|
|
 |
|
|
Monday, 24 November 2008 23:28 |
|
| | |
(Note: I bolded the most important items that involve the future status of players, scheduling news, and other things that are worth calling attention to.)Rich Rodriguez:
- The team had dinner and a meeting last night and the seniors were excused first after they were reminded to complete their responsibilities like graduating. They were also thanked for laying the foundation for this program under Rodriguez.
- "Naturally there is going to be some (attrition)."
- Rodriguez wants to make sure everybody is 100% committed to the team.
- One player that can graduate right now but still has another year of eligibility did not attend the meeting on Sunday.
- Artis Chambers left the team last week, as did Zion Babb and Jason Kates.
- "We gotta be more athletic."
- Everything (coaches, players, schemes, etc.) will be evaluated.
- A special teams coach will not be hired for next year.
- "You can hire Knute Rockne and he's not going to make sure the guy catches the ball on a kickoff return or a punt."
- Seven to eight recruits are expected to enroll early.
- Patrick Omameh almost played as a true freshman and traveled to away games. Ricky Barnum and Rocko Khoury also nearly played and traveled to some away games. All three were redshirted and will likely see the field next year.
- 20-23 recruits will sign with Michigan for the 2009 recruiting class.
- Rodriguez thinks Brandon Graham is coming back and believes that he should.
- Terrence Robinson would have played this year if he wasn't injured.
- Cory Zirbel's injury is probably career-ending. Rodriguez wants him back as a student assistant coach.
- Stephen Schilling's injury should not require surgery.
- Rodriguez isn't going to coach until he's 81 like Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden. He joked that he would be happy to make it to age 60.
- There is some concern over the health of Sam McGuffie since he's had more than one concussion this season. (He got another one on the kick return during the Ohio State game where he was sandwiched by two OSU players, which I believe is his third since October. He got one against Toledo, one against Michigan State, and now one against OSU. That is never good for any player during an entire career let alone a span of a couple months.)
- On a more positive note, Sam McGuffie is expected back next season.
- Spring practice starts in mid-March and it is unknown if a true spring game will be held at Michigan Stadium. One will be held somewhere regardless of the venue.
- Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Notre Dame are currently on next year's schedule. Michigan still needs to find one more team to schedule at home in mid-October.
- Rodriguez doesn't think there will be a lot of attrition, and he is not worried about it since the players that stay will be fully committed.
- "There were times where each unit played pretty well and there were times where each unit could have played better."
- Oklahoma coaches visited Michigan last spring to discuss the spread offense. Michigan may make the return trip down there to see them next year. Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, has visited with Rodriguez and his assistants just about every year. (That's pretty interesting since West Virginia played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season and absolutely destroyed the Sooners.)
- Rodriguez didn't say anything about whether or not changes to the staff will be made. He simply said that he will evaluate the coaches like he does every year.
|
|
