Since it is now OSU Week, members of the Michigan Wolverines spoke to the media today with regards to “The Game”. Notably absent was team captain Mike Hart.

Hart had hinted, after the Michigan State game, that he may not be present at the OSU pregame presser because he “might say something stupid” and provide the Buckeyes with bulletin board material leading up to the game. It seems Coach Carr wanted to avoid that. So, in his absence teammates Jamar Adams, Jake Long, Adam Kraus, Will Johnson, Brandent Englemon, and Coach Lloyd Carr handled the press conference.

Lloyd Carr on his decision to bring Mike Hart to the OSU pregame presser:

“I did have a conversation with Mike. He said, ‘Coach, I’m not dumb.’ And he isn’t. What I try to do is deal with the issue of the media in the preseason and in the spring. There’s essentially some fundamental rules: Respect the game, understand that when you say something, don’t say it unless you want to see it in print. We want to talk about a game in a way we can answer questions, but we want to do it in a way that we respect our opponents. I think that’s the essence of competition.”

Jake Long stated that if the Wolverines have to play without starting quartedback Chad Henne or Hart that the team would have to step up. We all know and have heard the politically correct reponses that the team, staff, and coaches have given when it comes to injured players; specifically Hart & Henne. But if anyone thinks that they will be kept out of this game, I have some swampland to sell you.

During the Wisconsin game, ESPN cameras frequently captured Hart in his coach’s ear on the sidelines. You could tell that he wanted to play and that it was killing him that he wasn’t out there helping his team. His ankle may still be bothering him, but I don’t know if there is anyone out there who will be able to keep Mike Hart off the field come this Saturday.

Check out all of the pregame player press conferences, courtesy of the Ann Arbor News’ Multimedia section.