- Cade York declines opportunity to join Browns’ practice squad, opts for Titans instead NBC Sports
- Kevin Stefanski ‘not surprised’ Cade York opted to go elsewhere, signing with the Titans practice squad inste cleveland.com
- Former Browns Kicker Cade York Signing with Titans Practice Squad Sports Illustrated
- Embarrassing Story Proves Cutting Cade York Was the Browns’ Only Choice Factory of Sadness
- Browns will try to sign Cade York to practice squad if he clears waivers; Jerome Ford, Harrison Bryant return cleveland.com
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Tag Archives: Cade
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, more tabbed for U.S. Select Team, Jamahl Mosley to coach: Sources – The Athletic
- Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, more tabbed for U.S. Select Team, Jamahl Mosley to coach: Sources The Athletic
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USA reach U-20 World Cup knockouts: Cade Cowell sparks Group B-topping win | MLSSoccer.com – MLSsoccer.com
- USA reach U-20 World Cup knockouts: Cade Cowell sparks Group B-topping win | MLSSoccer.com MLSsoccer.com
- Slovakia U20 vs. United States U20 – Football Match Report – May 26, 2023 – ESPN ESPN.co.uk
- USA Tops Group B At 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup With 2-0 Victory Against Slovakia | U.S. Soccer Official Website U.S. Soccer
- U.S downs Slovakia to finish perfect U-20 World Cup group stage and extend shutout streak to 270 minutes CBS Sports
- USMNT U20s player ratings vs Slovakia: Cade Cowell goes full Darwin Nunez as Earthquakes team-mate Niko Tsakiris joins him on scoresheet Goal.com
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Britney Spears DENIES attending Cade Hudson’s 36th birthday party over the weekend
Britney Spears set the record straight that she did not attend agent Cade Hudson’s 36th birthday party over the weekend, despite reports she was in attendance.
While many believed she was present at the star-studded bash in Santa Monica on Saturday, after her pal Paris Hilton posted a selfie with her and the birthday boy, the singer, 41, made it clear that image believed to be taken that night was ‘from years ago.’
‘I haven’t been to a bday party in forever!!!’ she captioned a video of herself dancing in a red Coca-Cola crop top and matching miniskirt at home.
Just a throwback! Britney Spears set the record straight that she did not attend agent Cade Hudson’s 36th birthday party over the weekend, despite reports she was in attendance
In the caption, she went on to note that she found it ‘kind of creepy and weird that no one is talking about’ how the snap was actually a throwback.
At the time, TMZ reported that Spears and Hilton, 41, ‘were together all night’ at the celebration, held at The Park and catered by Craig’s.
The outlet also claimed the guest list included Robert Pattinson, Rachel Zoe, Suki Waterhouse, Hayden Panettiere, Billy Eichner, Emma Roberts, Darren Criss, Ashley Benson, Tiffany Haddish Demi Lovato and more.
‘I haven’t been to a bday party in forever!!!’ she captioned a video of herself in a red Coca-Cola crop top and matching miniskirt
Not the case: At the time, TMZ reported that Spears and Hilton, 41, ‘were together all night’ at the celebration, held at The Park and catered by Craig’s
The outlet also claimed the guest list included Robert Pattinson, Rachel Zoe, Suki Waterhouse, Hayden Panettiere, Billy Eichner, Emma Roberts, Darren Criss, Ashley Benson, Tiffany Haddish Demi Lovato and more
When fans initially saw the images of the Grammy winner with Hilton, many took to the comments section that Spears looked photoshopped into the snap.
The Simple Life star was roasted by her social media followers, who accused her of inserting ‘AI Britney’ into a collection of photos.
Hilton’s slideshow included multiple pictures of her and Hudson – who is a CAA agent – sidling up to a bevy of their famous friends.
In the caption, she went on to note that she found it ‘kind of creepy and weird that no one is talking about’ how the snap was actually a throwback (pictured at another event ‘years ago,’ according to Spears)
But Spears stood out from all the rest, and for all the wrong reasons.
‘That is not Britney,’ commented one follower.
‘Is that an AI Britney??’ trolled another skeptic. ‘Look at her fingers!!! WTF Paris? You’re becoming more and more shady to me and I used to love you dude.’
The skeptic’s comment continued: ‘How dare you participate in whatever is going on with Brit? This won’t end well for you! And if you delete my comment it’ll just solidify my thoughts about you.’
