Debunking: Barwis not allowed to be at workouts
This is in response to the current message board meme accusing RR of having sold out Barwis at the press conference and admitting to violations like a true West Virginia bumpkin. Specifically, it called into question how a football coach can be there when the rule "clearly" states only those with department wide duties may do this.
Rule: m. Voluntary individual workouts, provided these workouts are not required or supervised by coaching staff members, except that such activities may be monitored for safety purposes or conducted by the institution's strength and conditioning personnel who have department wide duties.
Allegation: Barwis is football exclusive and does not meet the requirements built into a department wide duty.
Mike Barwis was previously titled director of strength and conditioning at West Virginia University, supervising the entire strength program for WVA athletics in May 2003 per a May 2003 Charleston Gazette article. He replaced Michigan's strength and conditioning coach Mike Gittleson. Gittleson, according to his still-up MGoBlue article, "was appointed the athletic department's first strength and conditioning coach in 1978 and currently oversees the day-to-day strength and conditioning program for the student-athletes" (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/coachbio.aspx?id=42370). As such, arguments declaring that Barwis is football only would mean either the university chose to dismiss an overarching Director of Strength and Conditioning coach and replace him with a Football Strength and Conditioning coach, while keeping the title the same, or, you know, Barwis took over Gittleson's overarching, sports-wide duties. That title he has, Director of Strength and Conditioning, kind of explains it (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/page.aspx?id=28884).
But, for further understanding, use Michigan's own website. Apparently John Beilein is a big fan of football and considers himself a coach of football as well when he states "Mike Barwis' unique concepts and approach to strength training for basketball has been paramount to our success over the past 5-6 years." (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=111612) Stupid West Virginia people and their misunderstandings.
Delving a wee bit further, perhaps these stupid people coded Michigan's various websites when they, as previously noted, showed Barwis and crew to be the overseeing S&C body for Schembechler Hall. Schembechler Hall is not too open, however. It's open to specific sports. Just football? Nope. Football, men's basketball, men's hockey, men's and women's golf, and wrestling. Could Barwis be just working in a corner while wrestlers work with their own coach or, perhaps, does he work closely enough with these similar athletes, in the same building, with no Googleable staff, that he would train and assist athletes enough that he forced a "300-pound Mountaineer heavyweight to -- in MMA terms -- 'tap out.'" (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/10900421) Oh. According to MGoBlue, "his assistants handle ice hockey, softball, wrestling and men's soccer. He oversees a staff that includes seven full-time assistants, one part-time assistant and 10 interns." (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/coachbio.aspx?id=105308) As such, they're allowed to help their specific sports single-handedly but by being their boss, Barwis is barred from being considered department-wide... how?
Supporting this notion, by the way, is the fact that S&C coach Jon Sanderson was hired to oversee conditioning for basketball and Olympic sports (http://www.mgoblue.com/basketball-m/article.aspx?id=180836). This would demonstrate coaches of big Division One programs oversee more than one sport. The final proving factor is that Jim Plocki is the strength and conditioning coach for the hockey program (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/page.aspx?id=28884). As his boss, Barwis would also be responsible for the hockey program. More than one department. What many seem to miss, when arguing this point, is that the football team exclusively trains at Schembechler Hall. During off-season, non-mandatory workouts, Barwis and staff, should they be seen exclusively as football s&c coaches and, through stupid interpretation, not be allowed to be there, would have to vacate the premises or stay in their offices, perhaps only coming out for a drink of water or to put NCAA-sanctioned horse blinders on so as to not see Robinson working out while helping a walk-on women's golf member on her squats.
Thus, at worst, the definition of department-wide applies to strength and conditioning coaches for all of a school's sports. This would be impossible for Michigan as they have sport-specific S&C coaches and no general S&C administrators. And no, the trainers are NOT the equivalent. At best, the NCAA's rule applies to the "football department" and implies that the S&C coach set aside to work for offensive lineman cannot regularly handle voluntary workouts where, surprise surprise, the offensive lineman "happen" to be showing up. Bestest case, this is all stupid research and the point is to not have someone who answers to a specific position coach not there as a proxy.
Meme debunked?
