Michigan Football: 5 things to know about Wolverines 2019 season

The passion is back

The betrayal by former defensive line coach Greg Mattison has really lit a fire for the players and coaches.

"“I want to be candid. Those guys left and it was another shot. It wasn’t OK,” Assistant coach Chris Partridge said. “That’s how I feel. I’m not speaking for anyone else. I’m ultra-motivated and I make sure my guys, whenever I get in front of them, they hear it. … I want to take this thing, hit it in the mouth and go get it. I just think each person is motivated in their own way, but I know my personal opinion. I’m going to coach harder than I ever imagined I could coach. And we’re going to try to make sure that scoreboard never looks like it did last year.”"

Aidan Hutchinson praised the former maize and blue coach and then questioned coach ‘Matty’s’ decision.

"Coach Matty, he taught me so much when I got here. I’m not taking any of that away from him, but you get a big feeling of betrayal, you know? He told me he’s either retiring or he’s renewing the contract, so I’m like, ‘Oh, OK.’ I found out he’s leaving, I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, whatever.’ Then he said Ohio State and that kinda makes your stomach, you know, turn a little bit. He taught me a lot, I’m not taking that away from him, but it gives you a different mindset on things. I wouldn’t mind if he went to any other school. But this [expletive] kind of hurts."

But the passion doesn’t only come from just one questionable move by a Michigan football assistant coach, it also has come in the form of coach Matty’s much younger replacement.

The current defensive line coach has brought his own passion to the program and the players are taking notice.

“He brings a different type of energy that Matty couldn’t bring,” Donovan Jeter remarked.

Hutchinson chimed in “Completely different experience than last year. Very new. He brings in the young aspect of coaching. He’s fiery, he’s fired up. He’s taught me a lot already.”

Senior Carlo Kemp added, “Coach Nua gets right up in you every day, and just makes you want to play for him.”

The passion also extends to one alumnus whose comedic jab at the Sparties has gone viral.

When Michigan State released their new – and horrific –  neon green jersey’s for the upcoming season, the NFL-bound Devin Bush had to let the world know what he thought about it.

"Definitely stomping on that…"

Bush paid homage to his now legendary stomping of the emblem at Spartan Stadium. In case you missed it, you can watch that nasty exchange here.