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Things You Should Know About Michigan 9/1/2006 Vanderbilt opens the 2006 football season against the Michigan Wolverines this Saturday, September 2 at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Here are some notes about the Commodores’ first opponent. Wolverines to Watch: #15 Steve Breaston, Senior WR, Specialist (6-1, 180)- One of two players in Big Ten history to amass 1,000 career yards in three different categories. Also serves as a standout kickoff and punt returner. Second in Big Ten history in punt return yardage. Nominated for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award. #20 Mike Hart, Junior RB (5-9, 196)- Missed four-plus games last year due to injury. Has a school record four career 200-yard rushing games. U-M is 9-1 when he rushes for more than 100 yards. Nominated for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award. #7 Chad Henne, Junior QB (6-2, 224)- Has compiled a 16-8 record as a starter. Completed 58 percent of his pass attempts in 2005, connecting on 23 touchdowns. Has thrown a TD pass in 23 of 24 career games. Nominated for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award. #56 LaMarr Woodley, Senior DE (6-2, 269)- Active team leader in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (36). Has 141 career tackles. On the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award. #29 Leon Hall, Senior CB (5-11, 193)- A three-year letterman and two year starter. Made the 2005 All-Big Ten second team with 61 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions. Active career U-M leader with 9 interceptions and 25 pass breakups. 2006 Jim Thorpe Award candidate. #38 Garrett Rivas, Senior PK (5-9, 211)- Three year letterman and starter at placekicker. Fifth all-time at U-M with 261 career points. Converted 47-of-64 field goals (75.8 %). Hit career long 47-yard field goal four times. 2006 Lou Groza Award candidate. Talking Points: 12-1 in their last 13 home openers in Ann Arbor (’98 loss vs. Syracuse) 21-5-1 all-time vs. the Southeastern Conference 9-0-1 all-time vs. Vanderbilt and 8-0 in Ann Arbor. The last meeting was in 1969 (Michigan 42-14) and is remembered as the first game played on artificial turf at the Big House. Michigan holds the best winning percentage in college football history at 849-280-36 (Notre Dame is second). Head Coach Lloyd Carr holds a 34-9 record in the month of September. Opens the season ranked 14th in the AP and 15th in the Coaches Poll. Finished 2005 outside of the top 25 for the first time since 1984. NCAA leader in attendance for 31 of the last 32 seasons (193 straight games with 100,000 plus fans). Senior LT Jake Long and Senior DE LaMarr Woodley were selected by teammates as the 2006 captains. In 2005, second nationally in fewest penalty yardage per game (Vanderbilt was first), ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (161), and 64th in NCAA with 2.17 sacks/game. |
