ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the past week and a half, a mixture of facts and hyperbole have washed across the media as details emerge about Michigan football and alleged sign-stealing. But one thing Wolverines players take exception to is the accusation that what is being alleged is solely responsible for the team’s recent success.
In short, the players still worked to win, executed and won the games.
Fifth-year senior left guard and team captain Trevor Keegan addressed the allegations on Tuesday evening, noting that while many in the college football world are now dismissing Michigan’s last two-plus seasons, they’re completely undermining the work that went into player development and execution in the games.
“I don’t have too much say on that. But as a player that has been here a while, it’s kind of, you know, it’s bothersome, because we’ve worked so hard to change this program and bring it back to where it’s supposed to be,” Keegan said. “Everybody can make their allegations all they want but the people who were in here and — we know what we do, we know how we work. We know how we are as teammates and like as a family here. So yeah, it’s whatever. It’s whatever at this point.”
Where Michigan goes from here will be up to the players. Keegan isn’t brushing off the allegations entirely, but it’s his job as a team captain to keep his teammates focused.
He could just say they’re not paying attention to the news. Though he deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account so he wouldn’t see the constant derision of the program, he is aware it’s a distraction for the team, which is 8-0 and has the toughest part of the schedule forthcoming.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s a distraction. But you know the guys and the people in this facility, people in this program, our heads are so focused on our goals,” Keegan said. “There’s maybe a little roadblock, a little adversity we gotta go past, but we’re ready to roll — that’s our mindset right now.”
Keegan said he’s addressed his teammates about the rumors and allegations. He’s aware he can’t control what other people say, so he’s encouraging the team to let their response come by way of winning on the field in the upcoming four games.
“I guess, as a captain, yeah — it’s like coach said, ‘People, they got their opinions, are welcome to have it.’ But, as a team, and as a leader, we’re gonna continue to be us, what we’ve done the past three years, we’re gonna continue to work, continue to do what we do, and continue to work for each other in this team, in this program. So that’s really it.”