New Taylor Lewan Article from AnnArbor.com

Submitted by willywill9 on

Sorry if already posted, but this article on Lewan is phenomenal.  I did a quick search and checked the side bar but didn't see it.   If already posted, please delete.

My favorite part is probably:

Two hours before a flight from Phoenix to Detroit is scheduled to depart and deliver him to college, Lewan hears through friends that another lineman at Chaparral, sophomore Jacob Ehm, believes he’s faster than him. There’s a detour on the way to the airport. “I hear you think you are better than me,” says Lewan, standing in the Chaparral locker room in a pair of baggy pants and flip flops. “Let’s go.” Ehm and Lewan walk to the 40-yard line of the football field. Lewan strips down to his Under Armour boxers. The linemen, both 6-6, barrel toward the end zone. Lewan wins the race, puts his clothes back on, and leaves for college.

The kid's got some serious cojones... I am paranoid about being late for a flight!

MinorRage

October 28th, 2010 at 8:53 AM ^

It is a little frustrating at times when he seems to rack up penalties at extremely inopportune moments, but I love his aggressiveness. This team needs nasty players. If we could get a couple guys like that on D who are just nasty and want to hit someone this team is getting close to being extremely special.

Laser Wolf

October 28th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^

The article opens with Taylor and his father visiting Rich Rod's home. What is the actual wording of the rule concerning visits off campus? I know Bruce Pearl got in some trouble for having a recruit at his house (of course, he also lied about it). Does it depend on the type of visit (official vs. unofficial)?

MGoCards

October 28th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^

In Pearl's case, the students involved are juniors. If I understand correctly, juniors are never allowed to have a "contact" with a member of the coaching staff off-campus. Such contacts can start on July 1 after their junior year but, before then, if you're Bruce Pearl and you just happen to see a recruit at Red Lobster, you can only offer a greeting. Any you "engage in any dialogue in excess of a greeting, " followed by "tak[ing] appropriate steps to immediately terminate the encounter" constitutes a violation (source). Some people juice this system by orchestrating these "chance encounters" and "bumps" and there's a little grey area there. But having a junior over to your house for some barbecue is an egregious, conscious violation and Pearl knew it (and acknowledged at the time that he knew it). 

Lewan was a senior in December 2008. Nothing in violation with him being at RR's home. 

mGrowOld

October 28th, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^

I love the guys mean streak too. My guess would be if Bo in 1970 was allowed to travel 30 years into the future and take one player back with him Taylor would be doing some serious time travelling!

mGrowOld

October 28th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^

No I meant 30 years.  If you could've seen Taylor in third grade you'd understand why Bo would've wanted him.  Anything older wouldn't be fair to the other players in 1970.

Good catch on your part my friend.  Plus one to you for your obviously refined (or at least more advanced than my) math skills.

Wolverine0056

October 28th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^

Thanks for sharing this article. Lewan is one of my favorite guys on this team and is going to be a beast throughout his time at UM. I love his fingerstache though, pretty slick.

bluesouth

October 28th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^

know that was a penalty".  ref; blocking an opponent to the sideline.  Hilarious,  I'm going to enjoy watching this kid his entire career penalties, agressiveness, crazy antics, and all. 

Ziff72

October 28th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^

Anyone find it interesting his roomates are Gibbons and Toussiant?   His best friend is Roh and he lives with a kicker from Florida and a RB from Ohio?   Does anyone know if they assign the living arrangements to avoid cliques forming?   

 

Dr.Jay

October 28th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^

I remember reading he did room with Roh his freshman year, and Roh said Lewan snoring was so loud he used to have a pile of socks balled up next to the bed to throw at him to make him stop. That may be the reason for the split

Wendyk5

October 28th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^

I talked with Taylor for a while at the Woman's Football Academy - he's a really good guy. I used to live in Scottsdale as a kid and would have gone to Chaparral HS had we stayed that long, so we talked about that a bit. He was really articulate and totally happy talking to a 40 year-old mom (me) about nothing much in particular. Great personality and great representative of Michigan. 

caup

October 28th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^

that these kinds of articles will increase the refs' scrutiny of Lewan?

The constant meme on this kid is that he's intense, jumpy and is inclined to take cheap shots.

I'd prefer not to see this type of characterization get ingrained by the media.

I bet the refs watch him like a hawk from now on. 

And that's not helpful.