Tate OK with wingless helmet

Submitted by IPKarma on

I didn't find this posted yet; I was listening to WTKA on the way home last night and heard this info from a caller who's been at practice and knows the Forcier family; it's worth a listen:

http://www.wtka.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.podcasts_search

8-17-2010
5B - Even More Wingless Helmet

Before I heard this, I was worried that Tate's head still wasn't screwed on straight.  I'm glad to hear Tate understands what's going on, knows what he needs to do, and is working hard to get the job done.

IPKarma

August 18th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^

  • Team is in high spirits led by seniors
  • Tate got a lot of high profile and praise early on - a lot for a kid to deal with
  • Tate's dad would be the first to agree Tate hasn't done everything on and off the field he needs to - both Tate and his Dad think RR is treating him fairly
  • Tate and 4 or 5 other guys came to camp not in the best shape
  • Tate is looking better everyday and working hard to get the starting job

That's what I remember - others who listen this morning can fill in the rest or correct me.

soupsnake

August 18th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^

If you ask the question you better be ready for the answer.

Job 40:6 

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
7     “Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
8     “Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9     Do you have an arm like God’s,
and can your voice thunder like his?
10     Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11     Unleash the fury of your wrath,
look at every proud man and bring him low,
12     look at every proud man and humble him,
crush the wicked where they stand.
13     Bury them all in the dust together;
shroud their faces in the grave.
14     Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.

SAvoodoo

August 18th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^

Guy calls in, say spirit is high at practice (he had just watched half of it that day) then says this:

Caller: I don't want to profess to be an expert but I do know Tate, and I know his father and all I can tell you is that Tate kind of had a lot of very very early national success

Host: Yeah he was on the cover of SI

Caller: Yea exactly, some of that, let's just say, Tate didn't handle as well as his own dad were the first to tell you.  His dad and I watched spring practice together and Mike thinks that Coach Rodriguiez is pretty justified in believing that if you earn and are handed the starting QB postion at the University of Michigan right out of the shoot you've gotta step up and show maturity as a student and as an off the field leader.  Nobody is going to question Tate's ability to lead on the field, he's a come from behind winner.  But he's got responsibilities to others that are looking up to him including all the freshman that come in every year.

Host: And you gotta earn your playing time and chance to play for the team

Caller: The coach knows what he's doing and Tate Forcier is working his head off to be the starting WB on opening day.  He is running, he is very enthusiastic and he is throwing the football pretty doggone well.  So whatever, if you wish to critique everyone is welcome to do that from where I'm standing up on their on the sidelines I think coach is getting through to Tate and I think the rest of the players appreciate that he's not setting him on a pedestal and saying all the rest of you gotta go to school and study, all the rest of you gotta be good boys off the field but Tate's an exception, he's not, he's one of the boys and I think the whole team is respecting the fact that he is being treated, along with four or five other guys who came in in less good physical shape that they were expected. I expect that he'll run out on the field that first game, so probably will the majority if not all the rest of the guys.

Host: cuts him off to go to break after thanking for the call and agreeing with him.

Glutton

August 18th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^

I know this topic has been beaten to death.  But one quote from RR in the News made me wonder what will happen on September 4.

""Certainly we want everybody that runs down that tunnel on September 4 ... to be wearing a winged helmet. In order to be running down that tunnel you've got to appreciate that privilege that you have to play here, and I think all of them will. But if they don't, they won't wear the helmet."

Does this imply that some players could exit the tunnel without wings?  I am not up to speed on the uniform policy.  Could a player in fact play with a different helmet?  Or would they not dress for the game at all?

Welcoming input from anyone with knowledge of how this may work.

icefins26

August 18th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^

Ugh - no.  RR is simply stating that players need to shape up or get out.  He's not implying they will run out of the tunnel without wings.  I think he was hinting at Turner -- which happened right after this quote.  And by not wearing the helmet, he means they won't be on the team.

drexel

August 18th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^

If it really came down to game day, they would not dress.  It is against the rules for somebody on the same team to have a different uniform.  We did something like this in college.  If you didn't pass the conditioning test at the beginning of camp, you didn't get your helmet logo stickers.  Anybody who didn't have them had to do extra conditioning at the end of practice every day or way early in the morning.  Once you passed, you got your helmet logos, but if you didn't manage to pass before the end of camp, everybody got their stickers the Thursday before the first game.  I don't know if RR would actually keep anybody from dressing, but nobody will be out there in a solid blue helmet.

BlockM

August 18th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^

Awesome. As a coach you've gotta be able to recognize how certain kids will take certain kinds of discipline. It looks like Rodriguez made the right decision in this case and Tate's getting things in order. I'm not particularly worried about the QB situation this year.

JeepinBen

August 18th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^

This, in my opinion is the hardest part of coaching/teaching/leading in general. Everyone will respond differently and everyone needs their own way to learn/grow the best.

I know Bo famously said "I'm going to treat you all the same, like dogs!" but I think that each player has individual needs and will respond differently to the same tactics. For example, Rich has tried to light a fire under tate, get him going, "break him down" type of motivation. I doubt the same would work with every player on the team. Maybe that same motivational tactic (which seems to be working with Tate) is what drove Turner out the door. I'm not saying he's doing everything right or wrong, but Rich seems to know which buttons to push with a large, large majority of his players. 

Here's hoping that EVERY player is responding well to Rich and that we can overcome all this adversity and have a great 2010

Dave

August 18th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^

...is that Pop Forcier is on board.  Having a parent in agreement with the coaching staff is more than half the battle, if past experience holds.  See, e.g., Perry, Chris.

jblaze

August 18th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^

in the shoes of Tate. He never lifted before Michigan, has always been successful in every stage of football (see last year, pre-injury), is young and feels invincible.

That's just human nature. Having a guy like RR not kiss his ass and drool over his every move and Denard (who is equally talented and harder working) really is difficult to deal with.

This is up to Tate (with his family and RR) to put up or go home.

This type of moment is necessary in every great player's career (see Jordan being cut from his HS basketball team).

rtyler

August 19th, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^

FWIW, Jordan wasn't cut from any team. Another player was selected over him as a call up to the varsity squad, a place Jordan felt he deserved more. Perhaps if Denard is chosen as starting QB for the UConn game, that would be a similar scenario for Tate?

It seems to me like Rich Rod is motivating Tate and sending a message to the incoming freshman that the rules and expectations apply equally to all players regardless of their on-the-field contributions.

pullin4blue

August 18th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^

I think this whole thing with the wingless helmet has been blown out of proportion. If RR wants to start a new tradition, let him. In general, if 75% of the people don't initially agree with you, you're probably on to something.

What is one of the most iconic things in college football? Our Winged helmet, designed by Fielding H. Yost. Coaches just want kids to know that it is an honor and privilege to wear the winged helmet. This goes for those who will never see the field beyond the practice squad and those who will start the game. I love it that he is instilling some pride. I also like it that the players are taking it for what it is and nothing more. Those who stay WILL be champions. Some will rise to the challenge, some will walk. I would rather have someone walk now than have a player that will only give a 75% effort on game day.

Tate will surprise a lot of people who have already written him off. I'm sure UConn doesn't know what to make of things and has to prepare differently for two otherwise similar QB's.

TJLA1817

August 18th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^

We need to beat UConn.  Troy is a huge blow, but we still need to beat UConn.  We must figure out what we need to do, then do it.  We still have enough talent.  We have the character.  We must pound UConn into the ground.

michgoblue

August 18th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^

I am happy to hear that he is responding to the additional motivation.  The only disappointment is that he, unfortunately, missed out on a few months of what could have been additional development. 

Bodogblog

August 18th, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^

Enough to offset Troy's injury?  No.  Because our man got hurt and his football future is in jeopardy

But knowing that Tate gets it, he's working his tail off, and his dad's on board?  This takes my largest worry away.  If it's a 3-headed QB dragon, the one with experience has just realized what he needs to do for his team.  If he re-commits to the team and working, our options remain deadly.  He's still the best of the options IMO, an outstanding player

This is unequivocally good news.  Turner?  WVU is not going to solve anything.  Follow this lead... it's tough to admit when you're young, but owning up to mistakes is a lesson all successful people learn.  It's just a matter of when

SwordDancer710

August 18th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

Good to know that Forcier is fighting to get the 1 spot back. The competition will bring out the best in all of our QBs. Here's to our explosive offense making the defense not matter!

maddogterry

August 18th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^

Although Lloyd was not my favorite coach, his tough love with Braylon brought him around to All American status. Tate needed a "spanking". Hopefully it will bring him around so that he can reach his potential. Next year and after will elevate Michigan back to our usual custom where we are equal or better than the Clown School in Columbus.