ESPN: SEALs inspire Michigan seniors

Submitted by MGoCombs on

I know there was a previous post about the SEAL training that took place in CA, but this is a pretty cool and in-depth story from ESPN about the lessons learned by Michigan Seniors on the trip. Great to see them growing as men and leaders.

LINK

mrkid

May 31st, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^

My man crush is growing for Hoke & Co. What a great thing to do with seniors. Hopefully that weekend yields results this fall. The season can't get here soon enough.

go16blue

May 31st, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

God damn are we lucky to have a coach like Hoke, makes me proud. It really is amazing how much the players have taken after him. They 100% buy into the idea of being accountable, respectful, and having high expectations. It seems like everything Hoke teaches, they live, which makes it all the more important that Hoke puts a priority on all the right things.

opwolverine97

May 31st, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^

Hoke's messages and way of conducting himself is almost exactly like Bo.   I honestly believe he is modeling himself in Bo's image.  Still with Hoke's own style and past experiences, but with Bo's spirit.

Hoke has stated that he will never be like Bo, but he is like Bo. He's like one of his sons.  I wouldnt trade Brady Hoke for ANY coach in college football and thank the heavens we did not close on Jim or Les.  Must be so cool to meet and hang out with Seals in CA.  I think we will see a couple of more surprises before the first game kicks off.

Genzilla

May 31st, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^

Hoke is tough, but apparently WAY more loving as well.  The prime example is the Will Hagerup muffed snap where Brady puts him arm around Hagerup and asks him how many he's caught in a row before that drop and how he won't drop one in the next 1,000.  



That is not a Bo move right there.

opwolverine97

May 31st, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^

Bo was much more unforgiving, He never liked to concede and inch, point, or play to the other team.  He hated it.  I'll agree with your there...but their cores are the same.  

Brady is WAY more loving...but he HATES giving inches too.  

For the record, you usually want to instill confidence in your kicker / punter since a lot of their trade is mental at times.  This is more so for this position group.  I dont think you've ever seen a coach try to "ice" the opposing teams quarterback or running back in a game deciding situation. Those time outs are usually to scan a formation. Pep talks for your kickers are vital.

And since you mentioned WG, that young man needs to return to his true form....when he was Zoltan-like.  We'll need him against Bama's running game.

Baldbill

May 31st, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

I hope that they can use this to gain a bit of mental toughness, to grow a little not just in football, but in life. I like this "workshop" it seems pretty cool.

NFG

May 31st, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^

To counter, Dantonio is going to have the MSU seniors train with the Eagle Scouts of Troop 1324 out of Battle Creek.

go16blue

May 31st, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^

This is a really telling quote from Kenny Demens, too.

 

 

Almost to a man, the Wolverines came back with identical dilemmas: They didn't really know their teammates.

"The thing I hate about leadership is you wait too late," Demens said. "Just imagine if we'd cared about each other like this as freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We'd be a dog-ass team. We'd be relentless."

 

I'd imagine class of '12 & '13 recruits won't have this problem considering how close they already are. From what Demens said, their closeness could help considerably on the field, too.

Michigan Marshmallow

June 1st, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^

 

A fancy dancer, in an empty backfield,
Just a Florida youngin', light on his feet.
A quarterback scanning, with no time for doubt
With the pocket collapsing he'll find a way out.
"It ain't much we're asking," I heard him say,
"Gotta win us a championship, move out of my way."
 
We want it all, we want it all, we want it all, and we want it now.
We want it all, we want it all, we want it all, and we want it now.
 

TdK71

May 31st, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

will pay divedends tenfold. Hoke is lighting the path for his players, whether or not they choose to lead the way is totally up to them.

I see great things in Team 133's future.

Go Blue!

tasnyder01

May 31st, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^

I live next to the SEAL training facility.  How did I not hear about this?

/shakes fist at sky

Guess I now have another excuse to stalk these fine pages.

Don

May 31st, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^

Denard, whether he knew it or not, accurately captured the essence of the famous maxim attributed to George Patton and later Vince Lombardi:

"Fatigue makes cowards of us all."

wolvrine32

May 31st, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^

Anyone interested in the Seals should read Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.  Great book about Seal training (these players got off easy!) and a mission that went wrong.  Highly recommended.

JimBobTressel

May 31st, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^

this makes me feel better about my concern of cocky recruits entering the locker room, this fall and next fall. they'll get that sucked out of them real fast.

DCAlum

May 31st, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^

"The Wolverines left Ann Arbor, Mich., for Detroit's Metro Airport around 5:15 a.m. CT Wednesday, and then flew through Minneapolis before arriving at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., around 11:20 a.m. PT."

 

I believe ESPN thinks Michigan is in the central timezone. Nice one, guys.

 

In other news, this trip seems like it will really give our seniors something to build on going into the year. I'm pumped.

MadMonkey

May 31st, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^

captain of Team 133.  His performance is going to take a major leap this year, too.  

These seniors are going to find the underclassmen very receptive to a culture of positive reinforcement, communication, and genuine interest in each other.  

Bo is watching . . . and he is happy.

 

Baldbill

May 31st, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^

Had they gone on without him, they would have paid dearly. It is all about the teamwork, you don't leave anyone behind. You complete the tasks as a team, or you haven't completed the tasks.

This is learning under pressure. You absolutely learn about yourself and others while you are dead dog tired, stripped of all the other things in life and it is just you and your "team" against the obstacles. You need to reach down deep and find it in you to keep on moving...or as he said embrace the suck.

 

uncleFred

May 31st, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^

That Roundtree called him out as the MVP of their time with the seals and the description of his leadership when one of his team tired during the log drill says everything about his change of attitude and in his commitment. I have a hunch that our DL will be plenty tough up the middle this season. 

Go get em Will and Go Blue!

rmic2

May 31st, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^

Will have my kids read this article when they get home from school. This really shows that UM is special and more innovative than the other programs out there.

MGoShoe

June 1st, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^

...of the Michigan leadership event? If yes, that would be a great post on its own.

You can either establish your own photo sharing account on Flickr or imgur or some other site, then link them using the Image button. If that's too daunting, recommend you email them to one of the mods who's willing to help.