DETROIT - Don't count Desmond Howard among the former Michigan football players who have voiced an opinion about the direction of the U-M football program.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and current ESPN college football analyst considers himself an outsider when it comes to the Wolverines. So rather than opine on Rich Rodriguez's tenure and the upcoming season, Howard said Friday he will refrain from joining the conversation.
Former Michigan football star Desmond Howard shares a laugh during an interview after the second alumni flag football game earlier this year at Michigan Stadium. (AnnArbor.com file photo)
"I think that's a question left for Dave Brandon," Howard said at the Mid-American Conference's media day at Ford Field, where he was the keynote speaker for Friday's luncheon. "So I think year three is going to be important.
"I just sit back and watch it all unfold. I have no influence on it - I can't go out there and change games. So I just sit back and watch." Howard, who works on ESPN's Game Day team, said Michigan's Sept. 4 opener against Connecticut will be critical in setting the tone for the Wolverines' season.If things are to improve in Rodriguez's third season, Howard said the Wolverines must get off on a good foot against the Huskies.
"I think it's a good challenge," Howard said. "I look at that (UConn) game as a game that, in my opinion, is bigger than the Notre Dame game, because they have stability. Notre Dame doesn't have stability. They've got a new coach, their quarterback is coming off an ACL (injury) and you don't know what you've got.
"UConn is very stable. They know what they have."
Howard addressed several other topics during his meeting with reporters.
On the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten: "I think Nebraska is an excellent fit. I think Bo Pelini and his staff have done an excellent job getting that program back to prominence. We all said what they were able to do in the Big 12 championship last year against Texas and they've got a lot of talent there. I think that style of football fits well with the Big Ten and the climate seems like a Big Ten climate - I've been there, it gets cold. So for (Big Ten commissioner) Jim Delany to bring that market into the Big Ten is just win win for all parties involved."
On if it was time for the Big Ten to add a conference championship game: "I didn't care one way or another. I think people wanted them to, but do they need to? People want Notre Dame to join the conference, but do they need to? There's a big difference between needs and wants."
On Notre Dame's decision to remain independent: "Well, Notre Dame has always been treated as the darling of college football and as long as you're going to treat them that way, they're going to act that way."
On being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: "It doesn't get any better than that at this level. It feels great that your body of work - not just a game or even a season - but your body of work warrants you being a part of a very exclusive fraternity. But I don't think you can prepare yourself for that phone call because you don't know when it's going to happen. You hope it's going to happen, people around you talk about it happening, but I don't think you can really prepare yourself for it because it comes out of nowhere."
On his transition to TV and on Game Day trips to Columbus: "I'm still learning, but the benefit I have is that I can learn from the best. I challenge anybody to bring to the table three better than (Lee) Corso, (Chris) Fowler and (Kirk) Herbstreit.
"Columbus is a fun place - I love it and the fans make it very challenging, but we have a lot of fun down there. You have to understand that as players, we don't have any animosity toward other programs or other schools. We don't get involved in that stuff and if that's how fans want to act, that's fine. People tell me well that's just a testament of how you did, so take it as a compliment."
Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by email at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.
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