The 2012 Michigan Wolverines football team, also known as Team 133 in reference to the 133rd year of the Michigan football program, represented the University of Michigan in the sport of college football during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season.
Under second-year head coach Brady Hoke, Michigan played in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference and played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Highlights of Michigan's season included Michigan becoming the first college football program to win 900 games in NCAA history with its victory over Michigan State and snapping a four-game losing streak to Michigan State as well, as well as a come-from-behind victory against Northwestern.
Taylor Lewan was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and All-American, while Will Hagerup was named the Big Ten Punter of the Year. Patrick Omameh also earned first team All-Big Ten recognition. Craig Roh, co-captain Jordan Kovacs and Jake Ryan earned second team recognition. Although they split the quarterbacking duties, both Devin Gardner and co-captain Denard Robinson earned multiple Big Ten Player of the Week awards with Robinson rewriting record books along the way. Following the season, Kovacs was voted team MVP.
Preseason The 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled an 11–2 record under first-year head coach Brady Hoke and defeated Virginia Tech in the 2012 Sugar Bowl, 23–20 in overtime. In recognition of the team's drastic improvement from the 2010 season, Brady Hoke won Big Ten Coach of the Year awards from both the coaches and media.
Michigan returned 13 out of 22 starters — six on offense and seven on defense. Michigan had also expected to see the return of wide receiver Darryl Stonum, who was redshirted the previous season for disciplinary reason, but Stonum was dismissed from the team on January 17, 2012, for a violation of team rules. He transferred to Baylor. Michigan was forced to replace captains center David Molk, defensive tackle Mike Martin, and tight end Kevin Koger, as well as starters defensive end Ryan Van Bergen, defensive tackle Will Heininger, safety Troy Woolfolk, offensive tackle Mark Huyge, long snapper Tom Pomarico and wide receiver Junior Hemingway, as well as the 2011 team's leading kickoff returner Martavious Odoms.
Safety Josh Furman was arrested February 11, 2012 and faced three misdemeanor charges (illegal entry, assault and battery, and domestic violence) in court. He declined the offer of a plea agreement of domestic violence. He was found not guilty of all three charges on April 26, 2012. On April 30 he was reinstated to the team. In late May 2012, defensive lineman Will Campbell was charged with felony malicious-destruction-of-property arising out of an incident on April 7 in which the six foot, five inch, 322-pound athlete "slid across the hood" of a Lincoln Towncar, causing damage to the hood. On June 14, Campbell reached a plea deal in which the felony charge was waived in exchange for a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge and an agreement to pay $2,100 in restitution to the vehicle's owner. On July 23, Toussaint was suspended from the team following a July 21 arrest for driving under the influence.
Eight Michigan players were named to pre-season award watch lists: (1) Denard Robinson for the Walter Camp Award (best college), the Maxwell Award (best offensive player), the Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback), the Manning Award (best quarterback as judged by the Sugar Bowl committee), as well as a Big Ten player to watch, (2) Fitzgerald Toussaint for the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award (best running back), (3) Taylor Lewan for the Outland Trophy (best lineman), the Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker), as well as a Big Ten player to watch, (4) Jordan Kovacs for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player), (5) Roy Roundtree for the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver), (6) Brendan Gibbons for the Lou Groza Award (best placekicker), (7) Kenny Demens for the Lombardi Award, and (8) Craig Roh for the Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end). In addition, Patrick Omameh was nominated for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which is awarded for community service. On August 26, the team voted Denard Robinson and Jordan Kovacs as its captains for the season.
Recruiting
Recruits Michigan's recruiting class was ranked No. 4 by Scout and No. 7 by both Rivals and ESPN. The program received 25 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 1, 2012.
Rankings Entering the season, Michigan was ranked No. 8 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. Following its opening week loss to Alabama, Michigan dropped to No. 19 in both polls, but rose to No. 18 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 17 in the AP Poll following its victory against Air Force. After its victory against Massachusetts, Michigan rose to No. 17 in the Coaches' Poll, but fell to No. 18 in the AP Poll. Michigan dropped out of the rankings following its loss to Notre Dame, and then stayed unranked following the bye week. Michigan re-entered the AP Poll at No. 25 following its win against Purdue, but remained unranked in the Coaches' Poll. Following its victory over Illinois, Michigan rose to No. 23 in the AP Poll and re-entered the Coaches' Poll at No. 25. Michigan rose to No. 20 in both polls following its victory over Michigan State and entered the BCS rankings at No. 22. Michigan fell out of the rankings after its loss to Nebraska, and remained unranked following its victory over Minnesota. Michigan re-entered the rankings after its overtime win against Northwestern at No. 23 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll and No. 21 in the BCS poll. After its victory over Iowa, Michigan moved up to No. 20 in both the AP and Coaches' Polls and No. 19 in the BCS Poll. Michigan fell to No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches' Poll, but remained at No. 19 in the BCS Poll after its loss to Ohio State. Michigan rose to No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the Coaches' Poll after a bye week. After its loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, Michigan finished the season ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and unranked in the Coaches' Poll.
