By Steve ‘Dr. Sap’ Sapardanis
I’m thrilled to be back for another season on MVictors to award my virtual helmet stickers for the 2019 Champions of the Week! Every season brings with it new hope and promises of roses – and maybe this year, a trip to Indianapolis! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s talk about the Champions of the Week for Game 1 against Middle Tennessee State.
OFFENSIVE CHAMPION: This was actually tougher to decide upon than I thought. While Shea Patterson threw for three TD’s and freshman Zach Charbonnet ran for 90 yards, I’m going to go with Dylan McCaffrey and not just because he scored a rushing touchdown. It seemed like the offense had a bit more rhythm to it with #10 in there. While his second drive was stopped short of the goalline, I liked the added dimension his running gave the offense. Just one game, but it’s clear to see that Nico Collins, Tarik Black and Ronnie Bell are all going to be tough to defend though the air. Having a QB that can hit the home run on the ground will just create more speed in space for the outside guys.
DEFENSIVE CHAMPION: Again, tough to pick just one guy when you had playmakers like Aidan Hutchison & Jordan Glasgow out there, but I’m gonna go with Ambry Thomas. First of all, I was shocked to see him start, but when he intercepted an MTSU pass and then recovered a fumble, I realized he was one sack away from the Charles Woodson Hat-Trick! Great to see #1 on the field and even happier for him that he is making plays for the defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Yes WIll Hart was booming punts all night, but Daxton Hill caught my eye on Special Teams. He seemed to be the first guy downfield on all kickoffs and when #30 downed a punt inside the 5-yard line you could see that he has a nose for the football. You can’t coach that type of athletic instinct. Hill has it and I’m sure we’ll see more of that as he plays more on the defensive side of the field later in the year.
UNIFORM CHAMPION: DId you notice something different about the Michigan uniform Saturday night? While I could talk about the pants and how the color seemed more maize than they were last year, I’d like to make mention of the Wolverine headgear. The design certainly appears to have been tweaked some over last year’s version. The wings appear to be larger, but more importantly, it looks as though the stripes are now converging at the back of the helmet above the neck pad. [Ed. Uniform Timeline updated.] I’m thrilled to see that!
Much like a Corvette, the Michigan helmet is iconic and while some prefer to keep their icon forever young and the same, things change. The Corvette is still iconic – whether you prefer the C6 version or the newer 2019 mid-engine model – it’s still a Corvette. Same goes with the Michigan helmet. Some might remind you that Fritz Crisler’s winged helmet was the best there ever was while others will counter with the style that was used some 60 years later. No matter because it is still the most recognizable helmet in the world. As long as it has three stripes and two wings, it will ALWAYS be iconic! Kudos to the Michigan equipment staff on a job well done regarding this year’s helmet design!
