The Wolverine

2018 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 85 needed help with anything. "I took advantage of that, and he just checked up on me and made sure everything was all right with me at all times." By happenstance, he's still doing it this summer. Kugler joined head coach Jim Har- baugh's staff as a graduate assistant, and he and Ruiz have continued their training. "His role is pretty much the same as be- fore. The relationship hasn't really shifted or changed, except he's a coach now, so I have to treat him like a coach," he said with a grin. "He's playing the coach role like he did last year, when he put me under his arms, took a big brother role and helped me out with everything. … It's the same thing he's doing this year." Ruiz has his own personal goals, of course, but his No. 1 objective is to get the Michigan line back to where he believes it should be. The Wolverines haven't boasted an outstanding line since at least 2007, when future No. 1 overall pick Jake Long was still at left tackle, and the group was maligned a year ago after giving up 36 sacks. It's gotten frustrating not only for Michi- gan's offensive linemen of the past, but also for all who wore the maize and blue. Former U-M running back Chris Howard, writing for Land of 10, compared Ruiz's role to that of a musical conductor recently. "At the most fundamental level, a conduc- tor must stress the musical pulse so that all the performers can follow the same metrical rhythm," he explained. "It's his show now. "He is the leader, he sets the tone, and I look forward to watching him orchestrate the beautiful and chaotic destruction of op- posing defensive fronts, and reminding ev- eryone what it means to face a Michigan offensive line." Ruiz started preparing for this fall on Jan. 2, the day after the Wolverines lost to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. The team finished 8-5, and the line shouldered much of the blame. "We were tired of everybody pointing fin- gers at us, it was time to turn it up," Ruiz said. "We made it a goal this year that no- body is going to point fingers at us. We're going to be one of the best O-lines around. "When everybody is blaming everything on you, it's not something you want to hear. You keep hearing it and hearing it, and it just motivates you. They are not going to say that about us this year. I guarantee that. That's just our mindset, that they're not going to point fingers at us." Or if they do, hopefully it's with a nod of appreciation for a job well done. Teammates believe they'll have a chance, with Ruiz in the middle leading the way. ❏ Michigan might not be "Offensive Line U." anymore — Wisconsin, Ohio State and others have taken the title in the Big Ten, at least for now, with the way they've developed linemen in the last decade, but the Wolverines have churned out some great ones over the years. That includes at center, where they've had two Rimington Award winners (nation's top center) in the last 15 years. Here's our list of top Michigan centers of the last 40 years: 1. Steve Everitt — The 1992 All-Big Ten selection probably should have been an All- American, as evidenced by his first-round sta- tus in the NFL Draft (No. 14 overall, Cleveland). His toughness was legendary, including the time he broke his right hand and learned how to snap with his left, and when he returned from a shattered jaw (Notre Dame, 1991) to start again only three weeks later with it wired shut. He's the standard by which all future Michigan centers will be measured. 2. John Vitale — The late, great Vitale, who played at U-M from 1985-88, was one of the best leaders the Wolverines have ever seen at the position and loved the game so much that he even relished practice. "You going to work us today, Chief?" he would routinely ask head coach Bo Schem- bechler. When his coach replied, "I'm going to kick your butts," Vitale would usually respond, "Good!" Vitale was named first-team All-Big Ten in his final two seasons at U-M and was a consensus All-American as a senior. Back injuries prevented him from playing in the NFL, and cancer tragically claimed his life on July 9, 2000. 3. Tom Dixon — The Fort Wayne, Ind., native started every game for the Wolverines in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 seasons, and he earned Associated Press and UPI first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He was even better as a senior, earning AP, American Football Coaches Association and Sporting News first-team All- America honors. Dixon chose to play with the Michigan Pan- thers of the now-defunct USFL, and he spent the 1984 season with the team before it dis- banded. 4. George Lilja — Lilja started 24 straight games at center during his junior and senior seasons in 1979 and 1980, ending his career with a 23-6 win over Washington for Schem- bechler's first Rose Bowl win. He was team co- captain that year with receiver Anthony Carter and a Walter Camp first team All-American. Lilja went to the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft, but spent his first season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He played 54 NFL games in six seasons with four teams. 5. (Tie) David Baas, Rod Payne — Baas made the move from guard in 2004 and proceeded to win the Rimington Award as the nation's best center. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and consensus first-team All-Amer- ican in 2004, and he spent parts of nine sea- sons in the NFL. Payne earned team MVP and All-America honors in 1996 and, like Everitt, learned to snap with both hands due to an injury. He was a two-time All-Big Ten choice, served as a team captain in 1996 and spent three seasons in the NFL. — Chris Balas Steve Everitt earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a fifth-year senior and then was selected No. 14 overall in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Michigan's Top Centers Of The Last 40 Years "We made it a goal this year that nobody is going to point fingers at us. We're going to be one of the best O-lines around." RUIZ

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