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THE BLUE PRINT: A podcast on the Michigan Wolverines
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THE BLUE PRINT: A podcast on the Michigan Wolverines

Author: Jake Butt, Devin Gardner

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THE BLUE PRINT is your new home for the best conversation around the Michigan Wolverines! Hosted by former Michigan captains Jake Butt and Devin Gardner, we’ll dive into the past, present, and future of one of the top athletic programs in the country. 

With Jake’s insight as a Big Ten Network Analyst and Devin’s perspective from Fox Sports, you’ll hear from two guys plugged into today's game as well as Ann Arbor legends with great stories to tell from their playing days.

From training camp through the Big Ten and beyond THE BLUE PRINT will cover all things football as well as other key events on the UM calendar from March Madness, the Frozen Four and beyond!

New episodes will be released weekly. Watch on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Follow us @TheBluePrintUM on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook

36 Episodes
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On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner are getting you ready for Michigan’s spring football game!  Jake’s got all the details on which quarterbacks we’ll be seeing, how much the starters will go and how much live hitting will actually take place.  Then, Devin shares his thoughts on the importance of putting your QBs in situations that might make them uncomfortable and both guys weigh in on the new coaching staff setting the right tone for the direction of the program. We’ll also dive into the defensive side of the ball and Devin compares the growth of Bryce Underwood to the growth of a tree… it’s no wonder the man’s last name is “Gardner.” Get it?  No?  Ah, never mind.  Enjoy!
On the latest episode of The Blue Print… HAIL! TO THE VICTORS VALIANT. HAIL! TO THE CONQUERING HEROES. HAIL! HAIL! TO MICHIGAN, THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WEST! That’s right! We’re paying homage to Michigan hoops following their 2nd ever College Basketball National Championship - this one, a 69-63 win over UConn.Former Big 10 Coach of the Year Tom Crean joins to share his thoughts on what made this Michigan team so special, what makes Dusty May such an amazing coach and what it’s like being an honorary Harbaugh!
On this episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner kick things off with a lighter moment as Jake somehow earns a 96 speed rating in NCAAF—deserved or completely out of line? From there, the conversation shifts to real Michigan football news, as the guys react to Colin Hurley and Michigan mutually parting ways and what it means for the quarterback room moving forward. They also dive into the future at QB in Ann Arbor—should Bryce Underwood already be feeling pressure from Tommy Carr, or is it far too early for that conversation?  Plus, the guys react to Dan Hurley’s heated moment with a referee and what it says about the intensity of March Madness. To close it out, Jake and Devin preview Michigan basketball’s Final Four matchup against Arizona, breaking down keys to the game and what it will take for the Wolverines to advance. Make sure to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print with Devin Gardner and Jake Butt, the guys are getting pumped about Michigan dancing their way into the Sweet 16!  Jake explains why he’d bet his life savings on Dusty May winning a title at some point and Devin contemplates the Big 10 becoming the nation’s preeminent basketball conference. Then, we’re talking football as Jake brings back his intel from Wolverines Spring practice. It was a good day for the defense which unfortunately means it wasn’t a great day for Bryce Underwood – does that raise any cause for concern or is it all just part of the process?.  And, if you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between real energy and “dirty energy” around a college football program, this is the pod for you.  We’ll dive into all of it on this edition of The Blue Print!
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt are getting excited about the dawn of the Kyle Whittingham era!  The guys discuss the start of spring practices and praise the incoming coach for entering Ann Arbor with a plan to succeed.  Devin and Jake also share their thoughts on how important Whittingham will be to the development of Bryce Underwood; because once Bryce is figured out, the rest of the pieces will fall into place! Then, with March Madness underway, we’re wondering if Michigan’s awkward showing in the Big 10 Tournament is raising any alarm bells.  And in today’s mailbag, we’re sharing our thoughts on concerns over the Michigan Wolverines morphing into the Michigan Utes and we’re giving you what you’ve been asking for… More Brady Hoke stories.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt show some love to the Michigan men’s basketball team on winning the Big 10 regular season title!  How has Dusty May managed to get this level of buy-in from such a star-laden team?  And while conquering the regular season crown is nice, is this only step 1 to securing a much BIGGER crown? Then, we’re breaking down last week’s NFL scouting combine, one which you might say we had a love/hate relationship with.  Why did we hate it?  Because so many dang Buckeyes tore it up.  Why did we love it?  Because it means they aren’t playing for the Buckeyes anymore! We also share our thoughts on Fernando Mendoza’s decision not to throw, and we tell you why we’re not getting swept up in the Drew Allar hype.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt may technically be the hosts, but this show is all about you!  The guys comb through your questions and answer everything from what it was like getting run over by Frank Clark in practice to what it was like storming the field as a fan after beating the Buckeyes in 2021. Devin also takes us through the brutality of Michigan’s 4 OT loss to Penn State back in 2013 and Jake takes us through how marrying a Michigan women’s lacrosse player could’ve made for a wildly awkward wedding. Also, do football players hang out with basketball players?  And who does Devin identify as a top 10 all-time ugliest teammate?  All of these questions and more will be answered on this week’s edition of the Blue Print!
