ANN ARBOR -- Stepping into his new locker room a few months ago, Blake O'Neill began making himself at home. At 22 years old, the Australian appears older than the typical Michigan football player and looks more J. Crew than Joe College.
So walking through the locker room, O'Neill was stopped by a member of the U-M support staff.
"Are you supposed to be in here?" he was asked.
O'Neill smiled and confirmed that, yes; he is indeed a member of the Michigan football program. That question, though, and the idea of why O'Neill is at U-M, is actually rather complicated.