The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/970722
10 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2018 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan senior Austin Hatch sur- vived two plane crashes, and the sec- ond cost him his father, his stepmother and his basketball career. He'll graduate having remained a valuable part of U- M's team in a managerial role. He talks about his experience here in this Q&A: The Wolverine: How fulfilling has it been to remain part of the team despite not being able to play? Austin Hatch: "Absolutely [fulfill- ing]. We always talk about, 'The team, the team, the team.' No man's more important than the team. For me, in a way — it sounds ironic, kind of odd — but it's been a blessing not being able to play. Obviously, I'm not glad. I wish I could play. But it's forced me to adapt, made me think about the team first, because I can't think about getting mine in a game. "For me, it's I've got to do well in school, but how can I help the team in practice? I'm not practicing for my own ability, not trying to get shots up so I can get better. I'm helping my team- mates get shots up so they can get bet- ter, so it's fun. When you do things for other people, that's fulfilling. I've been blessed to have the role I do." The Wolverine: You've said, 'God has his hand on me; God has a plan for me.' What do you think that plan is? Hatch: "To be a great husband, great father, work hard to do what I do. I'm going to get married in June, and then whenever we start a family … I take a lot of pride in that. "I feel like that's part of why I'm still here. Obviously I'm biased, but I think I had one of the most amazing fathers to ever exist, and to pass on the lessons I learned from him someday to our sons and daughters would be a real blessing." The Wolverine: What's the biggest lesson you can share with people having gone through what you have? Hatch: "Everyone handles adversity differently. Some people like spending time alone; other people want to be part of a team. People grieve differently than others. I don't know. "Maybe a lesson I can share is we're not a product of our circumstances, of our environment. I believe we're a prod- uct of our decisions and our choices, and how we respond to those circum- stances we face. Our circumstances aren't always in our control. "Things happen to us beyond our control every day. Some are small; some are big. How we respond to our circumstances is completely within our control. Our circumstances can change, but your attitude shouldn't." The Wolverine: Head coach John Beilein has compared you to former Miami (Ohio) forward and NBA player Wally Szczerbiak. How do you like that comparison? Hatch: "Wally was pretty good. I don't know if that's a fitting compari- son. Maybe when he was 15, that's fine, but Wally was a pro. He did pretty well in the NBA. "Who knows? Maybe I kind of played like him. I had good size, could shoot, was pretty smart. Maybe I was tough … I don't know. I think I was. It's not for me to say. "But I appreciate the compliment. Maybe I would have been like Wally Szczerbiak someday, but that comparison would have been a little bit premature." The Wolverine: How do you want to be remembered by Michigan fans and your teammates? Hatch: "By what I've been able to do to encourage this team, hopefully in- spire, maybe motivate a little bit. It was great to be with them and just to help us in any way I could. Maybe that's rebounding for guys in practice, maybe that's unloading baggage from a plane on a road trip, maybe that's going to a shoot-around and helping guys get ready for a game, whatever it is. "I take pride in what I can do. Since I can't fill the role I originally hoped to, I take pride in the role I can fill as an encourager and motivator." — Chris Balas Hatch remained a valuable part of U-M's basketball team in a managerial role after a sec- ond plane crash ended his playing career. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Sitting Down With Michigan Basketball's Austin Hatch