Blake Corum on beating Penn State: 'We did this for Michigan'
In Michigan’s biggest game of the year to this point, Blake Corum put together a monster performance to help lead the Wolverines to a 24-15 victory over Penn State. Afterward, as his coach was wrapping up an emotional postgame interview with FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft, he gave him a hug before stepping to the microphone himself.
It wasn’t Jim Harbaugh receiving the embrace, though. It was Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s offensive coordinator. He assumed acting head coach duties on Saturday in light of the Big Ten’s decision to suspend Harbaugh for the rest of the regular season. UM filed for a temporary restraining order to try and keep him on the sidelines, but a decision didn’t come in time for kickoff.
Considering the whirlwind 24 hours, all eyes were on how Moore as the acting head coach. He did quite well as Michigan got the 24-15 victory to remain undefeated — and Corum had no doubt Moore would handle the moment well.
“I expected nothing less,” Corum said. “I expect nothing less from any of my Michigan Men.”
The “Michigan vs. Everybody” shirts were present at Beaver Stadium as the Wolverines fight back against Harbaugh’s punishment, which is the result of the ongoing sign-stealing investigation. Moore said the win was for Harbaugh, who was watching from his hotel room.
Corum echoed a similar sentiment, but he listed a few more people on the Wolverines’ minds.
“We did this for Michigan,” Corum said. “What are you going to do when you backs are against the wall? When you feel like everyone’s against you, what are you going to do? Are you going to cower down? I was told to stand on all ten and keep playing, keep fighting, keep punching. Keep going, keep going. I’m so proud of the university, I’m so proud of my guys, the coaches.
“Coach Harbaugh, this is for you, baby. I’m just so proud of my guys, man. We’re gonna keep coming, we’re gonna keep going. Everything that’s going on right now is just bringing us closer together. I love my team. All praise to God.”
Blake Corum on his big day vs. Penn State: ‘This is what I was made for’
Blake Corum was the most important player on the field for Michigan, which ran 32 consecutive run plays to help get the victory. He took 26 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns to lead the charge.
A year ago, he was recovering from a torn ACL and questions swirled about whether he’d end up declaring for the NFL Draft. But Corum returned to Ann Arbor for one final go-round, and games like Saturday are why he did.
“This is what I was made for,” Corum said. “This is what my team was made for. The offensive line, I told them just fight, man. Push, push and I’m gonna run downhill. I’m so proud of Donovan [Edwards], I’m so proud of the tight ends. J.J. [McCarthy], he got dinged up but he kept fighting, man.
“This team’s full of fighters. That’s what I love about them. That’s why I came back. I didn’t come back for stats, I didn’t come back for touchdowns. I came back for these guys, I came back to win. I’m just so blessed.”
As for what’s next — a quest for the Big Ten title, a College Football Playoff spot and, of course, a victory over rival Ohio State — Corum knows the message is simple. And it’s something he learned from Harbaugh.
“We’ve just go to be where our feet are, take everything in and just stay together as one,” Corum said. “Coach Harbaugh has instilled in us what it’s like to be a team. We have built the culture at the University of Michigan, and it’s a good one. We’ve just got to be where are feet are … just keep going. Don’t change anything. Be ourselves and love one another.”