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top three teams and will usually win the Big Ten conference in at least one sport. Finally, Michigan graduates and former students can be found near the top of each and every field. The Wolverines have Presidential blood in Gerald Ford, the most successful Asian American actress in Lucy Liu, one of the most successful recording artists ever in Madonna and a top TV journalist in Bob Woodruff-just to highlight a relatively small number of the university's successful graduates outside of sports. This high level of success is similarly expected in college football and has almost always been fulfilled. Furthermore, it matters more in college football because that is precisely one of the top reasons why so many people are aware of the university's general excellence in the first place. Thus, the team's record reflects on the university in more ways than just college football.

One of the reasons why Michigan's historic loss to Division I-AA school Appalachian State in 2007 remains a favorite topic in the college football world is because it happened to Michigan. Other teams lost to Division I-AA schools and there were several unbelievable upsets in 2007, including a USC loss to Stanford, but none of those losses became and remain the story at the level of Michigan's huge upset. More is expected of Michigan not only from its university and its fans, but also from the same sports media and rivals who criticize the Wolverines and its fans for high expectations and an emphasis on history. Many people argue that Michigan should be happy with a 7-5 record on the season because it's still a winning record or other teams would love to win 7 games. These people clearly are not and have never been affiliated with the University of Michigan. Michigan does not do anything halfway, including its college football season wins-Michigan is almost always among the best. That is what the Wolverines are known for. That is what the Wolverines expect from its students, graduates and athletes. And that is, for better or for worse-and no matter how much some people hate it-what everyone else expects from Michigan.

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