Hold onto the ball

Mike Hart is an incredible runner but even more incredible than his running ability is his ability to hold onto the ball. As everyone knows, Coach Carr despises nothing more than turnovers. Therefore, he highly values Hart's uncanny ability to hold onto the ball. Hart enters the Central Michigan game with 450 consecutive offensive touches without a fumble. He touched the ball 32 times in the 2006 season opener vs. Vanderbilt (31 carries, 1 reception). Hart completed the 2005 season without a fumble, touching the ball 166 times (150 carries and 16 receptions) without a miscue. He carried the ball 230 times and added 22 receptions in eight-plus games in 2004 following his only career fumble during the 4th quarter of the Big Ten opener vs. Iowa on 9-25-04. Go Blue!

*Note: Information derived from MGoBlue's Michigan vs. CMU Game Notes (page 7).
*Note 2: Photo of Mike Hart by John Greilick/The Detroit News