For Michigan Defenders, Only the Fittest Survive

The secret of Michigan’s season-long defensive superiority is out.

It’s not the unit’s aggressiveness that has made it the country’s best, or the athleticism and superb instincts of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.

It’s the defensive players’ ritual of convening in a darkened meeting room two days before each game to join hands and recite from memory a poem titled, “The Law of the Jungle.”

Don’t knock it. The Wolverine defense gave up only 8.9 points and 206.9 yards a game. If the players think the poetry sessions helped, who would argue?

“There are a couple of lines that symbolize our team,” linebacker Ian Gold said Saturday. “The strength of the wolf is in the pack and the strength of the pack is in the wolf.’ That’s like our team. It’s not one individual that wins games, we’ve got to be a team, one whole pack, in unison.”

The sessions were started several years ago by Coach Lloyd Carr when he was Michigan’s defensive coordinator.

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The Wolverines know how often and well Cougar quarterback Ryan Leaf can pass. Anyone who watches college football knows how well Leaf--who finished third in the Heisman voting--can pass.

Yet, in discussing their defensive priorities, the Wolverines repeatedly said they must first rein in the Cougars on the ground before they zero in on Leaf’s aerial exploits.

“They’re multifaceted, as far as what they’re able to do to hurt us,” nose tackle Rob Renes said. “We’re going to have to stop the run, or at least try to hold them to fewer runs. We’re going to have to nullify that as early as possible and then go after the passing game.”

Five Washington State receivers caught 20 or more passes for more than 500 yards, led by Kevin Mckenzie with 50 catches for 833 yards. But the Wolverines are also focusing on Michael Black, who rushed for 1,157 yards and 11 touchdowns on 235 carries.

“On film, we’ve seen him break tackles for 60, 70 yards,” Renes said. “It’s scary. . . . [Leaf has said] Black is the most underrated running back in the country. The more I’ve seen, the more I believe that. He’ll find a hole. If we don’t get to them early, he’s going to break some tackles.”

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Much as Northwestern was two years ago, Washington State has been cast in the role of Rose Bowl Cinderella because Thursday’s game will mark its first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years. However, Michigan doesn’t seem to care much for fairy tales.

“Yes, they haven’t been great in getting to bowl games,” Wolverine defensive tackle Josh Williams said, “but we haven’t been that great in winning them. So, there’s that challenge for us.”

This will be Michigan’s 17th Rose Bowl appearance, second only to the 28 appearances made by USC. The Wolverines are 7-9, having last won in 1993.

“When you go to the Rose Bowl once in 67 years I’m sure a lot of people will root for you,” Renes said. “But this is my only Rose Bowl and I hope people will be rooting for me and my team.”