Mike Hart had vision and explosion like no other, but what's more impressive is the offensive line plowing through defenders and pushing them back. Haven't seen a line like that since 2006.
They were good, but those lines from the 90s pumped out pro after pro and and opened holes that allowed Tyrone Wheatley, Tshimanga Biakabutuka, and Anthony Thomas to kill defenses. Watching the Tyrone Wheatley highlight video you can see just how insane it was, combining the holes made by OL like Matt Elliot, Joe Cocozzo, Jon Runyan, Jon Jansen, Rod Payne, Zach Adami, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus, Greg Skrepenak, and on and on. All of these guys were all big ten. Don't get me wrong, the Jake Long, Mike Hart era was a great running game, but Hart couldn't touch Wheatley in terms of ability
Last years OL won for best OL in the country with our 2 RBs Haskins having 1500 All Purpose Yards 20 TDs & Corum 1100 Yards 12 TDs. No Michigan team has ever had that much production out of the backfield and the 3 returning starters & the transfer C from Virginia all 4 will get drafted..
@@tblightningbolt8902 all time leading rusher at one of the most historic blue blood college football schools, the record vs osu sucks for sure but he was in some close games with them and always played good, wasn’t his fault.
@@brettk9316 he rushed for over 5000 yards in college and is michigans all time leading rusher, dudes a legend. Ya he wasn’t the fastest but he played with so much passion, shiftiness, and heart no pun intended. He made up for his lack of speed.
Anton Campbell from O’Fallon Missouri went to my high school and was the best high school football player I may have ever seen. He played RB at Fort Zumwalt West. Darryl Jackson from Webster Groves is a close second. Adrian Clayborn from Webster Groves is right there as well. Anyway, Anton went to Michigan and ran into Mike Hart himself and we see who won the job.
Heisman Finalist (as in he was in New York, got 5th place), as a Senior. He was an outstanding College back, and I don't think the fans at UM knew how lucky they were to have him running at the level he did for all four years.
@ahmad312 Don't get it confused. Just because 2008-10 was way, way waaaaay below Michigan standards does not mean that 2001-07, which was merely a one WAY below standards, should be celebrated. No one should lose site of the fact that when Carr retired, Michigan was already experiencing unprecedented futility vs. OSU.
As others have mentioned Hart's greatest attribute was probably that he always "fell forward"; he got something when there was nothing and very very rarely lost yardage. However I think he has been supplanted by the player he is now coaching, Hassan Haskins. He too always falls forward. But I think Haskins best attribute is moving the pile forward (with a little O Line help) and making 2-3 yard gains into 5-6 yard gains. He also is great at coming out of crowded lines, especially during the Ohio State game and has the speed to punish defenses in the open field. Depending on how the playoffs turn out he could end up a legend (he sort of is already) or an even bigger legend.
Clearly a good RB, he just needed to be faster. Got caught from behind or forced out the foul line many times when some stronger top end speed couldve gotten him to the goal line.
Need some help figuring out a play: Hart was running along the sideline and absolutely trucked who I think was a DE. Does anyone else remember this play Mike Hart had against I believe CMU (or some other cupcake, not sure). Pretty sure it was his frosh year too
Mike Hart is one of the most inspiring players in all of college football. He's the reason I'm sad you don't include losses on your channel. Hart's clutch performance in the 2006 OSU game was nothing short of heroic in light of the hole that Michigan had dug themselves. The entire game is on hulu and I highly recommend it to any Michigan fans who want to see Hart at his best.
Mike Hart was one of those players. With the revolving door of college players dealing with players leaving is just part of the game but it was honestly sad to see anyone else wearing #20 after he left. Just a shame he never got to beat Ohio.
@@jtjorger It's somewhat difficult when Carr ran a clean program that had to compete against the cash and cars handed out by Tressel. As you will note sparty's glory days came when Dantonio was around covering up rapes and in hoops, Michigan "lost" the championship game to a team assembled during stripper parties... And yes, the block was clean!
Mike Hart never had breakaway speed. But, he makes up for it by his innate ability to break tackles with his unbelievable upper body strength. And rarely turned the ball over. I believe it was even less than what I can count on one hand. Glad he's back at UM, hopefully, he'll teach the RB group to run the ball as hard as possible.
Not the biggest and didn't have breakaway speed, but one of the smartest and most determined players. Maybe my all-time backfield would be Mike and Wheatley, but you also have AT, Morris, Butch, Tim B., Johnson, Lytle and many others to pick from.
No he wouldnt have. He was nothing more than a good college RB on a loaded team. Any decent RB would've averaged 5 yds a carry running behind Jake Long and that line. He was not athletic enough to cut it in the NFL because he couldnt just run through NFL linebackers like in college. So overrated.
I mean he was overrated in college. You could've put any starting Big Ten RB behind that line and they would've been a 1000 yard rusher. He's the Ken Dorsey of RBs.
@Jeff Lucas You can make a solid argument about that but that goes for a lot of RBs coming out of college. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are both busts they obviously looked good because if that O-line they had at Bama.
Mark Ingram might do ok if he was on a team that actually ran the ball, but still agree that he is overrated and same with Richardson. Colts are a death trap for running backs? I dont quite agree there. Donald Brown was getting work done down the stretch for them last season. Joseph Addai had a couple good years with them and Edgerrin James was a complete monster. He had 4 years over 1500 yds rushing there and had 2300 yds from scrimmage and 18 total TD in 2000. A good RB will shine. Richardson, Ingram, and Hart are/were just overrated.
One of the toughest running backs you'll ever see. He had excellent vision and balance. If he had been a little faster, there's a good chance he would have won a Heisman and probably had a decent pro career. To do what he did and put up those numbers at his size while lacking that breakaway speed was remarkable.
you know, its sad he never got a shot in the nfl with the colts, he wasnt the biggest, he wasnt the fastest, just like barry sanders, he was the most agile, no loss in speed while cutting, if he was drafted by a team that needed a running back and did not have a starter...man..what a career he could have had
sad thing watching all there's "tributes" for Michigan players is a good chunk of them ended up being subpar at best in the NFL. I mean other than Brady and Woodson, there's really none that would be considered Great!! D. Howard was a beast as a returner but sucked as a WR. So many of the big receivers amounted to maybe 1 or 2 decent season and that was it.
on the ncaa football games on the ps2 i would always beat my friend with michigan and hart would always break tackles left and right and he never understood how until i showed him this :p GO BLUE
How is former Georgia backup quarterback and current Ohio state quarterback justin field is doing, I hear he struggling in practice, Michigan state defense will have him for lunch, Michigan will get him for dessert
I remember when Hart rushed for like 200 in one game and Jake Long got player of the game because it was all to his side lol I think it was against Iowa or PSU.
Idk if there was a bigger Mike hart fan than me!!!! He’s definitely a Michigan legend
Welcome back Mike hart!
Start of the 2021 season. Mike Hart is training young RBs in Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins, and Donovan Edwards
Mike Hart had vision and explosion like no other, but what's more impressive is the offensive line plowing through defenders and pushing them back. Haven't seen a line like that since 2006.
Kody Coleman Jake Long on the left was always the best
They were good, but those lines from the 90s pumped out pro after pro and and opened holes that allowed Tyrone Wheatley, Tshimanga Biakabutuka, and Anthony Thomas to kill defenses. Watching the Tyrone Wheatley highlight video you can see just how insane it was, combining the holes made by OL like Matt Elliot, Joe Cocozzo, Jon Runyan, Jon Jansen, Rod Payne, Zach Adami, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus, Greg Skrepenak, and on and on. All of these guys were all big ten. Don't get me wrong, the Jake Long, Mike Hart era was a great running game, but Hart couldn't touch Wheatley in terms of ability
Last years OL won for best OL in the country with our 2 RBs Haskins having 1500 All Purpose Yards 20 TDs & Corum 1100 Yards 12 TDs. No Michigan team has ever had that much production out of the backfield and the 3 returning starters & the transfer C from Virginia all 4 will get drafted..
