Everyone Murders

June 5th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^

Navy SEAL training is a fantastic test of fortitude, and I've nothing but respect for anyone who elects to undergo it.  And to those who make it through without ringing the bell, they tend to be amazingly focused and grounded people.  Adm. McRaven's University of Texas commencement speech is worth your time to read.  You can watch it below if you prefer video.  And I'm sure that the SEAL Leadership program is worthwhile if you enter into it with the right mindset.

That stated, the apparent paucity of leadership on the team the last two seasons coincides with two years of seniors training with the SEALs.  Correlation doesn't equal causation, but I'm all in favor of taking a different tack with this class.

 

bdsisme

June 5th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^

I heard the reason they aren't going is because Dave Brandon is holding out for a booster to pay to fly the seniors to San Diego /s

readyourguard

June 5th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^

How said a growing sense of entitlement was creeping in the lockerroom as a result of the trip. Good for him to A) take notice and B) stop the entitlement dead in its tracks.

Raoul

June 5th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

If you look at the larger picture, this sounds like a good development. I know many people don't like the Freep, but there's a better explanation in the article there. The idea is to spread the leadership among multiple classes because singling out the seniors as they had been doing had its drawbacks.

The senior leadership trips from the past two seasons to California will not take place this year and will be replaced by multi-class leadership events around Ann Arbor.

"It's something that had run it's course a little bit and maybe some entitlement," Hoke said. "Guys just thought that was part of being a senior. They've got to earn it."

pearlw

June 5th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

Good decision in my opinion...there is no need to separate out the seniors to send them to this trip. Given how young the team is, the leadership will need to come from all classes so keep them together to grow during the summer. Nothing special about being a senior.

slimj091

June 5th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

nothing against the great men of our navy seals, but it didn't really do much help for the past two years. more for publicity than anything.

maize-blue

June 5th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

Big year. They must put it all into this season, no distractions and play with one big, massive fucking chip on their shoulders.

Space Coyote

June 5th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^

The experience of seeing what guys that fight for your country are doing, what some of the greatest leaders in this country are going through, and going through those things with your brothers and family.

But to gain anything from the trip, you need humility. Maya Angelou (RIP) said something like "I have no modesty. Modesty is a learned behavior. But I prey I have humility, because humility comes from the inside out." You need that sort of attitude going into something like SEALs training to get anything out of it. If you instead, simply feel entitled, then it's just a trip, just an experience in which you worked hard, but you didn't learn anything from it. You really just disrespected it, yourself, and your brothers. And so if it became that, then it wasn't worth going out there. And stopping that, saying "we're not going to treat it in that way" brings back humility. Brings back a sense of responsibility to yourself and your teammates. Doesn't condone behavior that treats a leadership experience like it's entitled to you.

So this is a good move on Hoke's part. Don't disrespect the SEALs. Get back humility in your team. Nothing is handed to you and must be earned. That needs to be evident in Ann Arbor.

Avon Barksdale

June 5th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^

If something isn't working, change it. Brady Hoke said that himself when he was hired, and I'm glad to see it's actually happening. Coaching changes and now this: at least he's showing that he realizes there were issues, which some of us questioned last season during his "we have to be better" rants.

Prince Lover

June 5th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^

Wouldn't this mean Hoke isn't a Neanderthal who doesn't wear headsets or sleeves and actually has a brain and learns from his past and wants to get better and won't settle because he has his dream job?

There goes half of this blogs comments during the season.

When I 1st read the headline I was a disappointed. I liked the idea of getting your senior leaders to learn to work together for a common good. But after reading his comments, I like this decision. A lot actually.

Trobdcso

June 5th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^

Maybe they should spend more time training with the sophomores and juniors, so we can get some damn chemistry on this team, and some fucking player development.

West German Judge

June 5th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^

No qualms with this.  The Seniors should be spending their first 3-4 years building up trust and leading by example, not going the motions until they are rewarded by default with a free trip to the West Coast.

Ty Butterfield

June 5th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

I think this is a good move. Hopefully the Senior class can spend more time with the younger players and work on team chemistry.

gord

June 5th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^

The Navy SEAL, George Whitfield, and Mike Barwis stuff seems to be pretty overrated.  Most good programs don't do any of that crap.

Mr. Yost

June 5th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^

We should send the seniors to Seattle Seahawks football camp instead of SEALS team building camp. They can do a tough mudder or warrior dash if they want to get dirty. Go learn how to play and win football games.