ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -Michigan earned a spot in the corner of Sports Illustrated’s cover this week, showing the Wolverines are back up front in the sports world.
Beating then-No. 18 Notre Dame and routing Western Michigan put No. 25 Michigan in The Associated Press poll for the first time since Rich Rodriguez replaced the retiring Lloyd Carr.
The Wolverines (2-0) know they can get knocked off their pedestal by getting upset by Eastern Michigan (0-2) on Saturday at the Big House if they forget their recent past.
Their veterans respect Mid-American Conference teams after losing to one last year and being on the wrong end of one of the most stunning upsets in college football history the previous season.
“Losing to Appalachian State and Toledo makes us go into every game – regardless of who our opponent is – 100 percent,” junior safety Troy Woolfolk said. “If you let your guard down, anybody is good enough.”
he Wolverines opened the 2007 season with a jaw-dropping loss to Appalachian State, Ron English was their defensive coordinator.
“He was very intense,” Woolfolk said. “I get screamed at by a lot of coaches, but he was one coach that would scream and you really would fear him at the end of the day. But he was a good coach, and I respect him. He actually recruited me and he’s the reason I’m here right now, so going against him is weird.”
English acknowledged it will be awkward to stand along the sideline opposite the one he roamed for five seasons.
“I’ll definitely have some different emotions because I’ve got some good memories from there,” said English, one of just seven black coaches in major college football. “But we’re trying to create some new memories over here and I like how we’re beginning to change the culture here at Eastern Michigan.”
The Eagles haven’t had a winning record – or even won more than four games – in a season since 1995 and its last bowl game was two-plus decades ago.
“I think we can win here because the president, athletic director and fans all want to win,” English said. “We’re about to break ground on a practice facility and our new team room is awesome. We can get kids here, I have no doubt about it.”
One Eagle had an interesting journey to Ypsilanti, a city that borders Ann Arbor.
icked him off Michigan’s team early in the 2007 season. Sears went back home to California two years ago, took classes at Willow International Community College for a semester and then attended College of the Sequoias and ran track last year.
“I broke a team rule at Michigan, messed up and had to grow up,” the cornerback said. “I’m thankful to have another shot. I can’t even put into words how excited I am to play at Michigan Stadium again. I better just let my actions speak for me.”
Sears may not have much to say if Tate Forcier keeps up his pace.
The freshman quarterback has completed 68 percent of his passes for 419 yards, five touchdowns – including one with 11 seconds left against Notre Dame – and only one interception in two games. He also leads the Wolverines with 107 yards rushing, including a 31-yard TD on a fourth-down conversion against the Fighting Irish.
Michigan was lost last season, dropping a school-record nine games, without a running-and-passing threat taking snaps.
The Wolverines are winning again in large part because of the cool and crafty QB from San Diego, who said he wouldn’t have come to Ann Arbor if Rodriguez was elsewhere.
“I wasn’t even going to look at Michigan until they got the new staff,” Forcier said. “When they brought in Coach Rod’s staff, I said, ‘That’s all me.’ I don’t have the strongest arm and I’m not the biggest kid, but I fit the system. As long as I fit their system, I’m happy.”
Forcier will be without one of his starting offensive lineman, David Moosman, who will not face the Eagles because of a shoulder injury.
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