Within the afterglow of the Rose Bowl, Jim Harbaugh struggled to discover a phrase to explain Ben Herbert, the power coach Michigan credit for a lot of its success.
“Educated murderer,” quarterback J.J. McCarthy interjected.
“That resonates,” Harbaugh mentioned.
Have you ever ever seen a skilled murderer cry? That was the scene on the sector after Michigan stuffed Alabama on fourth all the way down to win the Rose Bowl and advance to Monday’s nationwide championship recreation. Herbert, recognized for his unblinking stare, had tears in his eyes as he embraced gamers and coaches within the swirling confetti.
“The protection, they couldn’t wait to get on the sector on that fourth-down play,” Herbert mentioned. “It was fairly unimaginable to see that look of their eyes.”
Herbert, now in his sixth season at Michigan, has been described because the X-factor behind this system’s turnaround. Tales about him are legendary: his intimidating handshakes, his ultra-competitive exercises, his object classes that contain feeding junk meals to houseplants.
It’s not unusual for gamers to sing the praises of their power coach, however at Michigan, the outcomes converse for themselves. The Wolverines are 39-3 the previous three seasons with three Large Ten championships, three journeys to the School Soccer Playoff and now a nationwide title recreation look. In that span, the Wolverines have constantly outplayed their opponents within the second half and completed video games in addition to any crew within the nation.
From the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter till the top of the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines drove 75 yards for a landing, pressured an Alabama punt, scored in two performs in time beyond regulation and stuffed the Crimson Tide on fourth-and-goal. When Blake Corum was requested how he stored his legs churning throughout his landing run in time beyond regulation, his thoughts instantly went to Michigan’s offseason exercises.
JALEN MILROE IS STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN😱
THE WOLVERINES ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/X2x3tPzwqr
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2024
“The burden room with coach Herb and what he places us by: steadiness work, low heart of gravity, squats, you identify it,” Corum mentioned. “All of the work we put in, it confirmed.”
Herbert bought his begin at Wisconsin, a program that didn’t signal many five-star recruits however frequently churned out NFL Draft picks, significantly within the trenches. Michigan doesn’t recruit on the stage of Georgia or Alabama, however the Wolverines constantly signal top-15 recruiting lessons and have a roster loaded with four-star prospects. The mix of stable recruiting and relentless improvement has allowed the Wolverines to beat star-studded groups like Ohio State and Alabama on their strategy to the CFP title recreation.
The Wolverines have a handful of top-100 recruits, together with McCarthy, cornerback Will Johnson, operating again Donovan Edwards and edge rusher Derrick Moore. They wouldn’t be within the nationwide championship recreation with out gamers like Mike Sainristil, Michael Barrett, Kris Jenkins and Kenneth Grant, three-star recruits who’ve developed into difference-makers.
Hand-in-hand with the bodily improvement is the psychological fortitude to beat daunting circumstances. Michigan has had loads of these this season, whether or not it was the fourth quarter towards Alabama or the November curveball of Harbaugh’s three-game suspension. There’s a motive why Herbert’s exercises hardly ever observe a predictable routine. Gamers by no means know what’s coming subsequent, which helps to simulate the real-world challenges that come out of the blue.
“For my part, it begins in how coach Herb trains the blokes,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter mentioned. “With some power coaches, you stroll in on a Monday and know precisely what you’re going to do. You understand the routine. With coach Herb, what separates him is that you simply stroll in and suppose you already know, however he’s going to throw you for a loop.”
Herbert is usually credited with setting the tone for this three-year run that has taken Michigan to the head of faculty soccer. This system wanted a cultural reboot after a depressing 2020 season that ended with two victories and an exodus of gamers to the switch portal. Herbert instilled habits to make gamers extra accountable, like having them line up their sneakers in a neat row within the weight room.
Michigan is the least-penalized crew within the FBS this season, averaging simply 2.9 penalties per recreation. McCarthy sees a direct correlation between Michigan’s on-field self-discipline and its off-field habits.
“Coach Herb harps on the eye to element, at all times ensuring our sneakers are tucked in tight each single time we take them off within the weight room,” McCarthy mentioned. “He’s at all times specializing in the little issues.”
Each two months or so, Herbert could have gamers clear their lockers. After they’re achieved, he’ll examine by operating his finger alongside the sides. If his finger reveals a speck of mud, gamers gained’t get full credit score for finishing the duty, McCarthy mentioned.
That’s one other facet of Herbert’s method: Every thing is a contest. Herbert provides the gamers every day challenges, like an train that includes balancing on a foam block and lifting a 70-pound drugs ball. Gamers who full that process are given two factors on a operating leaderboard.
“When you drop it or your foot comes off otherwise you contact, you get a zero for the day,” McCarthy mentioned, noting that security Caden Kolesar at the moment occupies the highest spot. “These workout routines add up over time, and also you see what number of plus-twos you may get.”
Herbert obtained a elevate earlier than the season that makes him one of many few power coaches within the nation incomes $1 million per 12 months. To see why Michigan coaches rave about him, simply take a look at the ultimate play of the Rose Bowl. Josaiah Stewart, a 245-pound edge rusher, drove proper sort out JC Latham into the backfield. Moore, taking part in the opposite edge spot, bought contained in the block of tight finish CJ Dippre and met quarterback Jalen Milroe within the gap.
The play was strength-on-strength, and Michigan got here out on prime.
“When all of it was on the road, our guys did what they had been able to doing and we had been capable of win the sport,” Herbert mentioned. “When it mattered most, they did their finest. It was unimaginable to see.”
(Photograph courtesy of U-M Images)
