Rich Rodriguez, Michigan players taking their top-25 ranking in stride

As a voter in the coaches poll, Rich Rodriguez said earlier this year he'd put Michigan in his top 25 as soon as the Wolverines deserved it.

Apparently, that time is now.

Rodriguez wouldn't reveal his top 25 Monday or exactly where he ranked the Wolverines, but the Michigan coach said, "I do believe we were in the top 25."

Michigan debuted at No. 25 in the Associated Press poll Sunday, and led the "others receiving votes category" in the USA Today/Coaches poll. The Wolverines upset Notre Dame, 38-34, on Saturday to start 2-0 for the first time since 2006.

"Somebody asked our reaction to it in the polls and I can understand it, but I don’t care right now," Rodriguez said. "I would hope anybody in our program doesn’t care.

“The polls are good for fan interest, it brings interest to the game, people follow it, so I’m not dismissing the polls. It’s fun. It’s a lot of fun for people to follow it. But from a coaching standpoint, from a player standpoint, big deal."

Safety Troy Woolfolk said he did a double take when he first heard Michigan cracked the rankings while getting treatment Sunday.

"I was actually shocked," Woolfolk said. "I’m glad because I know we deserve to be there. I’m just glad every body else knows that."