*Until last year
Last two years were pretty good...some reason I'm not to I'mpress3ed so far..
Anyone else watching this after hearing about him coming back HOME on the staff
This was recommended to me after Mike got hired.
Literally came here for this!
He just had a seizure coaching during a game against Indiana. Prayers up 🙏🏼
Mike hart!!!! Please be Michigan head coach
The dude ALWAYS fell forward. A legend.
Paul & Megan exactly!
A legend doesn’t go 0-4 vs Ohio State
He slow AF though. Why didn't make it in NFL.
@@tblightningbolt8902 all time leading rusher at one of the most historic blue blood college football schools, the record vs osu sucks for sure but he was in some close games with them and always played good, wasn’t his fault.
@@brettk9316 he rushed for over 5000 yards in college and is michigans all time leading rusher, dudes a legend. Ya he wasn’t the fastest but he played with so much passion, shiftiness, and heart no pun intended. He made up for his lack of speed.
Thank you for this tribute! Very much a blessing to watch at this time while we all have him in prayer.
Loved how shifty mike was getting extra yards making tacklers miss ....loved this guy
Thanks WolverineHistorian...You have no idea how much I appreciate these videos
Welcome back to Michigan Mike
Anton Campbell from O’Fallon Missouri went to my high school and was the best high school football player I may have ever seen. He played RB at Fort Zumwalt West. Darryl Jackson from Webster Groves is a close second. Adrian Clayborn from Webster Groves is right there as well. Anyway, Anton went to Michigan and ran into Mike Hart himself and we see who won the job.
Hart was tough as hell
Glad he’s home
Hart fought for every yard.. love that he's at Michigan now
I miss the Wolverines days of Henne, Hart, Manningham, Breaston, Arrington, etc. :)
Welcome home Mike!
Vision A+...ball security A+...SPEED AGILTY A+...BREAKAWAY SPEED C-
He had similar explosiveness like Barry, and vision❤
From Syracuse....3rd highest rushing totals of all time in HS.
Heisman Finalist (as in he was in New York, got 5th place), as a Senior.
He was an outstanding College back, and I don't think the fans at UM knew how lucky they were to have him running at the level he did for all four years.
How many SPARTANS does it take to tackle one MIKE HART?🤔🤔🤔
Hart was and still is my fav Mich RB! Hes was just amazing!
My favorite is Chris Perry.
@ahmad312 Don't get it confused. Just because 2008-10 was way, way waaaaay below Michigan standards does not mean that 2001-07, which was merely a one WAY below standards, should be celebrated. No one should lose site of the fact that when Carr retired, Michigan was already experiencing unprecedented futility vs. OSU.
As others have mentioned Hart's greatest attribute was probably that he always "fell forward"; he got something when there was nothing and very very rarely lost yardage. However I think he has been supplanted by the player he is now coaching, Hassan Haskins. He too always falls forward. But I think Haskins best attribute is moving the pile forward (with a little O Line help) and making 2-3 yard gains into 5-6 yard gains. He also is great at coming out of crowded lines, especially during the Ohio State game and has the speed to punish defenses in the open field. Depending on how the playoffs turn out he could end up a legend (he sort of is already) or an even bigger legend.
A Real Michigan Legend.
Mr Mike Hart. Go Blue 💙💛🏈
Welcome home....
Clearly a good RB, he just needed to be faster. Got caught from behind or forced out the foul line many times when some stronger top end speed couldve gotten him to the goal line.
