As the 2003 season wound down to its conclusion, then-senior Chris Perry was putting the finishing touches on one of the finest seasons ever by a Michigan tailback. In his last year as a Wolverine, Perry amassed 1,674 yards - the fourth-highest ground yardage total in school history - on a record 338 carries. His 18 rushing touchdowns tied him for second on the all-time list.

Yet despite the collective sense of euphoria felt by the Michigan faithful at the thought of cheering for the Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist, a dark cloud moved in over the Big House. Michigan's biggest strength was about to become its most glaring weakness.

With Perry graduated and playing for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, coach Lloyd Carr and the 2004 Wolverines headed into the season opener against Miami (Ohio) with a gigantic question mark sticking out of the turf in the offensive backfield.

Carr started the year with unproven senior David Underwood as the featured back. Underwood, who had gained a meager 276 yards during Perry's stellar campaign, averaged just 2.8 yards per carry on 23 attempts for the season before he was injured minutes into Michigan's second game, against Notre Dame. Carr also experimented with sophomore Jerome Jackson and junior Pierre Rembert before giving undersized freshman runner Mike Hart the bulk of the carries beginning the following week against San Diego State. Hart didn't disappoint, racking up 121 yards on 25 carries in his first look at extended playing time.

"I just seized the opportunity, I guess," Hart says. "I had the opportunity and I just had to take advantage of it."

The diminutive ball-carrier never looked back, and when the dust had settled, Hart had accumulated 1,455 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and boatloads of national attention. His accomplishments were even more impressive considering that they came with Chad Henne, another true freshman, starting the entire season at quarterback. The shifty, elusive Hart had executed yet another cutback. But rather than putting moves on defenders, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year had turned around the fortunes and perception of a running backs unit that just a few months earlier had been seen as the team's potential Achilles' heel.

So Hart entered this year with high expectations, following the reasoning that he's seen a full season of action at the Division-I level. Of course, that's not to say that Hart took it easy during the offseason. On the contrary, the Syracuse, N.Y., native kicked it into high gear to ensure that he would be even better prepared for his sophomore year.

"I worked a lot on my pass blocking," Hart says. "I could do a little bit of everything last year, but I just worked on getting better in every aspect."

Running backs coach Fred Jackson has certainly taken notice of Hart's extra burst compared to a season ago. And heading into his 14th year at Michigan, it's pretty clear he knows what to look for.

"(Hart) came in last year and wasn't in the shape that he would've liked to have been in," Jackson says. "But as the year went on, he got in condition. But then the load got heavier. You start carrying a ball 30, 40 times a game at 180 pounds and the wear and tear is tougher. But now he's stronger. He's faster. This year you're going to see a different guy. When he gets by a guy this year, he might go the distance on you."

It's clear that Hart's confidence is soaring to begin the season, as well. Last year, he wasn't sure exactly what his role was at the outset. This time around, he knows he's Plan A when it comes time for Henne to hand off.

"I like to compare it to high school," Hart says. "My freshman year I wasn't really that comfortable, but when sophomore year came around I knew I was the best player on the field. That's how I'm going into every game this year. And that's how I played during spring ball. Unstoppable, I guess you could say. I'm not cocky, but inside yourself you know you can do it, and you know that you can't be tackled."

But Hart knows there will still be some doubters out there, and he's prepared to silence them once again.

"I still feel like I have to prove myself," Hart says. "I'm a starter now, but I still have to hold it. I might not do anything this year and they'll say, 'Mike was just a one-year wonder.' "