Michigan Daily article on competition in spring ball
Here's a few more stories to satisfy the addicts, myself included. Quotes from a few players as well focusing on the competition in camp.
http://michigandaily.com/sports/harbaughs-first-spring-marked-competiti…
I like the "What kind of a question is that?" look on Jim's face.
On another note I see that the columnist who wrote the "I'm middle class and live in a $2M house" has issued a retraction of sorts.
Not to hijack the thread, but that response by the author was well written, a bit more thorough and much more thoughtful than the initial article.
Worst retraction ever.
"I admit that the way I presented my argument was wrong and uninformed."
No. Your argument was just plain wrong. One of the things I hate most about my generation is the inability to admit that one was wrong.
we are never wrong! How can we be since we are all special snowflakes and flowers with wonderful ideas like new fight songz
It has nothing to do with our generation, listen to any politician or public person of any age issue an apology and it's hollow and no wrongdoing is admitted.
we are collectively outraged if no one says anything, but a clearly scripted apology, written by some PR guy wipes the slate clean for a lot of public figures. Sincerity not required
Jim Harbaugh is absolutely insane and I love it.
The competition to write the wackiest "Jim Harbaugh is insane" article among the Michigan media is just delightful.
subject to competition. No one is spared.
"Those were five of the best paragraphs I've read yet Baumgardner. Now change out of those slacks and get out on the track. You've got a record to beat."
I love that DeVeon Smith was frustrated about the defense running gassers.
The idea of EVERYTHING being a competition really appeals to me, especially after Funchess' comments about wins-losses only being a stat. I know it is beating a dead horse, but to go from that to there-is-nothing-except-winning-and-losing is a welcome change.
Also, I would NEVER want to be in one of Harbaugh's practices.
That's not a winner's attitude.
Seriously, his practices would probably be a shock to our systems at first. But after awhile they might be fun. Having a "winner" and "loser" in every drill gives you a concrete incentive - you want that little moment in the sun.
Turning the gassers on their head and making them a reward is pretty fascinating from a psychological standpoint. The guys probably run them harder and faster when they perceive them as a payoff.
I'm kinda hoping the winning team in the Spring Game run some gassers. It sounds corny, but can you imagine the whole stadium cheering those guys on in a running drill?
Also it wouldn't surprise me if Harbaugh does a few of those gassers with the team.
And then after the game Jim should invite fans down on the field to sprint with him.
comment made me rage so hard. Way more than was reasonable for an adult male. If that was the attitude the previous regime instilled in the players it's no wonder we were 5-7 last year.
Somehow I think that expressing a similar sentiment will be frowned upon in the Harbaugh era.
Interesting little nugget at the end about Glasgow getting most of Jack Miller's center reps. I don't know if that's terribly surprising, and there is a long way to go, but he appears to be ahead of Kugler out of the gate.
It would be an upset if Glasgow didn't start somewhere.
Dawson perhaps?
I have read at least 10 articles on a single day of practice.... I can't resist more Harbaugh!
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Next one of these articles, I'm running through a brick wall. I don't even care anymore...I know hype is hype, but this stuff is awesome. Or "pure gold" as some still say.
I was never really on the hype train when the coaches would talk...it was cool and all, but it's all coachspeak. Now that they're getting player reactions, I don't know what it is...but it gets me all warm and fuzzy inside. I know 100%, without a doubt we're in the best hands and we're getting better.
Those who know me on here, know I'm usually always trying to be the voice of reason. The one bringing people off cloud 9 and back to reality.
I'm sorry, that's going to have to be someone else...because my maize and blue glasses are on, we're back to competing for B1G championships, etc.
I love it all, the "winners get to run and get better"...the fact that it pisses the losers off that the winners get to run and not them. I love the connections, the Suh's, the John Harbaugh's, etc. coming to practice. I love that every single thing about this team says "elite college team with NFL tendencies"...just like Bama, USC, Oregon, OSU, FSU (now UCLA).
Hail Harbaugh.
Michigan Daily fluff articles >>>> ESPN & Freep* fluff articles
*fuck the Freep, I'd never read that mess, but by default...Daily has to be better.
In all seriousness, there stuff has been a ton better than 247 and the recruiting sites, everyone. It's not just a full article based off of one quote or idea that no one cares about.
When you get your players to WANT to run gassers and feel 'cheated' when they can't, you've achieved King of Motivation status.
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Funchess.mind.blown.
The winning unit, not the losing one, is tasked with running gassers for about 10 minutes after the day’s activities. It’s not meant as a punishment. In Harbaugh’s world, only the winners deserve the opportunity to get better. The losing side sits down to watch the winners run.
Junior running back De’Veon Smith was one of the many players who originally thought running was a punishment for not succeeding in practice. It took fewer than five spring practices to reverse Smith’s mentality. The offense’s losses weigh on Smith when he watches his teammates run.
He had never previously entertained the idea that he would have a desire to run gassers.
“No, not at all,” Smith said. “There’s not a chance, ever. Last summer, we had a gasser test and that was the worst thing, I hated gassers. Seeing your teammates run the gassers instead of you because you lost is kind of frustrating.”
The competition is even more magnified on special teams. Each rep is viewed as a one-on-one battle between two players, resulting in the declaration of a winner and loser. Like on offense and defense, the winners of many drills run.
The coaches make sure the final results are distinct. Middle ground is nonexistent.
“We know who won and we know who lost,” said redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson.