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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Thursday, October 10, 2013 - 7A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Thursday, October 10, 2013 - 7A
The engineer turned lineman
ByEVERETT COOK
Daily Sports Editor
Storied programs
face off in opener
Joey Burzynski watched the ,
* first Michigan football game of
his career like the rest of us, star-
ing down at Denard Robinson,
Mike Martin and Jonas Mouton
from high up in the stands. That
was Saturday, September 4,2010.
On Monday, Sept. 6 of that
year, Burzynski was at a walk-on
tryout. It lasted an hour and fol-
lowed the team practice. Noth-
ingtoo strenuous,justsome work
with the bags and pass protec-
tion drills.
On Tuesday, a list was posted
outside the field house. Burzyn-
ski's name was on it, and just like
that, he was practicing for the Redshirt junior guard Joey Burzynski i
Michigan football team, shaking
Robinson's hand as a teammate
instead of a fan.
In his first meeting, Burzyn-
ski wore full pads. Director of
Player Personnel Chris Single-
tary looked at him and said, "Full
pads?You excited?"
Burzynski smiled and said,
"Yeah, I'm excited!"
Singletary looked at Burzyn-
ski, then looked over at Martin,
who is now a defensive tackle for
the Tennessee Titans. Talking to
Martin, Singletary said, "Did you
hear that Mike? He's ready for
pads!"
A "All I could say was, 'Oh, dear,
what happened here?' " Burzyn-
ski said recently after practice.
"The only way to describe it was
bizarre. It was surreal. It didn't Joey Burzynski at the Rose Bowl in 199
,reallyhitme until acoupleweeks
later, when I thought, 'Holy crap, Believe it or not, the 6-foot-1,
I'm playing for Michigan. " 290-pound offensive lineman
Four years later before a game used to play soccer, and his dad
against Minnesota, Michigan would play 'The Victors' on the
coach . Brady. Hoke responded way to those games.
to a question about the interior " After a high-school career
offensive line, and who would where he won two county cham-
play the left guard position if pionships at Carlsbad (Calif.)
redshirt sophomore guard Gra- High School, Burzynski received
ham Glasgow replaced redshirt interest from Ivy League and
sophomore Jack Miller at center. Division II programs but decided
Hoke threw out the name of that school was more important
redshirt sophomore Chris Bry- than football. If he was going to
ant, who eventually replaced play college football, it was going
Miller in the starting lineup. to be as a walk-on.
Next up was Burzynski, a kid that Michigan was in Burzynski's
chose school over football out of top three, but he knew imme-
high school and was ready to give diately after he visited that he
up playing if it meant getting the wanted to be in Ann Arbor.
education he wanted. Being suc- "I'm so grateful to be at Michi-
cessful in class was always more gan," he said. "I'll go to other
important than being successful schools, especially in California
on the field. to visit friends, and I'll just think
Now,the biomedical engineer- to myself, 'Thank God I didn't go
ing major currently pulling a 3.7 here.' This has been everything
GPA is on the cusp of doing both. I've dreamed of. It's been per-
"Here we are, four years later," feet."
Burzynski said with a laugh. "It's Still, college football didn't
been a wild ride for sure." care that Burzynski had been
Both of Burzynski's parents a Michigan fan for as long as
went to Michigan, but it still took he could remember. His high-
some time for the now-redshirt school coach, Bob McAllister,
junior to warm to the idea of said that it's easy for walk-on
becoming a Wolverine. guys to get lazy the summer after
By JEREMY SUMMITT
Daily Sports Editor
When the Michigan hockey
team hosts No. 4 Boston Col-
lege on Thursday, the two most
successful programs in college
hockey will already know each
other better than you'd expect.
Two seniors, defenseman Mac
Bennett and forward Derek DeB-
lois, grew up just 75 miles away
from Boston College. Bennetthas
played with or against the major-
ity of the Eagles' roster in youth
games and national team tryouts.
DeBlois's two sisters and his
mother attended Boston College.
"I converted them to Michigan
fans," DeBlois said.
His family will be in town for
ing with (defenseman Nolan)
de Jong, and I love playing with
him," Bennett said. "He's a really
smart player, and he's going to
be a guy we're probably going to
look to."
De Jong led the team with
five shots in an exhibition loss to
Waterloo (Ont.) this past Sunday.
Fellow freshmen defensemen
Michael Downing and Kevin
Lohan also look to heavily con-
tribute on an inexperienced blue
line.
