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Dylan McCaffrey on taking on Army: You have to respect everything they do
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Michigan is just about ready to take on Army, and there’s no denying it will be an interesting battle.
It’s not everyday you get the opportunity to face one of the service academies. One thing to be expected, as is the case with the Black Knights, is the unique triple-option offense. The run-heavy attack can be a challenge for teams that are not used to facing it, and Michigan’s defense will need to be focused from the start.
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However, it understandably is about much more than just football at the service academies. Each player faces a unique set of challenges that athletes at a regular university may not face. For quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, those challenges breed a different level of respect among the Wolverines.
He shared his comments with Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News:
“You’ve got a lot of respect for everything they do, and all the service academies,” said Michigan backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey. “I grew up (in Colorado) right around the Air Force Academy. It’s definitely a different lifestyle. My best friend plays there, and I hear everything he says. You respect that. You know how hard those guys work. Definitely come Saturday it’s a football game, but it’s not a hatred by any means. Those guys grind every day, and you’ve got to respect that.
“It’s tough. They’ve got to handle military training, as well as going to one of the best schools in the country and on top of football – that’s a lot. That stresses me out even thinking about it.”
It’s good to see the respect for a worthy opponent, but on Saturday, Michigan will have to treat it as just another game. Hopefully, the Wolverines come out ready to play. Kickoff is set for 12 pm EST on FOX.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.