Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

After a 59-3 obliteration of Maryland on Saturday, U-M coach Jim Harbaugh had many options for the game ball.

History made the decision for him.

Senior tight end Jake Butt was handed this game’s “trophy” for becoming Michigan’s all-time tight end leader in receiving yards, passing Jim Mandich.

Butt's five catches for 76 yards was the most productive game of the Big Ten season and pushed him to 1,521 yards in his four-year career, past Mandich’s 1,508 from 1967-69.

Windsor: Wilton Speight is the reason Michigan is rolling

Butt already holds the receptions record (126) and is only four touchdowns behind Jerame Tuman (15) to hold all three marks.

On another offense, he probably would be crushing all of those.

At Michigan, he’s grateful to have some help.

“It’s hard to even take in at such a historical program like this, to take in there as the No. 1 guy,” Butt said after the game. “I just want to give credit to my teammates honestly. It’s a collective effort. It’s not a one-man record. The O-line, the running backs, the coaches, the defense, special teams. It’s not a one man job.”

Harbaugh has seen elite tight ends up close – his U-M teammate, Eric Kattus, was passed by Butt on the touchdown list earlier this year – and appreciates the history.

“Everybody in the locker room was really happy for Jake Butt’s success,” Harbaugh said. “You talk about Kramer, Mandich, Kattus, some tremendous tight ends that have come through here. I know I’m leaving some out. Most catches, most yards in the history of Michigan football for a tight end is a great accomplishment.”

Ground game: While so much of the focus was on quarterback Wilton Speight’s passing success in the win, senior tailback De’Veon Smith had his best game of the season with 19 carries for 114 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

“Maybe it was coach (Tyrone Wheatley’s) call, maybe it was coach Harbaugh’s, I guess I was lucky this week,” Smith said. “I’m happy to have it.”

Official issues: Harbaugh’s explosive sideline tirade, complete with a hat tossed in the air, came when the officials refused to call tailback Chris Evans in the end zone on his 56-yard screen pass.

Evans crossed the goal line in bounds but the ball was in his left hand and crossed outside the pylon. Officials determined Evans didn’t have a foot down in the end zone with the ball still in scoring position and Harbaugh said he was “bewildered” and “I don’t understand it.”

“He seemed to be clearly inside the pylon,” Harbaugh said. “What does it take, you have to kick the pylon, you have to touch the pylon with the ball now to score a touchdown? If the ball breaks the plane of the goal line, it’s a touchdown. The goal line extends past the out of bounds from everything I’ve ever been told…

“It offends my football sensibility in all ways that that wasn’t a touchdown.”

He also didn’t understand why Drake Harris’ spectacular catch was overturned, due to an offensive pass interference Harbaugh felt wasn’t deserved.

Briefly: A number of players who didn’t suit up the past few weeks -- Grant Perry, Jack Wangler, Jared Wangler, Quinn Nordin, among them – dressed and participated in warm-ups. Perry, who had been out for disciplinary reasons, played late in the game. … Former star quarterback Rick Leach was the Wolverines’ honorary captain. … Linebacker Mike McCray left the game in the first half, holding his left knee. He was already wearing a brace on the knee and it was examined and re-adjusted and he returned to the game. ... Freshman Kekoa Crawford scored his first touchdown on a nine-yard reception from backup quarterback John O’Korn in the fourth quarter.

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.

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