That fiery accusation spawned a contentious thread of replies, fueling speculation surrounding the image as more allegations of a photoshop fail sprang up throughout Hilton’s comments section.
Even though Hilton ‘didn’t want to dignify [the allegations] with a response,’ she eventually jumped into the hotbed of controversy with an explanation.
‘To all of those asking. Some of these photos were taken on an iPhone so they ended up being blurry. So they used this app called Remini to make it look unblurry and sometimes the Ai distorts images,’ Hilton claimed
Pals: Paris is a longtime friend of the iconic pop star and was one the few special guests to attend Britney’s intimate wedding in June of last year
Replying in the comments section, the Stars are Blind songstress blamed a photo app called Remini for the mishap.
Paris wrote: ‘To all of those asking. Some of these photos were taken on an iPhone so they ended up being blurry. So they used this app called Remini to make it look unblurry and sometimes the Ai distorts images.
‘Didn’t want to even dignify this with a response,’ she added. ‘But some of these conspiracy theories are absolutely ridiculous.’
Paris is a longtime friend of the iconic pop star and was one the few special guests to attend Britney’s intimate wedding in June of last year.
Ex-Tennessee speaker Glen Casada, Cade Cothren face federal charges – Tennessean
- Ex-Tennessee speaker Glen Casada, Cade Cothren face federal charges Tennessean
- FBI arrests Tennessee Republican lawmaker, former chief of staff over alleged bribery and kickback conspiracy Fox News
- Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and top aide arrested, accused of using fictitious person to secretly profit from “fraudulent venture” CBS News
- Former Tennessee Speaker Casada arrested in corruption probe The Associated Press
- Former Tennessee House speaker, chief of staff indicted on corruption charges ABC News
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Kareem Hunt returns to team drills, 1st 2-minute drills, Cade York saves the day: What happened at Browns training camp Day 10
BEREA, Ohio — Running back Kareem Hunt was the talk of the day after sitting out team drills on Friday and Saturday in a contract stand, and asking the Browns to trade him, which they have no plans of doing, sources tell cleveland.com.
Hunt participated in individual drills, and then stood far down on the sidelines talking to his good buddy Nick Chubb while D’Ernest Johnson got some reps with the first team in a drill.
When it came time for the first set of 11-on-11s, Hunt took the second snap behind Chubb, and then went back in for the fourth and caught a screen pass from Deshaun Watson.
He also got the first three reps with the starters in their first two-minute drill of training camp, almost as if Chubb symbolically gave way to his buddy at the start of the drill.
Hunt was fined by the club for sitting out team periods on Friday and Saturday, and Kevin Stefanski made it clear that such conduct was against team rules.
“If our players are healthy, they practice,’’ he said.
After practice, Hunt ran sprints in the sweltering heat — a ‘feels-like’ temp of 98 — alongside Josh Rosen and Jacoby Brissett.
It remains to be seen where this is headed, but Hunt was all in on Sunday.
The first 2-minute drills
Day 10 of camp brought the first two-minute drills, always a crowd pleaser.
Only problem is, neither the first- or second-team offenses scored a touchdown. Both ended with Cade York field goals through the skinny uprights, one for 33 yards and the other for 35.
Jacoby Brissett and the second-team offense went first, working against the first team defense. He overthrew Anthony Schwartz deep, but found Javon Wims deep down the right side. He also hit tight end Miller Forristall with a long ball to the left. After a spike, York came on for the gametying kick with six seconds remaining and nailed it.
Deshaun Watson went second, working against the second-team defense. He hit Harrison Bryant on back-to-back passes, including a deep ball on the run. He overthrew Donovan Peoples-Jones in the end zone, and then a deep pass to Anthony Schwartz was broken up. He connected with Ja’Marcus Bradley before a throwaway to the back right on third down brought York out again with three seconds left. Once again, he made the gametying kick as time expired.
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Third-teamer Josh Dobbs was the only one to get in the end zone. Taking over with 22 seconds left and his team trailing 28-22, Dobbs hit tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden with a 30-yard TD pass in the end zone. Michael Harley caught the two-point pass. Mitchell-Paden had also punctuated Saturday’s practice with a TD in red zone drills, yelling “that’s how you end a practice!”
York, York, he’s our man
York was the camper of the day when he drilled a 45-yard field goal at the end of the practice to get the post-practice team meetings canceled.
His teammates mobbed him after the kick — there was some mild debate amongst observers about if he actually made it, but what the heck — and Wyatt Teller lifted him onto his shoulders.
