Mike Schofield's Post
Mike Schofield (Sr.) emailed me after we spoke, and wanted to post this here. He's posted it at Rivals and Scout, as well. He's signing up for an account here, just hasn't gotten it up yet. So, I'm posting this for him.
As a parent of a Michigan Player/Student I find the story in the Freep nothing but nonsense, misinformation, bush league journalism and an attempt to tarnish the great name of Michigan Football, in short it think it is nothing more than Bullshit.
I have posted here long before this article came…and I give my permission to release any/all my post about Michigan football to the press.
As for the Freep, in a time of despair due to job loss, stock market struggling, gas prices high, job outlooks poor, we can rely on the Detroit Freep to attack America’s winningest College football program, East cost to West coast people love or hate Michigan Football, they are admired and or talked down about but always respected…..This being said, to publish information that is unsubstantiated is a poor/low down attempt to gain readers, viewers on a national level and raise the papers ratings at the expense of a great American football team, outstanding players, coaches and parents….
This news papers article is not only an attack on the program but the parenents and players, these kids are working hard….yes going to summer school, learning and getting acquainted to college life interacting with the community, fellow students in the dorms….
As a parent and as I have posted before, the Michigan Education was the most important thing to us, and during recruiting it was made extremely clear that Education before practice/football/games was the goal, the norm and no exceptions….
During the summer Michael spent more time studying going to class bonding with his freshman players and the other students in his dorm. Michael came home for visits, there were no signs of Barwis Police tracking him down…there were NO NCAA Violations, these kids played basketball, catch, and other sport activities with other college kids at the dorm, they went to visit sick children in the hospital and stopped by a summer camp for special needs kids…..where that in the Freep, that9s right that will not make national news…and is the truth…
I was joking with Michael in June when son Andrew came to a Michigan football camp,(JUNE 20) about Andrew being able to work with coach Frey in camp and learn new techniques and Michael who is going to be a player has not and will not get that chance until his camp starts in August…and this is True….
As I have stated in my posts this organization is all about competition, you compete for a position every day, some people cannot except this, they leave, or make comments, and even people outside the organization do not like this “the best player plays” concept and make up stories or comments. This is how rumors start….
Another thing, a poor reporter knows, when you go into a Media Day, and interview players you single out the freshman…they are 3 months out of High School have limited exposure to the media, so you ask them misleading questions . These kids are excited to be interviewed, and excited to put a positive look on Michigan and self serving reporters can get any kid to say what he wants by asking specific misleading information…
There is no practice prison where players are forced to workout hours a day, there are no coaches in disguises lurking the buildings watching players workout, there are no secrete passage where coaches meet players out of the public view….
Mr Schofield, you say there is no "secret passage where coaches meet players out of the public view"
I have one question, and I'm sure Rosenberg/Snyder are looking into it:
Have you not heard of the Cone of Silence? It's perfect for clandestine discussions between spies--what makes you think Rodriguez didn't request one for himself as part of the weight room renovations?
That being said, it is what it is.
We can also rely on the Free Press to sink the most corrupt city government in America. When you dumbasses talk about how awful the Free Press is, can you attempt to limit it to the sports department?
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
200 linear feet of porn mags!
Pointing our or "uncovering" corruption in Detroit would be about as difficult as finding someone "connected" on the New York docks in 1933.
But Falcon Seven, I'm decoupaging! If I leave now, it may bubble!
Then why were they given a Pulitzer for it? Come on. The sports section = shit but why are we denigrating the whole paper? I hate the New York Times crossword puzzle but I ain't going to lay on the hyperbole and say it's the worst paper in America.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
200 linear feet of porn mags!
Why? Because someone at the top has allowed this type of garbage to be published. And not just this article. Have you looked at the history of the DFP since Rich came from WV??? I mean seriously its been a smear fest from the get. Its trash and honestly any paper that would let someone post something like this is trash. Its not responsible journalism. Its TMZ.
about journalism prizes, you could at least dispute the correlation between getting prizes and being good at journalism.
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
Well, actually........
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 3/8)
non-sports reporting, but they are aware how negatively their sports reporting reflects on the paper overall right? i don't read the Freep at all in large part because of what i do know about the paper.
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
They just won a Pulitzer for their coverage of the Kwame scandal. I'm fairly certain they don't care what message board posters think of their sports section... you're probably not a potential subscriber if you get your news online anyway.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
200 linear feet of porn mags!
isn't that like being valedictorian of summer school?
