The L.A.B | Rose Bowl CHAMPIONS | Josh Wallace & Josaiah Stewart | Kalel Mullings & Max Bredeson

Episode Sponsor: Union Rec this episode is brought to you by Union wreck which is a local Ann Arbor restaurant they got tacos they got burritos they got back lot smoked barbecue Union joints most macked mac and cheese burgers bowls and crafted cocktails as well as craft drafts plus a coffee counter that opens up early and over 800 inches of highdef screens for Game Time action Union wreck is right there on Main between the big house and downtown in the former fingerly lumber mill building Union re campy tasty and totally game for big games and Big G all right everybody welcome into the lab presented by Champion Circle make sure Josh Wallce & Josaiah Stewart make sure you head over to Champion Circle U of.com to find out how you can support your student athletes two of those guys that benefited from the Champion Circle as they were transfers this past off season and are now Big 10 Champs and Rose bow Champs and headed to compete for a national title next Monday against the Washington Huskies are Josiah Stewart and Josh Wallace and fellas are really really just want to start there I don't even want to I don't want to ask you how you're doing because I know how you're doing I want to get straight into the meat of Bones of this you guys first off we're talking about the the plane ride back and I'd love if you can share what that plane ride home from Pasadena was uh last Monday night I mean for me man I was tired so I went right to sleep as soon as I got on um I woke up with like 30 minutes left and uh these guys were up front uh chatting it up having a good time but I mean I was I was so tired yeah I was tired too but uh we stayed up the whole flight In First Class I went out there Mike invited me and Rod up there so it was really fun coach harbar came up coach clink and you know we just had fun you know just chilling talking to the guys talking about the game uh the atmosphere and it was a great time what's okay so Josiah sorry man you you slept through the great conversation I can never sleep on planes so you know I would have been up there with the fellas uh Josh what's that like man what what what is what's the energy of those conversations like like what's are you guys talking about all the game are you talking about life are you talking about the national title um you know what what's what is those what are those moments like oh yeah we were just talking about the game mostly uh I remember Rob Moore saying bringing up coach her's speech uh he had a speech for the defense before the game just talking about how the roles both feel it's so once in a lifetime feeling and like you kind of feel like a superhero playing on that field because everybody doesn't get the chance to play at the rooll and he was absolutely right it was once in a lifetime experience something I'll never forget man the way you guys took the field I remember I was lucky enough to be down on the field and you look like superheroes man like the look in you guys eyes I was like oh man I knew we were about to see a hell of a ball game and you guys certainly delivered um I okay I really want to go back because I I know we're g we want to talk about the roseb we want to talk about the national title but I really want to go back because you guys were both new additions to this Michigan team you were transfers this off season and Josiah we could start with you I mean man out of all the places you could have went why Michigan um I mean first and foremost uh like just the generation of the players that they brought out you know at this program at my position as well um iel like the system especially I'll fit in well but I mean obviously uh being high school teammates with Mikey helped out a little bit um he says he's a good recruiter but I mean I mean he told me um you have a chance to play in a national championship and I took his word for it and what do you know you know we're here now so I mean this is the best decision I probably ever made so I'm I'm proud to be here you know I'm sure a lot of people say that send that text though you know a lot of competitors send that text and say Hey you know you can compete for a National Title Here I bet there's probably 20 teams that send that text why' you believe Mikey um just cuz I know him you know from the past you know just the type of guy he is you know he wouldn't lie you know then just the way he said it you know it it was real passionate like he really believed it and you know as you know he's a leader of this team and you know he had goals for this team and you know we're there now so I mean I believe them from the jump you get be fired up man we're we're not even five minutes into this episode and that gives me that gets me so fired up so fired up Josh what can you share with us about why you chose Michigan why I chose Michigan uh it just ran like an NFL program really you know everywhere everybody has to be where they supposed to be when they're supposed to be there coaching staff's are great players are great it was really an easy transition coming in you know I came in in the June late June right after I graduated so you never know how that's going to go coming coming on to the team last player be added to the team you know just great great being here I love it here the best decision I ever made as well do you think it was easier I mean the defense is so veteran they're so experienced like the fact that I mean really for both you guys right but you know Josh you mentioned the timing of it specifically like man this defense they call it the no stars defense so it's unselfish they're extremely experienced Jesse minter's been a defensive coordinator for a while like you know did what what were some of the factors that allow that played into you just being able to pick it up aside from your own experience of course what made me pick it up you're saying yeah yeah how you can come in at that point and learn this system and then go execute the way you're execu you made some big plays in that Rose Bowl too yes oh the big reason I picked it up was uh coach Menor and really Mikey as he said as well uh since I got here Mikey really became like a really close friend and brother to me and like he was helping me through the Playbook learning nickel learning corner and that's kind of how I picked it up so fast we used to stay after just watching film or going over Playbook I always ask some question he'll always have an answer no matter what he's doing I can call him like during the summertime we used to do player R practices and you know I'm new so I don't really know how to check so I'll call him like 8:00 at night he'll always answer like not get annoyed so I appreciate him for doing that the selflessness on this team is just so apparent man and I've been you know guy I played here um I don't know how well you guys know me but I played here a few years ago and like you know I know I I know a lot of teams that compete for national titles they probably feel like their teams rare like I would imagine every team feels they're special you know what I mean but when I hear stories like that I really genuinely believe in my like this team special and Mikey sers still is one of those leaders that that stands out amongst the rest man um I I am interested in this angle and of course we're presented by Champion Circle um you know that the the world of nil you know I know that plays a factor and you know what was your experience of nil like at Michigan and and your experience working with Valiant and Champion Circle oh well it's been a great experience you know you get to interact with fans get