Stories by Stephen J. Nesbitt
SportsMonday Column: A glimpse of the future, a salute to the past
- Todd Needle/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
As five-star running back Derrick Green strolled to the head table in a banquet hall in Richmond, Va. to pledge his commitment to Michigan, Auburn or Tennessee, Denard Robinson, tucked back in a locker room in Mobile, Ala., reached up and strapped on the famed winged helmet for the final time. It was 4 p.m. on Jan. 26, the last Saturday in January.
SportsMonday Column: Plocki, Michigan vault back onto the scene
- Ruby Wallau/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Crisler Center is home to three teams. Those teams are a combined 24-3 in the friendly and renovated confines this year. That’s pretty neat.
SportsTuesday Column: The making of a champion
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Players from different decades, from Randy Moss to Patrick Willis to Colin Kaepernick, peered above their lockers after a team meeting to investigate. Each sheet was different. The white plaques had each player’s recruiting rankings, college logo and a grainy photo from high school.
What to watch for: ‘Team 133’ sends five seniors to postseason all-star games
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
An 8-4 season and Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina wasn’t the way the Michigan football team’s seniors wanted to go out. And, for five of them, they’ve got another chance to wear the winged helmet.
Notebook: Denard Robinson expected to be ‘no later’ than second-round pick
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
With the 2013 NFL draft just three months away, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. laid out his projections for Robinson, as well as the remaining Michigan football seniors.
Mel Kiper Jr.: Lewan made ‘bad call’ returning for senior season
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Among the most surprised at the news of Lewan's return was ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who had Lewan slotted as the No. 2 left tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft and a top-15 selection. “Bad call,” Kiper wrote Wednesday morning. “I didn't see Lewan falling much past No. 15 overall in this draft, and while I respect the decision, I don't want to see a kid worth a lot of money right now holding out.”
SportsMonday Column: Back down to Earth
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Nobody is perfect. Arizona and then Duke, the teams sandwiched around No. 2 Michigan atop the national rankings last week, finally fell in last-minute thrillers over the weekend to crescendo into the Wolverines’ date with Ohio State on Sunday.
SportsWednesday Column: Michigan basketball, an embarrassment of riches
- Tracy Ko/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Gus Johnson knows injustice when he sees it. What Johnson saw as the Big Ten Network play-by-play man during the Michigan basketball team’s 95-67 victory over Iowa on Sunday was simply unfair. He said as much on the broadcast, encapsulating it in one swift sentence.
Michigan defense foiled and finished by the big play
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
TAMPA, Fla — Dylan Thompson never saw his pass that split a trio of Michigan defenders for a perfect 32-yard strike into the arms of receiver Bruce Ellington. He heard it, though.
Breakdown: Wolverines and ‘Cocks tangle in Outback Bowl
- Erin Kirkland/Daily
BY STEPHEN J. NESBITT
TAMPA, Fla. — The No. 19 Michigan football team will ring in 2013 on Tuesday by squaring off against No. 11 South Carolina in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
