Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross reflect on return to Michigan, 2021 success

Rarely has a Michigan football team ever embodied the phrase “those who stay will be champions” quite like this group. Seniors Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross returned to ensure they would have a shot at making program history.

The two Michigan leaders reflected on the “those who stay” mantra during Wednesday morning availability at the Orange Bowl.

“I know Josh has got one more year on me, but he didn’t win a championship his freshman year, so we both stayed, we both grinded,” Hutchinson said. “We are in it [for] the hard stuff, we are in the mud, and we came out. Now we’re both finishing up our careers and really putting a staple on our legacy here at Michigan, and now we’ve just got to finish the job.”

“Those words mean everything, Ross added. “Coming in here as a young freshman earlier on, you see those words but you never really saw it acted out. We were the ones who stuck it out, who stayed through the thick, who stayed through the good and bad times and got to the end of the road. It means everything, and it feels good because we are champions and we’ve still got more work to do.

“Those who stay will be champions means everything, and it’s a great feeling.”

Opt-outs were never on the table

One of the recent trends of college football’s bowl season is to have stars and leaders opt-out to prepare for the NFL. Michigan finds itself playing in one of the most meaningful games, but its leadership would not have bailed regardless.

“I think that was never an option for either of us,” Hutchinson said. “I don’t think it mattered if we were in the playoffs or not. If we were playing in some other bowl, I think you’d see me and Josh both strapping it
up again because we wouldn’t leave our team out to dry ever just for all the work we’ve put in.”

Michigan was always going to be focused on finishing what it started in 2021.

“It wasn’t even close to an option,” Ross said. “We’ve been through so much as a team together throughout this whole season, ups and downs, to get to the point where we’re at. The only way is to finish what we’ve started. That’s how we feel. That’s how this team feels. We’re just ready to go get it in a couple of days.”

How a different Jim Harbaugh changed Michigan football

Michigan’s DNA this season had a lot to do with head coach Jim Harbaugh’s rebooted contract. It was put up or shut up time for the program and Harbaugh came through with his best coaching job yet.

It did not go unnoticed by two of his captains.

“I’m so proud of Coach Harbaugh and the way he’s adapted, the way he’s just changed as a person, as a coach throughout his years of me being here,” Ross said. “He’s a great coach, and he does a lot of great things. Just to see how far he’s come, how far this team has come in the position we are now, I couldn’t be more proud of our head guy leading the way.”

Hutchinson cited Harbaugh’s ability to create a Michigan staff that cultivated change that led to a Big Ten title.

“He brought in the perfect chemistry of guys this off-season in terms of coaches, in terms of our defensive staff, which was changed up a lot, and I think he found the perfect blend of guys, and it’s really what makes the team work,” he said. “That’s part of it is finding the right coaches. He definitely did that this off-season, and that’s a big head nod to him, but also how he’s adapted over these years and how he’s adapted towards the players over these years.

“He’s really a great guy and a great coach, and we couldn’t be more proud.”

On Michigan football’s togetherness

The rebooted culture in Ann Arbor helped Michigan get to the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines are as cohesive a team there is in the country. It has its leadership to thank for that.

“This team is so special, and one thing I can point to in all seriousness is our togetherness,” Ross said. “We’ve got each other’s back. We not only say it, but we are also about it, offense, defense, special teams. We all have each other’s backs, and we play for each other, and I honestly feel like that’s the separator with us in these games is we’ve got each other’s back, and we’re going to play for each other every single snap.

“[We have] the best possible chemistry of a team and I’m just blessed to be a part of it and ready to go get it these next couple of days.”

This is not just a feel-good buzzword, either. Chemistry is going to play a major role in Michigan getting the job done in the Orange Bowl.

“We’re going to have to execute and play our game if we want to have a lot of success,” Hutchinson said. “They’re a very talented offense and have a lot of weapons. We’re just going to have to execute and do what we do and really just not do anything special. We’re a very talented defense. We’ve got a lot of good players. If we go out there and just do our job, I think we can have a lot of success.”

Friday night’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Orange Bowl in Miami. The winner plays Alabama or Cincinnati for the national title in Indianapolis on Jan. 10.