One individual crucial in Michigan football fending off potential distractions

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan Wolverines football has been in the news plenty this offseason. Not only are the Maize and Blue the favorites to win the Big Ten, something they’ve done the last two seasons, but there have been a few off-field controversies.

Former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was let go this past amid a police investigation into computer access crimes. Head coach Jim Harbaugh had multiple conversations with the NFL’s Denver Broncos for their then-vacant head-coaching job. Harbaugh has also received a notice of allegations for minor NCAA violations and one major violation that said he misled investigators. He’s reportedly likely to miss the first four games of the season, and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and tight ends coach Grant Newsome are expected to be suspended for the first contest, as well.

Harbaugh has compared the Michigan program to a “recession-proof housing market,” however. And when it comes to on the field, the Wolverines don’t seem to be distracted one bit, instead as motivated as ever in chase of a national championship.

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Particularly over the last two seasons, Michigan has responded extremely well to adversity, both on and off the field. On it, the Wolverines came back to beat Nebraska and Penn State on the road in 2021, traded blows and beat down Ohio State the last two seasons (without senior running back Blake Corum in 2022, too) and stayed focused amid uncertainty with the coaching staff and other controversies.

Graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil pointed to strength coach Ben Herbert as a big reason why the Wolverines have been able to do that. Harbaugh has called Herbert Michigan’s “secret weapon” and “X-factor” — and this is just one more example of how.

“He says no matter what’s about to happen, who cares?” Sainristil said at Big Ten Media Days. “You don’t know if it’s gonna rain on a Saturday. You don’t know if it’s gonna be sunny. You don’t know if it’s gonna snow. You don’t know what’s gonna happen. All you can do is make sure that your preparation allows you to play in whatever condition.

“So whether the coach will be leaving, whether the coach will be staying, whether [junior quarterback] J.J. [McCarthy] was starting, whether [former Michigan signal-caller] Cade [McNamara] was starting, it didn’t matter to us. What mattered to us was making sure that whatever the case was gonna be, we were gonna be the best team possible with Coach Harbaugh with J.J. starting or Cade starting.

“We just make sure that every individual was gonna be the best individual they could be.”

Not much has changed since the report came out last week that Harbaugh could be suspended to begin the season, Sainristil added.

“Since the news came out, we just focus on just preparing in the weight room and getting ready for camp next week,” he explained. “We know Coach Harbaugh’s gonna be there at camp coaching us, whether he’s there those first four games or not. I know that what he’d want us to do is go out there and play a great brand of football and lead on for the block ‘M.’ Just go out there and play our brand of football, play Michigan football, play fast, play hard, play physical, do what it is that he prepares us to do.

“So whether he’s with us, those four games or not. We’re gonna play as if he was right there coaching.”

Great leadership helps, too. Sainristil gave a rousing speech to the Michigan defense in the second half at Ohio State last November. The Wolverines gave up just 3 points to the Buckeyes after halftime, an incredible performance. Sainristil, who planted a flag at midfield in Columbus after the 45-23 win, is proud to have been selected to join Harbaugh for media days in Indianapolis.

“What I do is bigger than myself,” the 2022 Michigan captain said. “Just going out there and representing the block ‘M’ and understanding that the name Michigan holds a lot of weight. I just hope that everything I do, I’m making those before me proud.”

Player-led effort for Michigan to turn the tide against Ohio State

While Harbaugh replaced six of 10 assistant coaches ahead of the 2021 season, much of the improvement in culture and winning that followed has been credited to Michigan’s players, particularly leaders like Aidan Hutchinson. What Hutchinson and others did was passed down to Sainristil, who’s teaching the younger players who look up to him … and the cycle continues onward.

Michigan went 10 years without beating Ohio State before doing so in 2021. Now, the Wolverines appear to have control of the rivalry, preseason favorites to beat the Buckeyes a third straight time, per Vegas oddsmakers.

“Just the change of culture and just how we attack things and the way we handle our business now,” Sainristil said of how Michigan has been able to turn the tide. “A big credit to Coach Herb. He made sure that we’re not letting any opportunity slip away from us, and we’re making sure that we do everything to maximize every single day in preparation for big games, little games, Making sure that there’s no complacency, and just having the mindset that we have to go out there and work in order to get what we want.”

“Every day matters,” one of Herbert’s mantras states, “but only 12 count.” Ohio State is one of the 12, but it’s bigger than the rest. Still, Michigan has been focused week to week.

“A small game is just as important as a big game,” Sainristil continued. “You can’t say, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go prepare for Ohio State …’ I will prepare for whoever we have week one and week two, because you can’t get to Ohio State without getting through week one and week two.

“Everything is important to us. All the little details matter. What else can we do to be a better team?”

That’s been the focus for Michigan this offseason, with the Wolverines stiff arming distractions away.