When the Michigan Wolverines headed into their Big Ten Championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers there was a College Football Playoff berth on the line. As we know, they handled business and were matched up with TCU, the number three team in the playoff. They’ll be facing off in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Scottsdale, Arizona on New Year’s Eve.
On Tuesday, J.J. McCarthy spoke with the media regarding how this year’s trip to the College Football Playoff differs from their experience last season against the Georgia Bulldogs, a game that did not end well for the Wolverines.
Here’s what McCarthy had to say,
J.J. McCarthy has been all business this season
When the Wolverines lost their semi-final matchup to the Georgia Bulldogs last season, McCarthy stayed on the field with Donovan Edwards to watch the Bulldogs celebrate.
Last December, after Michigan ended up on the wrong end of a lopsided game against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal, there stood J.J. McCarthy and handful of teammates on the field in south Florida. Most of the Wolverines’ players had already retreated to the locker room, visibly upset by the crushing end to the season, but McCarthy, running back Donovan Edwards, receiver Andrel Anthony and defensive end Mike Morris opted to stay. They later told reporters they wanted to soak in the moment because, they believed, Michigan would be back.
Aaron McMann, mlive.com
Since becoming the starter, after beating out Cade McNamara, McCarthy has been splendid in the winged helmet, leading the Wolverines to their first undefeated season in quite some time.
His continual answer to the media, even following a huge win over Ohio State, was reminiscent of his answer above, “the job’s not done.” He is continually setting the tone for his teammates to achieve their final goal of the season, which is winning the National Title. That’s when the business will be finished.
