ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan Wolverines offensive guard Giovanni El-Hadi shared his thoughts on the team’s focus this week, the intense Michigan State Spartans rivalry, and the importance of urgency after a tough loss.
El-Hadi said, “Being sharp, being ready. There’s going to be chirpiness, there’s going to be stuff after plays. We know that. We know how this goes. But just worry about winning the game and playing our best.”
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Return from injury
Reflecting on his return after injury, El-Hadi admitted, “Against USC, it felt pretty damn rusty. Just trying to still knock off some rust.”
Stepping up
El-Hadi praised backup offensive lineman Blake Frazier for stepping in mid-game, drawing a comparison to a similar situation from his sophomore year.
El-Hadi said, “He didn’t ask no questions, just went out and played. I’m proud of him.”
Discussing the offensive line’s depth, El-Hadi emphasized the need for at least 10 ready players.
El-Hadi said, “No matter who goes down, me or anybody else, you got to be ready. We have that.”
Struggle on 4th down
On the team’s struggles on fourth down, he acknowledged, “We’ve got to just do better and execute them better.”
Urgency
After the loss to USC, El-Hadi described the team’s response: “We ate it. It didn’t feel good. We talked through all the issues, threw it in the trash, and got ready for Washington.”
El-Hadi stressed the importance of urgency in practice and preparation.
Michigan State Spartans
When asked about the Michigan State rivalry, El-Hadi compared it to the Ohio State rivalry but said, “This is a little different because it’s our hometown, Michigan. It’s like a state champ. That’s how I look at it.”
El-Hadi also discussed how the team teaches younger players about the rivalry’s significance through meetings called “Teach the Game.”
The Wolverines head to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday (Oct. 25) inside Spartan Stadium.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Bryce Underwood
El-Hadi emphasized the importance of protecting freshman starting quarterback Bryce Underwood ahead of the big rivalry game.
El-Hadi said, “First off, we’ve got to protect him. That’s number one.”
He added, “I think he knows just as much as us how big this is, and we know how Michigan State is and is going to come at him.”
El-Hadi stressed the offensive line’s goal: “We’ve got to just protect him and don’t let him touch him.
Offensive strategy
Regarding offensive strategy, he said the team is embracing new zone running plays brought in by offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, calling it a positive change.
El-Hadi shared memories of the rivalry from his youth, admitting he once rooted against Michigan as he was a Spartans fan, but now fully embraces the intensity and importance of the matchup.