Michigan Football: Wolverines Need More Players Like Joe Bolden

Don’t knock Michigan linebacker Joe Bolden for showing heart during a heated moment—the “classless” and “unsportsmanlike” arguments won’t hold a drop of water.

Granted, his tent-spike-driving tirade near midfield prior to Michigan’s 35-11 loss to Michigan State was a bit misdirected—not to mention a tad overdramatic—but the 6'3", 231-pound junior didn’t overstep boundaries or taint the legend of the Big Ten’s iconic in-state rivalry.

There is no need for a judge and jury, as there was no crime or violation committed.

In fact, by lighting an emotional fire underneath his teammates, the defensive cornerstone and team captain was simply carrying out orders—plain and simple.

However, on Sunday, Brady Hoke felt the need to apologize for Bolden, placing a phone call to Spartans coach Mark Dantonio to clear the air. In an effort to further clarify the scenario, Hoke followed by releasing a public statement—you know, just for the sake of being thorough and transparent.

It was thoughtful but entirely unnecessary.

Apologize? For what? So the guy got wild by performing a team-wide gut check in front of a packed Spartan Stadium. So he challenged his own team to tilt the balance of the recently lopsided annual affair.

Good for him.

By doing that, he proved that some members of Team 135 still have a pulse—the intent was there and duly noted by defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.

“I love Joe Bolden! Are you kidding me?” he exclaimed when asked about the pregame outburst. “Joe Bolden...[satisfied laughter]...Man, I’ll tell you what: Give me a room of him. Give me a room of Joe Boldens. Give me 11 of them. Just line them up—put them at any position you want—and I’m going to tell you what: There will be a lot of happy people, and me being the happiest.

“When you say ‘Joe Bolden’ to me, you’ve got a guy—that’s a football player. That’s a guy who’s a leader, who gives everything that he can give. And you know what? We’ve got a bunch of them like that too, which is really neat.”

Mattison got quite emotional in response to the question about Bolden. See it here on MGoBlue (5:30).

It’s taken Bolden less than two full seasons to solidify himself as a leading producer. His 63 tackles (32 solo, 31 assists) are second to fellow linebacker Jake Ryan’s 68 (40, 28) and, since his sophomore year, he’s been frequently mentioned as one of Team 135’s most dedicated members.

When Hoke and Mattison discuss players who get it, they’re referencing the Boldens of the world.

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Following the Wolverines’ 30-14 loss to the Gophers, Bolden, in essence, took full blame for his defense’s lapses and transgressions; it surrendered a season-high 183 yards to running back David Cobb and missed several tackles during the Wolverines' first home loss to Minnesota since 2005.

He had a decent game, though the same can’t be said for the rest of his teammates. However, instead of placing blame, he chose to shoulder the burden while facing an army of glaring TV cameras that was posted behind a flock of reporters with recorders.

"You know, you're never happy with a loss,” he said, visibly tense. “If you love to compete, you're never happy unless you win. And when you win, you want to still compete and you want to keep on it."

Rather than complaining about the defense being on the field for 34 minutes, 40 seconds, he flipped the script when asked if he was irritated by the lack of rest between series.

"Not at all,” Bolden replied. “From a defensive perspective, you have the opportunity to go out and play more snaps. If you love the game, if you love Michigan, you love putting the winged helmet on, you love the opportunity to go out and play Michigan defense."

Mattison’s correct: The Wolverines need more Boldens. Sure, they all "compete" and "work hard," as the staff says each week. But if they don't feel differently while playing—and ultimately losing to—the Spartans, and if they seem content after bowing to teams Michigan's owned in the past, then they’re playing for the wrong school.

Bolden seems to be one of a select few who are capable of making those distinctions.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter: @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references to were obtained firsthand by the writer.