Along with 'SMASH!' Michigan football OL channeling poetry for unit identity

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Move over ‘smash!’ the Michigan football offensive line has a new creed. But it may not be quite as fun to yell out.

Of course, the Wolverines still intend to ‘smash!’ especially given that the man who proliferated that as a slogan within the halls of Schembechler is now the head coach. But as this new offensive line is being forged, they’re channeling a Latin word popularized by 19th-century poet William Earnest Henley.

Invictus.

Right guard Giovanni El-Hadi explained more about the line’s new-look identity, how that came to be, and what it means.

“Building our own identity. We have to withhold the standard,” El-Hadi said. “But we don’t need five guys to play, but we need 10. And we all have to be on the same page. We all have to be ready whenever our name is called up because people are gonna get hurt. That’s how it goes, it’s football. And whoever’s up next, you got to go out there and play well.

“Holding that standard, building our name. Myles (Hinton) — we think about our name for ourselves, — and he brought up ‘Invictus,’ and none of us know what that meant! And then he told us a little bit about the word, being unconquerable, unbeatable. I feel like that’s what we are. ”

El-Hadi adequately described the Latin meaning of the word, but it was popularized by Henley’s poem.

Out of the night that covers me

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance,

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate

I am the captain of my soul.

The unit’s new position coach, Grant Newsome (who moved over from tight ends) loves this new creed and mantra and feels like it adequately suits the group mission. And it turns out, Invictus is the standard, not just an aspiration.

“I think it’s a perfect description,” Newsome said. “I think one thing that we’ve kind of embodied is the idea that, hey, we respect everyone we play. We’re not going to fear anyone. There should be no fear, especially in that room, especially at this place. Like I said, I think you’ve got a lot of guys who are hungry to prove that hey, we’re really good players too. Not tired of or not upset at the guys who came before them who did a great job and set that standard but excited and eager to live up to the standard that’s been set and try to exceed it.”