Michigan fifth-year seniors had to try out in spring

Michigan Wolverines fifth-year seniors had to try out for the team during spring practices, and one in particular wasn’t happy about it. According to The Detroit News, former Wolverine tight end Keith Heitzman told The Columbus Dispatch that the reason he transferred to Ohio University was because he was “turned off” by the prospect of having to basically try out for a spot on the team he thought he had locked down.

“Obviously, Harbaugh coming in was going to change things at Michigan — do things his way,” said Heitzman. “But I didn’t know if I wanted to try out. That definitely took me off-guard. I was bummed out.”

Heitzman played defensive end as well as tight end at Michigan, switching to offense last season. In his time in Ann Arbor, he had two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown while also posting 15 total tackles.

Though Heitzman wasn’t a fan of Harbaugh’s decision to have fifth-year seniors try out again, it’s hard not to see the coach’s reasoning for doing so. Michigan royally underachieved in three of four years under former coach Brady Hoke, and Harbaugh clearly wants to instill his system as quickly as possible. If that is indeed the case, why go into summer camp with players who will struggle to adjust and thus hold the team back from getting back into championship contention?

Granted, it is a bit of an unconventional method but as a Michigan alum, Harbaugh has a bit more invested in the Wolverines succeeding besides the fact that the university is paying him millions of dollars to turn the program around.

Michigan opens the season on the road against Utah on September 3.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

One SJSU player in hospital, one suspended after fight
One SJSU player in hospital, one suspended after fight