The Blue Print is back — and there’s a LOT to talk about. With an entirely new coaching staff in Ann Arbor, we break down what Michigan Football should look like this season. What changes schematically? What happens to the culture? And how quickly can this new staff put its stamp on the program? We dive into expectations, identity, recruiting impact, and what fans should realistically expect in year one. Plus, we zoom out to the global stage and talk Olympics — biggest storylines, what has our attention, and how elite athletes prepare for the biggest moments in sports. To close the show, Jake and Devin share personal stories from their time at Michigan, including what it felt like to break records in the Maize & Blue — the preparation, the pressure, and the moments they’ll never forget. Michigan Football. The Olympics. Michigan history.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt recap Super Bowl LX and all of its Michigan ties.  Jake shares his memories of what it was like playing for Seahawks Special Team Coordinator Jay Harbaugh back when he was the Wolverine’s Tight End’s Coach.  And both guys reminisce on how quickly impressed they were by Seattle Head Coach Mike Macdonald during his time as Michigan’s Defensive Coordinator in 2021. Then, we focus on Jake’s acting debut, break down what was a unique Super Bowl halftime performance and praise Sam Darnold for fighting through his public failures to reach the promised land!
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt talk about the new culture that Kyle Whittingham is instilling within the Michigan football program, most notably at the QB position.  Devin shares his insight on incoming quarterback Colin Hurley and how he could potentially push Bryce Underwood for the starting job while Jake looks back on how internal competition brought out the best in him. Then, we’re joined by the winningest head coach in Michigan hoops history, John Beilein! John talks about the values he was looking for when putting a team together and how much more difficult team building is in today’s college sports environment.  John also reveals how Dusty May wound up as the team’s head coach and how much the program has changed – for the better – from when he took over in 2008 to where it’s at today.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt share their thoughts on Indiana’s 27-21 win over Miami in the College Football National Championship. How’d the Hoosiers manage to pull this off with such a low percentage of “Blue Chip” talent?  And did we just witness the final chapter in the greatest sports story ever seen?  Devin and Jake share their thoughts. Then, one of the smartest quarterback minds in the game today, George Whitfield, joins the guys to share some of his insight and knowledge on the position.  George talks about what he saw from Bryce Underwood’s freshman season as well as the importance of Kyle Whittingham bringing more support to the QB room.  The guys also discuss the head coach-QB bond and the Big 10 passing the SEC now that NIL has leveled the playing field (wink wink). Make sure to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt share their thoughts on Indiana’s incredible rise and why accusations of “cheating” might just be the biggest compliment that you could pay them.  The guys also discuss the need for Bryce Underwood to take a page from Curt Cignetti’s book and begin emphasizing process over results. Then, as the Wolverines welcome a new coaching staff to the program, Devin and Jake reflect on the coaching changes that occurred while they were members of the team.  Devin explains the story behind Brady Hoke’s “phone box” while Jake reveals some of the behind-the-scenes changes that Jim Harbaugh instituted immediately upon arrival. And finally, we’ll take a look at Demond Williams’ situation with the University of Washington. Were the Huskies right to welcome him back and can you really fault Demond for wanting a $2 million raise??  All that and more on the latest edition of the Blue Print!
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt share their thoughts on Michigan’s 41-27 loss to Texas in the Citrus Bowl.  While the country cooled on Arch Manning, he went to work and got better; unfortunately, the Wolverines wound up bearing the brunt of that. Then, Devin and Jake dive into Bryce Underwood and break down the areas in which he needs to improve. Devin also introduces us to Michigan’s new QB Coach, Koy Detmer Jr., by laying out his background and explaining where Koy and Bryce need to get on the same page. Finally, the transfer portal is open and some key Michigan names are in it.  Jake emphasizes the importance of keeping those guys in Ann Arbor along with doing whatever it takes to make sure Andrew Marsh doesn’t add his name to that list. Make sure to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments
On this episode of The Blue Print, we react to the stunning news out of Ann Arbor as Michigan hires longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to lead the Wolverines. We break down why Michigan targeted Whittingham, what he brings to the program, and how his physical, disciplined, defense-first brand of football fits perfectly with Michigan’s identity and the demands of the Big Ten. The conversation also dives into what this hire signals about the future of recruiting, NIL, and Michigan’s place in the evolving college football landscape. Plus, we set expectations for Year 1 and beyond as Whittingham takes over in Ann Arbor and what success could look like for the Wolverines under his leadership. Make sure to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments—did Michigan make the right move?
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt share their thoughts on Michigan’s ongoing search for their next head coach.  From Biff to Brohm, from Dillingham to Whittingham, the guys break down all of the options and explain why the right man for the job is the guy currently under your own roof. Plus, we’ll begin looking ahead to the Wolverines and Longhorns in this year’s Citrus Bowl.  What should we expect to see from Bryce Underwood with Chip Lindsey no long calling plays?  And in Bryce vs Arch, are we getting the college football version of the spiderman meme? We’ll explain on the latest edition of the Blue Print!  Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt are joined by legendary head coach and current co-host of the Stampede podcast, Mack Brown. Coach Brown shares some of his comparisons between Bryce Underwood and Vince Young and explains how he would coach a high-profile QB in the NIL era.  Coach also reveals some of his gripes with today’s college football climate from rampant greed to the lack of a coherent system for player compensation. Devin and Jake also share their thoughts on Michigan’s coaching search including the Kalen DeBoer and Kenny Dillingham rumors as well as the need for the university to rebuild overall trust in the program. Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.
Sherrone Moore has been fired with cause as Michigan's head football coach. Jake and Devin react to the news and dive into what it means for the program and who Michigan could go to next for their head coaching opening. Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.  Show us that you’re true maize and blue and help us tear down that 10,000 subscribers barrier before this weekend’s game!
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt recap Indiana’s win over Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship game.  So how did this school with hardly any football history to speak of just rattle off an undefeated regular season with a win against the undefeated Buckeyes to cap it off?  Two words: Curt… Cignetti.  Devin and Jake go deep on what makes Coach Cignetti so successful and what he’s done to bring the best out of Heisman favorite Fernando Mendoza. Then, the guys are joined by Allen Trieu of 247 Sports to break down Michigan’s star studded recruiting class.  Allen shares his insight of top notch Wolverines prospects like #1 RB Savion Hiter and 5-star WR Travis Johnson as well as some of the more underrated recruits that you’ll want to know about as well. And finally, the guys give Sherrone Moore some props for wasting no time in fixing a weakness from this year’s team by going out and hiring a new highly regarded special teams coach. Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.
On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt recap Ohio State’s 27-9 win over the Wolverines.  Jake points out the unfortunate reality that Michigan just does not appear to be in the Buckeye’s class right now while Devin stresses that it isn’t necessarily time to jump ship but it’s not time to be sipping Mai Tai’s either. Then, Devin breaks down Bryce Underwood’s performance stressing the need to emphasize process over results; sure, there were some plays that netted Michigan positive gains, but did they go about getting them the right way? And finally, the guys address the question that many of the fans have been asking: is Sherrone Moore the right man for this job?  Jake and Devin share their thoughts.   Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.  Show us that you’re true maize and blue and help us break through the 10,000 subscribers barrier!
It’s the week that we’ve all been waiting for! On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Devin Gardner and Jake Butt get you ready for Michigan and Ohio State at the Big House in Ann Arbor!  Dev lays out some of his recent observations and keys to the game including the promising development of Bryce Underwood, the Wolverines potential to succeed in the running game and why they’ve got to be cautious when throwing the ball over the middle. Plus, we go behind enemy lines and talk with former Buckeye running back and current co-host of The Script podcast, Beanie Wells.  Beanie reflects on his role in the legendary 2006 meeting between these two teams and explains why last year’s OSU loss changed the trajectory of the program for the better. And finally, Devin and Jake give you their firsthand experiences of what it was like being a part of this game including Devin’s memories of gutting it out with a broken foot – it may not be something you’d do in every game, but you do it in this one!   Subscribe to The Blue Print for weekly Michigan football breakdowns, film analysis and in-depth discussion from lifelong Wolverines insiders.  Show us that you’re true maize and blue and help us tear down that 10,000 subscribers barrier before this weekend’s game!
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