Matt Wile article on ESPN
Good to see Wile get some national pub. He's the leader for kickoffs and it looks like he might be filling in for Hagerup and kicking long field goals. Good luck to whoever gets the job.
August 24th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
He's a fifth generation Wolverine. That's impressive.
August 24th, 2011 at 3:46 PM ^
I'm still trying to get generation #2 up and running...
August 24th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
ESPN just can't get enough Michigan this offseason. They're even writing articles on our freshman kicker!
August 24th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
...And stealing our recruiting gurus. /grumble
August 24th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
I am so tired of losing out on highly rated recruiting gurus.
August 24th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^
TomVH is a consensus 5 star guru. I can't say the same for the other Tom. Tom Luginbill.
August 24th, 2011 at 2:59 PM ^
They must realize that this is the finest school specific blog in the land so they want to gut the talent. Little do they know that it also has a deep bench...
August 24th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
not sure how I feel that gibbons seems to be leading for the field goal kicking job though....
August 24th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
I know it scares me. He was known as a great practice kicker last year as well. He just never seemed to show up for the games. Who knows maybe he has developed some mental toughness in the off season.
August 24th, 2011 at 3:34 PM ^
a good hoke finger pointing will do tht to a man.
August 24th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Gibbons is better prepared this year. Kicking for Michigan is an extremely high pressure job, and that's an brutal spot for a kid three months removed from high school.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:07 AM ^
Gibbons is a RS Sophomore, he was over a year removed from high school last year.
August 24th, 2011 at 4:15 PM ^
Keep in mind, Gibbons was basically last year's version of Wile. He was a touted recruit himself.
August 24th, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^
I enjoyed his reference to himself as being "young" back in 2004. As if he's now over the hill!
August 24th, 2011 at 3:42 PM ^
we hired Hoke. Pretty good bonus I'd say. The last coaching staff either didn't know about him or for some baffling reason didn't recruit him. Having a 5th generation Michigan Man at kicker is damn cool though.
I too am skeptical about Gibbons suddenly being able to kick FG's. We'll see if he can do it in the games. Maybe the change in coaching staffs will help him. I'm hoping he does well.
August 24th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Even though he's 5th generation Michigan, his dad, Dr. 4th Generation, was the SDSU team doctor. (I think he's since resigned so he could come watch his son kick on Saturdays.)
EDIT: Info in this article too. Obviously posted before reading it.
August 24th, 2011 at 5:10 PM ^
Article Title: Matt Wile may just do Everything for Michigan.
Article Body: "Hoke said Gibbons, signed by former coach Rich Rodriguez, is probably kicking the best overall, adding that Wile kicks well from long distances."
Me: ?
August 24th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
As a coach, when a player is doing well (Mike Martin), sometimes you go excessively hard on him to push him to where he didn't know he could go,conversely when a player is struggling (Gibbons) you go out of your way to encourage him and give him confidence, especially if you see the talent and ability is there.
August 25th, 2011 at 7:36 AM ^