Chengelis Article on Fitz's Injury
February 15th, 2013 at 1:22 AM ^
Good to hear from him that he is doing well and still has his hunger to return and play after what was a really gruesome injury. Nice read, thanks for posting.
February 15th, 2013 at 1:56 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 2:30 AM ^
I couldn't ever read the description of Fitz's injury and I cringed . If he comes back this year and plays he would be one Bad Ace.
February 15th, 2013 at 3:38 AM ^
It's amazing what a 5 star RB recruit will do to speed up your recovery time. I'm sure Fitz was hungry before, but now with Green coming to Ann Arbor, Fitz has a real sense of urgency to not only recover, but to compete to be the starter.
February 15th, 2013 at 8:46 AM ^
Eh, I don't see it that way. I think Fitz would have had the same urgency to recover and be able to contribute no matter who was on the roster come fall.
It's going to be tough for Fitz, but if he can come back in the fall and be a contributor, him and Green would be a pretty nice 1-2 punch, in my opinion.
February 15th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
I don't think people are forgetting, but if you're expecting an RB to come in and contribute as a true freshman, going with the guy that's the top RB in the country and not just Ohio is a pretty safe bet.
February 15th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
Also, it would be unnecessary to play two freshmen if Fitz comes back. You don't really need more than a 1-2 punch.
February 15th, 2013 at 9:06 AM ^
so you think he was pretty much taking it easy until Greene signed?
February 15th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
Like I said, I'm sure he was hungry to get back on the field already.
February 15th, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^
I think a desire to be in a position to be drafted and play at the next level was already a sufficient motivator. I don't know that Green really changes that much.
February 15th, 2013 at 7:04 AM ^
Thanks for posting that. It sucks that some people have to deal with so much adversity to find clarity sometimes, but when you're young you find yourself invinceable. I'm so happy that Fitz has this focus towards returning at 100%. Seeing him working out for Spring practice I think will be good not only for himself, but also the team. The hard work he put in to get ahead of his recovery schedule will rub off on everyone.
February 15th, 2013 at 7:17 AM ^
He also is aware of the growing hype surrounding top-ranked incoming freshman tailback Derrick Green. Asked if Green's impending arrival motivates him, Toussaint made clear his purpose and focus. "I've got a 12:30 workout tomorrow," he said. "That's the next thing I'm looking forward to. I'll let that (the fall competition) come. I'm turned up to the max, and I'm going to stay that way."I like this. I think our running back situation will be vastly improved (presuming Toussaint comes back healthy.) Whoever wins the battle will have earned it- although I think both will see significant snaps.
February 15th, 2013 at 8:11 AM ^
"That's not just what I'm saying — it's what I'm doing. … I'm used to this. I've played the game before. I'm hungrier than I've ever been, not just about football but about life."
I really like the competitiveness he is showing and the drive to recover fully from his injury, and I like how he puts it here - that he's "doing" it. It was also good to hear that he has not ruled out a little participation in spring practice, for if he could even be out there on a limited basis, that means great things for the fall, I would think.
Good read, and thanks for sharing this!
February 15th, 2013 at 9:22 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
My first reaction would have been "Kids, go put on your pajamas!" "But dad, why? Its only noon!" "Do what I say!"
February 15th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
I was fortunate to be in the stands and not subjected to seeing the replays on TV. Heard it was almost as bad as seeing Lattimore's injury on TV. My dad called me at the game and said "you guys are F'd, it's bad."
February 15th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
this was a great article so it made for a great first post from you. Kudos!
You didn't screw up the link but a suggestion for improvement is to take the link and make it open in a new window, that way the reader still has mgoblog open in their primary window and can still read comments here. to do that, when you add in a link, on the tabs inside the link insertion box, click the tab for target, and on the drop down select new window. just a thought for the future!
February 15th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 8:12 AM ^
I'm thinking, 'We go back to the 'Shoe (Ohio Stadium a week later), and I can't play."
February 15th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 8:40 AM ^
Competition makes everyone better.. We're gonna have a great set of running backs this yr..
February 15th, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^
I think that his recovery and building that competition could be a real key to the running game. I think Fitz came in a bit overconfident based on the year before, and at the same time, did not get the blocking support necessary. Great to see him fired up to get back in the mix, and after that injury simply great to see him already ahead of schedule.
I am hoping my belief that the oline is going to get much, much better with the return of Lewan pans out. I think that Kalis, Magnuson, Braden, Bryant and most likely Bosch with his head start will help with that growth. Kalis should be even further ahead of where Lewan was coming into his 2nd year as he was already physically larger. If the center position shows the necessary improvement, they could actually develop into a very good line by the Big Ten games. Getting past ND is going to be the challenge. I wish it was the 3rd of 4th game, but it is what it is.
February 15th, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^
I'm as excited about D Green as anyway, but don't overlook Smith. My hope is that one of those two contribute as a change up to Fitz in 2013 and the other redshirts.
February 15th, 2013 at 8:56 AM ^
I would like to see Smith redshirt. I think he is going to be more of a pounder like Rawls. I could be wrong, but that is the way I see it.
February 15th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
He'll probably be a pounder, but hopefully not like Rawls. Hopefully he's at least adequate.
February 15th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
I just see things falling into place. IMO, this is Fitz's year. Even if Green may be the flashier freshman. Fitz to me is the bell cow.
Last year you had Lacy/Yeldon. In '97, Chris Howard was effective and carried the load for us even with highly-touted freshman Anthony Thomas on the team. Thomas also had some big runs and as solid year for a freshman. I see a similar situation. Hopefully, the season has a similar ending.
February 15th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
I hadn't heard about his mother's accident. Any word on how she's doing? I seem to remember a poster around here had some story a couple of seasons ago about driving through Ohio and being waited on by his mother after a game.
Good luck to him!
[Insert the "I want to believe" Toussaint image I failed to find about here.]
February 15th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
he was injured early in his career
had a very good season followed by a disaster year which ended with a broken leg.
now he has to rehab and perhaps competition for playing time by a player not immortalized on a clowney highlight reel.
if he contributes in 2013, it will be a great accomplishment for him and great for michigan!
February 15th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
Does he get that rod taken out, is it out already or does it remain in place forever?
Inquiring minds.
February 15th, 2013 at 4:35 PM ^
I had a similar injury to Fitz's back in high school as I broke my tib/fib and had a metal plate and some screws put in as well. I also lost a ton of weight. I can vivedly remember the same sort of feelings about something being "off" the day of the injury. It was akin to knowing something bad was going to happen, you just didn't know what or how to stop it. I'm guessing this is some sort of phenonmena for traumatic events. I wonder if Fitz has to get that hardware taken out at some point later? I know I had to get my hardware taken out a year after the injury.
It's great to hear Fitz is ahead of schedule, but if his recovery is anything like mine I don't see any way he is 100% to start the season. He may play, and he may play more and gain strength and confidence as the season progresses. But, I have a hard time seeing him be in his old form to start the season. It was more like 1.5 years before I felt like I was pre-injury. I hope he proves me wrong, but getting over severe injuries like that are very difficult due to the physical and mental trauma. I wish him luck.
February 15th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
February 15th, 2013 at 9:16 PM ^
This is interesting how the comments about how excited people are about Deveon Smith are everywhere now. I don't wish this comment to be really a reply to you, I only do so to provide context to my comment. But, everyone seemed hell bent that we had to have Green and had annoited him the next big UM back. Now that we have Green it's all about how we're selling Smith short and he's gonna be great. It's like we just say things to be different sometimes.
February 15th, 2013 at 7:27 PM ^
I thought he was coming back from Ikea...? Seems like he has been Hardened by his adversity.