Observations from Michigan football’s awards ceremony: On Jim Harbaugh, J.J. McCarthy and more
Observations from Michigan football’s awards ceremony: On Jim Harbaugh, J.J. McCarthy and more
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football held its annual awards ceremony on Sunday at the Crisler Center, and TMI was in attendance to enjoy the evening’s festivities.
The night honored stars, big and small, from the Big Ten champion Wolverines. It began with a recognition of all the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year seniors, and it concluded with J.J. McCarthy earning the team-voted Most Valuable Player award.
Below are some takeaways from the night:
Jim Harbaugh’s opening remarks: ‘There’s unfinished business’
Jim Harbaugh’s opening remarks to the team:
“Usually when they ask me how I’m feeling, I say ‘pretty good.’ But tonight, I feel super great. Super great about this football team, honored to coach it. Incredible, incredible accomplishments. I know I’ve never been more proud to give out awards since I’ve been here at Michigan than I am tonight — to give this team awards. I don’t think there’s ever been a coach more proud to give out awards at an end-of-season banquet than I am tonight..
“It’s an incredible group. I want to thank everybody at Schembechler Hall. All the staff: Strength, conditioning, nutrition, equipment, athletic medicine, facilities, operations, video, recruiting, communications, player development and administration. Tremendous group.
“Also want to thank our coaching staff. They’re the ones that put in the hard, long hours. So dedicated. Like Moses, I’m going to die leaning on my staff.
“And the incredible players. I want to thank all the coaches, all the staff, all our families who I know so well. You guys have been so supportive. All the moms, dads, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Incredible group. And I want to thank you all for everything you poured into our players.
“We have a philosophy: What’s good for the bee is good for the hive. What’s good for the individual is good for the team. And I just appreciate everyone buying into that when it comes to staff and coaches.
“Any and every opportunity: 100% support for our players, who are fighters, who are the ones that have to go out there on the field to make the magic happen in real time in the game. And then that assumption, maybe prediction that if we do everything we can — anything and everything for our players — we’re going to assume they’ll do anything and everything in their power to help our team. And they have done that and so much more.
“The respect that they give to us coaches, to everybody in Schembechler Hall, to professors on campus. It’s a joy to coach them. It’s practically a walk in a park. And we all know there is unfinished business. There’s much, much more to do.
“But let’s take a celebratory pause tonight.”
Jim Harbaugh hints to his future?
The ceremony recognized all of the Michigan seniors, who came on stage to applause.
After taking a photo with the fourth- and fifth-year players, Harbaugh made a quip that drew some of the loudest laughs and applause of the night:
“I’d just like to say that I hope some of you are coming back next year!”
The seniors had a gift for Harbaugh: A Michigan helmet signed by the entire 2023 team. And because Sherrone Moore had a few games as head coach too, the entire team signed a football for him.
The message from the captains: “We wanted to do something special for Coach Harbaugh, the best head coach in the country. With all the adversity this year, being able to lead this team and helping lead us to back-to-back-to-back Big Ten Championships. We wanted to do something special for you, Coach.”
Zak Zinter is doing well three weeks out from surgery
Three weeks after suffering a broken tibia and fibula against Ohio State, Zak Zinter is back on his own two feet. Though he’s walking with the support of crutches, he is indeed walking, and he shared with TMI that he’s “doing great.”
Zinter was on stage a lot, including to accept the Dierdorf-Hutchinson Award as the team’s best offensive lineman and the Humphries-Miller Scholarship Award as the top student-athlete.
J.J. McCarthy wins team MVP vote
The QB won the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player of the Year Award as voted by his teammates.
His speech was brief but emotional:
“First and foremost, most importantly, want to thank the big boys up front. Love you boys. I just got one thing to say: I’ve never had this much fun playing this game my entire life. Let’s get back to work and let the good times roll, boys. Go Blue.”
Blake Corum, the Offensive Player of the Year, closed his speech with the following message: “It’s really not about the awards. I am appreciative, for sure, but it’’ not about the awards. It’s about January 1. Let’s continue to work hard.”
Michigan football 2023 team awards: Full list
Following are the 2023 University of Michigan football team award winners:
Bo Schembechler MVP: J.J. McCarthy
Humphries-Miller Scholarship Award: Zak Zinter
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Kris Jenkins
Roger Zatkoff Award: Michael Barrett
Woodley-Graham Award: Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant (co-recipients)
Dierdorf-Hutchinson Award: Zak Zinter
The above six are original team awards presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit
Toughest Player Award: Junior Colson
Blue Collar Award: Blake Corum
Rookie of the Year: Semaj Morgan
Offensive Player of the Year: Blake Corum
Defensive Player of the Year: Junior Colson, Kris Jenkins, Mike Sainristil (tri-recipients)
Special Teams Player of the Year: Caden Kolesar
Offensive Skill Player of the Year: Roman Wilson, Colston Loveland (co-recipients)
Defensive Skill Player of the Year: Mike Sainristil
Specialist of the Year: James Turner
Most Improved Player (Offense): Max Bredeson
Most Improved Player (Defense): Kenneth Grant
Most Improved Player (Special Teams): Tommy Doman
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Raheem Anderson
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Hayden Moore
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Nico Andrighetto