The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Current Michigan Players Embrace New Challenge Michigan players loved performing for former U-M head coach Brady Hoke. The players' coach enjoyed support across the board for how he taught, sup- ported and cared about those on the Wolverines' roster. That said, Michigan players were caught up in the same surge of enthu- siasm that many others were at the an- nouncement of Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach. They want to win, and Harbaugh has a history of it. The Wolverines demonstrated that mixture of respect for Hoke and excite- ment over Harbaugh following the new boss' introductory press conference. Redshirt sophomore running back Drake Johnson, on crutches after tear- ing the anterior cruciate ligament in a knee during the Ohio State game, insisted he's ready to move forward on all fronts. "Ecstatic — that's the word I have for it," Johnson said. "I'm happy to have a new coach. I loved Brady to death. He offered me when a lot of people wouldn't have offered me. Seeing that we were getting a new coach, I'm happy that it was Jim Harbaugh. It's wonderful. "I'm always going to be thankful to Coach Hoke for giving me a chance. At the same time, we have a new coach. At that point, we have to move forward. As much as some are going to be resistant to it, we need to change, and we need to make that change fast. "People know we need to start winning. This guy is going to put us in position to do so. We need to hop on the train and get going." That sentiment seemed pervasive among players watching Harbaugh address the media. They need to win, and Harbaugh will facilitate it, they said. Jack Miller, the redshirt junior center for Michigan, noted Harbaugh inherits a roster aching to be more successful. He described the Wolverines as: "Guys who work hard, guys who want to Q u a r t e r b a c k S h a n e M o r r i s s a i d o f Harbaugh, "Now that he's here, I'm very excited. Our whole team is ecstatic. We're ready to learn from the best." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL