NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

For the second time in 3 years, and for the second time in 29 years Michigan is National Champions in Football or Basketball.

The nature of basketball and football has changed the way championships are won, with rosters being constructed out of NIL money -  especially in basketball. But I still believe there is some underlying force between past program success, fan commitment, player interest, booster money, and ultimately program success.

When asked, Dusty May first said this championships is for the past players, which is very admirable for a coach who has only been at the school for two seasons. But I couldn't agree more. This is for the guys who came in and gave their all, with no real hope of getting to the top of the mountain, but paved the way for the guys who came after them to keep inching closer. Two championship game losses in 2013 and 2018 made me really feel for the guys who came so close but didn't make it.

To the guys who bled for this program.

This championship goes out to these guys.

To the guys who I watched as an underclassman under Tommy Amaker:

Daniel Horton
Courtney Sims
Dion Harris

To the early Beilein guys who made the first NCAA Tourney in a decade:

DeShawn Sims
Manny Harris
Zack Novak
Stu Douglass

My post on attending that NCAA Tourney.

To the 2013 team that got so close:

Trey Burke

Glenn Robinson III

Nik Stauskas

Tim Hardaway Jr

Jordan Morgan

Caris LeVert

Jon Horford

Mitch McGary

Spike Albrecht

Win the game.

To the in-between guys who missed both championship runs:

Zak Irvin
Derrick Walton

To the 2018 who again got the to the championship game:

Charles Matthews

Jordan Poole
Zavier Simpson

Isaiah Livers

MAAR
Moritz Wagner

Jon Teske

Duncan Robinson
Eli Brooks

To the Juwan Howard Era Guys:
Caleb Houstan
Franz Wagner

Hunter Dickinson

I loved the guys on that 2018 team. Besides my love for Zack Novack, Stu Douglass and Jourdan Morgan, I wish that team could have won it all. 

I'm happy for this team, but I don't feel the same way for these players in particular. Besides L.J. Cason, Trey McKinney and Will Tschetter, it's all transfers. Most of these players came to Michigan because the money was good, and they thought they could win a championship here. But I love the guys who came here because they loved the University of Michigan, and gave it all out of love for their school. I realize that is a antiquated belief, but that's what makes college sports special to me.

But this team was truly special and was one of the best college basketball teams ever assembled. It was a joy to get to watch them in person in DC this February, despite losing a close game to Duke.

Go blue!

Sorry for any typos, the champagne has been flowing.