If that happened in Whoville the local paper would have won an award too. Most Pulitzer are won because of geography from the most interesting event of that year.
Winning a glam award in one department doesn't forgive the sins of another department.
I don't want to attack anyone, and Brodie I am glad that you are sticking up for the defenseless a little on these boards, because I agree that the Freep isn't that bad as a whole. However, any paper that believes it needs to pander only to potential subscribers is no journalist. They are an entertainer. They need to call it like they see it if they truly want to be a journalist publication. And, in this specific case, I think that we are seeing some misinformation and some poor reporting. Sad when people get desperate.
I can't disagree when the paper retained Albom after what he did.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
200 linear feet of porn mags!
I agree with you, in regards to the Kwame scandal and everything. But, just saying, I don't think any one is a potential subscriber to the Freep anymore. . .
is a potential subscriber to a news outlet. are you saying that shit reporting doesn't reflect negatively on the paper that publishes it? how could that not cost the paper subscribers?
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
Didn't realize the Freep also covered Chicago...
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 3/8)
Great work Mr.Schofield,glad your here.
Parents like you can go a long way in stamping this BS out.
Endeavor to persevere...
Yes I know hi-jinx (high jinks) is not a word,but it looks good.
ellipses man has been unmasked!!!
Nice post, though, in all seriousness.
Why don't you stop trolling our board, and go back to the boring knucklehead who edits NDNation.com(perhaps the WORST CFB blog around).
Anyone who hasn't checked it out should go there for a laugh. So bad a site, it is embarrassing. The editor(his column is called "The Rock Report") takes himself and the Irish so seriously, it is funny.
GO BLUE!
He/She actually adds well thought out info to this board. As it will be fun to rag on Irish in two weeks when we take ND behind the wood shed.
Ease off the red headed step child. He/She is no McFarlin or any other chode that has come through this site.
Balanced, insightful, thoughtful and informative. There aren't very many commenters out there that can say that.
I thought you would like NDNation, panicky ND fans who scream and moan about the most mundane and idiotic things going on, I haven't been to that site in at least a year, wouldn't even know its still going till you said something.
Embarrassing is an understatement.
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
Part of what makes it horrible is the lack of dissenting views on it. let's not go down that road. Irish should feel free to post as much as he wants, so long as he doesn't take cheap shots at michigan. I, for one, appreciate the opposition viewpoint, even if it is usually wrong ;-)
As a UM Alum and fellow Chicagoan, I welcome and thank you for your comments. This is a terrible cheap shot from the Free Press.
Welcome aboard. Wishing your son great success in his academic and athletic career at Michigan. Hail To The Victors!
You're post was brilliant in so many ways. Thank you and Go Blue!
Wooderson: Say, man, you got a joint?
Mitch: No, not on me, man.
Wooderson: It'd be a whole lot cooler if you did.
at both the Freep and Detroit News.
I understand your point somewhat, but if he has a close relationship with his son I could see him having periodic conversations with his son that go well like this.
Dad: How was your day??
MS: Went to class all morning then Barwis kicked my ass all afternoon and now were just recovering playing some Madden on out XBOX.
Dad: What happened during the work out??
MS We lifted for 2 hours, then we did some stretching I can't believe how much more flexible I am and I cleaned over 240lbs today.
Over the course of 2 months dad puts all these similar conversations as well as his 2 eyes and he gives an opinion. Is it the best perspective..no....is it better than the average dummies...yes....is it biased.....yep. When you are under attack you hang onto what you can.
Making completely unfounded assumptions about the nature of a father and son's relationship. Pretty bold.
Mr. Schofield, if you're reading this, thank you very much for speaking out on this topic.
I am however just a little bit leary about the ad hominem "attacks" on the Free Press. I understand you must feel strongly about this topic, as do most people here, but I don't think arguing the journalistic integrity of the freep, or lack thereof, is necessarily the best way to open a letter. I would much prefer more details regarding the summer your son had and how much he has seemingly enjoyed it, and how he was able to workout, learn football, and bond with teammates without any forced practice or 7 on 7s. That said, thanks again.
Dude, only about 25% dealt with an ad hominem attack on the Freep. The rest did exactly as you requested.
Did you expect he had a data base showing how many hours were spent in X, Y, and Z?
JFC!
Yeah, that is my license plate.
Dude, take it easy, I appreciated the letter and thanked the writer, twice, so relax.
