Kornacki: Harbaugh Impressed as Speight Rebounds from Adversity
9/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- What we saw for the second consecutive season opener was the importance of a coach having faith, and then a quarterback responding as coolly as could be expected after a quick failure.
As cool as a cucumber, the other side of the pillow or Michael Jordan -- who just happened to be the team's honorary captain -- Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight put early adversity in his rear-view mirror and drove his team to a lop-sided victory.
Speight could not have begun his first start much worse, throwing a bad interception on his first play of the game.
However, he could not have responded much better, driving the Wolverines 98 yards on the next possession and finishing off that drive with a pretty fade pass for a 12-yard touchdown to Grant Perry.
No. 7 Michigan went on to crush Hawaii, 63-3, scoring a touchdown on every other full drive Saturday (Sept. 3).
Last season's opener didn't have the same happy ending. Jake Rudock got picked off on his first possession, finished with three interceptions and lost by one touchdown at Utah. However, Rudock eventually got into a flow and threw for 3,017 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Rudock often cited the importance of that confidence Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh had in him early, and Speight got his first dose of that in a hurry. On his first play, Speight rolled right and locked onto his receiver. He zipped the ball to the right and right into the hands of Rainbow Warriors safety Damien Packer.
"It obviously wasn't the start I was imagining," said Speight, "and I was rolling to our sideline any way, and my momentum carried me right into Coach. He just grabbed me and hugged me and was kind of laughing. He said, 'Don't worry. We'll get 'em next drive. Don't sweat about that.' And I was able to do that."
That play let the air out the anxious crowd of 110,222 but only momentarily. The defense got the first of many three-and-outs, and before long Speight was leading his team to glory like nothing happened.
"I wanted to see what he did on the next series," said Harbaugh. "It's very difficult for a quarterback to throw an interception on a series and then come back and lead a touchdown drive the following series. It's something I've been fascinated in watching quarterbacks (do), and the really good ones can do that.
"And then on the next drive, to see him start the next drive on the two-yard line. That's as much adversity as you could have for a quarterback starting a drive, having thrown an interception on the previous drive on the very first throw of the game. And then to find yourself on the two-yard line, but he responded in tremendous fashion to lead a touchdown drive, make big third-down conversion throws, to make as good a corner throw to Grant Perry as can be made."
Speight said All-America tight end Jake Butt, whom he connected with for a 19-yard touchdown pass on the second possession, "was in my ear a lot" and said tailback De'Veon Smith had been supportive all day long.
Though, there was nothing quite like hitting Jehu Chesson on a 16-yard slant route on his next throw to keep the drive moving on third-and-seven.
"I knew the game plan front and back," said Speight, "and once I completed that first slant to Jehu, I felt completely settled in, and a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I was able to get comfortable and fire some shots in the pocket."
Speight was four-for-five on that drive for 79 yards.
"Starting that deep is just an opportunity to march down the whole field," said Speight. "That was what we were able to do. I was able to complete a few passes. The offensive line was holding their blocks really well, and the running game was outstanding. So, to be able to march down the field 98 yards and fire a shot into Grant in the corner of the end zone was a good feeling."
Michigan was seven-for-seven on third-down plays in the game, and quarterbacks John O'Korn and Shane Morris were a combined seven-for-seven for 61 yards in leading the Wolverines to one touchdown apiece. Alex Malzone also got in at quarterback on the final possession, when Michigan ran out the clock.
When asked how Harbaugh informed Speight, who has two years of eligibility remaining after this one, the Richmond, Virginia, native said he didn't remember the day of the week when he was named starter.
"I finished spring ball last year on top," said Speight, "and I was told going into camp that I would start there, and it was my job to lose. So, I made sure to stay there, and I didn't really worry about him naming me starter or what day."
Speight said O'Korn "was always coming out firing, trying to take my spot" in practices and said Morris would to the same. Speight said the best thing was that the quarterbacks "were able to be mature throughout the whole process and be the loyal friends that we are."
Harbaugh was asked what separated Speight from a pack of very talented quarterbacks. O'Korn, after all, had thrown for 3,117 yards and 28 touchdowns as a Houston freshman before transferring following his sophomore season. Morris was a five-star recruit from Warren De La Salle.
"It wasn't by a wide margin really because all the quarterbacks have been playing very well since the first day of camp," said Harbaugh. "All our quarterbacks were consistent, but Wilton was just a little bit better, and it was convincing in that he was the best guy. Then, to see all of them do just what they did in practice, all led touchdown drives and operated the team very efficiently and made big throws on first downs.
"They are all just pushing each other higher."
Speight ended up on top. He was asked how he slept before his first start, and said he fell asleep at about 10 p.m. Friday before awaking at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
"I rolled over and couldn't fall back asleep," said Speight, up 90 minutes before the alarm clock. "But I didn't have any problem sleeping."
Having a talented veteran offensive line that allowed nary a sack and opened the holes for 306 yards rushing (7.8-yard average) -- with freshman Chris Evans going off for 112 yards and two touchdowns -- had to contribute to that night-before calm.
"Any time a quarterback has a run threat it helps a lot," said Speight. "To have that balance and then to have guys like Jehu and Amara (Darboh) and Jake Butt, Mo Ways and Drake Harris, the weapons go on and on. It makes my job a lot easier.
Speight completed 10-of-13 passes for 145 yards with three touchdowns, also hitting Darboh after a play-action fake for a five-yard score and only came close to one other interception. That came on a deep ball down the middle on which Darboh and a defender tangled, but neither could get the ball.
He made good on Harbaugh's open confidence after putting Hawaii 38 yards away from the end zone with that interception.
"There was never a time heading into the game or after that first interception when I was looking over my shoulder," said Speight. "Coach has played the position and knows the quarterback doesn't perform at a high level when he's always worried about being replaced after one bad play.
"I knew he was going to be cool about it, but he was just really happy, and with a big smile on my face, which gave me more confidence."
Teammates call him "Wilt the Stilt," a take on his 6-foot-6 frame that is huge for a quarterback. Wilton Chamberlain, one of the NBA's greatest scoring and rebounding centers, had that nickname first. So, it's only natural that Speight rebounded so well from that interception.
"He had total command," Harbaugh said, "and it speaks volumes and bodes really well for our team and really well for his career as a quarterback to have done that. Now, he knows he can do it, and we can expect him to do it."
