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WATCH: Karan Higdon, Mike Hart share special moment following Indiana-Michigan game

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Mike Hart will forever be a Michigan legend. Though it’s been more than a decade since the prolific running back touched the football for the Maize and Blue, he’s still revered by ball carriers wearing those colors today.

On Saturday, Hart returned to Michigan Stadium, though he was on the opposite sideline. He’s currently Indiana’s running backs coach, accepting a position on Tom Allen’s staff prior to the season.

Current UM running back Karan Higdon wanted a chance to talk with the legend on the same field Hart dominated more than 10 years ago. After the game, Higdon sought out Hart, and had a few words for his hero.

“You’re my idol, bro,” Higdon said. “You’re my idol.”

It’s pretty special that Hart still has that kind of impact. But it’s hard to forget just how special of a player he was when he was in Ann Arbor on the Michigan sideline.

Hart recorded 5,040 yards and 41 touchdowns with the Wolverines from 2004-2007. He’s one of just six B1G running backs in history to hit the 5,000-yard plateau. In three of his four seasons he exceeded 1,000 yards on the ground. The only year he failed to hit the mark was an injury-riddled year in 2005.

Now, Higdon is attempting to leave his legacy on the program, and doing one hell of a job. In 10 games this season, he’s totaled 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. Higdon has reached the 100-yard mark eight times this fall, including Saturday against Indiana, tallying 101 yards and a touchdown in the win.

It’s safe to say that he’s doing a great job of living up to Hart’s standard.

Hart will forever be a legend to fans of the Maize and Blue. It’s pretty cool that his time in Ann Arbor still resonates with current players, too.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB