The formal stuff was transcribed for us. The rest of it was not. So Ace and I will slowly but surely post transcripts from whatever audio we got from the coaches and players. Stay tuned. Also follow us on twitter for updates and witty commentary. (@AceAnbender and @Heiko25)

Brady Hoke's Small Group Session

The media have mastered the swarming technique.

You talked about the guys that are suspended. Will they be allowed to practice?

“I don't know yet.”

What do you think about having such a tough first game?

“I think it's great. To be able to play a team like Alabama, the reigning national champs, and focus on that—as you do every year—the first game, that's a great opportunity.”

Are the players excited as well?

“Well, I'd hope so. We'll find out better soon.”

What has Denard done this offseason to improve himself?

“Well, I think he's worked real hard on his fundamentals and mechanics and being a leader. His conditioning level is probably as high as it's been since he's been here. I just think he's doing what it takes to perform and compete.”

Expectations are high, higher than last year. How do these guys to live up to that?

“You go out every day, you work together, you prepare together, and make sure on those Saturdays that you're prepared to play your best.”

Because you've been limited in your contact with everyone, do you put that on your leadership that some of these guys have had these off-field transgressions?

“You always do. You always do. That's all part of it. It's a growing and an educational process that guys go through, and they're paying the price because there's consequences.”

Are you saying to your leaders, though, that you need to get your own guys in line?

“Oh, yeah. No doubt.”

You're not allowed to watch in the summer, obviously, but based on reports that you've got who are some of the guys who have had a good summer?

“I think Will Campbell has really had a great summer. From what I hear in talking to him and the seniors there are a lot of guys who have done a nice job. I think the one thing that's been good is we had 30 freshmen come in six weeks ago, they've had a little more time to be around those guys more than maybe in years past.”

When you talked about Penn State kids you said you'd keep your business your business. Does that mean you're not going to recruit them?

“Yes. Correct.”

How quickly can that program bounce back?

“They'll do just great. They've got a great coach. I'll tell you, Bill is a good man. They'll do great things; they're a good university.”

Have you reached out to Bill?

“I've talked to him.”

There was nobody on that roster…

“No, there was nothing…”

If there was somebody that wanted to come, would you take them?

“You've got a team chemistry that you're worried about, and I think that's a big part of it.”

Can you give your thoughts on the rivalry with Ohio State and going head-to-head with Urban Meyer?

“It's not about coaches, it never is. It's about the players who are on the field, it's about two great schools.”

Is there anyone injury-wise who's in doubt for the start of camp?

“I don't think so. I'll get final word on that on Monday.”

Nothing severe?

“Nothing severe.”

Is [Toussaint's and Clark's status] something you're just going to think over the next week or two? What goes into all of that?

“It goes into if they're meeting the standards of being a Michigan football player. There's consequences that they'll be working through right now.”

When word came down on the sanctions from the NCAA to Penn State, what was your thought as a coach about the severity?

“There's so many victims involved here, for me to comment on it like I'm an authority on anything, which I'm not… it's sad in many ways.”

From a coach's perspective, how hard is the loss of scholarships, etc.

“Every school's different. I think that's such a great name in college football and such a great university, who knows? We'll just have to see what the future brings.”

This obviously isn't a typical opener. Do you split your practice time in the fall like you always would, or is there special attention paid to that first game?

“We'll do what we normally do. There's a lot from a offensive, defensive, kicking standpoint that we'll put in, and the fundamentals and techniques. As we get closer to game day we'll focus more in on what they do, which is pretty good for us anyway because there's a lot that we do that they do, so our offense and defense can gel against each other.”

Some schools wouldn't play a non-conference opponent like Alabama. What are the benefits from your perspective about why to play a game like that, especially in the last couple years with the BCS?

“What I think is you go to Michigan, you coach at Michigan to play the best. If you want to be the best you have to do that. For us it's a great opportunity. It's going to be a fun game, we'll learn a lot about us—win or lose—and I think that's a big benefit.”

Talk about the Michigan State game. Is that the biggest game as far as the Big Ten is concerned?

“For us that's always a big game because it's an in-state rival game. They've been kicking our butts pretty good lately, and that's something we don't like. That game and then obviously the Ohio game is as big a game as there is on the schedule.”

When will you choose about the legacy jerseys and who's going to wear which ones?

“Some time, in the future.”

Will that be before the season starts?

“We'll see.”

An open position like left guard that's still up in the air, at what point in the fall do you want that decided?

“I think it depends a little bit who it is, because of the continuity some of the older guys have. If it's a younger guy, so be it, there's no entitlement; we'll just go day-by-day with it and evaluate it day-by-day.”

When you bring in the freshmen on campus, how does it help in terms of acclimating and development of team chemistry?

“Number one, they get acclimated maybe a little bit to the academics. For some of them, like any of us, that's big. Their time management skills, all those things, that becomes important, then how we lift, how we run. There's a multitude of things. Then being able to get around your teammates and get to know the older guys. In the older days, you had three days with them, then the next day the veterans came in and it was kind of a culture shock. Now, with everybody being on campus all summer, the academic year has extended itself, I think it's great for them to have that opportunity.”

Do you have a preference in terms of eight games versus nine games in Big Ten conference play?

“I really don't. Whatever's best for the conference. I think we have a great conference and it's very competitive. You want to have the ability to play some of those Alabamas, those games too; whatever's best for the conference.”

Would it be strange, though, to play in a year where you play four home games and five road games in the Big Ten?

“Yeah. It'd be different. The good thing is everybody has to do it.”

Are those things you talk about in your meetings?

“We're not.”

You always prepare for your season opener, of course, but have you prepared more for this game? More film viewing, more studying…

“I don't think so, to be honest.”

This is pretty meta.