But the upcoming test against
the Eagles will be a demand-
ing one. Boston College returns
forward Johnny Gaudreau, who
led the nation with 1.46 points
per game last year, while being
named Hockey East Player of the
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
s the primary backup at both guard positions after walking on to the program.
a y
8. Both of his parents attended Michigan.
High school. There's no one there
to push them.'
Not for Burzynski. He didn't
have any guarantees but was still
working outlike he was a return-
ing All-American.
After he made the team, it
would have been easyto get com-
placent. Burzynski was just 260
pounds and getting demolished
on the scout team by Martin. All
he could think about was trying
not to embarrass himself on the
scout team, much less trying to
get on the field.
"I would have to wake up
early, work out, go to practice
and just get wrecked," he said.
I would hit (Martin) and say, 'I
don't know what I'm supposed
to do.' He didn't move and could
pick me up with one arm."
But in between engineering
lectures on North Campus and
summer internships with start-
ups, Burzynski kept working.
He's played in 13 career games
and is the primary backup for
both guard positions.
"I never underestimate the
ability of a kid that's smart
enough to know that if he thinks
he can do it, he will do it," McAl-
lister said. "There might be guys
cOURTESY OF BURZYNSKi FAMILY
that are more talented physically,
but there's not a kid who is going
to give you more effort, heart
and passion than Joey. Those
guys figure out a way to get on
the field."
At Michigan, Burzynski is
in an honors program called
Engineering Global Leadership,
which combines his major with
business and international stud-
ies classes. The end goal is to be
in product design while doing
research on the side.'
That's what he came to Michi-
gan for. That's why he's here, not
for football.
But he's still got another year
of eligibility after this season,
another brick in the road of the
biomedical engineer turned
offensive lineman.
"It never ceases to surprise
and amaze me what he's done,"
McAllister said. "It's a lesson
for anyone, that if they work
hard enough they can create an
opportunity for themselves to be
successful. He's definitely done
that for himself, and he's earned
everything that's come his way.
I know he'll do anything on the
field or off the field to make sure
Michigan keeps winning."
Thursday's
game, and
while DeB-
lois grew up
rooting for
the Eagles, he
says he knew
Michigan was
always the
place for him.
During Ben-
nett's recruit-
ment, it came d
College or Mich
game, he'll gain s
his decision.
"I want to mal
the right place tc
nett said.
On opposite b
gan coach Red
Boston College cc
have built a clo
through coaching
the winningest ai
college hockey -'
935 wins compare
770.
They spokel
Berenson says, t
always have to sti
Dating back tc
Berenson vs. Yor
ines lead the Eag
overall series. Ne
ever lost at home.
The raucous
Yost Ice Arena w
factor for both te
with 10 freshmei
Boston College
in that order, ar
teams in the na
of both teams' 1
classes could bea
ing factor.
For the Wo
Berenson and Bet
pleased with the
youngsters in pra.
"Me, persona
Year. Among
other acco-
"I tomake lades, he was
wantt m honored as one
sure I chose of three final-
ists for the
the right place Hobey Baker
Award.
tomorrow." "Whoever is
covering him,
just make sure
you're pressed
own to Boston the entire time," Bennett said.
igan. After the "Whenever he touches the puck,
ome insight into someone needs to make sure he
feels their presence. We just have
ke sure I chose to be all over him and shut him
omorrow," Ben- down."
That's easier said than done
enches, Michi- against a player who tallied 21
Berenson and goals and 30 assists last season.
oach Jerry York But what Michigan isn't lacking
se relationship is confidence. After the exhibi-
g. The two are tion loss, both Bennett and soph-
ctive coaches in omore forward Andrew Copp
York has tallied said they would be well prepared
ed to Berenson's for the Eagles.
Thursday's matchup will
Monday - as be the first time Michigan has
the "old guys" played a ranked opponent in a
ck together. season opener since 2007, when
o before it was the Wolverinestopped the Eagles
k, the Wolver- 4-3 in St. Paul, Minn. This will be
les, 11-6, in the Boston College's first trip to Ann
either team has Arbor since 2005.
There's more to a rivalry than
atmosphere at location, and Thursday will pit
'ill be a crucial two storied programs against
ams, especially one another in one of the big-
n on each side. gest games of the season for both
and Michigan, teams. DeBlois kept his feelings
e the youngest about the game extremely con-
tion. The role cise.
arge freshman "We definitely have to beat
a critical decid- these guys," he said.
