Big Ten preview: Not tough? Michigan has too much Hart
Michael Hart chuckles at the suggestion that he and his Michigan teammates aren't tough.
That became an "issue" in the offseason in a preseason magazine. One of those "An opposing coach says ..." boxes contained a brutal comparison between Michigan and Ohio State.
"They (Michigan) are extremely talented but they don't show up every week. I think they're pompous over-recruited, arrogant-type kids ... " the anonymous Big Ten coach said. "The Michigan kid has more talent, but the Ohio State kids played harder. And to me, that is a microcosm of the two programs."
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="43%" align=left border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg0><TD align=middle>
Big Ten </TD></TR><TR class=bg1><TD align=middle>
Predicted Finish </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>1.
Ohio State </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>2.
Iowa </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>3.
Michigan </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>4.
Purdue </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>5.
Wisconsin </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>6.
Penn State </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>7.
Minnesota </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>8.
Michigan State </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>9.
Illinois </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>10.
Northwestern </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>11.
Indiana </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>
Off. player of year: </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>
Def. player of year: </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>A.J. Hawk, Ohio State </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>
Coach of the year: </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD colSpan=2>Joe Paterno, Penn State </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
As if the Wolverines-Buckeyes feud needed any more trash talk.
Hart is in the middle of the discussion 1) because he chose to be. The quotes have circulated among Michigan players and 2) he led the Big Ten in rushing as a freshman.
How's that for tough?
"I don't know how a coach could say that," said Hart, who finished 10th nationally with 1,455 yards. "You can't say we don't play hard unless they coach the team. I just laugh at it. Everybody on this team plays hard. We've won back-to-back Big Ten championships. If we're not playing hard ..."
Unless the Big Ten's version of Karl Rove reveals himself, Michigan will have to take out their frustrations on the entire conference -- again. Michigan has won at least a share of the past two conference titles, losing by a point to Texas last season in the Rose Bowl. Earlier this month, the media picked Michigan to win the league for what would be the sixth time in nine years -- at least a share.
Tough? In his 10 years as head coach, coach Lloyd Carr has averaged 9½ victories per season and won a national championship. He has added to, not subtracted from, Michigan's tradition of tough-running tailbacks protected by 300-pound behemoths.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=175 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD width=175>
</TD><TD width=15></TD></TR><TR><TD width=175>
Michael Hart's Wolverines play host to the rival Buckeyes Nov. 19. (Getty Images) </TD><TD width=15></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>But in Week 2 last year, the tailback position was a mess. Starter David Underwood had just gone down with an injury at Notre Dame. It looked as if Carr was grabbing at straws, inserting the 5-foot-9, 187-pound Hart.
"Once David Underwood went down, I basically knew," Hart said.
Knew? Knew what? After two games, Hart had a total of 37 yards. His breakout game came the next week against San Diego State (125 yards). In an amazing three-game stretch against Illinois, Purdue and Michigan State, he surpassed 200 yards against each, establishing himself as a freshman sensation.
How's that for tough?
"I want the ball in my hands on third-and-3," Hart said when reminded defenses are going to be gunning for him even more in his second year. "I like that kind of pressure. That's why I'm really looking forward to this year."
Hart will be pushed this year by sophomore Max Martin and freshman Kevin Grady. The "veteran" isn't sweating. A year ago he was arriving from central New York, a small-class high school star.
"I'll probably get less carries, which I think is a good thing," said Hart, who averaged 28.5 carries in eight conference games. "I'll be a lot fresher. At the end of the year I was tired a little bit. It's always good when a guy can come in and give you a couple of breaks here and there. I'm still going to get 20 carries a game. I'm good friends with both of them."
In a weird way, Hart, from mighty Michigan, might have been the least-known of the freshman sensations. Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson set the NCAA freshman rushing record and finished second in Heisman voting. North Texas' Jamario Thomas led the country in rushing. It took teammate and quarterback Chad Henne to form the first all-freshman backfield in Michigan history.
Hart doesn't mind being the latest link in a chain that goes back decades at Michigan.
"I definitely think about (the Michigan tailback tradition) and I hear more about it every day," Hart said. "Those guys like (Tyrone) Wheatley, (Tim) Biakabutuka. Anthony Thomas ... We always have a great line, Michigan runs the ball every year no matter what."
Sure sounds tough.
Predicted order of finish:
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="30%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg0><TD align=middle colSpan=2>
Conference Previews </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>ACC </TD><TD>
MWC </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>
Big East </TD><TD>
Pac-10 </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>
Big Ten </TD><TD>SEC </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>
Big 12 </TD><TD>
Sun Belt </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>
C-USA </TD><TD>
WAC </TD></TR><TR class=bg2><TD>
MAC </TD><TD>
Indep.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
1. Ohio State: Most talent in the Big Ten and most in this program since 2002 championship season. Seven home games (first four in a row to start the season). Ted Ginn Jr. should run wild. The linebackers might be the best in the country. Once again, it all comes down to Nov. 19 at Michigan.
2. Iowa: The Big Ten is now on alert for the Hawkeyes, who have won 31 games the past three years. They are loaded with stars -- Drew Tate, Chad Greenway, Abdul Hodge. Kirk Ferentz must somehow rebuild the defensive line. The running game has to get better because it can't get any worse. Iowa should compete again for the Big Ten title.
3.Michigan: Five offensive line starters are back. Hart's biggest competition will come from his teammates. Secondary is the only question mark. Put Michigan down for nine wins, 10 if everything clicks.
4. Purdue: Trendy pick to win it because Boilers don't play Ohio State or Michigan. But in recent years, Purdue seems to be the league's No. 1 underachiever. Every defensive starter returns, but I just can't bring myself to pick these guys any higher than fourth. Trips to Arizona, Minnesota and a home game against Iowa loom among the first five games.
5. Wisconsin: Badgers everywhere hope for a rousing sendoff for Barry Alvarez. It's going to be tough. The offense will be painful to watch, which means a questionable defense will have to do it again. The entire line has to be replaced. Will that defense be any better after allowing 103 points in the final three games?
6. Penn State: Joe Paterno has basically scheduled a bowl game with an agonizingly easy early schedule. Five of the first six are at home. Figure at least 7-4; 8-3 if the ball bounces right. Contention for the title if the offense contributes anything at all and Ohio State falls Oct. 8.
7. Minnesota: Minny's traditional late-season collapse looms with Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa in the final four weeks. Until then, the Gophers will win five or six games and possibly inch into the rankings. Look for Laurence Maroney to lead the league in rushing.
8. Michigan State: In his third season, John L. Smith needs to start producing some of his magic. The eight-victory debut in 2003 is a distant memory. This is usually the kind of season where Smith's teams surprise. Armed with a mobile, veteran quarterback (Drew Stanton), this could be that year.
9. Illinois: Ron Zook's arrival will get the Illini fired up immediately. There is enough talent on offense to squeeze out five victories. Zook will need a couple of his recruits to contribute, though.
10. Northwestern: Not much to be excited about here. It took an overtime victory against Illinois for Northwestern to get into a bowl game last season. A three-win year looks more likely in 2005.
11. Indiana: So Terry Hoeppner, you wanted to be in the Big Ten? You are, but barely. The Hoosiers are the laughingstock of the league. Until the school commits more to football, it will remain that way. The former Miami (Ohio) coach left more talent at his old job.
http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/colleg.../story/8759413
