Hoke: No voting on captains until after the regular season ends

It used to be an extreme honor of being named a captain for the University of Michigan football team. A tradition that has been around for decades.

It appears that tradition will be delayed a few months.

To combat leadership and chemistry issues the team faced last season, the captain selection process will be delayed until after the regular season ends Michigan coach Brady Hoke told the media on Monday. A different process compared to years past where the players would vote on captains before their first game of the season.

Though the players will still get their chance to vote, the leadership has been felt around the team.

"We've had unbelievable leadership throughout the team and if we've talked about if you're old enough, you're good enough," Hoke said. "We will have captains, but they will be voted on after the Ohio (State) game.

"What do you do game-by-game? We have 18 fourth and fifth year guys that we will have represent the team at the coin toss."

The only time Michigan did not elect captains before the season was during the first two years of former coach Rich Rodriguez's tenure in Ann Arbor. It's a bit of a change in philosophy, but Hoke is convinced it will work. Coming up with the idea in February, it's to fix the leadership issues coming off a poor 7-6 season a year ago.

"We have great leadership in our senior class, we really do," Hoke said. "At the same time, we've talked about leadership throughout the team and throughout every class. We have a representative group that's a big part of what we do.

"The seniors are always going to be the guys we play for and coach for, that's not changing. Their influence is important. Every team is different and I think this team is unique in a lot of ways."

For more news and notes regarding Michigan Football, follow Joshua Henschke on Twitter: @JoshuaHenschke.