to meet new people like we had a signing event up in Somerset mall that was a great turnout also uh Blake corms toour drive and that was a great event just seeing the Michigan fans show up and it's always good when you see blue around you know yeah Josiah yeah I mean it's been great I mean like he said especially me and those fans like you don't really get to see it I mean you see it in the stands but when when they actually take their time to come out you know and bring their kids and have all this uh you know memorabilia for you to sign like I mean it's a great feeling and um I mean just the fact that you know they've been so great to us with all the players you know equally so I it's been cool it's really amazing man it's one of the best parts in what makes Michigan so special I always say it is is the fan base the reach um you've been blowing up on Twitter too Josiah that last play the goal line stand when you blew the tackle up and just walked him right that's I was like man that's a big dude that's a big dude you know so you were going viral a little bit uh that do you remember the first time you played in the big house the first experience of getting you know the fan base in person oh for sure I mean I will never forget I mean that was my you know first game in the Big 10 so I mean that's you know pinned in my life forever Josh oh oh yeah it was great experience nothing like running under that tunnel nothing can compare to it man 100,000 plus man there's definitely nothing like it uh and it's always better running out after a win too so okay let's let's start to tell the story to get where we are today and there was one guy you mentioned Ben Herbert that I feel we have to talk about the the strength coach continually gets brought up by players continually gets brought up Byers players um you know you guys being new what what was your first impression of Coach Herbert when you got on campus well well I mean from the jump like you could tell how serious he is you know how passionate he is how serious um he takes his job um like off the rip he was telling me you know how we can develop you you know and I mean I seen that and I loved it you know because he actually cares and you know when I first came in to the first couple workouts like he's treating all the guys the same way like he's coaching every guy you know he's talking to every guy and I mean he just knows how to like get you going so I mean I mean Ben Herbert he wouldn't be here with him for sure Josh you mentioned his pregame speech you know I feel like what I what I continually hear with Michigan is is you know when a guy speaks the words don't get lost like you know and no one speaks just to speak like people speak when they have something to say um and they've earned the right to speak as well um and it feels like Herbert is a guy that's real timely and calculated with his words and it sounds like he delivered a hell of a speech ahead of this game um what's his fire mean like you know like you said when he talked to you guys pregame he was able to get you guys going like what what what kind of passion does he instill into the locker room oh I mean everybody that goes to well that's on the Michigan football stab respect Co because he's literally that guy on our staff like literally that guy but like having him talk to the defense you know just giving us keys I can't I can't say what he said but just it helped out a lot during the game you know just giving us little tips and stuff what to do and you know stuff like that so yeah can't really say too much he had he had he had a great spe that fired I was hype I was hype yeah I figured yeah some of that we'd have to bleep it out anyway so that that's all good so I mean man I I do want to spend some time talking about the Rose Bowl just because you know this is the mission this is the Michigan centered nil player podcast and I remember when I committed to Michigan back in like 2011 I was like you know I remember the legendary picture of Charles Woodson with the rose in his mouth and I thought to myself man one day like I'm gonna play in the Rose Bowl I never got the opportunity it been a a long time since Michigan had the chance to compete in a rose bow so first off you know do you guys remember when did you know it was going to be the Rose Bowl like what because because the F number one team gets a chance to pick when do you guys know definitively when you knew you'd go out to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl no I mean I feel like like we was on still at the hotel and um I guess like the people on the buses were saying that we were playing Pasadena so I mean I it started from somewhere don't know but I mean we kind of figured because of um it being closer to uh who was it because we were a big 10 yeah yeah so yeah tradition right right okay all right cool that makes sense that checks out uh but then how about for you know you're playing Alabama Josh because you know there's a Rose Bowl and then there's a matchup like that I mean I felt like there was so much hype going into that game man it's the SEC versus the Big 10 it's Nick Sabin versus Jim Harbaugh like sabin's won the national titles you know Jim Harbaugh you know he struggled in the postseason whatever the narratives were outside a lot of people were talking and that just added to the hype of the Rose Bowl can you remember a game like of pro obviously not like you've just been a part of but even just as a a fan of the sport can you remember a game uh a non-national title game that had been this Juiced up leading up to it yeah other than Ohio State I I can't name well roseb I feel like the roseb that that was a different experience just being there the whole week uh getting uh treated by lot was it l yeah L yeah it was just a great experience great tradition and yeah I don't think anything was close to that to that game that atmosphere was once in a lifetime man the level of focus you guys had though like make the the way the defense was playing like I mean I really I was in awe watching you guys play it seriously was like art to see how dialed in um a near perfect game it really felt like a near perfect game what was the preparation like for that whole month um leading up to it because man you guys hit the ground running in that game well it was like those small details like from right after the Iowa game you know from tackling angles I mean we know Miro was a you know a good quarterback and you know he's good with his legs so just you know knowing those proper angles um our pass rush Lanes things like that staying in your lane uh keeping contained you know those small details just fitting in your Gap you know and just playing for each other you know was was a big part of it you know proving ourselves obviously and you know playing on the stage got everybody fired up um you know you know playing Alabama and you know making good plays against Alabama will you know feed your families one day so I mean just just the mindset we have just very focused on those small details and I I would say personally is just uh coach Menor just sticking to our four pillars really uh we emphasize that every day in practice no matter what someone cuts across your face like you're getting pointed out on film and just sticking to our keys and sticking to the game plan I feel like the defense the staff had us well prepared for that game and as well the players we did a great job locking in those last three weeks I can tell you let me ask you this because I okay so I know every I'm sure you know okay at Coastal and at Boston College did did your team have pillars as well or something similar um uh you um no we didn't we didn't have uh pillars Coastal nah we a have no pillars but uh I mean we had like a like a mantra I guess for our defense um but like that was about it we didn't have no like Staples for our defense I just I I feel like there it gets talked about like angles principles all this kind of stuff in meetings it gets discussed and and yet you guys bring that up constantly and it seems like it's not just something that's talked about it's clearly executed and you weren't here for the TCU game last year but the the angles the details were what were the difference in that game I mean that literally I remember you know third and seven in Michigan came all the way back offensively and they Mich Mentor sends a blitz and they hit Quinton Johnson the receiver for the Chargers and he breaks one tackle down the sideline and it was like Lights Out game over and it's like a one degree difference in their angle could could make a difference why does this team you know why is this team able to you know hear the the principles and the pillars but why are they able to execute it um just off the rip like I remember it was like the first practice of Spring ball and uh coach Miner put up that same clip of um Quinn Johnson running down and just like other plays us similar to that and he was like you know this got to change and from that point on I mean it just stuck with us and we we didn't want to be in that position again to have a guy run 70 yards down the field and for a touchdown so I mean just you know it stuck with us from the jump and we just kept going with it and um just having that staple and our defense is what's got us here so so you get into this game and you know I I think about the early the how it played out early with like the it was a near interception and then it wasn't and then you know you guys get a quick stop but then there's a muff punt Bama scores quickly like I think about how the difference between a a good team and a great team and a championship team and I think the number one thing is the championship teams don't blink in those moments like there's no finger pointing or anything do you guys remember the sidelines when you faced that early adversity was there even any conversation or did anything even need to be said early in the game at that point well for the defense uh we just feel like you got to put the ball down going to stop you wherever you at you know and uh coach clink uh he always says don't Flinch to the whole defense so no matter what situation in life or on the field we just don't FL don't Flinch you know just be prepared ready to do the job and you didn't Flinch right and you didn't Flinch Josiah I mean the amount of pressure that I mean seriously like record setting sack numbers record setting pressure numbers in that game right versus Alabama did you guys did you guys follow those stats at all I believe it was like record setting numbers or something like like that um there's something to be said about bringing pressure versus jayen milro and if one guys's out of his Gap it's lights out right like he's gonna make you you kind of talked about it there in a second like what was the conversation like leading up to this game knowing hey we got to pressure him this is who we are but also knowing the opponent you guys were going up against for sure I mean especially working with the those inside guys um us being on the same page especially me and The Edge on the other side and along with those interior D tackles just staying in our lanes working together good communication you know when to run these twists when to Blitz who who's blitzing from where just you know solid communication around the board you know was was you know one of our main points from the from week one of preparing for this game I mean we feel like we did that pretty well and then you get down you get down into overtime and okay so how about that picture did you guys see that picture so Bama sends out three dudes in Michigan sends out just Mikey yeah you guys see that yeah what how what what I that I know how that made me feel how that make you guys feel you ass overtime you know we got the overtime we just the defense just knew like we're gonna win this game offense gets in they're not getting in though so that was just the mindset we had and you know Mike is the captain so everybody follows his lead so that was great but our coach putting him out there yeah he looked pretty badass out there by himself a badass pick yeah that's a cold pick bro so you guys are thinking just one stop just one stop and it gets down to that fourth down play and I'd love for you know Josiah if you I mean you had the you had the plays get blown up on Twitter you just walk back at 30030 pound offensive tackle um you know what's what's I mean so okay but also they come out timeout they come out again another timeout it was like two timeouts before the play got snapped you know what what goes on in the timeouts at that point where you guys line up and you're ready like is there an em what's the emotional roller coaster like in those moments where you're thinking The Season's on the line we got to go make a stop and then it stops and then it happens again I mean like you just like your blood's rushing at that point and then you're like oh you just you just like you know ease up and then you walk you walk back to your sideline you know you go over a few things make sure you're ready for certain plays and then you go back okay right we're we're about to play and then you're blood rushing again and then same thing he like oh well time out so you walk back to your sideline make you you probably say some of the same things drink some water and you go back and then I mean you just finally you just get to play I mean yeah is it like a ice kicker like are you are you getting in your stance like wondering man is there going to be like another like stoppage here uh Josh or like are you are you ready to go yeah I mean at that point you got be ready to go that was that was took a little minute to start that uh last play but you know the dine did a great job to side did a great job pushing that old lineman tripping him into uh mro you know defense just did a great job overall just executing the game plan and getting a w take me through just the moment like the the the so I mean it was tackle gets made and immediately the band starts playing celebration you guys are running around like is what's the emotion is it relief is it Joy is it excitement is it Bliss is it let's go get this National Title like what's it like in those you know as the the confetti going oh yeah of course it's Joy excitement all those and then you just think about Dam about to go have an opportunity play a national championship you know so it was great having that feeling having the Michigan fans going crazy in the state I think they took over the stadium in my opinion but it was just a great feeling it was a great feeling I mean first I just want to say we're not making that play if Josh doesn't tackle him at the three yard line but um I mean at first like um I was confused at first because um I didn't really know I tripped him at first you know I just um got up and I'm like looking for Derek because he's on the ground I look up and everybody just rushing the field and I mean like at that point I'm like yo we just did this like you know like we're all Legends now like we're going to go in history and that was through my mind and obviously you know we're playing in the national championship like like let's go finish this like that was all going through my mind like let's finish this because that was a play before right Josh yes yes a play before this is what you got