Inside Michigan football's players-only meeting after the Western Michigan game
Michigan football players held a team-only meeting following an underwhelming 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. Players expressed frustration with the team's performance and emphasized the need for higher standards moving forward.
Why it matters
Internal team dynamics and accountability are key factors in the performance of high-profile collegiate athletic programs.
During his postgame press conference after Michigan football survived Western Michigan with a Hail Mary on Saturday night, defensive end Dominic Nichols described himself as "sick to my stomach."
He wasn't alone. Kyle Whittingham said the win "felt, in a lot of ways, like a loss." And before the Wolverines left the Big House, one of their captains - defensive tackle Trey Pierce - called a players-only meeting for Sunday at the football facilities.
"We've got to stop being soft, really," said safety Rod Moore . "That was a soft game. That was not our standard. And we've got to come out of this week and work and just do more."
Moore said that player-led meetings on a player-led team aren't all that uncommon. But this one was "needed," he said, because Michigan "didn't play the way we were supposed to" in the 13-12 victory over the Broncos.
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