It will take much Minor for major gains

By Bart Doan  |   Tuesday, February 24, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Michigan Wolverines
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It’s always easier to focus on the problem spots, and everyone knows discussion about next season's Michigan Wolverines football team begins and ends with analyzing an upperclassman-devoid quarterback situation and trickles down to inexperience everywhere from receiver to defensive line to kicker. There is one constant, however, and that player is Brandon Minor.

You may remember Minor from such scenes as “Ww, we have this guy and Mike Hart?” during his freshman year. You may also remember him from “Is it really that hard to hold onto the football?” the ensuing two years. But if you are one of those optimistic people, you probably should remember him from the middle of last year on; then, he snagged the starting job away from Rich Rodriguez’s hoard of hotshot freshmen and never looked back. Until he got hurt, that is.

All in seemingly one week against top five Penn State, Minor forgot how to fumble the ball, remembered how to blow past the first level of tacklers, and regained the ability to require a handful of guys bringing him down every time he touched the ball. For Minor, who was slowed by injuries all season, it’s not only the promise he showed as a freshman that was regained last year that means so much to Michigan.

For all the talk of youth, system players and transfers, Minor is a senior. He also acknowledges something that last season’s group of fourth-year players did not: accountability. After the regular season ended against Ohio State, a game in which Minor scored Michigan’s only points, he was quick to allude to the fact that many of the seniors did not “buy in” and that “there was no way this will happen under my watch as a senior.” From that moment on, the seeds were sewn for someone to take the torch for the Rodriguez regime.

That someone has been Minor, who has been pivotal leading up to spring practice. He’s intent on taking ownership of the Michigan program, something that a year ago at this time seemed impossible. Riddled with reports over his career of passiveness and sketchy work ethic, Minor seemingly got lost in the fray when Rodriguez named freshman Sam McGuffie the opening day starter last season. When McGuffie needed a breather, Minor seldom was the first guy off the bench getting carries. When he did carry the ball, he seemed more electric, but just as prone to mistakes. Whether McGuffie’s injury situation changed Minor’s career or whether it was simply plugging away and getting better at practice, we will never know.

What we do know is that Minor went from a stiff breeze to gale-force winds as a running back last year. It seemed just like yesterday for Michigan fans that this prospect out of Virginia spelling Hart was being touted as the next Tyrone Wheatley. It has been a hectic and inconsistent three years for Minor since. Now, though, he is ensconced as the starter and leader. Once again, he is the next great Michigan running back.

Though the talk will undoubtedly center on incoming freshmen, slot receivers and young defensive tackles, Michigan’s foray back into the world of bowl appearances and conference title contending will be often at the hands of one man -- a man who said that “I’m going to prepare myself so this will not happen again.”

Brandon Minor.
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About Bart Doan

Bart has been with Realfootball365.com for about six months and thoroughly enjoys writing for the site. He has been featured for his writings on college football in The Sporting News, The Indianapolis Star, Sports Illustrated, and on CBS Sportsline.com. When he's not drowning himself in the ...
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