Michigan

The University of Michigan Wolverines

Michigan's football program is considered the most successful in college football history. The Wolverines won the first Rose Bowl game ever played in 1902. Michigan has also won an NCAA- record, 860 games. Michigan further holds the NCAA record with an all-time winning percentage of .745. The Wolverine football program has claimed 11 national titles with the last Michigan title coming in 1997. The Wolverines also have a staggering 42 conference titles. Michigan's colors are Maize and Blue and their fight song, "Hail to the Victors" may be the best college fight song ever written. Michigan plays their home games at Michigan Stadium. "The Big House" is the largest football-only stadium in the world, with an official capacity of 107,501, and with attendance exceeding 110,000. The most famous Wolverine has to be none other than former President of the United States, Gerald Ford.

Michigan is known as a pro factory. The Wolverines have produced some great NFL talent, especially recently with the likes of Ty Law, Charles Woodson, Steve Hutchinson and Tom Brady. We also cannot forget Anthony Thomas, Tim Biakabutuka, Tryone Wheatley, Elvis Grbac or Anthony Carter. Michigan is a hot bed for NFL talent and the list of great Michigan players that have gone on to have prominent NFL careers is a mile long.

Michigan's greatest rivalry is with Ohio State and is considered one of the best rivalries in all of sports. This game is always the last game on the schedule for both school's and has provided many memorable contests that often determine who will get a shot at the National Championship. Michigan also has a fierce rivalry with intrastate foe, Michigan State. Michigan and Michigan State battle it out each year for bragging rights and for the "Paul Bunyan Trophy." Michigan also clashes with the University of Minnesota for right to the "Little Brown Jug." Michigan also has a historical rivalry with Notre Dame. The Michigan Notre Dame rivalry has officially been extended for another 20 years as both teams signed recent contracts to continue the awesome early season match-up

Michigan Wolverines 2007 Outlook

Expectations are high this year in Ann Arbor as they are every year but this year especially. The Michigan program is one of the top five programs in the country for top to bottom, year after year. However, the Lloyd Carr led Wolverines have not won a national championship since 1997 and have lost to arch rivals Ohio State four times in a row. That alone has some Michigan fans wanting Carr gone.

The defense, which was a bit overrated throughout 2006 season has taken a big hit losing a slew of NFL talent, but the offense will make up for it by bombing away at will with Chad Henne throwing to Mario Manningham while Mike Hart runs wild behind one of the nation’s best lines. The defense will hold their own. This is Michigan; the Maize and Blue will replace NFL talent with more NFL talent on defense.

Look for Mike Hart to have a phenomenal year running behind the best offensive line in the Big Ten led by offensive tackle Jake Long. Hart will have great opportunities due to the strength of Michigan's passing game. Adrian Arrington is a sleeper talent on this Michigan offense. Arrington stepped up last year when Manningham was sidelined with a knee injury. Look for Arrington to see a lot of one- on- one coverage schemes this year due to double teams on Manningham. However, Arrington has been absent all spring. The senior receiver was suspended from team practices. He is reportedly working his way back into the lineup, just in time for the start of the season.

2007 Michigan Schedule

Date OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result
Sat, Sep 1st, 2007 Appalachian_St 12:00 PM Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Sep 8th, 2007 Oregon 03:30 PM Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Sep 15th, 2007 Notre_Dame 03:30 PM Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Sep 22nd, 2007 Penn_State TBA Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Sep 29th, 2007 at Northwestern TBA Ryan Field  
Sat, Oct 6th, 2007 Eastern_Mich TBA Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Oct 13th, 2007 Purdue 12:00 PM Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Oct 20th, 2007 at Illinois 08:00 PM Memorial Stadium  
Sat, Oct 27th, 2007 Minnesota TBA Michigan Stadium  
Sat, Nov 3rd, 2007 at Michigan_State TBA Spartan Stadium  
Sat, Nov 10th, 2007 at Wisconsin TBA Camp Randall Stadium  
Sat, Nov 17th, 2007 Ohio_State TBA Michigan Stadium 

Head Coach Profile

Lloyd Carr's coaching career started at Eastern Michigan. Carr then coached under all-time legend Bo Schembechler and later, Gary Moeller. Carr would get his shot in 1995 and that year he posted a sound, 8-2 record. In 1997, Carr won the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award after the Wolverines won the National Championship. Carr is known for his ability to get the best out of his players, he is one of the best coaches in the country at developing individual talent.

Lloyd Carr was the first Wolverine coach to win four bowl games in a row but recently Michigan has been sliding in the post-season and they have lost five of their last six games to Ohio State. The criticism seems intense these days in Ann Arbor but a win versus archrival Ohio State can silence the critics, at least for now. Carr needs another National Championship to silence the jeers finally and to secure his place among Michigan coaching elite. With Michigan's talent on the field this year, look for the Maize and Blue to be there in the end.

University of Michigan Wolverines- Key Departures/Players to Watch

The Wolverines lost much talent to the NFL but again, this is Michigan and NFL talent grows on trees. It will be hard to replace Alan Branch in the middle and LaMarr Woodley coming off the edge for the Wolverine defense but look for defensive end Tim Jamison and defensive tackle Terrance Taylor to do an admiral job this year. The loss of defensive back Leon Hall is also huge but Charles Stewart and Morgan Trent look poised to have big years so do not look for the Michigan secondary to loose a step.

We all know Michigan will be putting points up on the board. Look for Jake Long to enjoy another fine year and to secure his spot on the list of great Michigan linemen. Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington are just too much for opposing defenses to handle. This Michigan offense may be one of the best in school history.