If you're gonna publish a coherent article and use it to refute a strong claim, using ad hominem attacks discredits yourself before you even get to the meat of the topic. That's all I was saying. The rest of it was great, I would just like to see attacks on the freep removed if it ever makes it to mainstream media. It makes it seem too personal and forces listeners/readers/viewers to wonder if there's something else going on below the surface.
I did not expect a data base (sic), FWIW.
Isnt it sad that the parent of a player not in the print media profession is a far more capable writer. And its a wonder that Freep is on death's doorstep...
You can't fix stupid
FWIW, and perhaps Mr. Schofield can comment on it further when he registers here, but a poster at Rivals asked if he would forward his comments about all this to Angelique at the News, and he said he would do so if someone could provide him with an email address or a phone number (which was promptly provided).
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 3/8)
Really not trying to sound like a jerk here,
but why would Mr. Schofield know whether this is going on? I understand that his son plays for UM and that an awesome accomplishment and I hope him the best, I truly do.
But how does him calling it all "Bullshit" carry more weight than the first posters who said the same thing, besides having his son on the team? Is he closer to the coaching staff/team than the normal parent, is he a part of the Athletic department or something?
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
"Really not trying to sound like a jerk here,
but why would Mr. Schofield know whether this is going on?"
after asking a question like that after having read what M Schofield had to say about his son's experience, I have a response and a question.in the words of medea,"what da hewll", and ru currently enrolled at nd and if so how did u qualify? I was an irish fan till the age of 11 and this kind of crap from an irish fan makes me eternally grateful I saw the light.
noahtahl
Just because one of the player's parents hasn't seen or heard of anything he deems abusive, or is ok with bending the rules a bit, doesn't mean it hasn't happened or it is not that big of a deal if it did.
What qualifies the parents supposedly sourced by the Free Press to make the allegations they did? Are they closer to the coaching staff/team than the normal parent, are they a part of the Athletic department or something?
Blogging the once-resurgent Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com.
Exactly,
I am only asking so that I can fully appreciate his posting, nothing else. Yikes
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
Wouldn't worry about it. It's just a really touchy subject, as you can imagine (would be the same if it happened to ND, probably). Nobody wants to see their program, which has been squeeky clean since Day 1, tarnished for the first time, which you know, probably wont happen, but let's not jump to conclusions right?
I just hope the locker room isn't suffering too badly from this. Unfortunately, we have six days to wait until we find out. My hope is that one of the seniors steps up and takes some control over the team and that this is over quickly.
I doubt his "access" is much different than other parents. But if parents carry enough weight to help start this firestorm, then they carry enough weight to help put it out. And Mr. Schofield, from what TomVH and others have been saying, sounds pissed enough to spend quite a bit of time firing off rebuttals in as many directions as he can think of, all of his own accord. Sounds like a guy who believes what he's saying.
Blogging the once-resurgent Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com.
double post? WTF
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
Did you read what he said? His son went home during the summer without anyone from anywhere tracking him down and dragging him back to AA to train. Or are you saying he wouldn't know if his own son was in his home during the summer?
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 3/8)
No I am not trying to say that at all, I was just seriously wondering if he was closer to the program than the average recruits parents?
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
Not in the sense that he routinely hangs out with the coaches or anything, but he has regularly kept the fans up to date on how things are behind the scenes with his son. There was a lengthy series of posts by him over at Scout that would get pinned almost immediately. He knows what he's talking about.
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 3/8)
Thats what I was looking for, thank you
Warning: A =) is a sarcastic or joke filled post. (Its pretty much the happiest smiley out there, I have been told) Despite being a ND fan I do have a sense of humor
I presume it's from talking to his son who apparently hasn't complained about the amount of "required" time he is putting into football or any lack of free time to do other things.
IMO This is relevant and important.
I have the same question as Mr. McBlue. Will this get to the media and be put out by the press? Or will it be ignored? Obviously, testimony like this from parents and players will go a long way in solving this issue.
And besides, "IT'S DIVISION I FOOTBALL"
Call me cynical, but even if it does get to the mass media, it likely won't get the same treatment.
Article Freep ran - Front page news
Article regarding comments by Mr. Schofield and others - buried in a small article in the middle of the sports section.
However, I am glad that he came out so quickly to dispute all that garbage. Bravo Sir!
Thank you for your letter Mr. Schofield! I wish you and your son the best!
Great post. Glad to be hearing positive support and statements from current players' parents. Hopefully all this bullshit will be put to rest by gametime this Saturday.
When will this info. get to the mass-media?!
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."