“Anytime you put a young player in a competitive situation, it’s only going to help him going forward,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “The great thing about Cade is he is very confident. A lot of kickers, you have to kind of baby them a little bit and pamper them a little bit. ‘Do not hurt his psyche’ type thing.
“Cade is not like that at all. He’s only 21 years old, which is incredible. He’s very mature. He understands his craft. He is very smart. He is very confident. I think that is going to help here, especially in Cleveland.”
Cleveland Browns’ players lift up kicker Cade York after making a field that got the players out of team meetings during day 10 of training camp in Berea.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
A ‘small little crack in the bone’
Rookie receiver David Bell acknowledged what Cleveland.com has been reporting, that he suffered a stress fracture in his foot, possibly during mandatory minicamp. But he’s happy to be back after being activated off PUP on Saturday.
“I am honestly not sure [how it happened],’’ he said. “I just woke up one day and it was aching a little bit so I went in there and had to get an X-ray. The X-ray did show what happened. We got a plan together to get me back as soon as possible. It was frustrating because I just wanted to be out there to show what I can do, but it is God’s plan and God’s timing. I am out here right now, and that is what I am looking forward to.”
Don’t call him just a returner
Pro Bowl returner Jakeem Grant, who stands only 5-6, has been beating the odds his entire career, and isn’t stopping anytime soon. He’s had an excellent camp and has been used a lot at receiver, especially with all the injuries at his position. He’s made the most of his chances, and expects to do more than return punts and kicks.
“Absolutely,’’ he said. “I always preach that I’m a receiver first before a returner. I’m going to continue to preach that message. I’m going to continue to work on that until I get that opportunity to have that breakout season.”
Injuries
The following players sat out Sunday with injuries: DT Sheldon Day (back), CB Shaun Jolly (groin), LB Silas Kelly (hamstring) CB Denzel Ward (foot) and WR Michael Woods II (hamstring).
They said it
Kevin Stefanski, on the distractions of Hunt’s trade request and Deshaun Watson’s ordeal: “This is normal. This is normal guys. This is NFL football. As far as I know.”
Jakeem Grant on his elusiveness strategy: “Be a jitterbug. Just not get hit. I always pride myself on you can’t hit what you can’t catch. If they can’t catch me, they can’t hit me.”
They did it
How’s this for all in? Hunt ran sprints after practice on a hot, humid day with a ‘feels-like’ temp of 98.
The Browns surprised these happy with high schoolers with jerseys after practice.
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More Browns coverage
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2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge: Cade Cunningham earns MVP honors after leading Team Barry to victory
The NBA’s 2022 All-Star Weekend got started on Friday night, first with the Celebrity Game and then with the Rising Stars Challenge. This year’s event was won by Team Barry, and No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons was named MVP.
There was a totally new format this time around. Unlike past years, which featured a regular game between Rookies and Sophomores, or Team USA vs. Team World, this year’s event was a mini-tournament between four different teams. NBA legends Rick Barry, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton and James Worthy each drafted and coached a team of seven players. Rookies, sophomores and even G League Ignite players were included.
What’s more, instead of playing until the final buzzer, the teams played to a target score. In the first round, Team Isiah beat Team Worthy, 50-49, while Team Barry took down Team Payton, 50-48. Then, in the title game, Team Barry secured the trophy with a 25-20 win over Team Isiah.
Here are three key takeaways from the night:
1. Cunningham leads Team Barry to victory, named MVP
Cade Cunningham was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft less than a year ago, and the Detroit Pistons point guard already has his first title and MVP. OK, it’s just the Rising Stars Challenge, but it’s always fun to win, and Cunningham led Team Barry to victory on Friday night, earning MVP in the process.
He finished with five points, two rebounds and three assists in the championship game, which aren’t particularly impressive numbers until you consider that they were only playing to 25. So not only did he directly contribute to a third of his team’s points, but he also scored their final four points, including the game-winning free throw.
“[Our goal was] to win,” Cunningham said. “I feel like we had the team to do it, and we had to come out and prove ourselves and get the ‘ship. I’m glad we did that.”
With Cunningham leading the way, Team Barry came out and played a much more organized form of basketball than we usually see in this event. They were running real plays and sitting down in actual stances on the defensive end. The strategy, which was clearly designed by the team’s GM and head coach, Rick Barry, paid off.
“I tried to get some diversification, get some size, get some guys who can shoot the ball and just play good basketball,” Barry said. “I’m proud of these guys, cause every one of them did a good job. It was so great to see them playing basketball. They really went out and played the way the game should be played.”
