It may not seem like a big deal, but the Michigan football players have noticed.
Last year central campus and U-M president Mark Schlissel's lawn featured a protest about the football team this week, a furor in the aftermath of the mishandling of Shane Morris' concussion.
This year, as September concluded, the only thing the Wolverines were seeing from students on campus was gratitude.
"It feels good going up on campus and getting some high fives," U-M tight end A.J. Williams said this week.
He can tell the difference between the beginning of last season's slide to a 5-7 season and this year's 3-1 start with momentum, heading to Maryland for today's noon kickoff and the beginning of the Big Ten season.