this is just amazing man like that's exactly that's it right there that's it right there like we're gonna talk okay I'm glad you even brought it there because Josh I do want to ask that because you're were on an island there was some hand fighting going on right like he created a little bit of separation and make you gotta make the tackle you got to make the tackle in open space I mean you know is it really that simple you're thinking just technique or you know what's that like ball's in the air you see him catch it gotta come down and make the play you know what's what's that like well at DB you know you don't want nobody catching the ball on you but soon as the person catch you got can't let him get that yak that yards out the catch so you got to get him down immediately and you know he was close to the sideline like our angles we talked about earlier we preach that all the time tackling on the sideline so it's only don't let the two things ran in my mind don't let them come back and then you're either going through me or out of bounds like and I'm not letting nobody go through me I know it's you you guys talk about it so casually and it sounds so simple but like to our viewers just just to like talk about the context like I you can only think like that in the moment if you've prepped it countless times like you can't just think in the moment as the ball how many guys in that moment you know duck their head or put their head on the wrong side or let them get to the field just like a guy getting Baseline in the basket in in in basketball like but you've reped it a thousand times where you know exactly what to do in that moment and if you make the play Josh then the next play you know hey I just got to give my defense some ground to stand on if there's a if there's an inch of turf in there we're good we're gonna get that stop you get to stop right and it's it's special and you know I'm honestly glad that I didn't ask so Josiah you could say hey shout out to Josh because I think that just highlights you know the defense in and of itself but let's pivot a little bit because I mean this is a this is a phenomenal challenge man Michael pennick I mean that dude is truly remarkable at the quarterback position uh Romo dun like I mean you could go down the list it's gonna be a fun game to watch man could you give the fans what are you seeing on tape I mean I'm seeing a quarterback obviously with an explosive arm I mean he wants to get his receivers down field for sure um I mean he's real talented um they're old Line's good um I mean they have players all around I mean at the end of the day it's just going to come down to who want it who wants it more and you know who's willing to you know make sacrifice everything for they have you know they have a great quarterback he was in the highs been running and Elite wide receivers o line Joe Mo as well and the running backs are good as well so it's gonna be a great challenge for us and you know we're ready for it to display how we're the number one defense in the country What's it I mean so you're playing in a national title game like do you guys remember like what what what is it like the little kid in you like the kid in you when you're playing in the backyard like oh yeah we're playing for the championship right now like what's like the little kid in you feel for this week does that question make sense even you know like I I have a little kid of me like I'm going to cover the game um and do some shows around what you guys are doing and I feel like there's a little kid of me I'm excited to go see this you know is there is there some part of that in you guys that's like wow this is a true lifelong like chance here damn right like I remember watching uh those Alabama Georgia games when Alabama won it on that game winning uh catch by Devonte Smith and I'm like damn like bro like those that environment was was crazy and like now I'd never imagine myself you know playing in that game and now I'm playing in that game and it's just like surreal you know I'm still not really grasping it I probably won't till I'm in that Stadium but like now it's just the mindset of you know finish it to really like solidify you know our lives you know as Legends for this program Josh I mean it's tough to be that I'm not gonna lie he kind of hit it on the on the notch but uh yeah you know you never expect yourself to you know play in National Championship and you know it's a blessing at the end of the day gotta thank God for everything and you know gotta that one team 144 we got to get the job done or nobody will remember us so that's one more one more to go one more more man Kobe said it job's not finished uh Josiah you said hey man it comes down to the team that wants it more and I just want to ask you straight up like why why do you guys want it more you know like why why are you confident that this team wants it more I mean from the jump I mean my experience I know um I mean they've lost I mean we've lost uh twice in the past two years in the cfp so I mean there's guys on his team that was that was on those teams that don't want to feel like that again and they were so close and um I mean just finally getting it done um you know how everybody serious how serious everybody's taking it you know it's it's shown it's shown on the film it's shown in the meeting rooms of how everybody wants it the coaching staff shows it so I mean just that just that Vibe on the team of knowing how serious this is and how important it is to you know get this job done we've lost man like that's it right like it right it's we that I'm glad again I'm glad you said it's so true man it's so true like this is you're here now like you know you take you're you're a huge reason this program has gone to new heights like that that's we forever bro uh Josh like what what do you think man like you know why do you feel this team can do this I mean this is this is an unbelievable challenge for the defense I mean seriously this is an I cannot wait to watch you guys play I cannot wait to watch this chess match and this execution battle you know why why why are you guys up for this challenge oh defensively you know we just got to treated like every other game you know just execute our pillars and just play fast and physical really and you know we have all the confidence in the world on our offense that we know they're going to get their job done so defensively we just got to stop them and we got this there's no anyone I mean I won't be the one I know you guys won't there shouldn't be anyone doubting um and and it's going to be amazing when you guys hand out uh head out to Houston tomorrow tomorrow yeah yeah I'm going down there tomorrow too so uh see you guys at media day uh I'll be there on media day I'll make sure to come up and and say hey to you guys and I really I just you know you guys it it is just amazing man it's amazing that you know we're in the world of transfer portals and I think one of the biggest things that I've thought about is like how do how does c how does a culture stay strong when there's you know revolving door and it's apparent talking to you guys I know our viewers will will share the same and and to our viewers please make sure you show some support in the comments just you know you guys the character just listening to you talk uh it's definitely we Josiah and Josh like it's it's we forever now bro this is uh an amazing opportunity for you guys I don't even know I can't even put it into words how I'm feeling so I don't know how you I can only imagine how you guys are feeling I just want to wish you the best of luck I know you guys have been preparing um Monday night man Monday night it's time as we as we get out of here what's the one thing you you're most looking forward to uh in this national title game I say is when it I mean yeah winning it and the defense you know Shan we the number one defense everyone's doubting us again just another challenge we got to attack joe side man I mean you're giving all that you're just putting the answer so blunt it makes it hard on Josh like of course that's the answer winning it of course that's the answer that's all that matter that's all winning that's all that matter 100% man well listen you guys have had a great season man uh Happy New Year congratulations on Rose bow to our listeners thanks for tuning in this has been a fun ride having you guys along of course a big reason we can do this is because of nil so head over to Champion Circle of.com find out how you can support your student athletes so we can hopefully one day get the next generation of Josiah and Josh Josiah I know you have a decision to make NFL or college you'll make 30 you'll make one of 32 teams really happy or you'll make Michigan fans really happy regardless you've made us all really happy this year and uh we're so thankful to have you guys with us and and along for this this ride so I wish you guys the best and I'll see you down in Houston appreciate it Go Blue yes sir all right guys welcome in to another episode of the lab presented by Champion Circle you Kalel Mullings & Max Bredeson know the deal head over to Champion Circle U of.com find out how you can support your student athletes there's a lot of great Avenues and now is a great time to support your student athletes because the boys are rolling and competing for a national title fellas I don't even I just want to get straight to it like I know you the time is limited and and you got to get to work you're playing for a national title the first question I want to ask is like okay you know when you're a kid you dream about playing in a national title right like I I I was talking to Josiah and Josh uh Wallace and I was like man even me there's this little kid inside of me that's so excited to go down to Houston to watch you guys compete and you guys get to compete what's like the little kid in you feeling this week knowing you get to play for the big one uh I mean it's just crazy honestly like growing up watching all the national championships and like especially the ones in the college football playoff era and now like really being in it and really playing and it is crazy like it's just it's just crazy to even think about honestly yeah like it's almost like above like your dreams like it's another step up it's like the um I mean it's the Pinnacle of like college football you like it's what you Aspire for and um I've been watching it since I like can never remember uh like the Rose Bowl games and then also uh since the cfp those been my favorite to watch I'm I'm juic dude I don't even know why I'm getting so fired up right now I'm just I'm Juiced how do you make it real like how because it almost doesn't feel real in a sense you know right like it's above your dreams right like it it it is it's so crazy like how how how I I know this has been your goal going on a few years now and I know last year you guys said hey we will be here like how do you make this week real understanding how how special and almost Divine this week is yeah I mean for me personally uh it's just more so taking a step back honestly and trying to you know bring myself back down and you know remembering that you know we have a job to do at the end of the day and we have to go win this thing we're not we're not done you know The Season's not over we still got one more to win so you know that's just been my focus uh just focus on winning the game and after that then we can we can celebrate and enjoy it yeah for me it's like um it almost this feels like another week it's like the same practice schedule like the days are different but when you get in like a rhythm of like what a Tuesday practice is what a Wednesday practice is and like you've been doing this since September I mean yeah um since September like once you're in that Rhythm you just keep it going like feels the same yeah you got you got be so Juiced I completely forgot about that you're right hey it's just a Wednesday practice right like today what's today Thursday but the game's on Monday so Thursday's a Wednesday right yeah Friday's a Thursday Saturday's fast Friday okay all right cool yeah so you got your structure to fall back on um I'm so pumped to have you guys on here I you know I'm I'm a football junkie and I I so much appreciate just what you guys do what you guys do the nasty dirty work Road grading guys creating holes in it's also you know it's like a microcosm of this team as a whole which I just feel like continually comes up which is just selflessness you don't need the outside praise because the dudes in the locker room know right the guy the guys that need to know know uh Max let me start with you man because I've been singing your Praises on uh first off was that a flag did they get did you get any explanation on that one um I don't think the ref liked it that's all a lot of other people liked it um The Ref liked it too he just yeah he liked it too much that's why he the flag yeah I mean I'm sure you can find the same thing happen like a lot that game and like might be Clips me doing the same thing earlier in the season too to be honest but um no it's it was a flag and still didn't help the team win so it it hurts to negatively affect the team good answer good answer I like it and I appreciate it okay but but what about like man within the game um you know you guys do a lot of motion too Max and I'm watching you guys shift down and motion across and and sometimes you're inserting sometimes you're kicking out sometimes you're pulling around all the way out to the corner on on one play that fake that fake dive pitch to Blake right um you know what what's what's your role on the team as a fullback because I don't think a a lot of people really understand how do you view your role on the team um I see it as like the like modern fullback one of my friends or I think Coulson said that modern fullback um I mean the old school is like 250 PB guy just running forward um I like to pride myself on like I can get out on the edge and block Corners too and um just kind of be as versal as I can like whatever I need to do to help the team win like I'll do it khil and and I want to ask you a very similar question because your role here at Michigan has evolved if I'm not mistaken you came in as a linebacker right yeah I did I did I was a linebacker uh my first three years um and then last last year was my first year getting in as a running back a little bit when did that conversation start how did that happen yeah so I I think it was a last spring ball coach well going back to high school and like recruiting and stuff uh I I played running back in high school so there was always a little bit of talk about me doing it in college and then a last springball coach came up and mentioned it and I was like shoot of course like who wouldn't want to you know get the ball a little bit uh being a defensive player at the time um and then last season you know Blake went down and and we needed you know a guy running back to step in a little bit I was able to do that and then I just just fully made the switch and stuck to it so um yeah that's kind of my story with that and I just took it and ran with it honestly I want to better understand khil Ming's the running back do you like do you like to go around the corner and show off the Speed because you can roll now a little bit like