But, for further understanding, use Michigan's own website. Apparently John Beilein is a big fan of football and considers himself a coach of football as well when he states "Mike Barwis' unique concepts and approach to strength training for basketball has been paramount to our success over the past 5-6 years." (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=111612) Stupid West Virginia people and their misunderstandings.
Delving a wee bit further, perhaps these stupid people coded Michigan's various websites when they, as previously noted, showed Barwis and crew to be the overseeing S&C body for Schembechler Hall. Schembechler Hall is not too open, however. It's open to specific sports. Just football? Nope. Football, men's basketball, men's hockey, men's and women's golf, and wrestling. Could Barwis be just working in a corner while wrestlers work with their own coach or, perhaps, does he work closely enough with these similar athletes, in the same building, with no Googleable staff, that he would train and assist athletes enough that he forced a "300-pound Mountaineer heavyweight to -- in MMA terms -- 'tap out.'" (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/10900421) Oh. According to MGoBlue, "his assistants handle ice hockey, softball, wrestling and men's soccer. He oversees a staff that includes seven full-time assistants, one part-time assistant and 10 interns." (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/coachbio.aspx?id=105308) As such, they're allowed to help their specific sports single-handedly but by being their boss, Barwis is barred from being considered department-wide... how?
Supporting this notion, by the way, is the fact that S&C coach Jon Sanderson was hired to oversee conditioning for basketball and Olympic sports (http://www.mgoblue.com/basketball-m/article.aspx?id=180836). This would demonstrate coaches of big Division One programs oversee more than one sport. The final proving factor is that Jim Plocki is the strength and conditioning coach for the hockey program (http://www.mgoblue.com/football/page.aspx?id=28884). As his boss, Barwis would also be responsible for the hockey program. More than one department. What many seem to miss, when arguing this point, is that the football team exclusively trains at Schembechler Hall. During off-season, non-mandatory workouts, Barwis and staff, should they be seen exclusively as football s&c coaches and, through stupid interpretation, not be allowed to be there, would have to vacate the premises or stay in their offices, perhaps only coming out for a drink of water or to put NCAA-sanctioned horse blinders on so as to not see Robinson working out while helping a walk-on women's golf member on her squats.
Thus, at worst, the definition of department-wide applies to strength and conditioning coaches for all of a school's sports. This would be impossible for Michigan as they have sport-specific S&C coaches and no general S&C administrators. And no, the trainers are NOT the equivalent. At best, the NCAA's rule applies to the "football department" and implies that the S&C coach set aside to work for offensive lineman cannot regularly handle voluntary workouts where, surprise surprise, the offensive lineman "happen" to be showing up. Bestest case, this is all stupid research and the point is to not have someone who answers to a specific position coach not there as a proxy.
Meme debunked?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:26 PM ^
I thought Brian had already stated that Barwis has department wide duties. Therefore, it's not a voilation for him to be present during voluntary activities.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^
this was intended to be a link dump summation. while anyone can say one way or another, i was attempting to prove this because of Michigan's lack of a searchable database for "proving idiots wrong." our tuition money should have definitely gone towards this somehow.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^
But your diary was extremely hard to follow. I always assumed this was a non issue and Barwis was in the clear.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:53 PM ^
it wasn't written for cutting and pasting but to explain each link as it was presented. sorry for the tax on the eyes though. if i get the time i'll edit it into coherence. i mean that politely, not snarky
September 1st, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
In fact, I just read his Tweet about the slow typing of a Geaux_Blue on MGoBlog. Was gonna kick his ass tomorrow ;)
September 1st, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
Barwis, Rosenberg, steel cage. 2 men enter, 1 man leave.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
Did you use the GOOGLE to put this together? If so, it's invalid, per Mitch Albom.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
"while helping a walk-on women's golf member on her squats."
I'd like to help a walk-on women's golf member with her squats.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 AM ^
>>>During off-season, non-mandatory workouts, Barwis and staff, should they be seen exclusively as football s&c coaches and, through stupid interpretation, not be allowed to be there, would have to vacate the premises or stay in their offices, perhaps only coming out for a drink of water or to put NCAA-sanctioned horse blinders on so as to not see Robinson working out while helping a walk-on women's golf member on her squats.
Thanks.
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