By: Greg Hargrove

Many people roll their eyes whenever they hear the term "Michigan man", but what's becoming just as much of a tired bit is fans and media trying to define what a "Michigan man" is.  So, when Michigan football coach Brady Hoke joined Thursday's Stoney and Bill's show, as he does every week, Stoney asked Hoke for the coach's definition.

"I get asked that a lot.  I would say there's a loyalty to the university, there's a loyalty to this program," said Hoke.  "There are people with a high degree of integrity and character that I think is developed in those years that you're here in how you play the game and how you're going to work at playing the game."

I think Hoke is on the right track, but I would take it a step further.  Fans like to retort with "GRRRRR BO SCHEMBECHLER WASN'T A MICHIGAN MAN!  HE'S FROM MIAMI OF OHIO!"  My response it that you don't even has to be a Michigan alum to be a "Michigan Man".  Schembechler (Miami-Ohio), Lloyd Carr (Northern Michigan) and Hoke (Ball State) didn't go to class in Ann Arbor, and they are commonly bestowed the title.  They became "Michigan men."

It's not about where you get a piece of paper after 120 credit hours.  It really isn't about just football.  It's about integrity, pride, and placing the values and honor of the University of Michigan above anything else.

With Massachusetts visiting the Big House on Saturday, this may seem like an easy win for the Wolverines.  Bill asked Hoke about the possibility of the Wolverines being overconfident in their contest against UMass, and Hoke said they just have to look back to their 2010 meeting for some perspective.

"All you gotta do is go back two years and it was 42-37 here in Ann Arbor," said Hoke.  "I think that gets your attention and I think the one thing we try to do every week is really, it's about us and how we prepare and how we improve from a weekly basis, how we practice."

Hoke was also asked about the leaky run defense, which has allowed 261 yards per game and ranks 113^th in Division1 FBS.

"I think there are some guys that haven't played much football here that are in those positions now where they're playing more and I think that game experience and weekly self-evaluation and criticism and critiquing that you do and trying to improve," said Hoke.  "I think we're making some progress."

It has been surprising how much playing time the freshmen have been getting in the season's first two weeks.  Twelve of them have played regularly out of both design and necessity according to Hoke.  They should once again see plenty of time against UMass and have another chance to grow to become their own "Michigan Men".

You can listen to Brady Hoke with Stoney and Bill every Thursday morning at 9:10 am on 97.1 The Ticket.