than 1991, when Steve Everitt, an All-American center the late Bo Schembechler once adopted as a favorite for his toughness, busted his jaw against Notre Dame. Three weeks later, wearing more head gear than a preteen girl after a three-hour trip to the orthodontist, he suited up to help lead another Big Ten championship run. "His jaw had been shattered," Skene noted. "He had protective gear on, and his jaw was wired shut. The medical staff determined no further damage could happen, so he went out and played. "I remember one day in practice leading up to his return, he said, 'Hey Skene — check this out.' He would grit his teeth, and I could see his lower teeth spreading out slightly because the jaw was wired, set and screwed, but hadn't completely healed." Everitt learned from guys like All- Americans Jumbo Elliott and John Vitale, who played through their share of inju - ries and from the linemen before them. He then passed his knowledge to guys like two-time captain and All-American Jon Jansen, who defined toughness in to become one of the NFL's iron men. Jansen started every game the first five years of his career (82 total) with Wash - ington before tearing his Achilles tendon in a 2004 preseason game. One year, he broke both hands in the season opener versus Chicago and played the entire season in casts. "And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," Jansen growled. "Anyone who played me knew I was tougher than them, and I was going to kick their [butt] no matter what I had to do. It makes your team - mates toughen up, too." Jansen played eight games later in his career with a torn calf, using surgical tubing taped to the bottom of his foot to just under his knee so he could use his lower leg. He even dominated Carolina's Julius Peppers, the league's sack leader, in a 17-13 win. Peppers didn't so much as breathe on Jansen's quarterback. "If I was playing in pain, you'd bet - ter believe I expected it from everyone," Jansen noted. That's football, and it's why Hoke and his team haven't shied away from prais - ing Gardner after the unwarranted criti- cism following Morris' injury, one Hoke believed was related to the ankle at the time he left him in the game. "If you're not banged up, you're not playing," Hoke said of Gardner. "We've got guys who are tough, who under - stand what it means to play as a team, to play for each other and to play for Michigan. Devin's leadership has been outstanding. "He played a game last year with a broken toe for half a game, so you know he's got a toughness to him. He is turn - ing into — through his maturation pro- cess — a tremendous leader." So tune out the talk of athlete endan- germent, already. It's a big boy sport, and these kids are in great hands. And on that note, excuse us … we're late for Pilates. ❏ Chris Balas has been with The Wolverine since 1997, working part time for five years before joining the staff full time in 2002. Contact him at cbalas@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter at Balas_Wolverine.