Michigan ready to begin Big Ten play

The cliche goes something like this — the “new” season is 0-0.
Simple as that seems, it is Michigan’s approach to the eight-game Big Ten season that opens today for the Wolverines against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Michigan is 2-2, with both losses coming on the road to Alabama and Notre Dame, while Purdue is 3-1 and leading the conference in scoring and passing.
This will be the first game in two weeks for the Wolverines, who are coming off a 13-6 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 22. Michigan’s defense got high marks for its performance in that game, considering the Wolverines had six turnovers.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke said he had the team return to basics the last two weeks, stressing more competition within practice, not to mention technique and fundamentals.
He was pleased with practice this week saying it was crisp, and the speed and tempo with which the players practiced were just what he wanted to see. Execution was solid, and mistakes, he said, were at a minimum.
Michigan’s dress list for Purdue has some noticeable absences, including fullback Stephen Hopkins, tight end Brandon Moore and defensive lineman Richard Ash. Defensive end Brennen Beyer is in uniform for the Wolverines.