The Michigan Wolverines finished the 2003 season at 10-3 and made a BCS bowl but were beaten by the University of Southern California, the co-national champions of 2003. The Wolverines won the Big Ten last season but have lost the starting quarterback John Navarre and running back Chris Perry from the team of last year. The team will likely have new quarterback Matt Gutierrez for the 2004 season but no one is quite sure how the season will end up. Gutierrez will have wide receiver Braylon Edwards to throw to and that will undoubtedly ease the learning process for the young quarterback. The return of Edwards and the leadership of head coach Lloyd Carr has earned them the #9 position in my pre-season poll.

The loss of Chris Perry will hurt the team in many ways because he was such an influential part of the Wolverines team in 2003. Perry finished with almost 1,700 rushing yards and 18 scores last year and made a late push for the Heisman Trophy. David Underwood was his backup for three years and knows the offense well so the transition should be easier. Braylon Edwards will have to step up on the outside to make up for the loss of Perry. He caught 85 passes for 1,138 yards for 14 touchdowns last year and will enter the season as the top receiver in the nation. Steve Breaston is another receiver and punt returner with amazing speed and the ability to score anytime he touches the ball. The Wolverines defense is known for being very aggressive and confrontational and this year’s unit shouldn’t be any different. Cornerback Marlin Jackson is back after playing safety last year and should compete for honors at the position this year. Linebacker Lawrence Reid led the team with 82 tackles last year and seems to have a knack for being where the ball is. Safety Ernest Shazor might be the key to the team this year. Shazor hits very hard but is also a very smart player and won’t be beat deep often.

The Michigan Wolverines are always one of the favorites in the Big Ten along with Ohio State, their main rivals. The Wolverines open their season on the road at Notre Dame on September 11 in a game that the Wolverines will definitely be ready for. Their Big Ten schedule opener is at home to Iowa against September 25 and it could be one of the games of the year in the conference and the nation. Iowa has beaten Michigan two years in a row and would love nothing more than to pick up a third straight victory, but Michigan will have to be the favorite in that game, especially at the Big House. The Wolverines will also get Minnesota at home and Purdue on the road before they finish their season on November 20 at the Horseshoe against Ohio State. If Michigan wants it to mean more than bragging rights, they’ll need to play well in conference games. If the quarterback play is strong, this team could win a national title in 2004.

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