6B — The Michigan Daily — FOOTBALL SATURDAY — September 21, 2002 wild The Michigan Daily — FOOTBALL SATURDAY — September 21, 2002 — 7B Ol’ reliable Vic & Bennie the child Michigan captains Victor Hobson and Bennie Joppru have the same job but very different approaches

ichigan captain Victor convinced that Hobson has a multiple- Saturdays. Hobson grew up infatuated ennie Joppru and his older brother J.J. LOW POINT Hobson has never been much personality disorder. with the “Fab Five,” and always wanted By J. Brady McCollough had a love-hate relationship. Separated By Joe Smith Mfor bringing attention to him- “Vic definitely has two sides to him,” to go to Michigan to play basketball. Daily Sports Writer Bby three years in age and a galaxy in Joppru said he was surprised to still be play- Daily Sports Editor self. Luckily, his mother, Audrey, has said June, who has roomed with “He and all his friends always said maturity, Bennie and J.J. always seemed to ing for Michigan, much less earn the sacred always taken care of that for him. Hobson for three straight years. “When they were going to Michigan when know exactly how to push each other’s buttons honor of being named captain by his teammates Since Victor was playing Pop Warner that switch goes off, he’s a different they saw the Fab Five,” Audrey said. during their early childhood years. And they this summer. football as a kid, she has kept every tro- person. I’ll be like, ‘Man, what’s wrong “They were going to be the next bas- always ended up scrapping somehow. He didn’t know if his friends, teammates and phy, newspaper clipping or internet with this dude, he’s like crazy or some- ketball team.” “Bennie was more of the jokester and would coaches had forgiven him for his admittedly article that even mentioned her son’s thing.’ But Victor’s father, Matthew take a poke at his more serious brother and run “immature” act of getting arrested after fight- name. “That’s why I don’t think he’s human. Hobson, said that his son never owned away from him,” said Sheldon Joppru, ing with Michigan wrestler Mike Kulczycki “We keep a scrapbook of every- He’s quiet and then he’s all crazy.” a pair of baggy block ‘M’ shorts. Bennie’s father. “Bennie couldn’t beat his outside Rick’s American Café this spring. thing,” Audrey said. June gets to see the Hobson that “He’s not too much for fads,” older brother, but he was always good at cheap Kulcycki said the event was “blown out of pro- That’s probably because getting not many people get a glimpse of. He Matthew said. “The different styles that shots.” portion,” but both were still suspended from Victor to glorify himself is like try- also gets to hear him — whether he kids wear, like the braids, baggy pants, But one day Sheldon decided enough was their respective teams. ing to convince a criminal to confess likes it or not. shorts, you probably won’t see him enough. He bought boxing gloves for each of Bennie, always one to scout out newspapers his crime. “Vic is the biggest snorer in with those.” his oldest sons and told them to settle their each day, found himself on the front page, “He never has talked about himself, America,” June said. “I can promise Victor may not have been the king arguments in the living room with a few which he said caused a ton of embarrassment to the whole time he’s been playing ball in you that. I swear, my aunt was over one of style, but he found something to rounds — while their mom, Kay, anxiously himself, his family and his team. school,” Audrey said. time and she thought we had a bear in wear every day, nonetheless. The watched with disapproval. “He was so devastated that he’d do something The linebacker is the chosen leader the back. New Jersey native never missed a day “We used to fight like cats and dogs,” said so humiliating to himself and embarrassing to of more than 100 guys, and he can’t “I’m just amazed that a human can of elementary school or high school. J.J., 25, who played football at Arizona. “I was his school,” said Kay. “It was something totally think of one pet-peeve that gets under snore that loud. Just watch him, let His mother has the certificates to always his biggest fan, but his harshest critic.” opposite from his nature and definitely a low his skin. Even when his defensive him be bored for a minute, and he’ll prove it. J.J. was also Bennie’s mentor, and fiercest point in his life.” teammates dance or celebrate after a snore.” Audrey also knows a thing or two opponent. Bennie remembered one time while Kay would know. Bennie said he shares a big hit — something Hobson refuses to Hobson’s “sleeping disorder” has about attendance, as she’s never playing an imaginative baseball game of “special relationship,” with his mother — one do — he takes a passive attitude. given him quite a reputation on the missed a football game at Michigan “greatest catches” — where each brother that cannot even be described in words. “I’ve always had coaches that tried team. Nobody wants to room with him Stadium during Victor’s five years on would toss the baseball ahead of the other so Kay calls it telepathy. to instill the ‘act like you’ve been on road trips. the team. That’s just how the Hobson they could make spectacular diving grabs — “If things aren’t going right, I can have a cer- there’ (attitude),” Hobson said. “That’s “I am used to it, I can fall asleep,” family works. when he led J.J. too far with a throw — right tain feeling as soon as that’s happening,” Kay just me. That’s how I play. I’m not a June said. “I’ve been hearing him “I’m close with both my parents,” smack into a tree. said. “It’s kind of scary and I don’t necessarily showy kind of guy. I’m conservative in through the walls at the house, but Victor said. “I guess my mother is the Was it on purpose? “Maybe a little subcon- like it but that’s how it is.” what I do.” everybody else is like, ‘No, I’m not opposite of my father. I get my person- sciously,” Bennie said with a grin. Kay said she woke up abruptly at around 1 Conservative, yes. rooming with Vic, I’m not rooming ality from both of them, but more so the Bennie may have been the practical joker in a.m. the night of Bennie’s arrest, with a weird But predictable? No. with Vic.’ (Former linebacker Larry) laid back attitude from my father.” the family, but was as focused as a doctor per- feeling in her stomach. She and Sheldon were Senior defensive end Dan Rumishek Foote used to complain all the time.” Matthew had plenty of time to rub forming brain surgery while playing baseball, staying at a hotel on campus near the police remembers one time in practice when But Hobson doesn’t let his quirks off his quiet, simple personality on his basketball, football — and even hockey as a department, and they rushed to the station when defensive tackle Norman Heuer missed keep him from accomplishing his son when he’d drive 30 minutes each kid. they heard the news. the play call in the huddle. The offense goals. He’s a preseason All-America day to pick Victor up at football prac- Growing up in Wayzata, Minn., where hock- His parents flew back to Minneapolis that was hurrying up to the line, and then, candidate in just about every publica- tice. Victor and his father were never ey was as big as the Beatles, Bennie became a next morning and arrived home at 4 p.m. Less something incredible happened. tion, and coach Lloyd Carr firmly really emotional with each other. “rink rat,” spending nearly 10 hours each day than an hour later, Kay said Bennie called ask- Hobson yelled. believes he can be one of the top line- Matthew would let Audrey handle all on a local outdoor pond playing “boot hockey” ing for help and for her to come back. DAVID KATZ/Daily “I’d never heard the man yell before,” backers in Michigan’s history. the mushy stuff. He concentrated on with kids nearly twice his age. Bennie said he “Just wanted to be there for him,” Kay said. Michigan captain Bennie Joppru looks ahead at a Washington defender in the Wolverines’ 31-29 victory. Rumishek said. “He’s got that deep discipline, school and making sure EMMA FOSDICK/ even played against some of the stars of the “He definitely was realizing he wasn’t doing Joppru has beceome a vital part of Michigan’s offense since the game against the Huskies. Daily voice. Everyone was in silence, like TH E FAMILY M A N Victor learned at a young age to “not be famous Disney movie “The Mighty Ducks,” the right things. He was in party mode and real- ‘Was that Vic?’ ” disruptive.” which was shot at the same arena he played in. izing that wasn’t getting him anywhere.” to visit him in August, he had nothing there to field, ranking second on the team with 11 It might not have been the same But Carr is lucky to have Hobson Matthew checks up on Victor, even Joppru remembers one time in two-a- tackles for loss and three sacks through And whenever Bennie played, he’d be the Kay spent nearly 10 days at Bennie’s house, eat that was junky — not a cracker, potato chip, receptions, including a career-high seven catch- Victor Hobson. Safety Cato June is sporting the winged helmet on now, to make sure he’s still on the days that Hobson knocked him out for three games. first pick. where he lived alone. They watched movies, candy. Not even any bread,” Kay said. es for 80 yards against Notre Dame. right track. a few seconds. But more importantly, as Rumishek “Kids in high school would call Bennie went out to dinner and reflected a bit. Kay said When coaches and teammates came back this Not bad for a guy who was close to not “I see coach Carr and his other Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle puts it, “he’s one heckuva leader.” Of when he was like eight years old to play — Bennie was too ashamed to go outside and did- summer, they also noticed the “new Joppru.” returning to the Maize and Blue. Carr calls coaches, and I see how he’s doing,” Holiday has probably been having course, with Hobson, that’s usually by because he could play goalie, and play it well,” n’t want to see anyone. “I was talking with (backup quarterback) Joppru’s transformation a “wonderful story.” Matthew explained. “It’s always a posi- nightmares ever since last Saturday’s example. Linebacker Zach Kaufman Sheldon said. “I tried to cook some meals for him, but with Spencer Brinton and he said ‘I’ve never seen a “He was on a path from being an under- tive comment. He respects other people Irish victory. Hobson hit Holiday with said he has learned more from Kay