The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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right along with them. He sees the present success both he and Michigan are experiencing com- ing directly from the intense effort expended over the past nine months. "I feel like that because of our work ethic," Henry said. "You feel like you do so much on the field and off the field, you work so hard in the off- season and during camp, you can't help but feel confident going in there. We're humbled at the same time, but we have the right to feel confident after we've put in so much work." All that work sometimes gets crystalized into a single dramatic moment. That's precisely what happened in Minnesota, when the Wolverines found themselves backed up to their own goal line with two seconds remaining, clinging to a three-point lead. A host of Michigan defenders — Big Earl right at the heart of it —sub- merged to stop the Gophers in their tracks, preserving a crucial victory. To Henry, that's when all the work really works. "It all starts up front," he said. "We know we've got to dominate the line of scrimmage. A big word for us on defense is 'Knock 'em back.' We've got to establish that line of scrim- mage. If we do that, it helps the de- fense as a whole. Everybody knows the game is won up front." Michigan is winning again, and Henry finds himself front and center in a defense that's been driving the effort. ❏ Henry Doing Ohio Proud In U-M Record Book Willie Henry's forays into opposing backfields are quickly marking an advance into the U-M football annals as well. He's closing in on some of the better sack masters of The Big House ever to emerge from the state of Ohio. Henry's two sacks against Michigan State came within a single takedown of tying the most ever in a game by an Ohio-reared Wolverine. Mike Hammerstein (1982-85) out of Wapakoneta, Ohio, recorded three sacks in a game on two oc- casions. Shawn Crable (2004-07) from Massillon, Ohio, posted one three-sack contest. Hammerstein is also the top sack accumulator for an entire Michigan season that hails from Ohio. He recorded nine sacks in 1985, on a Jim Harbaugh-quar- terbacked squad that finished 10-1-1 and No. 2 in the final national rankings. Sylvester "Buster" Stanley, from Youngstown, Ohio, posted eight sacks over the course of the 1993 season. Crable, meanwhile, notched 7.5 in 2007. Henry, who comes from Cleveland, garnered six sacks through the Indiana game, with two more regular-season contests to play. Career-wise, Hammerstein also tops the list of Michigan quarterback tormen- tors hailing from Ohio. His 17 from 1981-85 are tied for 10th on Michigan's all- time list for career sacks.