Michigan defender vows to play for Jaishawn Barham, expects dominant second-half return
ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines will be without senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the first half of Saturday night’s game at Oklahoma, which has lit a fire under the defenders left behind to start the game.
Barham was ejected in the third quarter of the 34-17 win over New Mexico last weekend after a sack-fumble-touchdown review not only showed the quarterback was down, but ruled that Barham made illegal contact to the head. This triggered a targeting penalty that led to the ejection and missing the first half of this week’s game.
Fifth-year EDGE TJ Guy spoke to the media on Tuesday night at Schembechler Hall, stating he expects the team to play for him in the first half before he enters the game for the third and fourth quarters.
”You know how bad he wants to be out there for us and he knows how bad we want him out there with us, so we going to play for him for sure,” Guy said. “…I mean, did you guys watch me on the play? Go watch me on the play, bro. They were holding me and s–––. They didn’t seem to call too much stuff for us, but I don’t think he should get punished for the way he plays. He’s a big, strong, fast, aggressive guy. So I tell him not to take that away from him at all.”
Guy said that the Michigan linebacker has taken the first-half suspension in stride and plans on being a game-wrecker once he is back out there.
”[He has handled it] like a professional,” Guy said. “He’s not beating himself up or making a big deal out of it. He is gonna come back in the second half and f––– s––– up, for real.”
The question this week has been what Barham could have done differently on the now-controversial play. Guy said it is all about staying in the zone they are coached to hit.
Top 10
- 1Hot
U-M/OU Preview
Sooners insider weighs in
- 2Trending
X-factors
Players to watch at Oklahoma
- 3Hot
Early Enrollees
2025 recruits coming this winter
- 4
News and Views
U-M defender must step up
- 5
Graves Raves
In-state ATH on U-M visit
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“ Stay in the strike zone,” Guy said. “But the quarterback was so short and he’s [6-3], so I can’t really tell him to dive and lunge. You might miss him, but I don’t know. I wouldn’t tell him anything. Keep being him.”
In Barham’s absence, Michigan will likely turn to sophomore Cole Sullivan and senior Jimmy Rolder in relief. Luckily, both are coming off strong showings in the opener.
”They were hoopin’,” Guy said. “They were doing their thing, bro. I’m really proud of them. All the linebackers had a great camp. But those guys are starting-caliber guys, so it was good to see them go out there and make plays be who they are.”
Michigan and Oklahoma do battle on Saturday night as the game of the week in college football. The two storied programs have met only once on the gridiron, a 14-6 Sooner victory in the 1975 Orange Bowl. Saturday’s game will also be a homecoming of sorts for head coach Sherrone Moore, who went to Oklahoma and played offensive line from 2006-07.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. ESPN’s College GameDay will also be live from the Norman in the morning. The trip down to Oklahoma will be the first road game U-M has played against an SEC opponent.
