Special Issue: Fall sports preview

August 24, 2011

The first football game of the Brady Hoke era is less than two weeks away. Other Wolverine teams are ready to launch their seasons too. From the men's soccer team, coming off a Final Four run, to a volleyball team with a "nasty streak," U-M coaches talk about what fans can expect from Michigan this year.

Football: Hoke gets going

"I've said it before, this is Michigan. There are no excuses... You're going to face adversity, and we have to be mentally and physically tough enough to overcome those things."

Slideshow: Exclusive photos from fall football practice

---

Women's soccer: A young team grows up fast

"Nkem Ezurike is an incredible goal scorer. She scored nine goals in her freshman year and will be a key factor in the success we enjoy this year."

---

Men's soccer: Higher standards

"The incoming players are a strong group with an attacking personality. We'll need several of these young attackers to make the transition quickly and add to our attack."

---

Field hockey: Defending the title

"Our style is very fast-paced. It's an awful lot like our ice hockey team. It's a quick game with a lot of running and passing."

---

Volleyball: Replacing a legend

"I would love for us to be a balanced team, a team that can play gritty, nasty defense and can grind other teams into the ground. I love that style of play."

---

Women's cross country: Attacking the summit

"We were second in the Big Ten last year, and we return everybody with the exception of Kaitlyn Peale. When you throw a couple other people in the mix, I think we are in a position to contend for a Big Ten title."

---

Men's cross country: Hitting their stride

"I know the team pretty well now. They know my expectations. They know at what level they will be held accountable."

Michigan Today home page