Well, as we like to do at the start of every new academic and athletic year,

we finished it off that way last year.

We want to bring in the athletic director, Ward Manual,

to give us a lowdown on what's going on in and around Michigan Athletics.

There's a lot of topics that we're going to be able to talk to throughout the course of the year.

We'll set the scene for some of those with some of our questions today,

but here's Ward Manual on Conquering Heroes.

Welcome to your one-stop podcast for all things Michigan Athletics.

Updates on every team on campus and interviews with players and coaches are all on the way.

This is Conquering Heroes.

Here's your host, John Chanson.

Excited to be joined on a new year, a new academic and athletic year by the Donald R.

Shepard, Director of Athletics Award Manual.

And let's start there.

First of all, thanks for joining me.

Second, how has the academic and athletic year kicked off for you guys?

Thanks, John.

Always great to be with you.

It's going very well, smooth, always knock on wood.

When I say that, the seasons have started for seven of our teams.

All have gotten off to very good starts, minimal injuries, which you always like to see. Academic years started off great last week with everybody's starting class.

Always great to see the university and the campus when the students come back and the hustle and bustle of everything.

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