Mike Sainristil - Those Who Stay Ep.6
A great example. Hey, he’s only a three star… and, look at the staff - they couldn’t figure out what position he should be playing. Michigan football is a tire fire…
Of course, I’m kidding - but, three years ago.. this wasn’t far from what people were saying.
His pass breakup was a play of the game in Columbus.
I’d listen to an argument for THE play of the game.
Season? I think its on the table yeah?
I think that was the best representation of the team in that game. the play of the game is probably the first TD run, just in terms of impact on the final, but i'd be hard pressed to push back on almost any.
Even the TD to loveland .. though not at the top, was such a statement coming out of the half.
The other underdiscussed play, was early in the 2nd half, harbs going for it at our own 30 on 4th and 1. After having no run game... he basically said, if we don't get this shit, we're gonna lose.
Forget the play of the game. Sainristil's pass breakup was the play of the year for Michigan.
The highest of high pressure situations. Usually the moments that Michigan has routinely found itself on the wrong end of in this rivalry for the last two decades. The moments that let OSU right back into the game and allow them to will themselves to victory. The moments that make us Michigan fans all collectively go "Oh s**t, here we go again......."
If Stover catches that, the game potentially comes to within a field goal, OSU reclaims all the momentum, and then its on Michigan to go out there on its next possession, in an extremely raucous environment, hoping like hell it can put a drive together and keep the ball out of OSU's hands as long as possible.
Instead, Sainristil makes the play of the year. He covers a ton of ground to make his way back to Stover, puts his hands up at the absolute right moment, knocks it out of Stover's hands, and the ball falls innocently to the turf. OSU kicks what must've been a very frustrating field goal, and then The Don goes out on the next play and puts the game away. I don't know that Edwards doing what he did on the next play happens without Sainristil doing what he did. Yes, they are completely independent plays on different sides of the ball, but it feels like Sainristil set the tone for how the rest of the game was going to go. For the whole team.
That was an upperclassmen, a team captain, knowing exactly where he needed to be, knowing exactly what he needed to do, and knowing exactly when he needed to do it. That was flawless execution, and he may very well have saved Michigan's season.
I agree with everything you say...that was the penultimate play of the game...except, I don't think UM would have been hoping like hell to put together a drive had it not happened. The team played with confidence like I haven't seen in many years. They were in CBus and played like they were the home team. They just out-executed, out-played and out-coached OSU in their stadium.
Watching the replay on Twitter just now, I realized something I lost in the hype of the moment. Stroud made an incredible throw off his back foot, putting it where only Stover and Sainraistil's fingertips could get to it. It was a top 5% throw, and 1% PBU. Great play all around. To me, it feels better to win with high quality play on both sides.
No one worth remembering was fretting about Sainristil’s position switch. The consensus was that he’d at least be “fine”, and he just turned out to be excellent.
The senior and 5th year leadership on this team is truly incredible. What a great bunch of young men...who all seem to be focused on team goals rather than their own individual glory.
My son (2023 UM Grad) is sticking around in Ann Arbor for a one-year Masters in Information. He's a bright kid, but he's not yet able to present himself as well as the players who've been featured in this series.
I hope there's a great group right behind them.
Thanks for posting. Again, it's great getting a sense of these players as people.
Cool customer. And he's turning into a great defensive player. I always liked him as a receiver but he's an amazing fit in the defensive backfield.
Who is a better all-around player? Sainristil or Edwards?
A great character guy. I can definitely see him as a coach in Ann Arbor some day. He has far exceeded my expectations. Glad he decided to return.
Be like Mike.
Mike is awesome. He was so good last year and I'm glad he's putting off the NFL for a year to come back.
There's some great leadership on this team.
He was already one of my favorite players on the team. I have a feeling he'll be even higher by the end of the season. Hope everything works out and Mikey goes in the first round!
To pile on: an iconic defensive play that will be remembered like the Woodson interception.
I love his back story and the lessons he took from it. Giving, Caring, and Loving is going to take you a long way in life. Lessons that many people could learn from an immigrant. Glad to call him a son of Ann Arbor.
And a son of New England. Say what you will about Don Brown’s defenses, he brought us real diamonds in the rough mostly from Massachusetts and Connecticut that usually played above their rankings, contrary to some of the star-gazers around here with their constant mocking of Northeastern talent. And almost all of them were high character, high intelligence kids with a serious bearing and a desire to see use their time at Michigan to the fullest.