Monday Morning Sports Headlines: Michigan's Revival

It may just be a matter of coincidence that I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 series on Netflix, and stumbled upon the "Fab Five" documentary, or it could be destiny.

Twenty years have passed since Michigan last reached the Final Four, and they have finally made their return after embarrassing the talented Florida Gators. Nik Stauskas showed up big as a freshman, and Trey Burke reiterated why he is an NBA point guard. Michigan continues to display why they deserved better than a four seed (if anyone actually cares about seed).

I think those warmup shirts were appropriate for Trey Burke.

Yes it's more of a shocker that Wichita is in the Final Four, but I think this Michigan team has stolen the weekend. Their incomprehensible comeback against Kansas followed by an overtime win were the talk of anybody's Friday night. They also had the toughest road to the Final Four, playing a five, one, and three seed to get there.

While the days of Glenn Robinson, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and Chris Webber are in the rear view, it only seems fitting that Robinson's son and this current generation of Michigan players has held the rest of the nation captive. This team has shown the rest of the nation that a team can overcome sanctions and return to national prominence. Even though the sanctions are comparatively light to those that have been placed on other major programs, the reputation of the program and history were compromised. This is also coming in a power conference, where Michigan has to compete with Michigan State for in-state players, and Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Indiana for players in the Midwest.

I realize I may be dramatizing their "return", but really what I am trying to stress is that programs that have had a historically bad reputation or little success should look at Michigan as a symbol of "hope". In an era where the rich get even richer in college athletics, a Michigan and a VCU are prime examples of how good coaching and development can establish a program.

So, from a B1G perspective, be patient - Minnesota, Northwestern, Iowa, and especially Penn State. Your time in the cellar may not last forever, and there is always potential to break the spell of perennial mediocrity. Just look at Michigan and Indiana.

Programming Note* - I will be doing a section every Monday on whatever I deem the biggest sports story of the past week. Carry on :)