UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Let's take a walk down memory lane for a moment. On Nov. 22, 2014 -- exactly one year ago today -- Michigan's former head football coach walked to a podium inside Crisler Center and had nothing left to say. He tried, but the show was over. It had been over. On the field, minutes before, the Wolverines stumbled over themselves for 60 minutes in what would turn into a humiliating home loss to Maryland. A four-star running back announced his decommitment

during

the game. A half-empty stadium fought through mental exhaustion long enough to boo one last time before filing out into a rainy night with little to no hope. "At (some) point, we've got to be a little smarter," Michigan's former head coach said that day. "If that's the right word for it." Now, back to the present. Just yesterday, Michigan's current head coach walked to a table inside Penn State's Beaver Stadium to discuss his team's perfect Big Ten road record and ninth win of the season. His football team didn't spend 60 minutes stumbling. It spent 60 minutes thumping, eventually breaking its opponent's will. Again. "They've been just relentless," Michigan's current head coach said of his team. "The same kind of demanding, punishing pace (every week). It hasn't stopped." It doesn't take a doctorate to figure out who's saying what there. Twelve months ago, Brady Hoke's program was broken. It wasn't just sliding off track, it was lost. Completely and totally. The team had no identity. The culture was soft. Michigan gave effort, but never quite knew how to channel it. It was rock bottom. One year later, Jim Harbaugh's program is surging. Completely and totally. The team has an identity. Its culture is blue collar and centers around relentless work. It knows exactly where it's going. Michigan State's 17-14 win over Ohio State on Saturday night complicated Michigan's shot at winning a Big Ten championship this season. The Buckeyes' loss takes some shine off of what could've been a titanic matchup between Michigan and Ohio State next weekend in Ann Arbor. It won't be a game that determines a division title winner. Michigan State will, basically, make that ultimate decision. But it doesn't take the shine off what Harbaugh's accomplished this season. Not even a little bit. Because when you boil it all down, in less than 12 months, Harbaugh's accomplished something neither Rich Rodriguez nor Hoke were able to pull off in seven years. Michigan's tough again. "(Harbaugh's) made it as hard as possible (on us)," tight end Jake Butt said. "He's just pushed us to our limit. Trying to find any little cracks. He's pushed us to our limit. So whenever it comes down to an adverse time ... we've been there. We've faced it already and we can deal with it. "It's not always easy. It's tough. ... But it was all about getting our team to where it is now." In one year, Michigan's football program has re-learned what it means to earn something. Bo Schembechler's teams became great in the '70s and '80s because they worked harder than everybody. All the time. They gave no quarter and they feared no one. They didn't need to tell you about it, they just did it. And over time, talent began to pile up, and so did the wins. And while the talent building still is an ongoing process, Harbaugh's culture at Michigan has been established. And it's a rather familiar one for Wolverines fans. Harbaugh's team didn't spend fall camp in hotel rooms, they stayed in the dorms. There is no entitlement here. Recruiting stars mean nothing. Effort means everything. If you're willing to pay the price, you can play here. If you're not, you can leave. Michigan's not all the way back yet and there's still work to do. But, again, remember where you were and realize where you are now. The Wolverines will host Ohio State next Saturday and the nation will be watching. "The Game" may not decide a division championship. But it won't determine whether or not Harbaugh's first year at Michigan goes in the books as an absolute success. That's already happened. Signed, sealed, delivered.

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