While it was expected for most Michigan fans that the team would be 10-0 at this point in the season, no one could have predicted the challenges the Wolverines would have to face in order to achieve this record.
The Michigan Wolverines team is a force to be reckoned with in college sports.
Most Michigan fans may have expected a 10-0 season at this point, but no one could have predicted the challenges the Wolverines had to face to achieve it.
Before the season began, U-M revealed that head coach Jim Harbaugh would be starting the year with a three-game self-imposed suspension. The suspension was the result of an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations in 2020, and there is still a possibility that Harbaugh could face further penalties in the upcoming season, in addition to the self-imposed suspension.
Following a three game suspension, Harbaugh came back to coach Michigan for their Week 4 game against Rutgers.
As the Wolverines geared up to face Michigan State in Week 8, they were once again widely expected to dominate the rivalry game. However, the program found itself embroiled in controversy as another NCAA investigation was launched into an illegal scouting scheme. The Michigan Football program was suddenly thrust into the national spotlight, but not for the right reasons, due to the media frenzy that ensued. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a commanding win over Michigan State in East Lansing, followed by another victory against Purdue in Ann Arbor the next week – bringing Michigan to a flawless 9-0 record for the year.
Heading into the season’s biggest game against the No. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti shocked everyone by handing Harbaugh a three-game suspension just one day before Michigan’s match against Penn State, even though there was no completed NCAA investigation or evidence connecting Harbaugh to the sign-stealing scheme. Harbaugh mentioned during his Monday press conference that he discovered the suspension through social media while traveling on the team plane to Happy Valley.
Once more, the Michigan Wolverines were faced with the challenge of playing without Harbaugh due to an NCAA investigation, and they had to do so in their most important game of the year. Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, the Wolverines stepped onto the field at Happy Valley and outplayed Penn State in all facets of the game. After securing a significant win on the road, Moore and a number of his football teammates were overwhelmed with emotions.
It is evident that the players and coaches have made a concerted effort to ignore the external distractions surrounding their program. However, the strong emotions displayed after Saturday’s crucial victory indicate that the ongoing issues with the NCAA and the Big Ten are taking a toll.
The Wolverines are currently 10-0 and will be traveling to College Park this weekend to take on Maryland. If they win, they will make history as the first college football program to reach 1,000 wins. In addition to getting his team ready for the upcoming game, Harbaugh is also gearing up for a crucial court appearance on Friday in order to challenge the Big Ten’s recent decision.
It doesn’t matter if Harbaugh goes or not, the Wolverines are definitely prepared to take care of business on their road trip this weekend. Typically, you might see this Maryland game as a potential “trap” game, occurring between two important matches against Penn State and Ohio State. However, this season has shown us that we are nowhere near experiencing anything that resembles “normal” circumstances.
This has also shown us that, regardless of the situation, the Wolverines are always ready to deliver a powerful response in the most important place – the field.
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