Thomas proves he will be MVP this season

Stephanie Offen

Off the

Record CHAMPAIGN -Thank God Anthony Thomas returned for one last season. Rather, thank his mother.

Last season, I remember wanting to do exactly that while sitting in a press conference when the A-Train declared he would return to Michigan for his senior year.

He smiled at his mother, then shined his sheepish grin at the media. A soft-spoken guy, Thomas simply said he would return to Michigan because he had promised his mother and his wife he would get his degree.

He also didn't forget to mention that he wanted to rack up a few yards along the way. And as he tells his teammates on the sidelines, he didn't come back to this team to lose games.

"I came back to win and help this team as much as possible," Thomas said.

A questionable call - or lack thereof - at the end of Saturday's 35-31 victory didn't tarnish Thomas' performance one bit. He proved to be the Wolverines' most consistent and important performer this season - both on and off the field.

The senior ran for 228 yards against Illinois. Michigan averaged 100 yards fewer than that on the ground for the entire 1999 season. And the last player to run for over 200 yards wearing a Michigan uniform? Tshimunga Biakabatuka - who left the team after his junior season in 1995.

But more important than just racking up a Heisman-worthy amount of yards, Thomas provided Michigan with big plays when none of the other Wolverines could.

And that has been the case for this entire season. Unlike many of his teammates, Thomas has been a standout in all four games.

Saturday, Thomas' touchdown and 79 yards in the first quarter gave the Wolverines confidence, while a shaky Navarre could complete only three of seven passes.

In the second quarter Thomas was the only player to keep the game close, not by scoring but by his two first downs - half of the team's for the quarter. Those first downs were able to keep the ball away from the Illinois offense long enough for the Wolverines to go into the lockerroom at halftime only down by seven.

His strength and ability to find the holes in the defense worked to perfection as he continued to easily run up the middle - with help from a much-improved offensive line.

And the sign of a true team leader is his actions when the game is on the line.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, down by 10, Rose Bowl hopes dwindling, Thomas started gunning for the end zone. Starting on the Illinois 45, Thomas carried twice for 25 yards on a touchdown drive. Thomas alternated carries with mentee freshman Chris Perry.

Perry's impressive start gives fans one more reason to pat Thomas on the back.

The freshman running back - who the team calls "Little Train" - looks up to Thomas as a big brother. When Thomas has a good game, Perry has a good game. When Perry makes a mistake, Thomas gives him advice. When Perry scores a touchdown, Thomas gives him a hug.

And that hug came on that same fourth quarter drive. Thomas brought the team to the 15-yard line and Perry rushed in to cut Illinois' lead to three.

A 26-yard, three-play drive solely by Thomas gave the Wolverines the victory with three minutes left. That drive may be overshadowed by a questionable call that the ground caused Thomas to fumble on the three-yard line. But I'm not going to suggest whether or not I agree with the call - if you haven't already, you can decide what you think by watching the replay on ESPN.

What I will suggest is that whether or not it was a fumble, one point you can't argue is that Thomas has been the team's MVP through an almost-disastrous beginning to a football season.

This would have been an entirely different season if he didn't come back.

And you have his family to thank for his return.

-Stephanie Offen can be reached at soffen@umich.edu

Photos by NORMAN NG and ALEX WOLD/Daily

Anthony Thomas rushed for a career-high 228 yards on 35 carries.