The Michigan Wolverines are coming into the season with Shane Morris and Jake Rudock competing for the starting quarterback job for Jim Harbaugh and the battle is close as the season opener is just around the corner.
The Wolverines are under careful watch this season with Harbaugh taking over and the team has not yet decided on who will be under center for the first game. According to the Detroit Free Press, the team has junior Shane Morris and transfer Jake Rudock from Iowa and there is "no timetable" on a decision for the Wolverines. The report has a quote from offensive coordinator Tim Drevno said that the team is going "day-to-day" with the quarterbacks and that they have not put a "time frame" on the pick.
According to ESPN.com, Travis Henry reports that some "within the program" do not think that Morris will win the job to start. Rudock is a fifth year senior and is getting a true chance to win the job and the Wolverines will open the season against Utah on September 3. The Big Ten Network got to report from camp and both players were getting work for Harbaugh in practice.
Dave Revsine of the Big Ten Network writes that Morris and Rudock may both play against Utah if there is "no clear separation" leading into the game. The report says that Morris took the first snap in recent drills, but that likely has no bearing on what will happen with the competition. Howard Griffith said the competition was "close" and that both Morris and Rudock made good plays in practice. Last season Michigan went just 5-7 and 3-5 within the Big Ten and Harbaugh will be looking to improve that record.
Harbaugh may not lead the team to a championship right away, but he should get the chance to improve things after a stretch of mediocre play from the once great team. The Wolverines open at home against the Oregon State Beavers after playing on the road against Utah and the first game will be on September 3, which is a Thursday night. The early schedule has UNLV, BYU and Maryland before the team has a stretch with Northwestern, Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers.
"There are only two involved, that's it," DiNardo said to The Detroit News.. "Nobody else is competing for that job."