93 days until Michigan football: Sam Sword was the man
There are 93 days until the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines football team takes the field in the Aug. 31 opener against Fresno State. Each day until then, we’ll discuss current Michigan events, the upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
Linebacker Sam Sword gets our shoutout today as the countdown to kickoff moves to 93.
He was a product of Saginaw Arthur Hill High School and starred in three sports – football, basketball and baseball. He helped lead his team to a state championship during the 1991 season and was an all-state football player before enrolling at Michigan in 1994.
“Sam’s a great leader. He might be quiet around the media, but when he wants something done he lets people know,” defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann said, via the Toledo Blade’s archives. “Sam makes plays people don’t see, tackles inside. He’s what this defense needs.”
Sword’s 1998 season mostly lived up to the hype. He started 12 games and led the team with 127 total tackles. Sword was named second-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media and was the second player in team history at the time to lead the team in tackles for three years in a row. Michigan finished the 1998 season with a 10-3 record.
Being the consummate team player, he threw praise the way of his defensive linemen for helping him get the job done during his career.
“A lot of guys get recognition, but you have to look at the guys who don’t like your defensive linemen,” he said. “They don’t get enough recognition. If it wasn’t for them, Sam Sword would be a mystery. Rob Renes takes a beating for me every play. It takes a great nose guard to stand in there and play like that. He gets double-teamed on about every play and that frees things up for me. The game goes of Josh Williams, Juaquin Feazell and James Hall.”
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Sword was a throwback linebacker for Michigan during his time in Ann Arbor, racking up 370 tackles in 39 starts to go with five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one interception. He loved the physicality of the game, and that has allowed him to leave a lasting mark on the program.
“I don’t want to sound conceited, but I think I’m pretty good,” he said prior to the 1998 season. “Maybe people don’t think I’m that good of a pass defender, but I like to stick my nose in there on running plays. I thrive on physical football. Big Ten style. I look forward to that week in and week out.”
Michigan football countdown to kickoff
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