Dusty May has Michigan in the Final Four. His first commit was generations in the making.
Allow us to introduce you to the remarkable story of Harrison Hochberg, a throwback if ever there were one.
CHICAGO — Ira Harris grew up with next-to-nothing in the Bronx. His mother had always wanted him to go to college, but the only schools that would make that financially feasible were Indiana and Michigan. His family lacked the funds to visit either university, so Harris picked his destination the way many fill out their March Madness brackets.
“I have no idea what the hell a Hoosier is,” he said. “I’ll go be a Wolverine.”
That decision would change his life.
He went on to a lucrative career in finance, eventually launching his own investment banking business. He never missed a chance to give back to the school that took a chance on him, and in 2014 the head football coach position was named after him and his wife, Nicki.
Harris died of a heart attack on Feb. 21, 2022. He was 83. The mere mention of that day brought tears to the eyes of his grandson while inside the Wolverines’ locker room on Sunday.
Harrison Hochberg decided to redshirt this season, his third with the program. Always thinking two steps ahead, he wanted to take advantage of a five-year plan to get two degrees. And he knew in his heart that this year’s team had the chance to be extra special, so why not sacrifice the few minutes he would get for the greater good?
Michigan made good on that promise by obliterating Tennessee, 95-62, at the United Center. It was the Wolverines’ 35th win of the season, and their 11th win by 30 or more points. Yaxel Lendeborg had said two days earlier that “we might be the best Michigan team ever,” and he and his teammates have gone a long way toward validating that claim so far.
This run has meant a lot to a lot of people.
It has meant more to Hochberg.