Thank you for not putting some crappy music on the video.
a shame he could never stay healthy in the NFL
In case you wondered where Blake Corum got that cut from. 〽️
Need some help figuring out a play: Hart was running along the sideline and absolutely trucked who I think was a DE. Does anyone else remember this play Mike Hart had against I believe CMU (or some other cupcake, not sure). Pretty sure it was his frosh year too
Best running back in Michigan history
Better than Ty Wheatley? 🤔
Been waiting for this one. Thanks so much, WH!
Mike Hart is one of the most inspiring players in all of college football. He's the reason I'm sad you don't include losses on your channel. Hart's clutch performance in the 2006 OSU game was nothing short of heroic in light of the hole that Michigan had dug themselves. The entire game is on hulu and I highly recommend it to any Michigan fans who want to see Hart at his best.
Determination ! That is Mike Hart.
If mike hart had mark ingram speed he would still be in the nfl
Welcome Home Coach Mike Hart. Go blue. Finally!!!!!
He knew all about ball security that is something a lot of kids need to learn from him. He would very rarely fumble the football.
He was Michigan's Barry sanders still the most elusive rb I've seen for michigan without the burst of speed
If you hart had speed he would of been barry Sanders,I forgot how slow he truly was
Love u Mike only wish u the best in life! Find Christ!!! We love u and so does Jesus!!I cried when I heard u were not coming bak in 2024!
Mike Hart was one of those players. With the revolving door of college players dealing with players leaving is just part of the game but it was honestly sad to see anyone else wearing #20 after he left. Just a shame he never got to beat Ohio.
Ahhh... Hart, henne, manningham, Arrington, breaston, long... Miss those days
And still not beating OSU fuck them days.
Me too
@@jtjorger It's somewhat difficult when Carr ran a clean program that had to compete against the cash and cars handed out by Tressel. As you will note sparty's glory days came when Dantonio was around covering up rapes and in hoops, Michigan "lost" the championship game to a team assembled during stripper parties... And yes, the block was clean!
@@bdi3798 Trey Burke's block was clean. Louisville's program wasn't.
What I loved about Mike Hart was his ability to run headlong into a mass of 8 defenders and come out the otherside.
Mike Hart never had breakaway speed. But, he makes up for it by his innate ability to break tackles with his unbelievable upper body strength. And rarely turned the ball over. I believe it was even less than what I can count on one hand. Glad he's back at UM, hopefully, he'll teach the RB group to run the ball as hard as possible.
Not the biggest and didn't have breakaway speed, but one of the smartest and most determined players.
Maybe my all-time backfield would be Mike and Wheatley, but you also have AT, Morris, Butch, Tim B., Johnson, Lytle and many others to pick from.
Blake and Dono too :)
WOW another great running back
Not the most physically gifted but more than made up for it with unteachable determination.
Welcome back, legend.
1:07 GOT EMMMMM.....even as a buckeyes fan i felt that. 😰
dont forget jake long!
Dude was like a marshawn lynch type guy. Keeps his feet churning
Hart is the legend of Legends.
But holy **** look at how big & tough those Michigan line men are. Unsung heroes
We’ve yet to have another one like him come through
How they don’t got 1 run against Michigan biggest rivalry Ohio State 🤦🏽♂️
Hart would have been a good NFL player if he didn't go to the colts who are a death trap for running backs.
No he wouldnt have. He was nothing more than a good college RB on a loaded team. Any decent RB would've averaged 5 yds a carry running behind Jake Long and that line. He was not athletic enough to cut it in the NFL because he couldnt just run through NFL linebackers like in college. So overrated.
+Jeff Lucas
Lol overrated? He was a 6th round draft pick explain how that's overrated.
I mean he was overrated in college. You could've put any starting Big Ten RB behind that line and they would've been a 1000 yard rusher. He's the Ken Dorsey of RBs.
@Jeff Lucas You can make a solid argument about that but that goes for a lot of RBs coming out of college. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are both busts they obviously looked good because if that O-line they had at Bama.
