U-M wide receiver: 'We don't want to be what old Michigan was like'
Michigan football worked seven years under head coach Jim Harbaugh before breaking through last season. The program turned the page and won its first Big Ten Championship since 2004 and made its inaugural trip to the College Football Playoff.
Now that that milestone is complete, the players want more.
There was a litany of issues that led to unfulfilled expectations through most of Harbaugh’s first six years. There were misses on the recruiting trail, poor big-game performances, bad luck, etc. You name it, the Wolverines went through it.
Coming off a 2-4 COVID season in 2020, Michigan’s culture needed an overhaul and it got one. The breath of fresh air provided last offseason helped achieve some longstanding goals. Now, players are taking it upon themselves to make sure it stays that way.
“Our goals for the season are different,” junior wide receiver Roman Wilson said on Tuesday. “Last year was more to beat our rivals. But this year we want it all. We want to beat our rivals, go to the playoffs, Big Ten Championship, all that. We want to come for it all. We don’t want to be what old Michigan was like, we want to set a new standard for us.”
Wilson had 20 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Wolverines. He is currently pushing for reps with his position group to stay near the top of the Michigan depth chart.
Wilson explains what ‘old Michigan’ entailed
Michigan failed twice in Columbus with a trip to the Big Ten Championship on the line in 2016 and 2018. Often in its biggest games, the team would flinch in a critical moment. Seasons that end in 9 and 10 wins are noteworthy for most programs.
Not at Michigan. This is a group that expects to compete – and win – Big Ten and national championships.
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“It’s no surprise that we haven’t done that well in the past few years,” Wilson said. “We want to take our game up here. We want to be considered one of the best when we leave this program.”
What changed last year compared to previous seasons? Players buying into the process helped along with pouring every ounce of themselves into the objectives Michigan sets.
“Just like effort and energy,” Wilson said. “When I was a freshman, I always felt like we were working hard. The difference we’ve come along in the amount of like energy and the guys really want to. It just feels different. It’s like, you can’t even explain it.”
“People talk [crap] to each other [in practice], they get upset over plays. And nobody likes to lose — everyone’s a sore loser. It’s competitive.”
Wilson and Michigan get their first shot to grab a victory on Sept. 3 when Colorado State comes to Ann Arbor. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on ABC.
