Cade McNamara: 'These are the type of games' you come to Michigan for

The Michigan Wolverines have arrived in Miami, Florida ahead of their first College Football Playoff appearance. As the team spends the next week going through practice, team bonding and walk-thoughs, quarterback Cade McNamara and others will live out the reality they created.

Despite questions about the team over the past several seasons, Cade McNamara says that he and every other Michigan player joined the squad with this opportunity in mind. After arriving, he spoke briefly with the media about what the Orange Bowl means to the Wolverines.

“Yeah, I mean this is what I envisioned when I decided to come here to Michigan,” said McNamara. “These are the type of games that you commit to, the success that we’re having this season is what we envisioned. I’m just super excited and I know the rest of the team is for this week and the upcoming events.”

Not many gave the Wolverines a chance to make the Playoff, but that never deterred the Jim Harbaugh-led team from believing. They defeated rival Ohio State for the first time since 2011 behind three sacks from defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. They then held Iowa without a touchdown in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Michigan finished the season at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings. It will face Georgia in a semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve.

Cade McNamara provides Christmas gifts

Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara wanted to let his offensive line know he appreciates them. And what better way to do that with a Christmas present?

Winters can be brutally cold in Michigan, and having a heavy coat is essential. So McNamara partnered with Carhartt to provide personalized coats to each member of the Wolverines offensive line. The coats come with each player’s jersey number stitched on the inside.

The Wolverines might not need the jackets when they travel south to Miami for the Orange Bowl, where the weather will certainly be warmer. However, they’ll get plenty of opportunities to use them once they return home.

Cade McNamara certainly has much to thank his offensive line for after their performance this season. The Wolverines rank second in the country in sack rate, allowing a sack on just 2.4% of quarterback drop backs.

That has enabled the junior quarterback to limit his mistakes and take his time finding open receivers. He has accumulated 2,470 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and thrown just four interceptions in 2021.

He knows he will need his offensive line to come up over the next couple weeks, so perhaps the Christmas coats can provide some added motivation.