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Max Bredeson’s leadership, lessons from past shape Michigan’s mindset for Michigan State

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome7 hours agoanthonytbroome
Michigan Wolverines tight end Max Bredeson (44) looks on during a practice session before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines tight end Max Bredeson (44) looks on during a practice session before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines captain Max Bredeson is a bit of a throwback player when it comes to immersion in the rivalry with Michigan State. In his journey from walk-on to now a two-time captain, he has just about seen it all between the two in-state foes.

In an area where player and coach movement are at an all-time high due to the transfer portal and the money infused into the sport, a lot of players need an education or a crash course in their programs about what the rivalry means.

Not Bredeson. He has been a Michigan lifer in his college career and knows what it means to take care of business in-state.

“I’ve been in this game a lot of times now,” Bredeson said on Tuesday night at Schembechler Hall. “I got to talk to my brother about playing in it. This will be my fifth time being part of this rivalry, so I feel like I’m really part of it. I feel like I’m part of the state, hopefully an honorary member of the state of Michigan at this point. It definitely means a lot. It’s a rivalry, and to be a part of it means a lot.”

Bredeson gets to be a part of the Michigan leadership that educates new or younger players about the importance of the MSU rivalry, which is something he does not take for granted.

“It’s definitely a fun role,” Bredeson said. “I enjoy being able to spread what this game’s about. Having played in it and being able to be that guy for the new players means a lot. A lot of the new guys are either from the state or have seen what it’s about, so I take pride in being able to introduce them to it.

“My go-to line is: ‘You ever win a state championship?’ If they say no, I tell them, ‘It’s time to go win one.’ That’s a good way to put it. So that’s a good way to put it and have guys ready to play like it’s their first rivalry game, too.”

Michigan is preaching playing with “passion, not emotion” in East Lansing on Saturday night, the fourth-straight game in the series under the lights at either the Big House or Spartan Stadium.

Composure in rivalry games goes a long way in securing a victory.

“A lot of it’s knowing yourself and knowing what you’re about and what gets you going,” Bredeson said. “It’s different for everybody. Over time, you learn where that line is, and guys here do a good job of knowing themselves and that line.”

Bredson’s first Michigan State game was a top-10 showdown in East Lansing in 2021, a 37-33 win for the Spartans. It would be a turning point for the Wolverines, who would go out to beat Ohio State (a streak that is now up to four wins in a row), win their first of three-straight Big Ten Championships and set up a run to what would ultimately culminate in a 15-0 season and College Football Playoff National Championship during the 2023 campaign.

The response that player leaders like Aidan Hutchinson had after the last loss to the Spartans largely shaped what came next.

“That player-led meeting after that loss was one of the biggest ‘welcome to college football’ moments I’ve had,” Bredeson said. “Seeing those leaders step up after a tough loss and show what Michigan football was about going forward—that was huge. Being able to learn from them and how they handled this game is big.”

His brother, two-time captain Ben Bredeson, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was 3-1 against the Spartans in his career. The brothers connected this week with the Bucs playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field this past Monday night.

“I went down to his game, made it about halfway through the first quarter, and saw him after,” Bredeson said. “It was pretty cool. … He always texts me on Monday [of this week]: ‘State Championship Week. That’s always his message. We talked last night about it, too.”

Michigan’s tough conversations after USC

Michigan made it very public over the last week or so that there were some heated moments in the building coming off the loss to USC, but they were needed. Many felt it brought the team back together.

Bredeson agrees with that sentiment.

“Sometimes the toughest conversations are the best ones to have,” he said. “They helped the team. We were able to move through it and grow closer because of it.”

It was not just players vs. players or coaches vs. players, either. Everyone who had a say made sure their voices were heard last week.

“A mix of both. Some from players, some from coaches, but it was all about helping the team,” he said. “Things that had to be said were said. Everyone focused on helping their side of the ball get better.”

Offensive lineman Blake Frazier said the message to the offense was to have more fun and play a little less uptight. Bredeson pushed back on that narrative but said that they challenged each other.

“I wouldn’t go all the way to ‘uptight,’ Bredeson said. “It was more about everyone challenging each other the best way. ‘You do it for me, I’ll do it for you.’ That’s Michigan offense. Guys have really bought into that and keep buying in more each day. It definitely worked.”

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood said a focus was getting the sideline energy up with the offense rooting for the defense, defense rooting for the offense, etc. The Michigan captain said that was something you could feel.

“It’s hard to track during the game, but you definitely feel the energy,” Bredeson said. “The defense was going, and little things like that. High fives after a pick or energy between drives, it connects the team more than people think. We did a good job of establishing that drive to drive.”