Jim Harbaugh is working players hard, and they love it.

Submitted by The Mad Hatter on

The players are buying into Coach Harbaugh's training methods.  Article includes some info and perspectives from current and former players.  

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/03/michigan_players_appreciate_ji.html

Harbaugh's unique methods force players to be on alert at all times. Because, one, you know Harbaugh's watching. And, two, any slips could cost you your spot in the snap of a finger.

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LSAClassOf2000

March 30th, 2015 at 9:55 AM ^

And, again, he posted the results. No one was given the luxury to hide, and over-achievers were singled out on every level -- until, eventually, his roster was filled with them.

Transparency creates competition and drives results. We've run with that at work through reporting monthly on task and field completions with personnel and it has created a great atmosphere of high achievement. Everyone knows precisely where they stand in relation to others and it has driven many to do better even if they were doing well to begin with. 

If there is something that was missing in the last regime, it was precisely this - the full knowledge of where you stood in relation to your teammates and the knowledge that this might be a decent predictor of how often you saw the field. I can see this paying dividends even this season. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Spontaneous Co…

March 30th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^

Remember when the previous staff kept talking about accountability?  I never recall seeing a concrete example so I came to believe that it just meant protecting each other, no matter what.  That can be admirable but it certainly does not equate to improved on-field results.  This article provides actual examples of how a staff can take actions that will teach the players to be accountable.  It is like Harbaugh has said - it isn't about talking it, it's about doing it.

Joined: 01/04/2011

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champswest

March 30th, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^

But in my opinion, the reason the team is buying in and willing to do the work is because they are tired of losing. They will try just about anything if it results in winning. I think the first few games are really important. A fast start will reinforce the message and serve as the reward and they will be willing to work even harder. It would also give recruiting a boost.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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The Uke

March 30th, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^

You have to make sure you're practicing the right things, technique, etc. If you practice the wrong things all you do is commit bad to muscle memory.

Joined: 02/06/2015

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DonAZ

March 30th, 2015 at 10:20 AM ^

From the article, making reference to Harbaugh's first year at Stanford: "No one was given the luxury to hide, and over-achievers were singled out on every level -- until, eventually, his roster was filled with them"

"No one was given the luxury to hide ..."

That makes for a brutally transparent environment ... but I'm sure that's what it takes to win at this level of collegiate football.  So good for Harbaugh.

 

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16679

LKLIII

March 30th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^

This article may be mostly recycled fluff from last week, but at least for me, the #1 virtue it had was as a pick-me-up after this weekend's tournament results.

Perfect click-bait pick-me-up for depressed Wolverine fans.

HARBAUGH!

Joined: 11/06/2013

MGoPoints: 8927

Perkis-Size Me

March 30th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^

I've never played football so I can't say for certain that I know what I'm talking about, but it seems that the first step of any new coaching regime is changing the culture. It may very well be the hardest part, too, since this where you find out who's really on board, and who's not. Breaking old habits and erasing a mentality of losing is a tough thing to do.

It seems like the team needs this kind of brutally transparent envrionment. No one wants to be the lowest guy on the totem pole for all the world to see. Seems like the last regime was the kind that patted you on the back and told you it was okay if you screwed up in practice. You screw up with Harbaugh, and he'll get in your face about it. Never to belittle you, but simply to make you better.

I hope this team is a rabid pack of dogs come September 3rd.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105661

The Mad Hatter

March 30th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^

my blood boil more than seeing the previous staff clapping and ass slapping when something bad happened.  I'm not saying that you need to scream at a guy every time he makes a mistake, but you damn sure shouldn't be happy about it.

I think that attitude was picked up by the players too.  Lots of smiling faces on the field while the team was getting their asses kicked.

Joined: 02/17/2015

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Philmypockets

March 30th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^

Yes that drove me insane, and many on here celebrated it and called those against it dicks. Glad we all hail Jim and support a great coach. We will win games we shouldn't. We recently have lost games we shouldn't have. Hoke screwed so many guys playing nice, but he didn't realize it. Brady was and is a great guy. Thank you football God for sending us Jim. In 3 years we will kill it.

Joined: 03/18/2015

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bacon

March 30th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^

I think this article is a great demonstration of why Harbaugh is meant to be a college coach. I'm sure at the pro-level, there's a lot more push back to these types of methods. In college, guys are still learning and they're more likely to soak this up and benefit. I'm so glad Harbaugh decided to come back to Michigan and I'm sure he'll be successful here with his methods.

Joined: 01/04/2009

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