Post by thevictors09 on Aug 17, 2008 10:47:20 GMT -5
Sometimes I think RR does a pretty good job of playing "country dumb" (as Jaime Foxx said playing Ray Charles) and coming across as if he, aw shucks, doesn't really know ... I think he knows more than he lets on ..
Coach no dummy about U-M rivals
Rodriguez knows OSU is primary target, and he finds ways of getting his point across to players.
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News
ANN ARBOR -- If anyone needs confirmation that first-year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez understands how important the Ohio State rivalry is, there was strong evidence at practice Thursday.
Rodriguez has made a point to mention all of the Wolverines' rivals -- Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State -- but the Buckeyes, who have won six of the last seven meetings against Michigan, are a primary target.
Literally.
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Scattered around the field behind Schembechler Hall are red blocking dummies. From behind, they look like, well, red blocking dummies. But on the side facing the players, Ohio State logos have been attached to the dummies at the contact point.
Looks like that "Beat Ohio State" button that Rodriguez said was on his desk his first day on the job has hit home.
Grady pleads guilty to DUI
Running back Kevin Grady has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge.
Wyoming, Mich., police arrested Grady on July 2 and measured his blood-alcohol level at 0.281 percent, about three-and-a-half times the state's legal limit.
His trial was to start Thursday in Wyoming District Court. He entered the plea July 29.
Grady must either spend three days in jail or perform 24 hours of community service. He also must serve 12 months of probation and pay $3,290 in fines and fees.
Grady, 22, has been suspended from playing but is practicing with the team.
Which QB will it be?
Just how close is the quarterback competition at Michigan?
Well, aside from differences in height -- Steven Threet is 6-foot-6 and Nick Sheridan is 6-1 -- apparently Rodriguez is finding it difficult to find anything to distinguish one from the other.
"Steve is a little taller, Nick seems like he's a little thicker," Rodriguez said. "I don't know what their 40 times are, but they run about the same. They're pretty sharp, and I've been pleased with their intelligence and picking up the concepts so far, but until you play, who knows?"
Rodriguez said he doesn't necessarily want two quarterbacks who do completely different things; he simply wants two who can run the offense.
"The guy that runs a 4.4, 40, can throw it 80 yards, makes quick decisions, understands concepts -- who wouldn't want them?" he said.
Getting feisty
Rodriguez was asked if tempers have flared among players during preseason camp.
"I hope so," he said. "I want them to get a little cranky -- I am."
He said wants high energy, but he doesn't want players to go overboard and incur penalties.
"I had to explain the difference to them (Wednesday)," he said.
Quotable
Rodriguez on which position group is emerging as the strongest: "I don't know. ... We don't have a position where I say, 'Hey, I don't have to worry about that one.' I worry about them all."
Charity event set
The team will participate in a "Bowling for Brock" charity next Wednesday to raise funds to help ease the medical costs for Brock Mealer , the brother of freshman lineman Elliott Mealer .
The Mealers were involved in a car accident last Christmas Eve as they traveled to church. Mealer's father, David , and Elliott's girlfriend, Hollis Richer were killed. Brock Mealer was paralyzed, and Elliott Mealer suffered a shoulder injury, and likely will be redshirted this season.
The bowling and autograph session is at the Colonial Lanes (1950 South Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor) from 4-6 p.m. Admission is $50 for adults, $25 for children, and all proceeds will go toward Mealer's rehabilitation costs at the U-M Medical Center.
Coach no dummy about U-M rivals
Rodriguez knows OSU is primary target, and he finds ways of getting his point across to players.
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News
ANN ARBOR -- If anyone needs confirmation that first-year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez understands how important the Ohio State rivalry is, there was strong evidence at practice Thursday.
Rodriguez has made a point to mention all of the Wolverines' rivals -- Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State -- but the Buckeyes, who have won six of the last seven meetings against Michigan, are a primary target.
Literally.
Advertisement
Scattered around the field behind Schembechler Hall are red blocking dummies. From behind, they look like, well, red blocking dummies. But on the side facing the players, Ohio State logos have been attached to the dummies at the contact point.
Looks like that "Beat Ohio State" button that Rodriguez said was on his desk his first day on the job has hit home.
Grady pleads guilty to DUI
Running back Kevin Grady has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge.
Wyoming, Mich., police arrested Grady on July 2 and measured his blood-alcohol level at 0.281 percent, about three-and-a-half times the state's legal limit.
His trial was to start Thursday in Wyoming District Court. He entered the plea July 29.
Grady must either spend three days in jail or perform 24 hours of community service. He also must serve 12 months of probation and pay $3,290 in fines and fees.
Grady, 22, has been suspended from playing but is practicing with the team.
Which QB will it be?
Just how close is the quarterback competition at Michigan?
Well, aside from differences in height -- Steven Threet is 6-foot-6 and Nick Sheridan is 6-1 -- apparently Rodriguez is finding it difficult to find anything to distinguish one from the other.
"Steve is a little taller, Nick seems like he's a little thicker," Rodriguez said. "I don't know what their 40 times are, but they run about the same. They're pretty sharp, and I've been pleased with their intelligence and picking up the concepts so far, but until you play, who knows?"
Rodriguez said he doesn't necessarily want two quarterbacks who do completely different things; he simply wants two who can run the offense.
"The guy that runs a 4.4, 40, can throw it 80 yards, makes quick decisions, understands concepts -- who wouldn't want them?" he said.
Getting feisty
Rodriguez was asked if tempers have flared among players during preseason camp.
"I hope so," he said. "I want them to get a little cranky -- I am."
He said wants high energy, but he doesn't want players to go overboard and incur penalties.
"I had to explain the difference to them (Wednesday)," he said.
Quotable
Rodriguez on which position group is emerging as the strongest: "I don't know. ... We don't have a position where I say, 'Hey, I don't have to worry about that one.' I worry about them all."
Charity event set
The team will participate in a "Bowling for Brock" charity next Wednesday to raise funds to help ease the medical costs for Brock Mealer , the brother of freshman lineman Elliott Mealer .
The Mealers were involved in a car accident last Christmas Eve as they traveled to church. Mealer's father, David , and Elliott's girlfriend, Hollis Richer were killed. Brock Mealer was paralyzed, and Elliott Mealer suffered a shoulder injury, and likely will be redshirted this season.
The bowling and autograph session is at the Colonial Lanes (1950 South Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor) from 4-6 p.m. Admission is $50 for adults, $25 for children, and all proceeds will go toward Mealer's rehabilitation costs at the U-M Medical Center.