Joppru said the reason Bennie played the very few pots and pans in his house it was guy run the mile-and-a-half like I saw Bennie achiever here,” Carr said. “He’d be the first to and doesn’t create problems.” his “signature move” at least two times. Hobson’s ability to dissect tape of goal was because he scored close to 100 goals kind of difficult,” Kay said. Joppru run when our team reported back,’” Carr tell you his priorities were not in order and he Audrey has always won Victor’s “The move,” as June tabbed it, consists opponents than anything else. while playing hockey at age 6 — and his coach said. “Bennie is a guy who really committed had off-the-field-problems last spring. He had devotion with her home cooking, espe- of a lift of the victim, then a drive into “He’ll tell you what to watch for, and forced him between the pipes to keep him off A CHANGED M A N himself in the summertime to his conditioning.” the chance to confront his issues in that situa- cially his favorite dish: Hamburger the turf and a crash landing by the 6- most of the time, it happens,” Kaufman the scoreboard. Said assistant coach Fred Jackson: “He tion. I think he learned a lot about himself and casserole. She always has something foot-1, 243-pound linebacker. said. “He was so driven and motivated,” said Kay. Now Kay said there’s not much junk food in became more of a student of the game. He he’s well on his way to be a successful person. ready for him and his teammates after a “It’s funny because I know every All that time in the film room should “He had so much energy, like a motor that Joppru’s house. Dramatically altering his diet is watched film at all hours of the day and studied I’m tremendously proud of what he’s doing as a tough game. In fact, it’s become a time he makes a tackle he’s going to lift have made Hobson a stud at NCAA would never stop running.” just one of the many ways Kay said her son has our new offensive system until he knew what person and how he’s leading this team.” gameday tradition at the house June them up and then drop them down,” 2003, the new college football game for Bennie still has that same energy, the same changed his life since the incident. every position player did on each play — not Yet Joppru still finds himself getting emo- and Hobson share in Ann Arbor. June said. “That’s an intimidating thing, PlayStation 2. But June says Hobson’s smirk on his face — and admittedly, the same “It was a real awakening,” Kay said. “He just the tight end.” tionally charged after things don’t go his way. “Marquise (Walker’s) mother and when people on the sidelines see him game needs refining. immaturity he had when he fought his brother changed his sleeping habits, he changed his eat- While it was no surprise to Bennie’s team- After Michigan lost to the Irish, Joppru walked Todd Howard’s mother used to help do that. “I beat him all the time, and he gets at home. Now, as captain of the Wolverines, he ing habits. He did everything he needed to do to mates that he was elected captain, along with out of the lockerroom, right past reporters and me,” Audrey said. “A lot of the people “I tell him he was made like six years all mad and tries to wrestle me and said he’s taking major steps in trying to grow become stronger, mentally and physically.” linebacker Victor Hobson, it sure shocked onto the bus to sit by himself for a bit. left. Whoever comes, whatever we ago because he came in as a freshman stuff,” June said. up, learn from his past mistakes and fulfill his Joppru’s new summer routine started with a 6 Joppru and his parents. “I didn’t feel like talking to anyone,” he have, you’re welcome. It’s like family.” and he was just as big. I was like, ‘Man, And what if he uses the signature potential at tight end for the Wolverines. a.m. run every morning, followed by workouts “We were having guests over the day he said later. And that’s just the way Victor likes it. this guy’s a robot.’ I haven’t seen him move next time? “I realize there’s a time for partying and fun and more workouts. He didn’t go out as much at found out, and his brother answered the phone Two days later, at a press conference, he was bleed or nothing.” “I’ve got a bat in my room,” June and a time for being serious,” Bennie said. “I night, and if he did it was watching movies and yelled at us on the deck that Bennie was still visibly upset with the loss, and not afraid to TH E INTIMIDATO R Bear, robot, whatever he is, Hobson said. “I’m not worried about it.” may have not always felt that way, but what instead of bar-hopping. That was if he had enough captain,” Kay said. “I said, ‘Yeah, right.’” let his emotions roll off his sleeve. DAVID KATZ/Daily is living up to his preseason billing. He That’s good. Hobson’s never been happened this spring put things into perspec- energy after so much exercise and so little food. Joppru has proved the selection to be a solid “I just hate to lose,” Joppru said. Victor Hobson tackles Washington wide receiver Charles Frederick. Tight end and fellow captain Bennie leads Michigan with 21 tackles, four one to create a worry. tive for me.” “When his younger brother Chris and I came one so far this season. He’s stepped up on the Especially without a fight.