"Victors Walk," captains and Witherspoon update

Victors Walk: The Michigan football team will try to duplicate the success this year of last season's Capital One Bowl upset of Florida.

Before that game, the Wolverines entered the stadium by walking between lines of cheering Michigan fans. It was the first time junior defensive end Brandon Graham had ever experienced anything like that.

"It got me hyped," Graham said. "It got everybody hyped. The energy was there."

Michigan used that swagger to fuel a 41-35 win over the Gators, and the Wolverines will have similar opportunities to get motivated for each of their home games this year.

The Michigan Marching Band will lead the Wolverines about 200 yards across the parking lot near Crisler Arena and into the stadium two hours prior to kickoff. The procession has been dubbed the "Victors Walk."

The Wolverines made a similar walk when Bump Elliot and Bo Schembechler coached the team in the 1960s and 70s. It made its return Friday at the Beanie Bowl, a scrimmage in Michigan Stadium designed to mirror game day.

Plans for the "Victors Walk" were in the works before Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was hired, but he is excited about the motivation it can create. When the team ran under the banner before the Beanie Bowl, Rodriguez jumped and touched it, too.

The first "Victors Walk" will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m., two hours prior to the Wolverines opener against Utah.

"It's going to do some good because it's always good to see your fans on the side of you, all in your ear, getting you ready," Graham said. "I feel like it's go to pump us up to start."

Captains: Former players Bob Chappuis, Ron Kramer and Dan Dierdorf will be honorary captains for the Utah game.

Rodriguez will select game-by-game captains in addition to the honorary captains for each game. Permanent captains will be chosen at the end of the season. Rodriguez will pick game captains on Thursdays.

Rodriguez wants every senior who stays out of trouble to be a game captain.

"I like doing that because then every senior — they put all the work in throughout their career — can say 'Hey, I was a captain for Michigan," Rodriguez said. "I think that's a pretty neat thing for them to talk about, put on their résumé, and they certainly deserve that."

Rodriguez's sentiment about seniors is similar to that of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. When flying to a game, Schembechler gave seniors the seats in first class, according to "Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership" by John U. Bacon.

Witherspoon: Freshman linebacker Marcus Witherspoon is still not with team because he's taking a class in his hometown of Atlantic City, N.J. to become eligible.