Michigan football players not overlooking MSU: 'Prepare like this is the biggest game of the year'
Michigan football knows it let a golden opportunity slip away against Michigan State in East Lansing last season. A 16-point second-half lead evaporated and led to a Spartan victory, 37-33, which was U-M’s lone regular season loss.
Even with what came after – a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff appearance – Michigan players do not want a reminder of what the somber bus ride home was like.
“We were all pretty pissed off after that game,” fifth-year offensive tackle Ryan Hayes said. “We didn’t close it out. We got up early and did not keep our foot on the gas pedal. It was pretty disappointing on the way home. I remember that feeling just … nobody was really talking to each other. Everybody knew that we let it slip through our fingers. It helped us for the rest of the year [in 2021], but we do not want that to happen again.”
Last week, junior wideout Roman Wilson said Michigan has to cut the “bullshit” out of its games with MSU and handle the task at hand. That should lead to a focused and motivated week of practice coming off the bye ahead of Saturday night’s rivalry tilt.
“Lock down everything we’re doing,” Hayes said. “Prepare like this is the biggest game of the year, which it is up to this point. Prepare every day and come in with that mindset to do the extra little things. If we do that, we’ll be alright.
“We’re going to focus on them every year. Obviously, it’s a tight game most every year we play them no matter what. We don’t look at records right now. This is a rivalry game and anything can happen. Have to be prepared for everything.”
Michigan wants to get sour taste out of its mouth
The Michigan bus ride back from East Lansing has been well-documented to this point. It was quiet. It was awkward and tense. Nobody felt like talking about it. Michigan players know they let one slip away and they are using that feeling as fuel.
“It was very quiet and nobody was talking,” junior EDGE Jaylen Harrell said. “You could really feel that it took a lot out of us. We just had to keep going and finish out the rest of the year, but that rivalry always stays in the back of our minds.”
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Michigan says it needs to keep its foot on the gas pedal to make sure it gets ahead of MSU, and stays ahead. The team will also need to do a better job stopping the run.
“Losing the lead, that was a big part of that game last year,” Harrell said. “Stay on the gas and not take our foot off the pedal. Last year, we had a hard time stopping the run against Kenneth Walker. This year, we are ready to build a wall and do our job and play together as a defense. Be dominant.”
Senior captain Mazi Smith, often cited as the heart and soul of the defense, wants his Michigan teammates to take the opportunity given to put the past behind them.
“You just don’t like that feeling. Don’t like that taste,” Smith said. “You get an opportunity this week to get rid of that taste. You’re either going to take it or you’re not. Everybody knows how important this week is. Everybody knows how important this game and this team are.
“It can get out of hand if you let it. You have to keep your emotions in check. Remain calm in the face of adversity and understand the mission.”
The clash between the Wolverines and Spartans kicks off at Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. ABC will carry the national broadcast.
