MVictors
I do not know if this was published, but M Victors blog has some interviews and photos from media day.
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A few words from me before quoting Tate. This guy stood in here today and got hammered with questions about missing wings, expectations and being called out by Woolfolk. He handled it all like a pro. He was humble, apologetic, and most of all, kept getting back to do whatever’s best for the team. Whatever happens from here give him credit for manning up and embracing this adversity. He certainly won points with me today.
Here’s Tate:
- Does he feel like he’s been challenged? "Yes..He told me he was going to. And I think Coach Rod has done a great job at it and it’s only making me better. I can’t be made at it."
- What did he do to earn his helmet wings back? "Something my dad always told me, action speak louder than words. I just stayed quiet…and did all the work, and make sure everyone saw me doing the work…first one on the practice field and the last one off. Whatever it took. I got them back and I’m happy."
- His answer to the skeptics, that this team won’t improve: "People can think what they want. They don’t see what’s going on every day like all of us players do."
- Did he think he didn’t have to work as hard (during the off-season)? "I wouldn’t say that, I would just say I slacked off. Like I said, that’s a part of the maturity and like I said, my freshman years is behind us."
- On his shoulder? "The shoulder’s good. Feels great."
- On Troy Woolfolk and following up on his comments: "I stop by his..room every day. Every since that day he called me out I feel I’m obligated to show him, show the rest of the seniors, that I’m all in on this team and it’s all about Michigan."
- On how he heard about Woolfolk’s comments: "I actually heard it through my parents <laughs>. But it’s not something to laugh about but it’s behind us and we’re just looking to keep moving forward as a team and getting better."
- Was he mad when he heard the Woolfolk comments? "No, not at all. Like I said, seniors are the leaders of this team. Whatever they say, they can say—it’s up to them. We’re supposed to just follow them and they’re going to lead this team and I think they’re doing a great job at it."
August 24th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Possibly covered here, but I always support a link to Greg.
August 24th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
That list of questions further proves that sportswriters really just want to be tabloid gossip writers.
Props to whoever asked him about his shoulder.
August 24th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
Was asked by Angelique
August 24th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
Tate hasn't wilted in as hot a spotlight as any 19 year old kid can be expected to handle. Anyone writing him off is ignoring how good he is. I'm still on the Moxified Dilithium Double QB Voltron bandwaggon.
honk effing honk.
August 24th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^
I called it.
No way I'm riding on the hump in the MDDQBV bandwagon.
August 24th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
to hearing this... just couldn't have turned out any better. Props to our Mo-Fo Tate
Tough bastard. I'll take a window seat in the back (someone else called SG)
August 24th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^
The MDDQBVB followed up with Ufer with an attitude is a whole new awesome.
August 24th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
Modified Distilled Double Vodka - what?
August 24th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
A excellent read MVictors is and love learning all this Michigan history that I never knew about from there too.
August 24th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
Something I haven't seen quoted or reported anywhere, but when asked why ?? He said he "was focusing on academics".
August 24th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
He said that. I might have the audio somewhere. Someone asked him why he wasn't there (at the workouts) - he said working on academics (paraphrase). He didn't say that was an excuse.
August 24th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
I bring this up more so because I haven't seen it reported anywhere, and I think many are quick to judge. (Comments after the Daily article were particularly vicious.)
August 24th, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
Tate handle it pretty well. Good for him.