you can roll not even a little bit you can roll now or do you like getting a nice AAP Peter where uh Max kicks out the Sam and you go meet somebody in the hole and run him over like what's more satisfying to You Ah that's a tough one that's a tough one because it depends on what kind of mood I'm in to be honest uh if I'm being honest because I I feel like for me the two of them marry up right like for a guy my size I feel like people don't expect me to be as fast as I am so I like I like to give them uh like you know try to come off more you know brunt and broish and go up the a gap and try to run people over but then when I when I get the chance I like to take it and show off the Speed a little bit so I like to do a little bit of both and you can do a little bit of both more importantly right like you can do a little bit of both not everyone can say that so uh that's a great answer now okay so to our listeners I I started I posted a recap of like the game to my social media in one of the videos as I was rewatching I realized you know you guys took the field and I was lucky enough to be down on the field and Max I will not forget the look in your eyes you didn't I was standing there but I didn't exist like your eyes were just so singularly focused I think they turned like fully white or something like that man maybe red you know you just were so Juiced up do you remember that moment when you took the field fully padded to come out to warm up and it because because when that happens it's kind of time you know it's hey pads on chin strap buckled it's kind of time like that's the first moment when you're taking the field do you remember that moment uh I do partially um I come out and like we do like a wide receivers and the tight ends uh come out together two different Vibes when they're coming out the two different energies going on but I do like a like a little speech like kind of yelling everyone get everyone going mostly yelling and then like once we leave that like everything I get pretty pumped up right there classic fullback stuff hitting my head and stuff but uh it's kind of like my like my like flush of the game right there is I just go crazy then and it's like once I like because then we go to Indie period where they're like you know doing our individual drills but like it's like all right all my like emotions there and like now I just go play like P off of training discipline khil all right so like I played uh you know I was never a fullback far from it uh but you know I played with some great ones like Andy janovic uh in Denver was like you know a guy that immediately comes to mind Andy Janovich once had a great quote and I think it epitomizes fullback you know he's big Jack dude and I said he's eating steaks every day I'm like Andy like you know do you ever eat vegetables like you know the nutritionist recommends vegetables and he said yeah yeah I eat vegetables he said I eat copenhangen it grows in the ground he said that's the only vegetable he ever eats and I said enough said man you know but you know he the fullback does more than just you know ro road grade a linebacker there's almost like an emotional aspect of it like when you see Ben going out there in warm-ups and you see Ben sticking somebody like does it fire you up a little bit do you think it fires up the team yeah no it gets everybody going and then for me personally like playing linebacker and like having to practice against this dude when he first got here and like just knowing what it what those guys are and what's going through those guys' heads watching the film all week and knowing they gotta go meet 44 in the hole like nobody wants to do that so it's just it just fires everybody up gets the team going and like knowing that you got a guy like Bry leading the way and nobody I'm sure nobody wants to deal with that it just it just gives me confidence and all the other running backs confidence as Runners and it's it's just great dude that contact like there wasn't like a low-grade earthquake when you guys met in the hole in practice like there wasn't like a rip like bricks like bricks didn't fall off the side of the building or anything like what was Coach Harbaugh saying I know he gets fired up when when when the pads get cracking yeah I mean he could hit too like don't get it like there I may be like the first one through the hole but like the second guy behind like he can hit too so yeah at least when second one gets there but uh no we used to go against each other and like beet all that like just like full contact downhill plays and it's funny how it like switches up now like blocking for him yeah yeah you go you go to shake his hand and he's over there and also over there and you're like which you guys are seeing double triple and all that good stuff man there's this uh there's like this science thing out in uh Switzerland it's called CERN we're like trying to they're trying to figure out the the like the laws of the universe and they buried this like tunnel underground and they shoot single atoms at each other at the speed speed of light you guys know what have you heard of this you know what I'm talking about yeah yeah oh dude khil you gota we got to send you a video on crazy they shoot two atams at each other and they they smash at like the speed of light and they're trying to create like mini black holes or I don't know some crazy stuff I say that because that's what I picture uh Max and you guys you meeting in the hole together just two dudes full speed smashing into each other so uh I'll keep it I'll keep it on Pace here clearly I'm getting a little fired up so um I really wanted to ask you though to get back on track here with the game you know there there's a moment and I I just feel like the game was uh a microcosm of the Season as a whole because there was adversity within the game and there was a response from the team and let the first play of the game you know it was an imperfect throw by JJ thought it was an interception okay it wasn't you guys punt defense gets a stop bang muff punt Alabama scores right away and it's like whoa I thought we said we had to start f fast guys we didn't start fast versus Georgia we Whoa We Didn't Start fast versus TCU we got to start fast what's going on right here was there any conversation on the sideline I'm curious about this did anything even need to be said or were you guys so rehearsed in dealing with this um you know how were you able to Just Bounce right back uh I'd say like a lot of it comes from JJ and uh coach arbaugh and Coach Moore right there like they were like all right like like at the end of the day only three plays came off the sheet like it went three and out which sucks um but it's like we know we got some stuff on there to run like we're gonna get this we're gonna get rolling here like we're gonna get moving so uh it was kind of just trusting each other like like don't worry like we still got stuff to do so yeah and then I feel as as an offense as a whole like we have so much trust in our defense um that we know you know even though they got that seven points early like we know those guys are going to get after him and uh yeah and and get get a bunch of stops get turnovers all that stuff so it just gives us confidence knowing that we have those those guys that have our back and uh you know obviously give us the time that we need to you know fix up whatever we we needed to uh fix up and uh get rolling so then you guys get the ball back and that first response was just like such a beautiful drive man Chiron just the pre- snap motions and just just it was it was artistic the way you guys move the ball down the field there was a fourth down