2007 Michigan Wolverines football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2007
Team=Michigan Wolverines


Conference=Big Ten Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Big Ten
Record=9-4
ConfRecord=6-2
CoachRank=19
APRank=18
BCSRank=
HeadCoach=Lloyd Carr
OffCoach=Mike DeBord
DefCoach=Ron English
OScheme=Multiple
DScheme=Multiple
Stadium=Michigan Stadium
Champion=
BowlTourney=Capital One Bowl vs. Florida
BowlTourneyResult=W 41-35

The 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's incoming head football coach is Rich Rodriguez and current head coach Lloyd Carr has retired immediately following the 2008 Capital One Bowl. The Wolverines play their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This was Carr's final season as Michigan head coach.

Preseason

After a Cinderella year in 2006, finishing 11-2 despite low expectations following a 7-5 season in 2005, everyone was expecting the Wolverines to build in their successes of 2006. With the losses of key defenders, such as Alan Branch and Lamarr Woodley, the defense had its work cut out for them, but fans were not worried. Michigan's preseason ranking was #5, and the Wolverines were expected to be contenders for the national championship game.

On March 25, Coach Lloyd Carr announced that TE Carson Butler, DE Eugene Germany, and DB Chris Richards had been dismissed for violations of team policy. [cite news | url=http://apps.michigandaily.com/blogs/thegame/?p=497 | title=Butler, Germany and Richards no longer with football team | work=The Michigan Daily | author=Bell, Scott | date=March 25 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-10]

Carr also had stated that WR Adrian Arrington had been suspended for the spring practice session due to a violation of team policy. Carr was uncertain about Arrington's future at Michigan. Adrian Arrington has since been reinstated as was TE Carson Butler after being cleared of charges stemming from a previous arrest. [cite news | url=http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2007/03/15/CampusLife/Arrington.Butler.To.Miss.Practice.Maybe.Games-2776759.shtml | title=Arrington, Butler to miss practice, maybe games | work=The Michigan Daily | author=Bell, Scott | date=March 15 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-10]

Backup QB Jason Forcier asked to be released from his scholarship to transfer to Stanford University, [cite news | url=http://www.insidebayarea.com/stanfordsports/ci_6647432 | title=Michigan transfer happy at Stanford | work=InsideBayArea.com | author=Sabedra, Darren | date=August 17 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-10] and LB Cobrani Mixon was released from his scholarship to transfer to Kent State University. [cite news | url=http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/2191162 | title=Golden Flashes set to add Michigan transfer Mixon | publisher="Record-Courier" | last=Carducci | first=David | date=June 28 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-10]

chedule

The 2007 Wolverine schedule was ranked the 15th hardest in the country.Steve Megargee, [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/06/19/schedules.top25/index.html Top 25 toughest schedules] , SI.com/Rivals.com, June 21, 2007.] The home schedule was ranked as the 5th toughest. [cite web | url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=ArtvqpQefn2niKTGykZ7ji8cvrYF?slug=rivals-133598&prov=rivals&type=lgns | title=Road to glory will be tough one for Seminoles | author=Steve Megargee | publisher=Rivals.com | accessdate=2007-06-21] CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/01/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = l
nonconf = yes
neutral =
rank = 5
opponent = Appalachian State
opprank =
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 34-32
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/08/07
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = l
nonconf = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Oregon
opprank =
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 39-7
overtime = CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/15/07
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Notre Dame
opprank =
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 38-0
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/22/07
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = w
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Penn State
opprank = 10
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = ABC (ESPN in Ohio)
score = 14-9
overtime = CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/29/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = w
away = Y
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Northwestern
opprank =
site_stadium = Ryan Field
site_cityst = Evanston, IL
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 28-16
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/06/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = cfb link|year=2007|team=Eastern Michigan Eagles|title=Eastern Michigan
opprank =
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 33-22
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/13/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming = yes
rank =
opponent = Purdue
opprank = 21
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 48-21
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/20/07
time = 8:00 p.m.
w/l = w
away = Y
neutral =
rank = 25
opponent = Illinois
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 27-17
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/27/07
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = w
rank = 21
opponent = Minnesota
opprank =
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = ESPN Classic (simulcasted on ABC)
score = 34-10
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/03/07
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = w
away = Y
rank = 14
opponent = Michigan State
opprank =
site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 28-24
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/10/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = l
away = Y
rank = 13
opponent = Wisconsin
opprank =
site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium
site_cityst = Madison, WI
gamename =
tv = ESPN
score = 37-21
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/17/07
time = 12:00 p.m.
w/l = l
rank = 23
opponent = Ohio State
opprank = 7
site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 14-3
overtime = CFB Schedule Entry
date = 01/01/08
time = 1:00 p.m.
w/l = w
away =
neutral = yes
nonconf = yes
rank =
opponent = Florida
opprank = 9
site_stadium = Citrus Bowl
site_cityst = Orlando, Florida
gamename = Capital One Bowl
tv = ABC
score = 41-35
overtime =

Radio coverage for all games will be on the Michigan Sports Network, including WOMC in Detroit, as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio. [http://www.mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=9057]

Game notes

Appalachian State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Appalachian State
R1=7
R2=21
R3=3
R4=3
Home=#5 Michigan
H1=14
H2=3
H3=9
H4=6In the 34-32 loss, Michigan became the first team ever ranked in the AP Top 25 to lose to a Division I FCS team.web cite | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272440130 |title=Blocked field goal secures Appalachian State's upset of Michigan |date=2007-09-01 |publisher=ESPN] Michigan started out strong, finishing the first quarter 14-7, but the Mountaineers scored 21 unanswered points to go up 28-14 just before halftime. In the second half, the Mountaineers had trouble moving the ball, but the 28-17 halftime lead proved to be just enough momentum for Appalchian State to come away with the win, when Julian Rauch kicked a field goal to go up 34-32. Late in the game, Appalachian's Corey Lynch blocked a potential game winning field goal with 6 seconds left to seal the win. The attendance for the game was 109,218web cite | url=http://mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=25213 |title=Attendance vs. Appalachian State|date=2007-09-08 |publisher=mgoblue] . Adding insult to injury, Michigan dropped out of the Top 25 in the next poll. This was first time in the history of the AP Poll that a team ranked in the Top 5 had fallen out of the poll as a result of a single game.

Oregon

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oregon
R1=11
R2=21
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Michigan
H1=7
H2=0
H3=0
H4=0
ESPN reported, "A week after getting stunned by Appalachian State, the Wolverines were handed their worst beating since before Bo Schembechler worked the sideline at the Big House. Dennis Dixon accounted for 368 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, helping the Ducks build a 25-point lead at halftime and cruise to an easy victory."cite news | url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272510130 | title=Ducks roll as Wolverines suffer worst loss since '68 | work=ESPNU.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=September 8 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-08] The 32–point defeat was Michigan's worst loss since losing 50–14 at Ohio State in 1968. The Wolverines started 0-2 for the first time since 1998 and the first time starting 0-2 on a homestead since 1959. " Attendance for the game was 109,733.

Notre Dame

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Notre Dame
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Michigan
H1=10
H2=21
H3=7
H4=0The Wolverines and The Fighting Irish met for the first time with both teams boasting an 0-2 record. Since both teams lost their final two games of the 2006 season, the loser of this game would have a five game losing streak. [cite news | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=272898 | title=Michigan, Irish set for rare game | work=SportingNews.com | date=September 15 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-15] Head coach Lloyd Carr faced many challenges, including the loss of his senior quarterback Chad Henne to a leg injury, [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3012933|title=Henne listed as week-to-week after injury against Oregon|publisher=ESPN|date=September 10, 2007|accessdate=2007-09-11] fans calling for his firing, [cite news|url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/columns/weblogs/entry/10328237|title=FreeStyle|publisher=CBS Sports|date=September 9, 2007|accessdate=2007-09-11] and his senior running back Mike Hart guaranteed a victory over the Irish. [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3012699|title=Weis says there's good reason for Hart's victory pledge|publisher=ESPN|date=September 10, 2007|accessdate=2007-09-11]

Michigan won 38–0, tying their largest-ever win over Notre Dame set during the 2003 season. For only the second time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with three losses.cite news | url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272580130 | title=Michigan has Hart, much more in rout of winless ND | work=ESPNU.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=September 15 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-15]

Penn State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Penn State
R1=0
R2=3
R3=3
R4=3
Home=Michigan
H1=7
H2=0
H3=0
H4=7In the 2007 Big Ten Season opener the unranked Michigan Wolverines defeated #10 Penn State 14-9.Sr. Running Back Mike Hart had 44 carries 153 yards and a TD. In his second start freshmen QB Ryan Mallet was 16-29 passes and a rushing TD.

Northwestern

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Michigan
R1=7
R2=0
R3=7
R4=14
Home=Northwestern
H1=10
H2=6
H3=0
H4=0The Michigan football team went on the first road game of the season defeating the Wildcats 28-16. Henne returned to the lineup to complete 18-27 passes and 3 TDs. Mike Hart had 106 yards and a TD. The Wolverines forced a turnover on the last 4 of the Wildcat possessions.

Eastern Michigan

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Eastern Michigan
R1=3
R2=5
R3=6
R4=8
Home=Michigan
H1=10
H2=6
H3=17
H4=0

Purdue

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Purdue
R1=7
R2=0
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Michigan
H1=17
H2=14
H3=3
H4=14

Illinois

Linescore Amfootball
Road=#25 Michigan
R1=3
R2=14
R3=0
R4=10
Home=Illinois
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0

Minnesota

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Minnesota
R1=3
R2=7
R3=0
R4=0
Home=#21 Michigan
H1=0
H2=13
H3=7
H4=14Despite a slow start and two early turnovers, the Wolverines extended their win streak to seven without Chad Henne or Mike Hart. After a Minnesota field goal, Minnesota's Dominique Barber recovered one of Ryan Mallet's three fumbles and returned it for a touchdown. Despite that, the Wolverines held the Gophers to just 231 yards and 3 offensive points all game. Michigan's Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown both ran for over 100 yards, meaning up until this game Michigan has had a back go over 100 yards in every match up. Mario Manningham had his fourth straight 100+ yard game.

Michigan State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=#14 Michigan
R1=7
R2=7
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Michigan State
H1=3
H2=0
H3=7
H4=14Led by Chad Henne and his 4 touchdown tosses, Michigan defeated Michigan State 28-24. In the final minutes with Michigan trailing by a field goal, the team decided to turn it on. On a 3rd and 12, Michigan desperately needed a first down. Henne, with 3 touchdown passes thus far, threw the ball deep into the endzone giving Mario Manningham a leap ball touchdown putting Michigan up 28-24. On defense, the Wolverines got it done. Mixing up coverages, they sacked Michigan State for a 8 yard loss, the total yardage of the drive. The Wolverines got the ball back and finished off the game with a pair of Quarterback kneels.

Wisconsin

Linescore Amfootball
Road=#13 Michigan
R1=7
R2=0
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Wisconsin
H1=10
H2=7
H3=6
H4=14

Ohio State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=#7 Ohio State
R1=0
R2=7
R3=7
R4=0
Home=#23 Michigan
H1=3
H2=0
H3=0
H4=0

Florida

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Michigan
R1=7
R2=14
R3=7
R4=13
Home=#9 Florida
H1=7
H2=7
H3=14
H4=7

Chad Henne and Adrian Arrington set single-game career highs for passing and receiving yards, with 373 and 153, respectively, to lead the Wolverines to a 41-35 victory over the 12th-ranked Gators. The Wolverine defense managed to contain Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow with constant pressure and blitzing for most of the game, holding him to 154 passing yards and 57 rushing yards. Tebow did score 4 touchdowns however. The Wolverines overcame 4 turnovers, including 2 fumbles by Mike Hart, and a late 35-31 deficit to win their first bowl game in 4 seasons and the final game of Coach Lloyd Carr's career.

Players

Depth chart

2007 Projected Starters

OFFENSE:

* QB – Chad Henne – SR
* HB – Mike Hart – SR
* FB – Tim North – JR
* WR1 – Mario Manningham – JR
* WR2 – Adrian Arrington – JR
* TE – Mike Massey – JR
* RT – Steve Schilling – FR
* RG – Alex Mitchell – JR
* C – Justin Boren – FR
* LG – Adam Kraus – SR
* LT – Jake Long – SR

DEFENSE:
* DE – Tim Jamison – JR
* DT – Will Johnson – JR
* NT – Terrance Taylor – JR
* DE – Brandon Graham – SO
* OLB – Shawn Crable – SR
* MLB – Obi Ezeh – SO
* OLB – Chris Graham – SR
* CB – Morgan Trent – JR
* CB – Donovan Warren – FR
* SS – Jamar Adams – SR
* FS – Michael Williams – FR

SPECIAL TEAMS:
* K – K.C. Lopata – JR
* P – Zoltan Mesko – SO
* PR – Greg Matthews – SO
* KR – Brandon Minor – SO

Key Committed Freshman

*1. Ryan Mallett – QB
*2. Avery Horn – RB
*3. Vince Helmuth – FB
*4. Toney Clemons – WR
*5. J.R. Hemingway – WR
*6. Zion Babb – WR
*7. Martell Webb – TE
*8. David Molk – C
*9. Ryan Van Bergen – DE
*10. Renaldo Sagesse – DT
*11. Austin Panter – MLB
*12. Brandon Herron – SLB
*13. Marell Evans – WLB
*14. Michael Williams – S
*15. James Rogers – S
*16. Donovan Warren – CB
*17. Troy Woolfolk – CB

Roster

Awards

*Jamar Adams – Bednarik Award watchlist, Jim Thorpe Award watchlist, Lott Trophy watchlist
*Shawn Crable – Bednarik Award semifinalist, Butkus Award semifinalist, Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist, Lott Trophy watchlist
*Mike Hart – Maxwell Award semifinalist, Walter Camp Award watchlist, Doak Walker Award watchlist
*Chad Henne – Walter Camp Award watchlist, Maxwell Award watchlist, Manning Award watchlist, Davey O'Brien Award watchlist
*Adam Kraus – Outland Trophy watchlist
*Jake Long – Lombardi Award finalist, Outland Trophy watchlist
*Mario Manningham – Walter Camp Award watchlist, Maxwell Award watchlist
*Zoltan Mesko – Ray Guy Award watchlist

Coaching staff

* Lloyd Carr – Head Coach – 28 years at U-M (13 years as head coach)
* Mike DeBord – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends – 12 years
* Ron English – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties – 5 years
* Erik Campbell – Wide Receivers/Assistant Head Coach – 13 years
* Fred Jackson – Running Backs/Associate Head Coach – 16 years
* Scot Loeffler – Quarterbacks – 6 years
* Andy Moeller – Offensive Line – 8 years
* Steve Stripling – Defensive Line – 3 years
* Steve Szabo – Linebackers – 2 years
* Vance Bedford – Secondary – 1 year

References