In hockey, friends become
iverines, both foes. At Yost, the opposition
nnett have been becomes hated enemies. Brag-
growth of the ging rights between childhood
ctice this week. buddies and two old friends are
illy, I'm play- officially up for grabs.
FOOTBALL
Michigan begins to whisper
By ZACH HELFAND Borges approached Gardner with Everybody got off the ball just Because Michigan last made
Daily Sports Editor the idea, "I busted out laughing," fine, so that's refreshing." the trip to Happy Valley in 2010,
Gardner said. When Michigan has played on most on the team haven't played
When Beaver Stadium is at its "I thought it was a joke," he the road, it has battled against there. Those who have remember.
loudest, scientists have deter- said. "But if you think about it, more than just its opponent. "It felt like the ground was
mined that the sound is loud conceptuallyit is agood idea." Often, it has struggled with the shaking," Gardner said.
enough to cause physical pain That idea is this: music, espe- atmosphere, and just as often, its "Sometimes we'll be standing
to the eardrum. During a 2007 cially outdoors, doesn't provide been beaten by itself. face to :face, and I won't be able
game against Ohio State, Andrew an accurate imitation of crowd Under Michigan coach Brady to hear myself think or hear you
Barnard of Penn State's Applied noise. A whispered snap count, Hoke, the Wolverines have gone talk," said fifth-year senior left
Research Laboratory's Structural on the other hand, can be reli- 5-5 in true road games, excluding tackle Taylor Lewan
Acoustics Department recorded a ably heard only by Glasgow when neutral-field contests. Hoke has That left such a lasting impres-
sound of 122 decibels at its brief Gardner is under center. That's been clear about the source of the sion that Lewan was inspired to
peak. closer to what the line will hear road woes: turnovers. . text Hoke at 11:30 last Saturday
For reference, that's two times - or more precisely, not hear - at In the Wolverines' 10 games night, saying the team needed
louder than a loud rock concert. Penn State. At the sustained levels on the road during Hoke's tenure, extra crowd-noise work this
It's four times as loud as a jet fly- recorded by Barnard, only those they have turned the ball over 28 week.
over 1,000 feet overhead. It's as if standing 1.5 feet or closer to the times. In losses, they averaged Borges was ready. Hoke said
each person on the field is.stand- quarterback would be physically more than three turnovers per this isn't the first time Borges has
ing near a chainsaw. able to hear and understand his game. used the whisper technique. At
To replicate loud playing con- calls. That means only Glasgow. Those losses have come at hos- San Diego State, Hoke and Borges
ditions, most teams blast music "That's kind of how it's gonna tile venues like Michigan State's used it when playing Brigham
to obscure the snap count. The be when it's really loud," Gardner Spartan Stadium, Iowa's Kinnick Young or Utah.
Michigan football team has done said. "Just like I'm whispering Stadium or Ohio State's Ohio Sta- Did it work?
the same in the past. even if I'm yelling at the top of my dium. Hoke isn't sold that crowd "I think so," Hoke said. "It's
'' But when the Wolverines lungs." noise is to blame, but he acknowl- hard for me to remember to be
began practice Tuesday, there By Wednesday, Gardner was a edged that it can be a factor. honest with you. We got crushed
was no music, no noise. Instead, believer - so much so that he gave "Believe me, some guys do get one year up there at Utah, so it
Michigan is fighting chainsaws a demonstration for the reporters distracted," Hoke said, noting probably didn't help that game."
with silence. When redshirt assembled at his press confer- that at Michigan State his first That's not too surprising. The
junior quarterback Devin Gard- ence. year as head coach, the team had whisper is a close facsimile, but
ner called out the snap, he did it in Gardner leaned in to the micro- communication issues. "That's it's not the real thing. If Penn
a faint whisper. phone. "Set hut, black 17, black 17, not a good thing." State approaches 120 decibels
As redshirt sophomore center set hut." His voice was audible Compared to the other Big Ten again on Saturday, the point
Graham Glasgow tried to explain: above the noise of the ventilation venues, Beaver Stadium is louder, where the ground shakes and
"Instead of, like, being louder, system and cars rumbling past and more boisterous than all of your head pounds, it will be a full
we're trying to be, like, quieter." outside, but not by much. them. There, the sound is all- 10 billion times louder than Gard-
The idea originated with offen- "That's how low I was talking," enveloping, wrapping around the ner's whisper. And that's impos-
sive coordinator Al Borges. When Gardner said. "It was pretty cool. offense like a dense fog. sible to prepare for.
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Senior forward Derek DeBlois grew up a Boston College fan but chose Michigan.