There has been plenty of talk from the Michigan program as well as the pundits at the national level that have discussed the Wolverines team having the tools to be equipped to make a run at a national championship this season.
However, is this season 'natty or bust' for the U-M program? Can the team still have a successful season without winning it all?
As U-M running back Blake Corum told reporters during Big Ten Media Days, the team certainly has enough in the tank to make it three consecutive trips to the College Football Playoff.
"The way I view it, I hold my teammates, I hold myself and our coaches hold us to a high standard," Corum said. "Part of me coming back was I said unfinished business. That was my thing, unfinished business. On the field, off the field, in general. We have a team that is very special right now. A lot of guys coming back. J.J. has another year with each of us. We have transfers. Drake Nugent, LD, Big Hinton. Upfront, we're great. Team-wise, we're great. We've been working our butts off this summer and I believe in my guys. I believe in the camaraderie, the brotherly love we have within each other right now is crazy.
"What we've been telling the guys now and what the coaches have been telling us, it's just day-to-day now. We've had enough dreaming, we've had enough talk about a national championship."
Before U-M can even get back to the CFP, it has to focus on what's ahead, first. You can't win a conference title after week one and you certainly can't prove that you're a national title contender after one week, also.
Corum and the U-M staff have stressed to the team, with camp opening up next week, that the daily grind is back and the focus should only be on what's in front of the team.
However, if the Wolverines continue to take care of business, all that's left is getting over the CFP hump.
"Now it's the day-to-day, we gotta beat ECU first," Corum said. "We can't think too far ahead. Be where our feet our. We have to take care of our regular schedule, beat our rivals and if we get there, we just gotta get over the hump. For me, I have high standards so, yeah, it's win or bust and I think the guys know that but we don't have to say anything. We know what it is, talk is cheap. Right now, we're focusing on camp on the 2nd and we're going to go from there. We're going to attack each and every day and try to get better and that's where we're going, man. Day-to-day. Being where our feet are."
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