In the Trenches: Vastardis, Ross Talk Team's Belief in One Another, Clash with OSU
11/24/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football, Features
On this week's edition of the "In the Trenches" podcast, fans get to hear from a pair of captains -- offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis and linebacker Josh Ross. Vastardis discusses the final adjustments needed before Saturday's game, the team's belief in each other all season long, and his impressions on the Buckeyes from his film study. Ross reflects on the wild ride this season has been and looks ahead to the clash with Ohio State this weekend.
By Brian Boesch
Captains have vital roles within a football program, and Michigan boasts four incredible ones in wide receiver Ronnie Bell, defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Josh Ross, and offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis. Coming off a challenging 2-4 season in 2020, those four -- and other leaders within the program -- needed to set the tone for a revival. So far, that mission has been a successful one.
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the 10-1 Wolverines control their own destiny in the quest for all the biggest prizes in college football -- a league championship, a berth in the College Football Playoff, and a national championship. Most prognosticators did not believe this type of a season was possible in Ann Arbor. In fact, all five teams above the Wolverines in the AP poll were in the top 10 of that poll before the season began, whereas Michigan was unranked.
"The only opinions that matter were the ones in this building -- the ones that we were grinding with, sweating with, bleeding with all year," Vastardis told Jon Jansen on this week's edition of the "In the Trenches" podcast. "That belief in each other, and the belief to get to this point, was there the whole time."
"We always stay true to the work we put in, stay true to our preparation and attacking it the best way we possibly can do every single week," Ross said. "We're so close together, and it's paying dividends."
Michigan has done great work so far this season, but the challenge increases with this weekend's edition of "The Game." Ohio State also enters with a 10-1 record and a chance at a Big Ten and a national championship. Vastardis and Ross see a talented, and a familiar, team on film.
"Talented, explosive, high motor -- everything we are, too, so it's going to be a hell of a fight," Vastardis said.
"They are talented, and that is what it is, but at the end of the day, it comes down to how we execute -- how we prepare this week -- leading to this game," said Ross.
The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is meaningful no matter what the context, whether you are a Michigan native like Ross, or you are from out of state like Vastardis (Virginia).
"It means everything. It means absolutely everything," Ross said. "I've been through a lot for this university, and I'm a 'Go Blue' guy all the way. I bleed it, so this game means everything, and it means everything to me. It means everything to our team, to our coaches, to our program, and we're just ready to have a great week of prep and just go attack it this weekend."
"(My) heart and soul (are) into this season. (My) heart and soul (are) into this game, and it's gonna show," Vastardis said. "It's a different intensity. Seeing it from the sidelines, and being there in the moment, I'm very excited to get out there and attack it with everything I got."
With everything on the line, the Buckeyes will come to town on Saturday. Michigan's four captains will lead the way, as they have all season long.
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