Sports

Schofield Part of Resurgent Michigan Football Power Play Unit

Orland Park resident and former Sandburg standout Michael Schofield is getting it done in the trenches for the University of Michigan football team. He shifted from right tackle to left guard and helped the Wolverines nail down a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Sugar Bowl. Sugar Plums.

“Exactly,” University of Michigan offensive lineman and Orland Park resident Michael Schofield said.

He recently was reminded of a verse from Clement C. Moore’s poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” And he could be excused if, like so many wide-eyed dreamers around the holidays, visions of sugar plums danced in his head.

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Schofield stands as tall as the goalposts and stretches as wide as the crossbar (6-7, 299 pounds). And, at that size for goodness sakes, he is allowed to dream or do just about anything else he wants, too.

After spending three days at home with his family to celebrate Christmas, he departed Tuesday with his Michigan football teammates to begin final preparations for the Wolverines’ date in the Sugar Bowl. Michigan (10-2) faces Virginia Tech (11-2) in the BCS showcase event on Jan. 3 (7:30 p.m. CST, ESPN) in New Orleans.

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“It’s a huge game,” Schofield said. “Yes, we’re going to New Orleans. But we’ll take it as a business trip. We can’t forget why we’re down there—to win a football game.”

Schofield, a redshirt sophomore, has done his part to help Michigan get back to playing Michigan football in Brady Hoke’s first season as the Wolverines’ coach. Much has been made of Michigan’s dramatic defensive turnaround under Hoke and 'D' coordinator Greg Mattison.

A little love should be showered on Schofield and his buddies manning the ‘O’ line. The five regulars—Schofield, Taylor Lewan, David Molk, Patrick Omameh and Mark Huyge—have helped Michigan sustain drives and chew up the clock.

Michigan is averaging 34.2 points and 235.7 yards a game rushing. The Wolverines feature not one, but two 1,000-yard rushers, dual-threat junior quarterback Denard Robinson (1,307) and sophomore tailback Fitz Toussaint (1,059).

Not since Rob Lytle and Gordon Bell teamed in the backfield in 1975 has Michigan pulled off such a rushing feat. In fact, this is the second time in Michigan football history that the Wolverines have produced two 1,000-yard rushers in a single season. Can you say, “Holy Bo Schembechler?”

“Rich Rodriguez was a great coach; I loved the guy,” Schofield said of the man Hoke replaced following a three-year run of 15-22 mediocrity. “But when Coach Hoke came in, he was all about Michigan, the tradition, bringing back power football. He believed in it. And we believed in what he’s about.”

One Man Goes Down, Another Steps Up

Because of an injury to Ricky Barnum, Schofield early-on made the switch from right tackle to left guard. He appeared in all 12 regular-season games for the Wolverines and started nine, growing more accustomed to his new position with the passing of each week—or should that be the rushing of time through his hurry-up acclimation process?

“It’s a completely different technique, completely different footwork,” Schofield said. “Everything is backward from what you’re used to do doing on the right side.

“You’re going against bigger guys on the interior of the line as opposed to the quicker guys who line up at defensive end. It was an adjustment at first. Coach Funk (Michigan offensive line coach Darrell Funk) has helped me make as smooth a transition as possible.

“I had never played guard before, never pulled on a play before, either. We have a lot of plays where the guards pull, and I love pulling now. I get a running head start and I get to run into a guy who’s not moving.”

Here, pause, and listen for the sound: Smack.

That’s not fair.

Schofield and the Wolverines plowed down Notre Dame (35-31) in thrilling come-from-behind fashion on Sept. 10, the occasion of the first night game at the Big House, and except for a couple minor hiccups have continued steamrolling through their opponents on their way to the Big Easy.

“I’ll never forget that game—the way we fought back as a team,” Schofield said. “The stadium atmosphere was unbelievable. The fans were just crazy. And that game had been hyped up for so long. It lived up to the hype, that one and the Ohio State game. We got one there (Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 40-34).”

Schofield picked Michigan after being recruited by Notre Dame, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oregon. He fell in love with all things Maize & Blue after making an official visit to Ann Arbor and looking over the campus. The irony is he wouldn’t be playing football without his mom’s family genes and a nudge from his brother, Andrew.

Schofield Part of the UM Football Family Now

Michael is one of six Schofield children ranging in age from 13 to 26. His father, Mike, works as the fire chief in Homer Township and as a . His mother, Kathy, has returned to her roots as a cheerleader. Kathy’s father and brothers played football at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

“I guess that’s where I get it from,” Michael said.

Only there is more to the story.

“I was going into sixth grade when I first started playing football,” Michael said. “I never had played before. The reason I decided to give it a try is my brother twisted my arm. Andrew was signing up to play with the Orland Pioneers. The coaches said, ‘Why don’t you sign up, too?’

“There was some peer pressure in the beginning. That first year I didn’t play a lot. I was really bad. I was afraid of contact. It’s funny looking back on that now.”

Andrew Schofield is 19 months younger than Michael and a bit smaller, too, but holds his own on the football field—he is a right guard at the University of South Dakota. His team is scheduled to open next season with an afternoon game on the same day Michigan faces Alabama in Cowboys Stadium.

“My mom is like, ‘What are we going to do?’ ” Michael Schofield said. “I think they’re considering going to my brother’s game in the afternoon and then flying to Dallas.”

The Schofields have attended every Michigan football game this season, and the whole family will trek to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Mike plans to drive his ‘M’ mobile and break the trip into two parts.

“We’ll arrive in New Orleans on Jan. 1,” he said. “They’ll have pep rallies and a lot of events for the fans. But we won’t get to see much of Michael until after the game.”

Even though Michael towers over his dad now, he still looks up to him in a figurative sense. Mike has pushed him to hit the books just as hard as he hits the blocking sled at Michigan.

“My dad has always been a hard worker,” Michael Schofield said. “When I was growing up, he was with the Orland and Homer fire departments and he was a brick layer. He had three jobs at one point. I think I get that hard-work ethic trait from him. He’s a well-respected guy. I want to be like him.”

When Michael unfastens his chin strap for the final time, he pictures himself becoming a school teacher (physical education) and a coach (high school football). He stays in touch with some of his former Sandburg teammates and Eagle football coach Dave Wierzal. Joe Tuttle was in the crowd rooting for Michigan during a game in Iowa City on Nov. 5.

“If I could get back to Sandburg some day, that would be cool,” Michael said.

For now, he is content dreaming of sugar plums and Sugar Bowls. Cool stuff.


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