2. New format a success
No competition at All-Star Weekend has gone through as many changes as the Rising Stars Challenge. In recent years it was Team USA vs. Team World, before that it was a captain’s picks situation with TNT broadcasters serving as general managers and even earlier it was Rookies vs. Sophomores.
This time around they went way out of the box with a mini-tournament format that featured four different teams, all of which were coached by a different NBA legend: Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Gary Payton and Ricky Barry. Each team had seven players, split between rookies, sophomores and in a new twist, G League Ignite prospects.
If that wasn’t enough, the league also totally revamped the games. Instead of playing a normal game with four quarters, the teams played to a target score. In the first round, the teams played to 50 points, and in the championship game, they played to 25 points. The idea, clearly, was to make the event more meaningful and add some incentive for the players to try hard.
To that extent it worked. This wasn’t a playoff game by any means, but there was far more defense and serious play than we usually get in the Rising Stars Challenge — at least toward the end of the games. Overall it still wasn’t that exciting — ending the championship on a free throw was a bummer — but it was definitely more enjoyable than usual.
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3. Barnes and Maxey “steal” the show
In between the first round and championship of the tournament, a new event debuted: the Clutch Challenge. Players formed teams of two and had to make shots from five different locations on the court, each representing a different clutch shot from NBA history.
Here were the five shots:
- Magic Johnson’s baby sky hook from the 1987 Finals
- Charles Barkley’s series-ender in the 1993 playoffs
- Reggie Miller’s game-winner in the 1998 playoffs
- Ray Allen’s 3-pointer in the 2013 Finals
- Damian Lillard’s series-ender in the 2019 playoffs
They didn’t have to recreate the plays, but simply make shots from those spots as quickly as possible. In theory, the Magic baby sky hook from just a few feet away should have been the easiest part of the whole competition, but that wasn’t the case for Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Maxey.
The young stars kept missing, and missing, and missing. All told they went 0-for-6 from that spot and eventually ran out of time. It was by far the most memorable moment of the night and had everyone courtside cracking up.
“I’m in disbelief,” Barnes said afterward while shaking his head.
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Cade Cunningham named MVP in revamped Rising Stars Challenge
CLEVELAND — The Rising Stars Challenge became the latest part of All-Star Weekend to undergo a format change, and it was a success.
The event, which features the top first- and second-year NBA players, employed an entirely new format this season. Rather than just being one game involving those players, like in years past, there were four seven-man rosters coached by Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, Rick Barry, James Worthy and Gary Payton.
Three games were played — two semifinal matchups to 50, and a championship game to 25, in a nod to the league celebrating its 75th anniversary this season.
And after Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, led Team Barry to a 25-20 win over Team Isiah to win the event, he said he was pleased with the format change.
“It was a lot of fun,” Cunningham said after claiming the event’s MVP award. “Great teammates, great coaches, great atmosphere … I had a good time, for sure.”
All three games employed the “Elam Ending,” which first came to All-Star Weekend two years ago in Chicago when it debuted in the All-Star Game.
“It felt good,” Rockets guard Jalen Green said, after his team lost in the first semifinal when Desmond Bane hit a couple of free throws to seal it. “It was fun. It was exciting out there. We were just hooping, playing free.”
While the opening moments of the games were reminiscent of past Rising Stars games, which are typically full of dunks, 3s and hardly any intensity, the new format did lead to some added spice in the final moments.
When Bane was fouled by Jalen Suggs — who had missed a potential game-winning free throw moments earlier — at the end of the first semifinal, he was given a talking to by both Cole Anthony and Tyrese Maxey before calmly sinking the second to give his team the win.
In fact, all three games ultimately ended on free throws — a sign of the kind of uncharacteristic defense that was being played, at least when the games were on the line, throughout the night.
“I like this,” Hornets guard LaMelo Ball said. “I feel like this was dope. Having something new, with the 75 and the 50 and the 25, I feel like it was creative.”
The night also featured G League Ignite players taking part in the festivities for the first time — an additional way for the NBA to highlight its new initiative to get top prospects to skip college and instead spend time in the G League before being eligible for the draft.
Rose Bowl Practice Observations: Several Notable Defenders Absent, Cade Stover at Linebacker and Chris Olave Still Practicing for Ohio State
For the first time since preseason camp, members of the Ohio State press corps had the opportunity to watch practice for about 30 minutes on Tuesday afternoon as the Buckeyes held their second practice of Rose Bowl week in Southern California.
