The media met with Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison at midday today. My favorite portion was near the end, when someone cool asked him about why he wears his ‘M’ championship ring, then he talked about the Big Ten championship game & finally Angelique asked him about Denard. Clip: [display_podcast] _ * Photos from yesterday’s practice. And speaking of photos, one guy that Mattison likes (but admits he’s got a ways to go) is Cam Gordon. From yesterday’s practice:
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Rich Rodriguez – Gator Bowl Post Game Press Conference (audio)
Here’s the audio from the press conference: [display_podcast] If you need a chuckle—> Denard went before Rich Rod and was asked this epic question about leaving for the NFL next season. Feel free to download for your mixtapes and remixes. Full Rich Rod transcription: Q. Rich, did you have any sense something like this was coming at all either in your team or what you saw from Mississippi State on film? COACH RODRIGUEZ: No, I thought our guys practiced well, I thought they were focused, how we came out with the right intensity. But from the second quarter on, we did not execute. It sounds simplistic, but it’s very disappointing because the guys have a great attitude. But they made plays and we didn’t. They tackled better than us, they caught better than us, they ran better than us, and that’s unfortunate. Our guys did play hard, we just did not play as well as we’re capable of playing and they played extremely well, and that was the ballgame. Q. A lot of players make comparisons having a lot of time to prepare for Connecticut, kind of comparing that to having a lot of time to play in the Bowl game. How was the execution different in both games that kind of made it different? COACH RODRIGUEZ: Well, if I…
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Rich Rod Presser 12-18 (audio)
Coach Rodriguez let the media into Schembechler Hall this morning for a 20 minute Q&A and to watch practice. Check out some photos here and here’s the audio of the press conference: [display_podcast] No surprises with injury report. Je’Ron Stokes is practicing. Denard is fine. “They kick like champions in here,” as in inside the Hall. Still a competition. Not sure if anyone will be ineligible due to grades until exams are done. Talked about Miss State a bit. “Probably did the best job of anybody all years against Cam Newton and Auburn.” As soon as practice is over, many of the coaches are hitting the road recruiting. Running back situation is open – sounds like everyone (Smith, Shaw, Fitz, Hopkins) is healthy. Flying out the 26th on a charter or the guys will fly in from their homes. The wanted to fly down Christmas day but the Redskins have the hotel booked up. On early enrollees: expecting between 2 and 4. Devin Gardner won’t play in the bowl game. He is practicing, his back is “better”. RR said they will (“probably”) start the paperwork process after the bowl game for the medical redshirt. He is eligible, playing time wise, for Michigan to apply.
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Monday Press Conference – MSU Week – Photos
For recap of the player and Rich Rod press conferences, check out Tim’s rundown on mgoblog. It’s Michigan State and there was clearly a media buzz in the air. About twice as many video cameras were on hand. The press conferences go like this: At just after noon, Rich Rod sits down for about 20 minutes in the back of the Junge Center and answers questions off camera. Then he moves over to the front for a cameras-on presser, usually a little shorter (because everyone’s already asked him 20 minutes of questions!). Then there’s a delay, then media relations brings in players to speak & usually 4-6 guys hit podium one after another. A few shots. Here’s Rich Rod seated at the pre-presser at his seat in "the squared circle": Obi Ezeh was very relaxed and put the defense’s troubles in perspective: Likewise with Kovacs, who had a huge game last year against State: Captain Steve Schilling scored big points with his "Offense" shirt. It reads "SCORE" on the back. Make we can get Underground to print up some "Defense" and "Don’t SCORE" shirts for Obi and crew: Denard eyed the Pizza House pizzas stacked up in the back of the room and nothing was going to stop him from getting there: Update. Speaking of Denard, check out this…
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Denard Robinson (audio from Sept-13 press conference)
The man of the hour and here’s the audio: [display_podcast] The thing about Denard is that he’s highly likeable. He’s clearly humble, there’s a bit of an ‘aw shucks’ thing going on and that huge smile just tops it off. I think that extends outside the Michigan fan base too. As you do, I know quite a few State fans who really couldn’t stand Tate especially after the "I don’t get nervous" comment. I saw it differently of course, but I guess I understand. There were several questions about his workload running the ball, both at Rich Rod and Denard. One interesting fact. He was of course a quarterback in high school but most schools recruited him as a receiver or cornerback but did you know Denard only rushed for 462 yards his senior year at Deerfield Beach (while throwing for 1809)? So he’s just seven yards away (read: 1 carry) from beating his rushing totals from his entire high school senior year. P.S. They handled out an updated copy of the Michigan record book at the press conference today, haha, that’s never a bad thing.
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Rich Rodriguez Full Presser (08-09 audio)
RR: "Have any of you ever kissed a girl?" You know you’re getting old when driving over, the thought enters your mind that this "late" night press conference will be cutting into your precious ‘Antiques Roadshow’ time. Yikes. Full audio from this evening below. Follow MVictors on Twitter for live updates during press conferences this season. [display_podcast] Key takeaways/notes: RR called out "a handful of guys" that aren’t in shape. Wouldn’t name names. He didn’t name anyone beyond the "guys upfront" for being in exceptional shape. Coach Rodriguez wouldn’t comment on the WVU allegations, deferred to his previous statements. First practice in pads is Friday morning "full contact"; two-a-days start Sunday. All the quarterbacks took the first snap together, haha. "All three guys are competing." Said Devin is in "great shape". On the Woolfolk comments and Tate. "I’m glad our seniors are taking some ownership and leadership in this team." … "Tate knows he’s a lot of work to do to prove himself, not only on the field but off the field." On whether Tate is doing the right things to prove himself. "I don’t watch summer practices." Weeee. All the injured players in the from the spring are back 100% except Will Heiniger. Michael Shaw and some other players are still in summer school, into next week.…
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Full Rodriguez Press Conference (audio Purdue)
Took 9 photos – this one was the most flattering Here’s the complete audio from Rich Rodriguez following the Purdue game. I’ll add some notes and more in a bit: [display_podcast] – And it got a little chippy about midway through the presser. Apparently when Rodriguez and Purdue coach Danny Hope met to shake hands, the Boiler coach brought LG Zach Reckman along with him to meet RR. Why? Reckman was suspended by the Big Ten the week after the Jonas Mouton suspension and Hope blames Rodriguez for the whole thing. Hope wanted to put it in his face, officially dropping a match on the snake oil feud which had seemingly died. Reckman missed the Notre Dame the following week. Here’s Rodriguez explaining the encounter after the game, not happy and I can’t blame him. Needless exhibition of childlike behavior on Hope’s part after their great win: For the record, I thought Rodriguez pushed the Mouton-Big Ten thing waaay to far, but that doesn’t excuse Hope’s postgame stunt. Other shots: Minor giving a local reporter the stink eye during the post-game, flashing a dizzying array of tats: Forcier, signing after the game, knee iced: