Brandon Graham looks back on his career at Michigan

1:36 p.m. Brandon Graham, on facing Justin Boren:

"It was just somebody who shouldn't have been here in the first place," Graham said. "Justin distanced himself a little bit when the new coaches came in, so you knew something was up. He just feels like he didn't ahve to be here anymore. I don't know.

"I just like spicing it up because he went to Ohio State. He could have gone anywhere else. That was like a slap in the face."

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1:30 p.m. More Brandon Graham on his final season at Michigan:

"It hurts to have the season we have hadm, but I grew up as a person and I got humbled this year," Graham said. "You can't take nothing for granted. I'm not saying we did, but at the same time, I always think "could I have worked a little harder on something and tried to find an answer,' and hopefully we get this last one and get it right."

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1:22 p.m. Brandon Graham, on potentially playing his last game as a Wolverine.

"That would hurt, that's why I'm trying to take it all in now," he said. "I was just sitting there on Sunday, my off day, and thinking, 'if we don't win this one, this would be my last game.' It's kind of sad. Growing up, you dream of this moment, and now it's gone. This is my last game. I'm trying not to cry right now."

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12:09 p.m. Center David Moosman, on facing fellow line-mate Justin Boren for the first time since Boren transferred to Ohio State:

"I don't talk to him. I don't think about him," Moosman said. "He doesn't come into my daily life. I don't have to play against him on defense. I wish I could."

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12:07 p.m. Cornerback Donovan Warren, on Justin Boren's transfer from Michigan to Ohio State:

"We're hearing this talk about the family values have eroded, and definitely the family is still intact, and we're still around each other," Warren said. "I defintiely took that as disrespect, but he has to do what's best for him. It is what it is."

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12:01 p.m. Left tackle Mark Ortmann, on his one-time teammate and current Buckeye Justin Boren:

"Justin and I, personally, had a fairly good relationship," Ortmann said. "It was hard for us to hear him say the things he did, because I know when he was here - he was raised to be a Michigan fan and he loved Michigan - for him, he had some underlying issues and it was best for him to leave."

Asked if the reasons Boren stated were accurrate, Ortmanm said "it's just like anyone else who has transferred out since Coach Rod got here. It's people with their own individual reasons, and while some of them have been inaccurate, they're entitled to their own opinions."

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11:50 a.m. Saturday's game will be the first time Michigan faces Justin Boren, the one-time Wolverine who transferred to Ohio State.Â When Boren left, he said Rodriguez had fostered a hostile atmosphere at Michigan and lacked "family values."

Rich Rodriguez addressed that Monday.

"I've said several times before that we pride ourselves on the closeness we have as a family," he said. "I think if you ask our players a large majority, if not all of them, would say they sense that atmosphere. That family atmosphere permeates throughout the program. I've always prided myself on that."

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11:39 a.m. Rich Rodriguez, on his experience and knowledge of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry:

"Everybody is concerned about me talking about the rivalry," he said. "The first day I got the job somone gave me a "Beat Ohio State" button and it's still on my desk. Just because I didn't play here, didn't grow up in Michigan or didn't coach here before, that doesn't mean I don't understand this rivalry. Trust me.

"I understand the importance of the rivalry. I understood it before I took the job. I understand it after I took the job."

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11:37 a.m. Michigan will vote on its permanent captains later this afternoon.

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11:31 a.m. Asked if his spread offense system was the right fit for Michigan and whether U-M's problems were magnified by adjusting to the spread, Rich Rodriguez said:

"What would be the difference in it fitting at Michigan as opposed to at West Virginia or somewhere else? I think that's misinformed comparing leagues to leagues or whether the weather is an issue.Â

"The team, the style of teams in this league are as varied in this league as they were in the Big East or SEC or I coached in the ACC. Some teams are power teams. Some teams are spread teams. There's not much difference there. I don't think it's a systematic issue at all."Â

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11:27 a.m. Rich Rodriguez, on whether changes will be made on his coaching staff:

"I feel very good about our staff," he said. "We ahve great people on our staff, great family men, good recruiters who love working here."

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11:17 a.m. Asked what it would take for Michigan to reverse its years-long slide against arch-rival Ohio State, Rich Rodriguez said:

"Having a better team. We’ll win more of these games and other games when we have a better team than the team we’re playing."

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11:12 a.m. Brandon Minor's ankle finally seems healed, but a bruised shoulder is still "concerning," according to Rich Rodriguez. His status is up in the air for Saturday's game against Ohio State.

Carlos Brown, his backup, was also limited against Wisconsin with a knee injury. His status is day to day.