Mark Ingram might do ok if he was on a team that actually ran the ball, but still agree that he is overrated and same with Richardson. Colts are a death trap for running backs? I dont quite agree there. Donald Brown was getting work done down the stretch for them last season. Joseph Addai had a couple good years with them and Edgerrin James was a complete monster. He had 4 years over 1500 yds rushing there and had 2300 yds from scrimmage and 18 total TD in 2000. A good RB will shine. Richardson, Ingram, and Hart are/were just overrated.
I remember watching Hart decimate my high school team in the championship game in upstate New York during his high school days.
if there was any player to bring back to Michigan and play for 1 season who would be?
Charles Woodson sir
One of the toughest running backs you'll ever see. He had excellent vision and balance. If he had been a little faster, there's a good chance he would have won a Heisman and probably had a decent pro career. To do what he did and put up those numbers at his size while lacking that breakaway speed was remarkable.
He was a lil slow but was a beast!!!
We need to get back to this style of offensive philosophy!!!!!!
@boknowsbaseball better than the not beating MSU DAYS.
Smallest power back ever
Don't forget Braylon Edwards
And Jason Avant
Top 3 among Michigan RB's all-time in my opinion.
makes me proud to say i played him in HS for 3 years
if only hart had speed, think of the records he would have broken. Basically a barry sanders without the speed.
hall, crable, harris, woodley..dont forget that defense
you know, its sad he never got a shot in the nfl with the colts, he wasnt the biggest, he wasnt the fastest, just like barry sanders, he was the most agile, no loss in speed while cutting, if he was drafted by a team that needed a running back and did not have a starter...man..what a career he could have had
thats the kind of running game michigan needs to get back ever since mike hart and his class left their running game hasent been the same
My dude was a bowling ball running people over.
LOVED THIS GUY...HE WAS ALL "HART"....GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sad thing watching all there's "tributes" for Michigan players is a good chunk of them ended up being subpar at best in the NFL. I mean other than Brady and Woodson, there's really none that would be considered Great!! D. Howard was a beast as a returner but sucked as a WR. So many of the big receivers amounted to maybe 1 or 2 decent season and that was it.
Michigan running back
on the ncaa football games on the ps2 i would always beat my friend with michigan and hart would always break tackles left and right and he never understood how until i showed him this :p
GO BLUE
@EMSx615 Michigan never beat Ohio State when Hart was there. You really miss that?
How is former Georgia backup quarterback and current Ohio state quarterback justin field is doing, I hear he struggling in practice, Michigan state defense will have him for lunch, Michigan will get him for dessert
didn't have break away speed. power was real tho
Man do I miss these days
@wowzors123
Those were the Days :'(
Maybe it can be like that again.
Go blue!
ahhh the good days when we had mike hart chad henne and jake long and we ran a pro style offense with alot of screens i miss those days :(
I got to tsee Mike play in High School and we was a stud! look up Mike Hart The Run. He was pure speed in High School.
Man this boy was a true beast!!
michigan mike was a truly unique player. There are few who don the winged helmet that I admire more.
If he had the breakaway speed, he would have been an elite RB, but as-is he was still pretty damn good.
at 3:50, what is that MSU player doing? It looks like he's going for the ball, but damn man, LEARN TO TACKLE. hart drug his ass another 10 yards
You gotta show that App St run, even though we lost. It was nuts.
why can't he come back and play for the Maize and Blue again!!!!
Looks like ray rice
Clueless Carr why he recrted a Div 3 player Hart at a Michigan!!??
Carr: "Never saw Hart tackled in his h.schl film!"
Great video WH!
8:28 one of my favorite michigan plays ever
Legend!!!
This man had to follow up what Chris Perry did for Michigan and he did it better! Straight legend! Go Blue!
I remember when Hart rushed for like 200 in one game and Jake Long got player of the game because it was all to his side lol I think it was against Iowa or PSU.
I remember that game too.... #Classic
he was never extremely fast he just knew how to break tackles
i miss this boy
wonder why there aren't any highlights against the BUCKEYES?