Ten Big Game Changers: Michigan CB Troy Woolfork

CHICAGO - Troy Woolfolk is a Michigan legacy, and he now takes that label seriously.

Woolfolk, the son of Michigan great running back Butch Woolfolk, started 12 games last year and had 46 tackles. He's projected to play at cornerback this season as the Wolverines try to rebuild a porous defense.

Woolfolk (6 foot, 186 pounds) isn't shy when he admits he didn't make football a priority when he was a younger player. He admits he didn't watch enough film and sat on the bench early in his career because he didn't prepare enough. However, he's plenty serious when he talks the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, which has become more lopsided against the Wolverines than at any time in the school's history.

Ohio State has won six straight in the series, something that really chaps Woolfolk. It's not merely the fact that his father, an All-American and the school's fifth-leading rusher all-time, beat the Buckeyes twice during his tenure from 1978-81. It's that every loss by Michigan against their hatred rival chips away at his own legacy.

"I didn't really know about the rivalry until it became personal," Woolfolk said. "I don't really want to say I don't like them, OK, I will say it: I don't like them. But it wasn't until we started playing them when it became … I understand the great hatred Michigan has for Ohio State and Ohio State has for Michigan."

Woolfolk played the first five games at strong safety, then next six games at right cornerback before finishing the season at free safety. He was out of position on a touchdown run by Buckeyes running back Brandon Saine, but he helped keep Ohio State to just 67 yards passing. It wasn't enough in a 21-10 loss.

After playing in three losses to the Buckeyes, Woolfolk now appreciates the rivalry the way his father did. Woolfolk said he'll talk to his father during Michigan-Ohio State week and he can tell there's a change in his father's mood toward the week.

"I think he's got like flashbacks back when he was playing," Woolfolk said.

"My freshman year I internalized the true meaning of the rivalry. I just know that we haven't beaten them in six years. It would be such a great sense of accomplishment just to beat them, to finally knock them down, to get back to the old Michigan. I would love to be a part of that. In my mind that would compensate for the lack of wins we've had. It would be a sense of accomplishment."

Michigan has struggled for two seasons under Coach Rich Rodriguez, posting consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the early 1960s. Before Rodriguez's arrival, Michigan had played in a bowl every year since 1975.

Most of Michigan's problems are defensive. Michigan allowed at least 21 points in every Big Ten game and 30 or more six times.

"I think we don't want to forget about the past because it allows us to stay hungry," he said. "But then again we don't worry about it which causes us to have a negative outlook on the season. I think I have positive aspects of the past because we played great teams and we actually did pretty good against them. We just couldn't finish it out. So it's a matter of us being able to finish games versus just not having any potential to win any game."

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

• 2009 record: 5-7, 1-7 Big Ten
• 2009 review: Michigan started 4-0 and appeared to return to its historical winning ways. After seven games, Michigan was still 5-2 with its two losses by a combined eight points. Then it all fell apart. Michigan gave up a combined 156 points in its next four games in losses to Penn State, Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin. For the second straight year Michigan did not play in a bowl, and the future of Coach Rich Rodriguez was questioned.
• 2010 schedule: S4 Connecticut; S11 at Notre Dame; S18 Massachusetts; S25 Bowling Green; O2 at Indiana; O9 Michigan State; O16 Iowa; O30 at Penn State; N6 Illinois; N13 at Purdue; N20 Wisconsin; N27 at Ohio State
• 2010 preview: Michigan faces uncertainty again at most positions, including quarterback. Tate Forcier was the team's primary quarterback as a true freshman last year, throwing for 2,050 yards and 13 touchdowns. Denard Robinson, also a true freshman last year, threw for 188 yards and two scores while running for 351 yards and five touchdowns. Both quarterbacks face competition from highly touted recruit Devin Gardner. The Wolverines almost must replace their top two running backs, a first-round draft pick at defensive end and top cornerback from a year ago. Michigan returns eight starters on its revamped defense, which will switch to a 3-3-5 formation after finishing 10th last year against the run.
• Making the rounds: The Wolverines have a typical non-conference slate with traditional rival Notre Dame, along with Big East bowl team UConn. Michigan plays host to Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin while playing at Ohio State. Michigan misses Northwestern and Minnesota this year.
• Bowl game if: Michigan beats the opponents it's supposed to beat, plus add one upset. Entering the season Michigan will be favored to win at least four of its first five games. A 4-1 mark before the Wolverines enter the beef of their league schedule could put them within striking distance of a decent bowl, even without a major upset.
• Home for the holidays if: The defense fails to come around once again. Michigan was putrid last year defensively, giving up at least 21 points in every Big Ten game. A similar effort might give the Wolverines their third straight losing season and a new coaching regime.
• Quotable: "There's been quite a lot of things going on for two years and at times ... it seemed like forever." -- Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez
• Prediction: 7-5, 4-4 Big Ten (Insight Bowl)