The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2017 highly competitive on defense and overall. They figure to represent a force on the Michigan defensive line, play- ing side by side. Those efforts will mark the culmination of an offseason drenched in preparatory perspiration. "We do everything together," Hurst assured. "We lift together, run together, everything like that. We spend all of our time together. That's how it's go- ing to be during the season. We're right next to each other, three-tech and an- chor. "It's great. I love working with Rashan. He pushes me, I push him. It's a great relationship we have. Being an older guy, I'm able to help him out a little more and give him any advice he needs if he needs anything." What the redoubtable duo needs, what Michigan players up and down the roster need, involves a start to the season serving as a mind cleanse from the end of last year. A 1-3 finish, includ- ing three losses by a total of five points, had them agonizing all offseason. Harbaugh repeatedly urged every- one — coaches, players, staffers — to do a little more in the days leading up to the 2017 football season. He noted it could mark the difference between euphoric celebratory high-fives in the locker room after games and the cold, quiet, what-if, misery-laden musings marking games down the stretch last year. Iowa, Ohio State, Florida State in the Orange Bowl — all featured the tanta- lizing one-play-from-victory angst and more postgame recalculations than Houston executed for Apollo 13. "That's definitely motivation," Hurst assured, regarding the third in the triple crown of frustration. "Los- ing such a close game and having that bitter taste in your mouth for the en- tire offseason … that's the last impres- sion of your team and your defense. It hurts, and you want to get that taste out of your mouth, especially with a big game coming up." Florida in Arlington, Texas, is com- ing up as big as Hurst and Gary against a single blocker. Trips to Penn State and Wisconsin should prove cru- cible moments, and the final game of the regular season will be wrought with emotion and urgency. Hurst and his teammates desper- ately want more, despite those who say it can't be done given Michigan's roster turnover. Harbaugh, mean- while, whispers motivation in their ears like Russell Crowe as Maximus, urging: "At my signal, unleash hell." "He's just reminding us of those losses," Hurst said. "It's such a small bit of difference. There are so many small plays that could have happened that could have changed the outcome of your entire season. You realize you have to change something to make those plays go in your favor. "Coach Harbaugh has been telling us, 'You've just got to do a little bit more.' We didn't do enough to get in the [College Football] Playoff last year. We realize that, and we understand there is more to be had, more to do, more to accomplish for our team. "We still haven't won a Big Ten championship. We want to win those awards, and we want to be in the Play- off." That combination of determination/ motivation, along with Hurst's fifth- year senior status and position on the team, prompted Harbaugh to bring him along to Chicago for the annual Big Ten football meetings. Senior offen- sive lineman Mason Cole joined them, along with fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray. Harbaugh praised them all and pointed in particular toward the "big guys" getting it done where the fight- ing remains at its fiercest. "The guys in the trenches, Mo Hurst and Mason Cole, were the two easy ones," the head coach assured. "Those guys hit every play. They do the dirty work. I've always felt the personality of the team, the character of the team is with those big guys in the lines. I want them to represent us, first and foremost." Hurst stands ready to represent, in every way. He's grateful for the input he received from Michigan's captains a year ago, and stands ready — whether given that mantle or not — to continue what they provided. "It's kind of just something that hap- Hurst has started just four times in his career, but he has logged 73 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and a forced fumble during his time at U-M. He racked up 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 12 games last year. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL