Wolverines placed in an unfair position from the start

In essence, the 1998 version of the Wolverines were in a predicament that no other Michigan team had been in since 1949. They had to scrape and cling to every vestige of magic left behind by the championship season.

But that is the nature of such magic - it's fleeting and it disappears quickly. It vanished before the season even began, leaving the Wolverines in an unfair and unfamiliar position.

It was unfair to assume that the defense could be as unstoppable without the threat of a Charles Woodson in the secondary.

SHARAT RAJU

It was unfair to judge Tom Brady before he even took a single snap. It was just as unfair for Lloyd Carr to proclaim that Drew Henson was the most talented quarterback on the team.

It was unfair to the rest of the team that former tri-captain Marcus Ray was suspended, further depleting an already thin secondary.

It was unfair to count out Michigan after losing its first two games to very good teams.

That is the nature of sports and of life, I guess. Some things just aren't fair, but you have to deal with it.

And after 13 games, the Wolverines finally did deal with it, treating their fans with their most exciting and gutsy performance of the year in the Citrus Bowl. They finally showed that they learned how play together, how to rally and win together and how to return punts effectively (courtesy of DiAllo Johnson).

As the year developed, everyone was able to watch as the Wolverines struggled to find an identity. They did not have that swagger, that arrogance that emanated a year ago from a team determined to surprise everyone. They did not have superstar Heisman Trophy winners or children of NFL Hall of Famers.

But what they did have, what is plain to see now, is a group of hard-working, blue-collared types. The progress and evolution of individual talent on the team was exciting to watch.

From seeing Tom Brady emerge from a green signalcaller into a poised leader, to watching Anthony Thomas regain the success he had in his freshman year to witnessing Tai Streets becoming a feared pass catcher - all of it was remarkable. Especially now, in retrospect.

All of those improvements were vividly clear on Jan. 1, 1999. Thomas scampered all over the Arkansas defense, Brady shrugged off turnovers and spearheaded the winning drive while Streets did the usual.

It all came together in Orlando, and then some. Even James Whitley - Whitley, the early-season whipping boy because of dropped punts and blown coverages - redeemed himself with a fourth-quarter interception-return touchdown.

Still, in the annals of Michigan football lore, this team will be remembered most likely as the team that followed the national champions.

Is that fair? Of course not, because it takes away from the accomplishments of a hard-earned 10-win season.

At least the Wolverines won't be put in such an unfair position at the start of next season.

- Sharat Raju can be reached via e-mail at sraju@umich.edu

SHARAT RAJU

Sharat in the Dark

01-06-99