ANN ARBOR -- Michigan cornerback Troy Woolfolk approached defensive coordinator Greg Mattison before Saturday's game against Notre Dame looking like he'd been struck by a car.
That's what Woolfolk jokingly tells people -- that he was hit by a car -- who inquire about his sprained ankle, broken hand, gashed nose, and any other limbs that ail him on that particular day. But Woolfolk wasn't joking around when he approached Mattison on Saturday.
"Coach," Woolfolk said, "You can count on me. I'll go."
A player lacking Woolfolk's desire and pain tolerance would have sat this game out, but Woolfolk gave it a go in Michigan's 35-31 win, recording three tackles and two more boo-boos. That's the way it seems to go for the Woolfolk, the hard-luck fifth-year senior, who is laboring through pains, breaks, and scrapes this week as he and the Wolverines prepare to host unbeaten Eastern Michigan at noon Saturday.
"Watching the game film, Troy Woolfolk played unbelievable for a guy with one hand," Mattison said Tuesday. "He made one tackle with one hand that might have [prevented a touchdown]. I think there's a lot of programs where seniors would say, I can't go. Not him. I'm proud of that."
For Woolfolk, playing in pain is better than not playing at all, which was the case a year ago when he broke his ankle in fall camp and sat out the season as a redshirt. Never one to be known to take himself too seriously, Woolfolk said he may start carrying a rabbit's foot in his pocket for good luck. He should consider doing that soon, as his list of injured body parts is increasing by the week.
In the fourth quarter Saturday, Woolfolk suffered a nasty gash on his nose when an Irish player delivered two accidental kicks to his facemask. The first one knocked Woolfolk's helmet loose, and the second inflicted a fairly deep cut on his nose that sent him to the sideline, bleeding. Woolfolk also sustained a gash on his right elbow in the game, a trivial injury relative to his other pains.
A sprained ankle knocked Woolfolk out of the season opener against Western Michigan, but all is currently well on that front.
Sometime last week in practice Woolfolk landed awkwardly and broke his right hand. Team physicians advised him to consider sitting out the game against the Irish. At the very least, he'd have to wear a cast for up to four weeks.
"Those are weak-minded people, but I don't listen to that," Woolfolk said. "The trainers tried to tell me that I may not be able to play, but that's soft stuff. If you're a Michigan Man, you can play regardless if it's a broken hand, a broken leg -- you might not play too good with a broken leg, but I'd go out there and try to do it."
This Saturday, Woolfolk may be forced to extend his left hand when he greets Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English, whom recruited Woolfolk to Michigan in 2007. It was English, the highly-intense Wolverines defensive coordinator, who "taught me so much."
English won just three games in his first two seasons at EMU, but this year is off to a good start, with wins over Howard (41-9) and Alabama State (14-7).
"He's a great coach," Woolfolk said. "When I got here I learned so much about football, so I think that's the reason we cannot take Eastern lightly."
TOUSSAINT PRACTICES: Starting running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who missed the Notre Dame game with a shoulder injury, participated in Tuesday's practice. Toussaint was with the first-team offense in the 20-minute portion viewed by the media.
Also participating in practice were linebackers Cam Gordon (back) and Brandon Herron (leg).
DENARD TWEETS: In the wake of his brilliant performance against Notre Dame, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson joined Twitter on Monday night.
As of Tuesday night, the handle Denard X was being followed by more than 9,700 users.
Hoke said Tuesday that he's "not a big believer" in his players using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Hoke does not use either one.
"I only care if it is representing this team in a correct manner," Hoke said.
Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com, 419-724-6160 or on Twitter @RyanAutullo.
First Published September 14, 2011, 4:45 a.m.