conversion in there as well right there was a fourth down conver and I I almost feel like it was so subtle and you guys operate like there was no hesitation it was third down then it was fourth down no one looked to the sidelines you guys got back in the Huddle like it was first down you break the Huddle bang call the play move the chains no problem you know what is it what do that drive did that drive do anything emotionally to you guys where it was like did did you settle into the game at all after that drive uh yeah definitely um you know that that I feel like that drive especially just gave us that boost back to where we were um at the beginning of the game you know obviously starting off slow takes you down a little bit but being able to put a drive like that together where you just slowly chop away at the defense and drive the ball down the field and there's nothing they could they could uh they could do to stop it um you know it just gives everyone confidence as a as a team as a offense um and it just just gives us gives us the confidence and the ability to keep going so yeah I'd say the same thing and then like their defense you could tell like after that first three and out that they're like oh like I don't know if they they thought like we weren't going to be able to score on them or something I thought they would like be a shut out you could tell after that drive they're like like these guys came to play like this isn't something that we've seen before yeah that's awesome man it sure wasn't something they' seen before khil one thing they hadn't seen before was your short motion where you came down and cracked the defensive end I don't think I'd seen that I I don't know maybe I I I had I certainly haven't watched every play was that the first time that that you done that motion and cracked somebody in yeah no that was the first time that was that was probably the first time I ever cracked somebody to be honest uh yeah no just just uh came down I I knew I knew he wasn't G to be expecting it right because yeah again like you said we haven't done anything like that I haven't really done anything like that but uh but you know I knew I just had to steal that block and JJ could get around the edge so you know just just did what I did and shoot took him a little while to get up so I I mean usually as a linebacker they see you coming like you don't get a clean shot like that right like what so you cuz cuz when you get in your stance like his back he was leaning away from you he could not see you at all yeah because again he wouldn't even think to look out there like it's khil out there you hadn't done so what are you thinking as you're coming down in the short motion yeah for me I'm thinking like all right I got this dude you know I want to kill him but like I don't want to get a Blindside block or any any type of targeting calls so you know I kinda I hit him but I didn't kill him kill him uh but at at the same time you know I made sure I got a good Lick in on him yeah no Flags yeah no flag but I'm I'm I'm gonna come I'm gonna come hit you so that was really just my mindset all right let let's fast forward a little bit because there was a few key moments in this game particularly our the final drive um the fourth down in particular what again similar to early in the game like it was so operational for you guys that it like it it almost it almost like wasn't even a huge moment because it was like third down huddle fourth down convert like it wasn't it didn't feel like there was a pause to really reflect on how big that that play was for you guys what is that moment like knowing like oh my gosh you know the season is hanging on here by this play uh I wasn't out there but like when I heard the play call and I was like you just think JJ McCarthy to play core I'm like like that's going to get you two yards like those are two names you know something's gonna happen so just like all those guys out there like everyone has confidence in each other like how many times we rep that same play like um comes down to executing it like just trust yeah I mean same same kind of thing honestly it's like you just know those two guys and they've been dominating all season so um when when two guys can just do something over and over and over again and show you that they can move the football and get the job done in whatever way um you know it's just as a teammate I have all the faith in in those two guys and and my all my teammates to when we need something you know just just get the job done there be no reason not to have the faith man there's been a amount of evidence to have infinite Faith so you go to overtime and and first off so you gotta send out Mikey Sr still by himself yeah I know I saw did you see the picture yeah yeah oh that's C man yeah you guys gotta win it you guys gotta win it all so that picture can just get blown up for Mikey forever too you know that thing was crazy but Bama wins the toss and says hey we'll defer we'll defer you guys get the Huddle I mean what's what's that conversation like as you're getting ready to to take the field um I mean it's honestly at that point the game you know we've gone through a full game um now we're in overtime and it's like what wouldn't you do to have an opportunity to play in the national championship and for each and every guy on that team on our team is there's nothing there's nothing we wouldn't do to to have the opportunity that we have now so knowing that our whole seasons's on the line and we have to execute In This Moment there's no there's no other there's nothing else like this is it right here um you know obious as a as a teammate and as a brother like I knew that guys we're gonna gonna find a way into the end zone real quick because um like like I said there's it's the season we have to and with our backs against the walls that's when that's when you find out who how people really perform and how they really are so because Max was Leading The Way of course they were going to find their way into the end zone because Max is leading the way that's a hard ball special man what is it uh is it just counter basically that one we scored on yeah H it's just power but like I'm the first I'm just like the kick out yeah and uh so it's you and Barnhart pulling around yep yeah when you saw the picture did you think touchdown like the P like you know you can kind of feel I don't know maybe you felt you can feel barnhard put his hat on the outside shoulder you kick them out you can feel the Brea you can breathe somehow a little bit easier when the space opens up right did you know touch down right away normally like when I like we ran the play a lot just like different formation stuff but like when you k kick it out like I was like way outside like the tight end I was like there's a lot of room right here like behind me like I don't know what's going on back there but uh like there's a lot of room back there and like any one of the running backs like you give them space like those guys are GNA do some good stuff so you could feel something was up and yeah as my gu started run up field it's like oh here we go it's m you know it's it's so weird because people say do you have eyes in the back of your head and it's like oh of course not but like maybe we do I don't know man cuz I know cuz I know what you're saying where it's like H there's some space behind me I don't know how or what or where but something's there and then Blake hits the jump cut and you guys are all celebrating In The End Zone did you black out for that moment to Celebration Max how loud were you screaming down there when you met him in the end zone I was thinking about that today because