This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

If you’re a D-backs fan who was filled with anxiety and nerves throughout the postseason last year watching Arizona’s run to the World Series, then you know how Tommy Henry felt this Monday.

The D-backs left-hander woke up that morning with his nerves working overtime.

The former University of Michigan standout was anxious for the Wolverines’ matchup against Washington in the college football national championship game that night.

Henry, who grew up in Michigan, was a Wolverines fan even before he helped pitch them to within one win of the 2019 College World Series title. For Michigan to capture its first national title since 1997 was a really big deal for Henry.

“Monday, I woke up just ready to go,” he said. “Loud music playing at 8 a.m., just pumped, and then the afternoon was the hardest part before the game started. That was when I was the most nervous, in terms of I just wanted it to start, like, 'Let me see how it's gonna go.'”

Henry watched the game on TV with a couple of former Michigan teammates.

When he pitched for the Wolverines, Henry was known for his calm, cool demeanor on the mound. It’s a different story when he watches Michigan play.

“I was more nervous this [national championship] game than I was pitching in a national championship game,” Henry said. “It was totally due to the fact that when I'm pitching, I know that for all my life I've done everything I can to prepare for this moment, I'm as ready as I possibly can be. I know I did everything I could to put us in a position to get the best result that we can, so I can live with however this is going to turn out. Whereas, as a fan, I’m not even at the game. I have no influence on it whatsoever, and that’s the scary part.”

As much as he enjoys watching games at Michigan Stadium, Henry turned down tickets to watch the Wolverines' final regular-season game against Ohio State, and he didn’t try to get tickets for their semifinal game in the Rose Bowl or the championship game.

Henry feels he’s better off watching big games with a smaller group. He tuned into the Ohio State game with his father and watched the Rose Bowl with teammate Pavin Smith.

“I just like to be in my own space for those four hours,” Henry said. “I just like to be able to process it in my own way. Get a front-row seat to the TV.”