*Source: ESPN.com: 2012 NCAA Football Rankings
Schedule
Radio Radio coverage for all games will be broadcast statewide on The Michigan Wolverines Football Network and on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The radio announcers are Frank Beckmann with play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter with color commentary, and Doug Karsch with sideline reports.
Game summaries
Vs. Alabama
Sources:
To open the season, Michigan traveled to Arlington, Texas to face the defending BCS Champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in the Cowboys Classic. This game was the first between the two teams since the 2000 Orange Bowl, which saw Michigan beat Alabama in overtime 35–34 after Alabama missed the tying extra point.
Alabama dominated the Wolverines in the first game of the season, winning 41–14. Alabama opened the scoring and scored 21 points in the first quarter, with Michael Williams catching a two-yard touchdown pass from A. J. McCarron, DeAndrew White catching a 51-yard touchdown pass from McCarron, and Eddie Lacy rushing nine yards for a score. Alabama added ten points in the second quarter as a result of a Jeremy Shelley 22-yard field goal and a C. J. Mosley 16-yard interception return for a touchdown. Michigan scored its first points at the end of the first half on a Denard Robinson six-yard touchdown run, making the halftime score 31–7. In the third quarter, Cade Foster kicked a 51-yard field goal for Alabama, while Michigan responded via a 44-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to Devin Gardner. Those were Michigan's final points of the game. Alabama scored its final points of the game in the fourth quarter as a result of a T. J. Yeldon one-yard run.
The game was Michigan's first season opener at a neutral venue. The loss was Michigan's first in September since September 13, 2008, against Notre Dame. Michigan's record against Alabama fell to 2–2. Jeremy Gallon's 71-yard reception in the second quarter set a record for the longest play in Cowboys Classic history, while Will Hagerup's 61-yard punt also set the record for longest punt in Cowboys Classic history. Thomas Gordon led Michigan's defense with nine tackles and forced one fumble.
Vs. Air Force
Sources:
Following its trip to Arlington, Michigan hosted the Air Force Falcons in its home opener. This was the first meeting between the teams since Michigan's season opener in 1964, which the Wolverines won 24–7. Pre-game festivities featured a trio of flyovers: a flight by three University of Michigan Survival Flight helicopters, a flight by the bald eagle Challenger, and a B-2 stealth bomber. Prior to the game, Michigan reactivated Bennie Oosterbaan's number (#47) and honored him as a Michigan Football Legend. Linebacker Jake Ryan was given Oosterbaan's number following the conclusion of the ceremony.
The Wolverines won the game, 31–25. Following a missed field goal on Air Force's opening drive, Denard Robinson ran 79 yards for a touchdown. Air Force responded with a 22-yard field goal from Parker Herrington. In the second quarter, Michigan expanded its lead via a 30-yard Robinson to Devin Funchess touchdown pass. Air Force responded with a five-yard touchdown run from Cody Getz, ending the half trailing 14–10. In the third quarter, Robinson expand Michigan's lead to 11 with a 58-yard touchdown run. Air Force responded with a Getz one-yard run, but Michigan once again increased its lead to 11 points with a Robinson to Devin Gardner seven-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, Air Force responded with a Getz eight-yard run and converted the two-point conversion attempt on a Getz to Marcus Hendricks pass. Michigan ended the scoring with a Brendan Gibbons 31-yard field goal. Air Force had the ball late in the fourth quarter when linebacker Jake Ryan batted down a pass on fourth down with 1:28 left in the game to secure the victory for Michigan.
Denard Robinson became the first Division-I FBS player to have three career games with at least 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. Robinson ran for 218 yards and two touchdowns, and passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns, his eight career game with at least four touchdowns. He was also the first Michigan player to have two touchdown runs of 50 or more yards since Tyrone Wheatley in the 1993 Rose Bowl against Washington. Freshman tight end Devin Funchess became the first Michigan tight end to have at least 100 receiving yards since 1997, when Jerame Tuman had 126 receiving yards against Colorado. Jake Ryan led the Wolverines' defense with 11 tackles, while Joe Boldon posted a career best 10 tackles. The effort moved Robinson into eighth place on the NCAA all-time career quarterback rushing yards list and seventh on the Michigan all-time rushing list. Denard Robinson's September 8, performance earned him his eighth Big Ten Offensive Player of the week recognition as well as College Football Performance Award National Player of the Week and National Quarterback of the Week honors. The same week Devin Funchess earned Freshman of the week honors. By earning his eighth Big Ten Offensive Player of the week recognition, he tied Drew Brees for second on the all-time career list.
Vs. Massachusetts
Sources:
Following its game against Air Force, Michigan hosted the Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen for the first time since 2010. In the previous meeting, Michigan won 42–37. Prior to the game, Michigan reactivated Ron Kramer's number (#87) and honored him as a Michigan Football Legend. It was given to tight end Brandon Moore.