I remember just like looking at Blake and yelling something but I have no clue what I was saying I cannot remember what I was saying just like getting up and just looking at Blake and just like something I was saying some like just saying words I don't even know what I was saying but everyone like it just hit I was like we just scored like that was like a that was a drive in the Rose bow like that's like that's a that's one you're gonna see for a while you were like making animal sounds you weren't even making you're just screaming like tribal sounds just as you Road graded a guy out of his Gap that's awesome well I mean because you think about it you guys you drive down you you you score of course there Jake thaw muffed it and then saved the day I mean whoa what a sequence and then like all this happens in just like what felt like a a very like small amount of time relative to the whole game it's like tie game Bing overtime your ball score and now it's like you blink twice in it's Fourth and goal Alabama once again what are you guys thinking at that moment two timeouts as well because that felt like it lasted an ET eternity down there timeout timeout bang the the play finally gets cold uh I mean for me you know obviously coming from the defense it's like from from what I was thinking is you know four is getting the ball um but at that same time all those guys up front Josiah kg Mason uh Jay all those guys um you know I knew that they were gonna and everyone knew that they were going to do what they needed to do um it's just so hard moving our defensive front getting balls caught on our corner it's just so hard to even move the ball that uh as soon as uh as soon as it was fourth and three I I the game was over I was more nervous I guess I like I knew timeouts would get called so I was like all right don't get like don't get too invested because like if they score like we got to go score again yeah but then after like the second time out I was like all right just like stop him stop them you just go through like the full range of emotions man I I was feeling the exact same thing and um the LA the last question as I ask you about the Rose Bowl is uh you know the celebration you know I I just curious about the emotions like is it is it more like a relief like wow like wow we won this one like thank goodness what a tough game is it Joy is it excitement how quickly do you think we're playing for a national title like I'm running out on the field and I was like we just won the Rose Bowl like like I was like wow this is crazy then like you started seeing everybody like you put the shirt you put the Hat on then you're like all right like like I want I want another hat you know what I mean I want another like I want to go win it all I'd say probably like only really got like three good minutes of of true Rose Bowl celebration for kicked in like all right let's let's going win at all yeah I would say the same thing like we win get get the stop storm the field you run aimlessly just run around uh and then for me it's like once once once the running stops and and uh you hug a couple people it's like all right like now it's it's time like we still got one more um we gota go win it all now like there's there's no other option might as well so I'm glad you guys said that because you know we can all celebrate outside we can and that I know that's another story line that's being built like hey like you know how quickly are these guys able to turn the page and I know you guys turn the page um because it is one more man it is one more Kobe Bryan said it job's not finished um and this Washington team is tough they they've been doubted all year right I know you guys have been doubted all year they've been doubted all year these are two Titans uh you know clashing um what what are you guys most excited about in this matchup uh I would say just putting a putting a bow on it all like everything that we've been through this season how how close we come uh as a team and all the adversity that we faced and overcome just being able to finish it all and say you know 2023 2024 Michigan Wolverines are national champions that's you know what I can't wait to that feeling is the feeling I can't wait to grasp yeah I think like the like leaving no doubt like you can say whatever you want but like 15 oh it's like 15 and out like not much to talk about that's the best team in America if you win that right the chance to the chance to I mean you you put it in Sharpie right you can put it in Sharpie and and you could leave no doubt um what really that is that is a good question though is just what this season really has been like for you guys because I've been trying to conceptualize this and put it into context and it feels like such a special year but I mean do is there anything you guys could even remotely compare this to in terms of the joy the emotion really the unity of this team like it it feels like you guys are so aligned and unified from top down I mean is there anything you can compare that to I mean like guess the past two teams like like same thing like uh unified like everybody loves everybody but like it's just like another game of like togetherness I'd say it's like there's not really you can't really explain it nothing like it yeah I would say that and then uh yeah it's just it's honestly it's been like a kind of a roller coaster and because of that like like Max is saying like it's just brought all of us together um you know at one point in the season it felt like every Friday every Thursday was something on the news about us or something going on like um but you know with all going through all that that just brought us all together um and just has made us stronger and made us better that's I just that that is the obvious like assumption I think but it's it's so clear and it's so clear in the game you know in those moments I'm I'm joyful that you know you guys you know had something to challenge you in the game so we could just continue to see your response because it's just so beautiful to see um I know you guys got a busy week here uh you're heading down to Houston on Friday right Yep this is it's it's just been such a fun ride to watch you guys man it's it has been unbelievable the way you guys have carried yourself through all the adversity um through everything all the noise you just continue to show up in chop wood the way you fight for each other it is truly truly remarkable um and and what better chance to do it man 15-0 against 14-0 vers 14-0 right both both teams are 14 14-0 undefeated Big 10 champ Pack 12 champ Washington join the Big 10 next year so this is the Battle of the kings of the Big 10 going forward um the last year the four team college football playoff the last team of the East and West in the Big 10 there's so much change coming forward and it's like this is this is one of the last rides of this current version of college football and for so many reasons man that's why I'm pumped to see so just want to thank you guys for taking the time um I'm I know it's a busy week uh I know you guys got a lot going on but to to tune in with us I know our viewers and our fans are are you know pumped to have a chance to hear from you guys and um I will be down in Houston so media days I'll make sure to come up and Shake you guys hands just say thanks for doing this interview but we cannot wait to watch you guys take the field versus Washington on Monday night and there's one thing I know you guys are going to be ready and you're going to play your best game of the year and I'm so fired up to watch it so I'll let you guys get out of here man thanks so much for your time hey thank you man any time