Character witness for the defense
Forgive me, but I am going to summarize from another site some content that I wrote up following my 13-year old's week at Michigan Football Camp this summer.
It's a tad long, but the primary message is that RR and his staff are terrific people and Rich in particular is a high-character guy -- his closing talk to the campers was off-the-cuff (seems he never reads a statement -- comes from the heart and the head) and hugely meaningful.
Evan was met at the entrance to Yost for camp sign-in by Tony Gibson -- big handshake, big smile, and asked Evan if he'd hit anyone yet today. Great welcome.
We then were directed to a table with Coach Smith and his wife, then to a table with Coach Frey, then Coach Tall and on down the line.
After sign-in, we went over to Schembechler Hall where Evan had his picture taken with RR, who told me I had a nice looking son (ok, I'm sold).
For the week, the entire camp for 13 to 15 year olds was run by RR and his staff. Coach Robinson and Coach Hopson worked the linebackers, which was Evan's group. Everything they did was "on the hop".
The dorm counselor was Scott Draper, a very fine gentleman who commanded the attention and respect of the 200 or so young fellows there.
We parents were treated with great warmth and respect, while the kids had the times of their lives. They were told that they may have come from a lot of different places, but for the camp, they were all Wolverines and all in together.
At the end of the camp, RR gave an off-the-cuff farewell that was priceless:
Take care of your parents,
take care of your brothers and sisters,
take care of your friends and teammates,
and take care of your schoolwork.
If you do that, everything else will follow.
I also had a chance to see Mrs. R holding court with a bunch of moms -- it looked like the weekend football mom's coffee klatch -- Rita couldn't have been more charming and welcoming.
These are terrific people and our beloved program is in fine hands. Bill Martin made a great hire, Lloyd finished with class and has remained classy, and Rich Rodriquez is a natural-born West Virginian who continues the tradition of excellence from Coach Yost on down. Bo would be proud, would respect the emphasis on the team, and the long blue line of Michigan men and women should also be proud.
It's a tad long, but the primary message is that RR and his staff are terrific people and Rich in particular is a high-character guy -- his closing talk to the campers was off-the-cuff (seems he never reads a statement -- comes from the heart and the head) and hugely meaningful.
Evan was met at the entrance to Yost for camp sign-in by Tony Gibson -- big handshake, big smile, and asked Evan if he'd hit anyone yet today. Great welcome.
We then were directed to a table with Coach Smith and his wife, then to a table with Coach Frey, then Coach Tall and on down the line.
After sign-in, we went over to Schembechler Hall where Evan had his picture taken with RR, who told me I had a nice looking son (ok, I'm sold).
For the week, the entire camp for 13 to 15 year olds was run by RR and his staff. Coach Robinson and Coach Hopson worked the linebackers, which was Evan's group. Everything they did was "on the hop".
The dorm counselor was Scott Draper, a very fine gentleman who commanded the attention and respect of the 200 or so young fellows there.
We parents were treated with great warmth and respect, while the kids had the times of their lives. They were told that they may have come from a lot of different places, but for the camp, they were all Wolverines and all in together.
At the end of the camp, RR gave an off-the-cuff farewell that was priceless:
Take care of your parents,
take care of your brothers and sisters,
take care of your friends and teammates,
and take care of your schoolwork.
If you do that, everything else will follow.
I also had a chance to see Mrs. R holding court with a bunch of moms -- it looked like the weekend football mom's coffee klatch -- Rita couldn't have been more charming and welcoming.
These are terrific people and our beloved program is in fine hands. Bill Martin made a great hire, Lloyd finished with class and has remained classy, and Rich Rodriquez is a natural-born West Virginian who continues the tradition of excellence from Coach Yost on down. Bo would be proud, would respect the emphasis on the team, and the long blue line of Michigan men and women should also be proud.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
thanks
August 31st, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
It really doesn't mean that the allegations aren't true.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
I entitled this "Character witness for the defense". I offer no evidence or testimony on the facts and represented myself thusly.
If you are going to add a rejoinder or rebuttal, at least try for relevance to the premise.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:38 PM ^
It also doesn't prove he isn't a cannibal or a lover of the Bee Gees. That was lame.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
Notice he didn't say, "RR has a nice smile THEREFORE he and everyone in his program have complied with all NCAA regulations."
August 31st, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
Awesome. Thank you sir.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^
+1 to you sir
August 31st, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
I didn't surrender, but my horse did. Great flick -- guess we licked 'em that time, eh Josie?
August 31st, 2009 at 9:20 PM ^
So there are good things to be said about RR?
Seriously good post. Something worth reading.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^
Thanks for the positive anecdotes.
I wish the Freep would do a positive, behind-the-scenes story on RR to balance their coverage a little bit.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
I'd love to hear more about the football camp...I have a 9 year-old QB in the making and think he'd love it. If you have a minute, please tell me more....
August 31st, 2009 at 10:06 PM ^
The coaches were involved in every detail, coaching the techniques they are teaching the Wolverines. The other boys were great -- Evan said that every one of them was fun to be around. They stayed out at Bursley, took buses in to the football complex everyday. Evan roomed with a neat young fellow from Muskegon Heights -- they had a blast together.
Every minute of camp is open for us helicopter-type parents to hang around, take pictures and kibitz with anyone who will kibitz back. Some kids came from as far away as San Diego, others were Ann Arbor kids daycamping -- we came over from Chicago, and there were a number of others from our area.
The coaches were very engaging, talking with everyone around, and the coach's families were around as well, chatting and playing.
The topper for the boys, I think, was when they formed a two walls of boys from the locker room door out to midfield on the practice field and the team ran out between them, slapping hands, then the younger fellows joined the big guys in a huddle to sing The Victors. They did this at the end of each practice!
Oh, almost forgot -- the kids also came out of the tunnel up at the stadium and ran out to try to touch the M Club banner. Evan was so excited he couldn't get the words out fast enough to describe the week. He is still talking about it a couple months later.
Send your son, by all means. It's also a phenomenal value at $300 and something for Sunday through Tuesday as live-ins at the dorm. This was a great, great experience.
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!
Go Blue!
August 31st, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
That was very timely. Thank you. I needed to hear something positive like that to drown out all the garbage from the Freep.
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