Michigan- 42, Iowa- 3
There is a banner hanging in the Michigan locker room that states “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.” It was left there by the legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler when he arrived at Michigan in 1969. It was a challenge and a promise. He challenged his team to endure his grueling workouts and practices, while promising them that the ones who stayed would walk away as champions.
While Bo came through on his promise many times, it has been 17 years since any Michigan football player has experienced a championship caliber season. That was until Saturday.
The Wolverines arrived in Indianapolis for their championship matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes as 11 point favorites. After their beatdown of Ohio State the previous week, many reporters and columnists questioned whether or not this would be a trap game. Michigan answered that question quickly.
Michigan struck first with an electric 67 yard run by sophomore running back Blake Corum. Backup freshman phenom quarterback JJ McCarthy could be seen on the play spearheading the blocking downfield in a fashion that was symbolic of Michigan’s selfless and united effort. The next score came on a double pass from freshman runningback Donovan Edwards with a perfect strike to receiver Roman Wilson for a 75 yard bomb.
Iowa tacked on a field goal then tightened up their stingy run defense to momentarily hang with the Wolverines, heading into halftime with a 14-3 deficit.
Midway through the 3rd quarter Hassan Haskins took a sweep to the right side of the endzone for a 4 yard score, giving Michigan a 21-3 lead. He then added another score early in the 4th quarter, giving him 20 rushing touchdowns on the season, a new Michigan single season record. Michigan never looked back from that point. Quarterback Cade McNamara found his tight ends with ease in the second half, and receiver Cornelius Johnson sealed the deal with a blocked punt in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, Michigan was too much for the Hawkeyes, wrapping up their championship run with a 42-3 victory. This win guaranteed them their first ever spot in the College Football Playoff.
Takeaway: While this championship game was truly a team effort, the undisputed stars of the show were head coach Jim Harbaugh and senior captain Aidan Hutchinson.
The previous 3 years for Jim Harbaugh were filled with criticism, public humiliation, and calls for his termination. A common sentiment from his doubters was that Michigan would never return to glory under his leadership. After an abysmal 2020 campaign stricken with Covid, injuries, game cancellations, and losses, Harbaugh agreed to a contract restructure which cut his annual salary in half.
Like the true Michigan Man that he is, he never once deflected responsibility or lashed out against his critics. He took it on the chin and kept his eyes on the prize. He worked tirelessly with his players and added several young and energetic coaches to his staff. He was quoted at the preseason Big 10 media day saying “we’re going to beat [Ohio State] or die trying.” Well, he beat ‘em alright. Then he went on to dominate a top 10 Hawkeye defense on his way to Michigan’s first Big 10 championship in 17 years.
Harbaugh earned over 2 million dollars in bonuses for winning the Big 10 and making the College Football Playoff. But he didn’t pocket the money. He donated 100% of the bonus money to employees of the University of Michigan that were forced to take pay cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an age where college coaches are abandoning schools for more money, and resorting to unethical tactics to lure recruits, Jim Harbaugh won the right way. Win or lose in the playoff, he deserves the utmost respect from the Michigan fanbase. He is the right man for the job, and he should be afforded the opportunity to stay at the University of Michigan until he chooses to retire.
Senior captain defensive end Aidan Hutchinson ended his 2020 campaign with a broken ankle and losing season. He had all the potential in the world and every right to look at the NFL. Against all odds he chose to return to Michigan to chase the impossible feat of beating Ohio State and winning a Big 10 Championship.
All season his energetic charisma and contagious swagger could be felt pulsing through the team and rippling throughout the fanbase. His performance on the field left no doubts, while his leadership provided guidance through gameday struggles like a compass guides a ship through a storm. His effort and energy led Michigan to their third ever 12 win season(1905, 1997, 2021). He will likely be invited to New York to join the prestigious group of individuals that can claim to be Heisman Trophy Award finalists.
Aidan now embodies the old Bo Schembechler promise that “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.”
