Michigan Football Preview 2013

2013 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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The Pasadena Pinnacle For the traditionalists and the bottom-liners, 1997 represented the apex. Not only did the Wolverines get to take their undefeated record to the Rose Bowl, they were able to nail down a national championship with the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop. Carr vividly remembers the decision to change how Michigan approached the bowl game. Instead of battling the finals schedule back on campus, he gave the players time off early, then headed to Pasadena well before the bowl-mandated arrival date. Carr noted: "I said to them, 'Here's the deal. We're going to go out five days or so earlier than we normally go. The bad news is, you won't be home for Christmas, but we're playing for the national championship. This way, we won't have to practice at home during final exams.' "Some guys liked it, and some guys didn't like it. I felt it was a win-win in terms of academics and being able to practice. At that time, our old indoor facility was inadequate. "I knew if we lost the game, I would be second-guessed for changing the way we prepared. We had never done anything like that, but it worked out." The Wolverines made their way to Dana Point, where they practiced twice a day. Unencumbered by the appearance demands of the Rose Bowl itself (those didn't start until after Christmas), the Wolverines spent a week in relatively isolated preparation. "We practiced a couple of times a day, ate well, enjoyed the weather and then traveled up to Pasadena," Carr noted. "We had a really good week of preparation." Carr noted stories always bubble up about bowl trips in the years that follow. One from 1997 demonstrated the feistiness of some Wolverines and Washington State's Cougars, along with the leadership on the '97 squad. "When we went to an amusement park out there, we had mixed emotions about hanging out with the Washington State team," former U-M safety Marcus Ray recalled. "Their 'Fab Five' group was taking pictures, and getting a lot of attention from fans and media. "Our secondary got kind of ticked off. We almost got into a fight out there. They had to break it up." The WSU wideouts were drawing publicity as the "Fab Five." Some Wolverines pointed out that the real Fab Five played in Ann Arbor, Ray noted. As emotions rose among the roller coasters, cooler heads prevailed. Linebacker Eric Mayes, quarterback Brian Griese and linebacker Sam Sword stepped in to intervene, making the first great defensive play of the Rose Bowl a few days early. The Wolverines knew what was at stake, and some played the mental edge to the hilt. "We didn't like their receivers," Ray reiterated. "We had a little beef going on there." It looked like Ryan Leaf and the Cougars might get the last laugh, scoring first and driving to the doorstep of going up 14-0. But Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson stepped in to make a leaping interception in the end zone, bowl MVP Griese countered with three touchdown passes and the Wolverines hung on to win, 21-16. Carr knew every sort of emotion in Pasadena — except this one. There were no more games to win. There wasn't any more mountain to climb. "I knew it was a special moment," Carr said. "I knew we were going to win the national championship when that clock wound down. Those moments, sometimes you can take them for granted. "That was the beautiful thing. That team really understood. And I did take a moment to try to really appreciate what that team had just done." The Here And Now The 1997 national championship, Michigan's most recent title, was secured with a 21-16 win over Washington State in the Rose Bowl. photo by per kjeldsen Michigan hasn't set foot on Rose Bowl sod, as a team, since Jan. 1, 2007. There's no hesitation in proclaiming Pasadena as the hoped-for destination this year, no matter what. They'll play the Granddaddy of Them All on Jan. 1, and several days later offer the national championship contest in the same hallowed stadium. One way or another, the Wolverines would love to find their way to Pasadena again. U-M receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski insists Michigan's near misses on reaching Big Ten title games the past two seasons haven't necessarily increased their hunger. They're already in the voracious category. "I don't think you have to add to the hunger," Hecklinski said. "Coach Hoke tells us The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview  ■ 57

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