Wolverines Selected as Preseason Favorite in Big Ten
8/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The University of Michigan football has been selected as the preseason Big Ten Conference favorite to repeat as champions in 2004. The defending Big Ten Champion Wolverines edged out preseason No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Iowa in a poll of media attending the 33rd annual Big Ten Kickoff Event and Media Days held Aug. 4-5, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
The Wolverines return 47 lettermen from last season's title team, including 17 starters (seven offense, six defense, four specialists). The last time Michigan received the conference's preseason nod to win the championship was 2000, a year in which the Wolverines solidified the media's selection with a 38-26 victory against the Buckeyes in Columbus to claim the title.
Lloyd Carr begins his 10th season as head coach of the Wolverines and his 25th overall with the Michigan coaching staff. He has compiled an 86-26 overall record and a 56-16 mark against Big Ten opposition. Carr has guided the program to four Big Ten titles (1997, 1998, 2000, 2003) and the 1997 national championship.
In individual preseason honors, Purdue senior quarterback Kyle Orton was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Ohio State junior linebacker A.J. Hawk earned the conference's preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor.
U-M kicks off its 125th season of gridiron action against Miami of Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised by ABC Sports starting at noon EDT.
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
