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If it was Michigan vs. Everybody, Michigan won, and it’s letting the world know it: ‘There ain’t no asterisk’

HOUSTON — As the confetti, maize and blue, fell on the Michigan Wolverines, Kenneth Grant thought about those reps of bench press in the spring, the squats in the winter and the deadlifts this fall. Braiden McGregor thought about that 6 a.m. offseason wakeup call for morning conditioning, then classes, followed by hours of watching film. Colston Loveland thought about that November players-only meeting where frustrations over criticism of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal were aired for everyone to hear.

Michigan players thought about it all, all the work, sweat and tears to reach the pinnacle of the sport on Monday night in NRG Stadium. But, in the aftermath of the Wolverines’ first national championship win since 1997, the most common one was quite clear: They thought about those haters, the critics, the outside forces who questioned all that preparation, all the work, sweat and tears, the morning lifts and wakeup calls, the film-watching and team meetings.

“All the haters have to watch us win the national championship,” said Grant, Michigan’s sophomore defensive lineman. “They can hate all they want.”

Michigan players told us so, all of us, they say. They proved us wrong, every last one of us, they claim. We fueled their fire, ignited their championship march, sparked their 15-0 finish, capped by a romping 34-13 win over Washington.

On Monday night, across a confetti-covered field and a cigar smoke-filled locker room tunnel, Michigan players celebrated in one of the more vengeful ways. Polite but blunt, calm but persistent, they brought to life their moniker — Michigan vs. Everybody — in a memorable postgame scene that can be summed up quite succinctly: We showed all you haters and you can’t take that away from us.

Michigan players Josaiah Stewart (5), Mason Graham (55), and Kenneth Grant (78)…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/if-it-was-michigan-vs-everybody-michigan-won-and-its-letting-the-world-know-it-there-aint-no-asterisk-074100008.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-01-09 07:41:00

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