One of the biggest selling T-shirts on the Michigan campus is the 2003 football “season shirt.”
The shirt design, chosen in a contest from about 50 student entries, is maize, featuring the Wolverines’ famed winged helmets on the front and a long list of Michigan’s football accomplishments on the back. The only mention of the 2002 season is that the team led the nation in attendance.
Although the Wolverines were 10-3, their losses were to rivals Notre Dame, Ohio State and Big Ten co-champion Iowa.
The No. 5 Wolverines, who play host to No. 15 Notre Dame on Saturday in Ann Arbor in front of 110,000-plus, know last season was not up to Michigan’s standards. The high expectations of those outside the program, however, do not exceed those within it.
“It’s definitely pressure from the inside,” said senior offensive tackle Tony Pape, a Hinsdale South graduate. “It’s not overwhelming pressure. It’s a pressure for improvement.”
One of the areas most in need of improvement was the offensive line. Last season Michigan ranked ninth in the Big Ten in rushing with 152.1 yards per game. Pape, a 6-foot-6-inch, 311-pounder from Clarendon Hills, junior tackle Adam Stenavich, senior guard David Bass and senior center Dave Pearson are returning starters. Junior guard Matt Lentz has joined them.
Central Michigan and Houston are hardly in the same category as Notre Dame, but Michigan’s line seems to be much improved. Senior tailback Chris Perry has gained 308 yards in two games for an 8.5 yards-per-carry average and four TDs. The holes have been huge.
“The offensive line worked extremely hard in the off-season,” Perry said. “They improved in spring ball, the off-season and now. Now we’re reaping the benefits of their hard work.”
Pape, a fifth-year senior, is a candidate for the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. An All-Big Ten first-teamer a year ago, he has started 25 games at Michigan.
He had a short work day last Saturday in the 50-3 blasting of Houston, but his presence was felt. The Wolverines’ passing attack sputtered early, but the running game was rolling downhill. Perry ran with great success on the right side of the line behind Pape.
It could be much tougher Saturday. In last season’s 25-23 loss to the Irish, Michigan picked up only 91 yards on the ground. The running game was nonexistent in the first half as Notre Dame held Michigan to 8 yards rushing and two first downs.
“Notre Dame has one of the best defenses in the country,” Pape said. “It will be a great test to see if we can move the ball and get those same numbers against a great defense.”
The first two games were largely exhibitions for Michigan. The Notre Dame rivalry and a national television audience make this weekend one of the biggest of the season.
“I love playing against great teams and great players,” Pape said. “That’s why you come to Michigan. You come for those big games, big crowds and the pressure. That’s exciting. We invite that. That’s what we want.”
