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Michigan Seeks Rebound From Poor Season
By LARRY LAGE
The Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. —
Kevin Grady ran on the Michigan golf course so often during the offseason that he lost 11 pounds.
"We went up and down about four holes, and that's not as easy as it sounds," the running back said Monday at media day. "I feel a lot different endurance-wise. I feel like I can do some things I wasn't able to do last year."
Jake Long dropped 20 pounds, pushing himself away from the dinner table and into more workouts. Long hopes it will help him stay healthy and aid his transition from right to left tackle on the offensive line.
When the Wolverines needed a spark to get out of bed for conditioning in the morning and an incentive to avoid drive-thru windows at night, they just thought about last season.
"You try to forget about it in a way, but it's in the back of your mind for motivation because 7-5 is not good for any Michigan team," Grady said.
In fact, it was Michigan's worst season since going 6-6 in 1984, and the Wolverines finished unranked in the final poll for the first time since that .500 season.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr _ entering his 12th season in charge of college football's winningest program _ said he spent a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong last year. The one change he wanted to make was the shape his team was in, and so far, he's happy.
"Our quickness and mobility I thought was an area we could really improve," he said. "We made a concentrated effort in terms of diet and our conditioning program. We worked hard and ran a lot, probably more than we have. We go into this season as a more fit team than we have had in the past."
The Wolverines planned to have their first practice Tuesday before hitting with pads for the first time Saturday. Grueling two-a-day practices will eventually taper down before the season opener Sept. 2 at home against Vanderbilt.
After hosting Central Michigan, the Wolverines play three straight against teams that beat them last season: Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Michigan hosts Michigan State on Oct. 7 and closes the regular season Nov. 18 at Ohio State.
"We're excited about the challenges of this schedule," Carr said.
The Wolverines have eight of 11 starters back on defense, a unit led by linebacker LaMarr Woodley, cornerback Leon Hall and defensive tackle Alan Branch. Quarterback Chad Henne, running back Michael Hart, receiver Steve Breaston and tackle Jake Long are four of the six starters returning on offense.
Receiver Jason Avant, offensive linemen Adam Stenavich and Matt Lentz, and defensive tackle Gabe Watson might be the toughest players to replace.
The Wolverines are ranked No. 15 in the coaches' preseason poll and might have a similar ranking Aug. 19 when The Associated Press releases its poll.
Hart said there's always pressure at Michigan, but he feels it more this summer.
"It's a little bit more this year, after coming off a 7-5 record, to show people we're still a great team and that we can win games," Hart said.