A total of 63 scholarship players were spotted by Eleven Warriors during the portion of practice that was open to the media. Not including players who have entered the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, that meant that 18 scholarship players were not seen at practice.
The list of absences from practices included several notable defenders. Defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson, linebacker Cody Simon, cornerback Sevyn Banks and safety Marcus Williamson – all of whom started games during the regular season – were not present on Tuesday afternoon, leaving their availability uncertain for Saturday’s game. Simon battled a shoulder injury for most of the regular season, while Banks missed the final two games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury.
Other players who were not seen at practices included three of the four Buckeyes who have opted out of the Rose Bowl – wide receiver Garrett Wilson, offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett – as well as running back Marcus Crowley, wide receiver Kamryn Babb, offensive linemen Harry Miller and Josh Fryar, defensive end Tyler Friday, defensive tackles Jaden McKenzie and Noah Potter, linebacker Mitchell Melton and safeties Josh Proctor, Jantzen Dunn and Jaylen Johnson.
Crowley, Babb, Miller, Friday, Melton, Proctor, Dunn and Johnson are all out for the season due to injuries.
Despite also opting out of the Rose Bowl, wide receiver Chris Olave was an active participant during the portion of Tuesday’s practice that was open to the media. While he did not participate in every drill, he was seen fielding punts along with wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and defensive backs Cameron Martinez and Demario McCall.
Ryan Day said Monday that Olave has been practicing with the team throughout bowl practices.
“I have an unbelievable amount of respect for Chris and what he’s done here and everything he’s done for this program,” Day said. “He still wanted to be part of the team and everything like that. Certainly he came out with the team and just wanted to be part of it for the next week.”
Stover practices at linebacker
Cade Stover could be on the move again. After playing one snap at linebacker in a goal-line package against Michigan, Stover was seen practicing with the linebackers for the entirety of Tuesday’s open practice window.
Wearing a white defensive jersey rather than the red offensive jersey he would wear as a tight end, Stover was lining up as a Sam linebacker – the position he was initially recruited to play for the Buckeyes out of high school.
A look at Cade Stover (wearing No. 5, which would be his fourth different number of the season) practicing at linebacker: pic.twitter.com/cd6n7S3QRa
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 28, 2021
Stover began his Ohio State career as a linebacker in 2019 before moving to defensive end later that season. Stover moved to tight end during the 2020 offseason and has played that position for the past two years, but now, it appears he could be making at least a temporary move back to the defensive side of the ball.
Tackling practice
During his interview session Tuesday morning, Ohio State defensive play caller and secondary coach Matt Barnes said the Buckeyes had been placing an extra emphasis on tackling and fundamentals during bowl practices.
“At the end of the day, X’s and O’s are great, but it usually comes down to running fast, hitting hard, getting off blocks, making tackles, particularly in a bowl game,” Barnes said.
We got to see that in action during Tuesday’s practice when the Buckeyes’ defensive backs spent one period of the open viewing window running through a tackling drill.
Ohio State defensive backs running through a tackling drill at todays practice. pic.twitter.com/cyU88vvxiy
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 28, 2021
Other observations
- With Wilson opting out, Smith-Njigba was Ohio State’s first-team punt returner while Martinez was fielding punts with the second unit.
- After missing four of the final six games of the regular season, including Ohio State’s most recent game against Michigan, Master Teague appeared healthy at practice for the Buckeyes. Teague was third in the running back line in multiple drills Tuesday, behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams, with Evan Pryor occupying the fourth spot.
- Freshman wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who missed the final two games of the regular season, appeared healthy and active at practice for the Buckeyes on Tuesday. Day said Monday he expected to have the five-star recruit available for Saturday’s game.
- There were several notable jersey number switches on the practice field Tuesday, with Stover switching from No. 8 to No. 5 – the number normally worn by Williamson on defense – and Jeremy Ruckert and Gee Scott Jr. swapping jerseys during the session. Ruckert wore No. 13, and Scott wore No. 88.
- Freshman cornerback Denzel Burke, who wore a bulky shoulder brace against Michigan after suffering an injury against Michigan State, was not wearing the brace on practice Tuesday.
- With Simon absent from practice, Tommy Eichenberg appeared to be the first-string middle linebacker next to Steele Chambers, while Teradja Mitchell and Palaie Gaoteote comprised the second unit in a couple drills. Mitchell, who did not play at all against Michigan and only played on special teams against Michigan State, was wearing a brace on his right knee.
