Team preview: Michigan

Originally Published: July 28, 2004

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2004-05 college football season, exclusively on Insider.

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COACH AND PROGRAM

Any time your offense draws a comparison to the legendary "Point-A-Minute" 1902 Michigan team, you know you've had a fantastic year. And the 2003 Michigan Wolverines were an offensive juggernaut. Other Michigan teams have won with defense, and this defense was no slouch, allowing the fewest yards per game (297.2) since the Wolverines' 1997 national champions gave up just 222.8 yards per game, and tying for the NCAA lead by giving up just nine passing touchdowns.

But clearly this was head coach Lloyd Carr's best offensive team, and the numbers prove it. The Wolverines averaged 37.2 points per game, and their 460 total points were second-best in school history, trailing only that famed squad of Fielding Yost 102 years back that scored a whopping 644 points. Quarterback John Navarre set a slew of school passing records in leading the Big Ten's top aerial attack, but thanks to Doak Walker Award winner Chris Perry, the running game also was dominant, ranking fourth in a run-heavy conference.

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