Michigan Radio Notes (Tuesday)

Submitted by JMo on

Just getting caught up on some pods/radio from yesterday.  A couple entertaining minutes of listening, nothing ground breaking or scoops, but it's a slow news day so here's a couple things.

Dan Patrick had Ken Griffey Jr on yesterday to promote MLB The Show. They talked a decent amount about alternate career paths, then Griff (who was apparently offered by OU and had more football scholarship offers than baseball) dropped this little nugget:

 
DP:  Kinda like you, your career path could have been a football player at Ohio State...
 
KGJR: No
 
DP:  ...but you turned down that offer to go play baseball.
 
KGJR: Nah, I'da probably gone to Michigan.
 
DP:  Really?
 
KGJR: My brother went to Ohio State. Yeah, only because one of my friends, Vada Murray, who passed away went to Michigan. As a freshman and sophomore he was my big brother at (Cincinatti) Moeller.
 
 
 
Jay Feely was subbing in for Rich Eisen and had Jim Harbaugh on. Here's a quick type of the interview. I paraphrase Feely's questions, so he doesn't sound as completely moronic as the type shows.  Fun to listen to Harbaugh talk about basically anything, in my opinion.
Bolded the few lines that I found to be particularly interesting/entertaining.
 
JF: I think Kenny Allen could be a punter/kickoff guy in the NFL
 
JH: The cool thing about our pro day was the looks of the faces on the guys that are still in the program at Michigan. Eyes wide open. Jaws down a little bit. Understanding that they could be there some day.
 
You make the point to them that it didnt happen for these 18/19 guys because they just started training for the NFL or the combine or pro day 3 or 4 months ago, theyve been doing this for 4 and 5 years and right now, start getting yourself ready to get in the best shape possible. Earn a starting position. Contribute to the football team.
 
Its a great example you have when 18/19 guys are looking to move to the next level, it's a great motivator for our football team.
 
Speaking of that right now, we have hungry young guys. Imagine, we've got guys who've been sitting behind those guys, hungry, waiting for a chance to start. Competition, heated waters, are really there for spring practice. At the University of Michigan spring practice, guys are fighting for jobs.
 
JF: So many guys you're replacing... who are the guys that you're looking to step up.
 
JH: Arguably you could say there's 10 starting jobs open on defense, but there's returners like Mike McCray, Chase Winovich, Rashaun Gary, Mo Hurst... those are all proven guys on defense. The whole secondary will be new. It's freshmen and sophomores. There's one junior there's one senior. And those guys are battling it out. Seven on seven drills, the team drills are very competitive, that's showing we got some good young talent. Proven guys, young hungry guys as well...
 
JF: Spring ball whats you're ultimate goal for the team on a daily basis
 
JH: The ultimate goal is to be better today than we were yesterday. I want to have the best day of meetings that we've had all spring; today. (Edit Note: I'd like to walk into the conference room in my professional life and say "I want to have the best day of meetings we've had all spring!") Lot of tape to look at. Lot of film. Lot of reps this weekend on sunday and friday.  So have a great day of meetings today and then our third practice tomorrow. Our first one in gear. Full gear. Got the armor on tomorrow so that's always exciting. Put the pads on and it'll rage on. The competition will rage on. The improvement will continue, if we do what we have to do, we'll continue to get better.
 
JF: Scheduled a trip in Italy, whats that going to be like...
 
JH: Well I can't wait as the day gets closer and closer, I just get so excited about it. The idea is that our whole team had the opportunity to study abroad after spring practice is over, so we'll be in Rome and then they're going to disperse out to 11 different countries and do 2-3 weeks of study abroad. And that to me will put the college back in college football.
 
Also, to go to a city where buildings are 4-450 years old. To be able to go to the Vatican. See the Sistine Chapel. The Coliseum, see the Venice steps. We have coaching clinics over there for American football. We have youth clinics for American football. We're going to visit with refugees. We're going to take a cooking class. Going to an Opera. We're gonna of course watch the movie Gladiator while we're there. Just connecting. Just connecting with people from a different culture. Different country. I feel like our players will be ambassadors for not only Michigan, but the NCAA, the game of football, but also for the United States of America. The amount of levels this is going to be a win on, is a lot.
 
JF: I'm available if you need a tour guide.
 
JH: We'd love for you to come Jay. Your status as a Michigan man is fully intact.
 
JF: Jabril Peppers ... how he's going to be used. Tyrann Mathieu. How would you as a head coach use him?
 
JH: Well, those conversations I think were being had 3=2 months ago. The pro coaches I talk to that call and talk about Jabril, they see it. They've watched all the tape. They see how they're going to use him.  He's going to be a safety that plays in the deep middle of the field. He's going to be a safety that plays in the two deep. Also see how he could be a linebacker. Nickel corner. How he could be in the box, linebacker, how he can blitz, tackle and be used in the return game, both the kickoff and the punt return game. So it's not even a question anymore, from the people I've talked to.  What theyve said to me, they really get it. They're doing on their homework on what kind of guy he is. What kind of practice player he is.  
 
I can tell you what I tell them, having been around players who bring as much energy to a practice, or a game as Jabril Peppers. 1) The Number One guy i've ever been around in terms of enthusiasm and practice, tempo, not only himself, but as many other people around him, on a daily basis, weekly, monthly, yearly. Ive never seen anything like the guy in terms of the way he likes ot practice. The way he wants to compete. The satisfaction he derives from practice. So theyreliking to hear that. They're telling me he's going to go pretty high.
 
JF: Colin Kaepernick.. if you're a GM, they called you what would you tell them.
 
JH: I love CK, I love his family. I just appreciate what he's done for the game of football. What he's done, what he continues to do, and what he's done for our country. He's a very special man. And nothing but love for him and his family. I also think that he's one of the very best quarterbacks in the league. I mean his leaverage isn't super high right now but remember he played on a team last year that struggled mightily. He strapped it on every single game. Doesn't get hurt. When the bell is rung CK answers. Whatever the situation is he's playing at the highest level. No doubt in my mind he'll be on a team...  I know he's preparing like a madman and will be in tremendous shape when it's time to go and camp.
 
JF: .... if you need a tour guide in Rome just let me know
 
JH: Ok. Well just come. Just come. Is that an empty gesture Jay?
 
JF: No no, I've got nothing going on at all. Ill come with you.
 
JH: As Tom Brady would say, "Let's go!"
 
 

reshp1

March 29th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^

I'm really excited for, and if I'm being honest, a little jealous of the players going on this Rome trip. It sounds like a once in a lifetime experience. 

The Maizer

March 29th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^

I love the "We're gonna of course watch the movie Gladiator while we're there." Said as if that's the most obvious thing to do with your time in Rome.

LSAClassOf2000

March 29th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

We have youth clinics for American football. We're going to visit with refugees. We're going to take a cooking class. Going to an Opera. We're gonna of course watch the movie Gladiator while we're there.

This sounds like a lot of fun up to and including watching "Gladiator" in Rome. I am now actually really jealous of this trip and I am not even on the team. 

4godkingandwol…

March 29th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^

... i'd run through a brick wall for Harbaugh. The man speaks truth and isn't afraid to offend the easily offended.

Everytime I read Rome in this post, I kept thinking of Jim Rome since the context was sports talk radio/tv; it made me feel a little nauseous.