Michigan’s Cade McNamara on Big Ten title
In Lucas Oil Stadium, where Jim Harbaugh spent four years with the Indianapolis Colts, where his name is displayed on the ring of honor and his picture on the walls in the press box, Harbaugh won his first Big Ten Championship as Michigan’s head coach.
The 42-3 win over Iowa on Saturday was the first Big Ten title for the Wolverines since 2004, and it came after a season in 2020 when Michigan went 2-4 and criticism could be found in every corner.
Harbaugh has praised his team as a group that he loves and went as far as saying there is no team he loves more. He said he loves how it stuck together and how this group embodies a mantra etched into the walls of Schembechler Hall.
“To walk past the sign we all walk by — ‘Those who stay will be champions’ — to make that valid and that true,” Harbaugh said. “For guys to live on, really, in Schembechler Hall forever. I mean, [Aidan Hutchinson’s] picture is going to be up there on the All-American wall. Every guy on the team in the team picture is going to be up there as part of the Big Ten champion.
“We’ve got a banner in Glick Fieldhouse that’s going to say Big Ten champion.”
Before this season, Harbaugh hadn’t beaten rival Ohio State, hadn’t taken his team to the Big Ten championship game or the College Football Playoff. This team has now accomplished all three with Saturday’s convincing win over the Hawkeyes.
The criticism of Harbaugh and the team over the past few seasons about not being able to beat the Buckeyes and not having any hardware in the trophy case, not to mention the debates this past offseason of whether Harbaugh should come back to Michigan, were erased as confetti flew from the rafters and the Michigan team raised the Big Ten trophy.
The players have been committed all season to try to get to the top. Hutchinson came back for his senior season to try to change his legacy and the culture at Michigan. He wanted to get a ring, and the players, knowing the criticism Harbaugh has taken over the past year, wanted to win for him.
“One of the first things I thought of after we won was Coach Harbaugh,” quarterback Cade McNamara said. “That happened against Ohio State, that happened here again. After last season, it was so tough, not just for us players but for Coach Harbaugh as well, and we know that there’s not one person who cares about Michigan more than Coach Harbaugh.
“This team, we came together. We want to win for Coach Harbaugh, too, and we’re just so happy that we were able to give him back that joy because he deserves it.”
Michigan has played as the underdog all season and has had a chip on its shoulder because of the outside talk about the 2020 season and the low expectations coming into 2021.
Just this past week, the players were told that predictions in the beginning of the season gave the Wolverines a miniscule chance at winning the Big Ten. They used that as extra motivation to push until the clock hit zero and they came out on top.
“The beginning of the year, the odds, I don’t know whatever it was — it was 2% likely we’d win the Big Ten championship,” offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis said. “That was preseason predictions. I don’t know how it works out, but we believe in each other. We believe in ourselves, but there’s always a little external motivation. So internally motivated, bring each guy along, but sometimes just some of the stuff that’s out there, you just take it and ride with it and fuel the fire.”
That wasn’t the only motivating factor for Michigan on Saturday. The players were wearing block “O” patches with the initials “TM,” the No. 42 and four hearts to honor the victims in the Oxford High School shooting that occurred on Tuesday.
The four hearts represented Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin and Tate Myre, the four students who were killed. Myre’s initials and his No. 42 he wore for the Oxford football team were present on the patch, and it was Hutchinson who approached Harbaugh about honoring the Oxford community.
Myre’s parents were honorary captains for the coin toss to open the game, wearing white T-shirts that read “Oxford Strong.”
Michigan won the game with 42 points, the same as Myre’s number. It wasn’t deliberate, but when Harbaugh noticed the significance, he stopped and took a breath.
“It’s a community that needs all of our prayers, every one of them,” Harbaugh said. “And we just wanted to offer that up. We wanted to offer our prayers … and also honor Tate Myre and his bravery, his courage.”
There was a lot to celebrate for Michigan on Saturday night. Honoring the victims, winning its first Big Ten Championship in 17 years and getting a berth in the College Football Playoff.
The seeding hasn’t come out yet, but with Michigan starting the week at No. 2 in the rankings, there is a chance the Wolverines could be sitting in the No. 1 spot for the semifinal games.
Asked if they deserve the top spot, Michigan running back Blake Corum was emphatic about where he believes his team belongs. “I think so,” Corum said. “42-3, you tell me. I think so.”