The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/813087
8 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 J ohn Beilein didn't tear it up his first season at Michigan, losing 22 games with an inherited roster. The shining moments — three Big Ten titles, an NCAA champi- onship game appearance, a pair of Elite Eights, etc. — all unfolded over the following decade. When Beilein didn't win right away, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson stepped up and reminded everyone about his first three seasons as U-M head coach — all losing ones. Give him time, Berenson advised, delivering the no- baloney wisdom of one who walked that road. Berenson became a college hockey icon over the succeed- ing three decades. His two national championships, 11 Frozen Fours, 20 combined CCHA regular- season and tournament titles, and more transformed Yost Ice Arena into a frenzied place to land on a Friday or Saturday night in Ann Arbor. Berenson stepped aside April 10, officially giving up the head coach- ing reins at age 77, following 33 years of what turned into a college hockey dynasty. The wins certainly put him in the spotlight. But far more than those made him unforgettable, accord- ing to his players and anyone who knew him well. Michael Spath covered Michigan hockey for The Wolverine over the third period of Berenson's sterling career. Spath now hosts Inside The Huddle, a sports radio talk show on WTKA (AM-1050) in Ann Arbor. Here's how he summed up what Berenson meant to Michigan. "The more I talked to guys like Brendan Morrison and Chad Ko- larik, and the whole list of them, I realized as good as he was as a hockey coach, he was very much like Bo Schembechler in that he was so much more about develop- ing young men into citizens that would go on and do well," Spath said. "He brags more about Chris Fox, who is now a neurosurgeon, than he does about Max Pacioretty or even Brendan Morrison, who turned out to have phenomenal NHL careers." Berenson took an interest in his players far beyond the ice and in- vested more than his time in some instances. "Lee Moffie was telling me that when he was done playing hockey, he said, 'Red, I've got this idea for a business I want to start,'" Spath re- lated. "Red was the first client that ever bought a shirt from him [State & Liberty], and then he bought shirts for his entire family. "He's just one of those guys who, whether you're on the ice or not, he would support you through every single part of your maturation pro- cess. He helped guys become great hockey players, great students and successful in life. "That's the testament to any re- ally great coach, when there's more to him than just what he does with wins and losses. When you throw on the wins, and all the champion- ships, he was the best of what you want every Michigan coach to be." (Editor 's note: Berenson's retire- ment announcement fell close to the copy deadline for this issue. A fuller review of his ef- forts will be displayed in our June/July edition). *** Jim Harbaugh wants Michigan to be a team that doesn't back down to anyone, personnel losses aside. The Wolverines have a chance to get there, with an experienced quarterback, a veteran defen- sive line and talent all over the field. They trotted it out for folks watching their spring game on Saturday. Glowing reports — which should sometimes be taken with a truckload of salt — flowed freely this spring. This defense could be better than last year's. A re-engineered offensive line (with senior Mason Cole moving back to left tackle and fifth-year senior Pat Kugler plug- ging in at center) might be better as well. There's no question, Harbaugh and his staff haven't been import- ing slugs the past couple of Febru- arys. A year ago, some predicted a dire falloff for Ohio State football after a wealth of talent scurried off early to the NFL. The Buckeyes wound up in the playoffs — with a little help from their friends, lead- ing to Harbaugh's $10,000 contribu- tion to the Big Ten Relief Fund. Michigan has work to do, no doubt. But anybody dreaming the Wolverines aren't putting in the work, under this head coach, and after last year 's near misses at the end, sets themselves up to be stunned next fall. We give you plenty of details later in this issue, regarding how it's all coming together. But the bottom line is this — these players, and this staff, are too good for a major step backward. ❏ Editor John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @JB _ Wolverine. WOLVERINE WATCH JOHN BORTON Red Berenson, John Beilein And Football Battles Demand A Look Red Berenson and John Beilein are the winningest coaches in each of their program's respective histories. Berenson notched 848 victories in his 33 years leading the hockey program, while Beilein's total sits at 215 basketball triumphs after 10 years. PHOTOS BY LON HORWEDEL