2009 Team Captains

Submitted by IowaBlueFan on

defensive end Brandon Graham, punter Zoltan Mesko, linebacker Stevie Brown and offensive tackle Mark Ortmann.

Great Choices i think

caup

November 19th, 2009 at 7:01 PM ^

The fact that a punter is a team captain says a lot about the culture of this team.
Yes, he's a great punter. Space Emperor, blah, blah, blah. (Nice decison in the MSU game by the way , captain! Pfft.)
Punters should never be captains.

caup

November 19th, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^

Punters, by their very function, symbolize failure. Your offense failed, let's punt.
So making the punter a team captain means you are exalting the player that only comes into the game when your team fails.
Nice message!

Listen, I'm not that bunched up over this. I'm happy for you Zoltan. I'm sure you're one helluva great kid.

caup

November 19th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^

He was voted a captain by the players. But I guess that kinda goes back to my point about the culture of this team?
I know I'm stirring the pot. He's an All-American, they are giving him the respect he deserves. Fine.
But I do wish I saw more mean streaks out there. Most of our great teams were comprised of dudes who loved to hurt people. Dingman, Everitt, Vitale, Hammerstein, Anderson, Harris. Brandon Graham has that attitude. Maybe Molk, too. Where are the rest of the 'em? This is football. A sport played by violent people who enjoy hurting others.

maznbluwolverine

November 19th, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^

A team captain, IMO, has little to do with what they do on the field as compared to what kind of leader they are. If his fellow players respect him and look to him for guidence, advice, ect., that is an example of what a captain should be.

MCalibur

November 19th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^

I agree with caup for a completely different and less douche-y (hopefully) reason.

Not to knock punters per se but they're not on the field, in the huddle, involved on a down to down basis to really keep guy's chins up when the shit hits the fan a la Illinois. Now, as a during the week and off the field thing? Sure. Game-day? Sorry. I think you need someone who's actually in the mix to fire guys up or get knee deep into guys as needed. IMO.

MCalibur

November 19th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^

But if I'm Obi Ezeh, or Mike Williams or whoever trying to deal with giving up a touchdown, again, I don't think a punter's perspective would be particularly meaningful for me in the heat of the moment. Does Zoltan really know what it's like to miss an assignment or a tackle? He's needed make a pre-snap read (maybe) what, once this year? Again, not trying to rip on Zoltan in anyway but Steve Brown or Brandon Graham are the right guys for that role. They're also bad examples as they are already captains but I think you see what I mean.

Now, once Brandon's come over and helped me shake it off and talked about my responsibility and what not, I'd appreciate a joke or whatever from Zoltan to lighten things up, but any teammate can do that. I think you make him a captain for his ability to represent the team well in the classroom, and in the community, but on game day there's only so much he can offer.

letsgoblue213

November 19th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^

I'm pretty sure Zoltan was an academic All-American last year and I've also heard he's a good leader that everyone likes. I don't see anything wrong with him being a captain. I think he does a great job of representing this team and the university.

michman79

November 19th, 2009 at 7:07 PM ^

I don't understand RR's captain approach. They are permanent captains with one game to go? I love RR but this is one Michigan tradition I wish he would have kept. These guys are in essence single game captains barring a win.

LondonBlue

November 19th, 2009 at 7:50 PM ^

If I'm not mistaken, each of the seniors has had an opportunity to be a game captain this year and some of them multiple times. While they may have all dreamed of making a difference on the field, not everyone gets a lot of playing time. For those that stick with the program for four or five years, leading the team through the tunnel and onto the field and representing them in the middle of the field for the coin toss is, I think, a fitting way to reward them for the sacrifices they have made and their dedication to the program. I can only imagine the pride their parents and friends would have in seeing this.

jam706

November 19th, 2009 at 8:08 PM ^

This wasn't RichRod changing things:

"The quartet will serve as game captains against Ohio State on Saturday and will be listed as the permanent captains for the season. Rodriguez didn't name captains before the season, which is what the Wolverines had done in the past."

Daily article 2008

http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2008-11-21/taylor-johnson-jamison-…

caup

November 19th, 2009 at 7:48 PM ^

and you can explain to all of the previous players the merits of having the punter as a team captain. I'm sure all of those guys who won Big Ten titles will totally agree with everyone here!

Magnus

November 19th, 2009 at 8:44 PM ^

First of all, he's an intelligent, B-School kid who's been around for five years and made some great plays.

Second, he's one of the best punters in the country.

Third, there aren't a whole lot of seniors to choose from.

Fourth, I'm not sure you could say that John Navarre (a previous captain) knocked many heads around or was very tough. So that's apparently not a requirement.

Fifth, who gives a damn what "all of those guys who won Big Ten titles" say? That's like me saying I should have an influence over who's named captain at my old high school.

Wide Open

November 19th, 2009 at 7:53 PM ^

They aren't just team captains for one game (and most of them have been a game captain for two or more). They're the named captains in the Michigan record books too.

MCalibur

November 20th, 2009 at 12:06 AM ^

As much as I like Rodriguez, I wish he would delegate the task of emotive motivation (I know, I know, a little repetitive) to the players. Especially with a team this young, I think it would have been useful to have a group of guys to be liaisons between the staff and the team week in, week out. I would think the week-to-week thing would make it tough to really chew on someone's ass if they needed to get their mind right.

Having weekly captains just seems to minimize the title to a gold star type of thing rather than using it as an extension of the coach. I remember Long and Hart getting after Mallet when he was acting like a punk in '07; a weekly captain could not have done that effectively, especially with a prima donna like Mallet.

Maybe you want the team to put in a little extra voluntary work in, "Psst! Brandon...let me rap at you for a sec..." Just sayin'.