U-M motivated by worst season in two decades
Larry Lage / Associated Press
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ANN ARBOR -- Chad Henne and Mike Hart chose to play at Michigan because they wanted to enjoy team success, not just personal accolades.
As freshmen two years ago, the quarterback and running back led the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl.
The duo, their teammates and Michigan's many fans were jolted last year by the worst season for college football's winningest program in more than two decades.
"We all came here because none of us like losing," Hart said. "After a 7-5 year, if that doesn't motivate you, something is wrong."
The Wolverines dedicated their summer to making last season an aberration.
They ran a lot -- on the golf course and up steps in the stadium. They got out of bed to lift weights. They resisted the temptation of eating pizza and playing video games all night.
Whenever incentive was necessary, just thinking about last year's record provided an extra boost. Michigan was unranked in the final Associated Press poll for the first time since finishing .500 in 1984 -- before Henne and Hart were born.
"Whenever you would feel yourself slacking or saw a teammate slacking, you would say, 'We don't want to be where we were last year!'" Hart recalled. "That would help you finish a workout, or get to one."
After his 11th season as coach and 27th on Michigan's staff, Lloyd Carr analyzed what went wrong last year and determined getting in better shape could help his team close games better.
The Wolverines lost to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State and Nebraska by an average of four points. In each setback, they couldn't make key stops on defense or control the clock with a consistent running game on offense in the final minutes.
They did win three close games: Michigan State and Iowa in overtime and against Penn State on the final play.
The Wolverines hope to start and finish the season strong for a change.
Since winning a national championship in 1997, they have made it through September undefeated only once and have lost their first road game in seven of the last eight years.
"If you look at the profile of championship teams, the great percentage of times they get off to a fast start," Carr said.
After home tuneups against Vanderbilt and Central Michigan, Michigan plays at Notre Dame -- where Carr hasn't won since he became head coach in 1995.
The 12-game regular season, without a bye week, ends Nov. 18 at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won four of the last five games in the rivalry.
"Ohio State determines our season," senior linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. "So, going in there and getting a win would do a lot for our season like it does whenever we win that game."
Michigan has lost to Ohio State and its bowl opponents in each of the last two years.
The Wolverines are ranked No. 14 in The Associated Press preseason poll.
"We're going to prove people wrong that think Michigan is down," Woodley said.
Henne and Hart lead an offense with six returning starters. Receiver Steve Breaston will get a chance to be a No. 1 receiver for the first time, and will be complemented by receiver Mario Manningham and tight end Tyler Ecker. Standout tackle Jake Long has been shifted from right to left tackle on an inexperienced line.
"Moving him to left tackle, where he really belongs, will really help us out on the backside and in the running game," Henne said.
Eight starters are back on defense, a unit led by Woodley, cornerback Leon Hall and defensive tackle Alan Branch.
Hall said he's going to need to be the best cornerback in the country because he has to face Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and six Big Ten teams with veteran leadership at the most important position on the field.
"I'm definitely going to be tested because we're going against some great quarterbacks this year," he said.
Carr promoted Mike DeBord to offensive coordinator and Ron English to defensive coordinator after Terry Malone and Jim Herrmann took NFL coaching assignments during the offseason. DeBord hopes to make Michigan's running game more efficient while English wants the defense to attack, though he doesn't plan to blitz on every down.
The kicking game should help Michigan win games with kicker Garrett Rivas and punter Ross Ryan back along with Breaston as a returner.
Between Michigan's key games at Notre Dame and Ohio State, the Wolverines host Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa and play at Minnesota and Penn State.
"Some mountains are higher than others," Carr said. "Certainly, when you look at our schedule, it's a challenging schedule."
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