Welcome, folks.

We are back here on the Michigan Insider on the Big 1050 WTCA, online at the big 1050.com.

And live also on the streams on the Michigan Insider.com ready and happy to bring to you another exclusive live here inside the Michigan Insider Studios.

And pleased to be joined by Michigan Athletic Director

and chair of the college football playoff committee.

Ward, how you doing?

I'm doing great, Sam, man.

It's great to be with you again and great to be back home, actually, as well from all the travels with the committee,

but it's good to be with you.

Yeah, it's, again, a great occasion.

Looking forward to this playoff, this 12-team playoff, and another successful run for you.

And I'm looking at these accolades.

You know, academically, the programs of the University of Michigan continue to be elite.

23 of 2017's perfect single year APR scores, 494 student athletes earned academic all Big 10, 139 student athletes earned academic all Big Ten.

139 student athletes earned Big Ten Distinguished.

That's a record number.

Additionally, 18 had perfect 4.0 GPAs.

I mean, getting it done in the classroom.

And, of course, getting it done on the field and courts of play.

Getting it done here at the University of Michigan, you guys continue to be elite. Yeah, you know, I was smiling when you were reading all that because I think about all of our student athletes and all the hard work that they do. And I get a chance to see them in practice.

I get a chance to see them when they're in the academic center and just being students on this campus.

And I always smile when people read that because I know those young people,

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