... for many reasons. He talked about:
• The win over Penn State: "It's hard for me to express how proud I was of the Michigan coaches and this team after that Penn State game. I'll guarantee you, if you weren't proud as a peacock, you weren't maize and blue, I'll tell you that. Not only did they beat Penn State, but they did it decisively. They showed really good improvement in doing so.
"When we talked about the game before, we wanted them to win, but we wanted to see them improve. To watch that team go out there and play this Penn State team, who came in here as a good football team, a ranked team … I think we showed that we are ready to finish out this season in good form.
"We dominated on defense. I've never seen a Heisman Trophy candidate so completely stifled as the quarterback from Penn State. They did an excellent job on him. The offense helped along the way by controlling the ball with time-of-possession, again helping that defense. I'd like to see us put a few more points on the board when we control the game like that, that's the only thing.
"But I'll tell you — [senior tailback] Karan Higdon again showed the ability to break open a game. He had several big runs and he's fast becoming a player to watch on this football team. The team played with a purpose, and they showed they know how to play to win a championship. They did it in fine style, and I'm completely enamored with this team now, because they showed they're playing as a team, and that's what you need to have at this time of year."
• Playing with a mental edge, and whether it's personalities on the team or coaching: "It's a combination of a number of things. How many times have you been ribbed about not being able to hit a ball on a certain pitch, or how many times have you been ribbed because you couldn't do something you thought you should be able to do?
"That's what's happening. We hadn't been winning away from home. We heard it. It just kept coming back to us, time and time again. We hadn't been able to meet a good football team and come out victorious. Although we played some very close games, we ended up on the losing end of them. They have heard this for so long now, and that just eats at you.
"It's time for them to say, hey, let's get rid of this thing that's on our back, and that's what they're doing now. They're getting rid of that saying that we can't win the big game. These kids are proving that they can.
"They're not through yet. They've still got a ways to go, but they certainly are doing a good job up to this point."
• What he wants to see out of the Rutgers game: "I want to see us get better. I'd like to see us be a little more effective in the red zone, putting the ball in the end zone, not settling for field goals. I like to see points on the board any way we can get them, but I really like to see us try to be a little more consistent, because we're moving the ball on long drives but not coming up with as many points as I think we could.
"On the defensive side of the ball, it's just to continue to control the line of scrimmage. I know one of these days we're going to give up a big play in that secondary, but to see those kids continue to play hard and play tough in that secondary, those are the things I'll look for.
"I'm sure the coaches are pushing these things as well as me sitting here talking to you about them. That's what I'll be looking for this weekend."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/mi...tball-podcast-jerry-hanlon-with-john-borton-7
• The win over Penn State: "It's hard for me to express how proud I was of the Michigan coaches and this team after that Penn State game. I'll guarantee you, if you weren't proud as a peacock, you weren't maize and blue, I'll tell you that. Not only did they beat Penn State, but they did it decisively. They showed really good improvement in doing so.
"When we talked about the game before, we wanted them to win, but we wanted to see them improve. To watch that team go out there and play this Penn State team, who came in here as a good football team, a ranked team … I think we showed that we are ready to finish out this season in good form.
"We dominated on defense. I've never seen a Heisman Trophy candidate so completely stifled as the quarterback from Penn State. They did an excellent job on him. The offense helped along the way by controlling the ball with time-of-possession, again helping that defense. I'd like to see us put a few more points on the board when we control the game like that, that's the only thing.
"But I'll tell you — [senior tailback] Karan Higdon again showed the ability to break open a game. He had several big runs and he's fast becoming a player to watch on this football team. The team played with a purpose, and they showed they know how to play to win a championship. They did it in fine style, and I'm completely enamored with this team now, because they showed they're playing as a team, and that's what you need to have at this time of year."
• Playing with a mental edge, and whether it's personalities on the team or coaching: "It's a combination of a number of things. How many times have you been ribbed about not being able to hit a ball on a certain pitch, or how many times have you been ribbed because you couldn't do something you thought you should be able to do?
"That's what's happening. We hadn't been winning away from home. We heard it. It just kept coming back to us, time and time again. We hadn't been able to meet a good football team and come out victorious. Although we played some very close games, we ended up on the losing end of them. They have heard this for so long now, and that just eats at you.
"It's time for them to say, hey, let's get rid of this thing that's on our back, and that's what they're doing now. They're getting rid of that saying that we can't win the big game. These kids are proving that they can.
"They're not through yet. They've still got a ways to go, but they certainly are doing a good job up to this point."
• What he wants to see out of the Rutgers game: "I want to see us get better. I'd like to see us be a little more effective in the red zone, putting the ball in the end zone, not settling for field goals. I like to see points on the board any way we can get them, but I really like to see us try to be a little more consistent, because we're moving the ball on long drives but not coming up with as many points as I think we could.
"On the defensive side of the ball, it's just to continue to control the line of scrimmage. I know one of these days we're going to give up a big play in that secondary, but to see those kids continue to play hard and play tough in that secondary, those are the things I'll look for.
"I'm sure the coaches are pushing these things as well as me sitting here talking to you about them. That's what I'll be looking for this weekend."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/mi...tball-podcast-jerry-hanlon-with-john-borton-7
