The latest edition of Inside the Fort, including a look behind the scenes at details of a Mike Barwis workout (compliments of former Michigan and current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote), a few more words from Foote on Rich Rodriguez's family values and more …
First, a note on the No. 1 'controversy.' Sources inside Schembechler Hall say former U-M receiver Braylon Edwards is NOT upset with the new coaching staff about the use of his No. 1, in large part because numbers aren't even officially issued until August and nothing has been set in stone. They have been in touch with Edwards, and he has had nothing but positive things to say about Rich Rodriguez and the new staff.
To a look behind the scenes with football …
Strength coach Mike Barwis has received plenty of attention since he arrived in Ann Arbor, and for good reason. Foote was the latest to heap the praise, telling TheWolverine.com recently (see front page article) how much Barwis had helped him in just two months.
Later, Foote gave a look at some of what he's endured over the last nine weeks.
"Monday and Friday will be the hardest," Foote reported. "We'll lift weights, do a lot of abdominal work, a lot of plyometrics … probably like two and a half hours in the weight room doing stuff. That's exhausting just weight training, but then after that we've got to go out there and run. A lot of places I've been have never done that.
"There's a lot of long distance running and other running where you've got to beat your times. For instance, I had to run eight 110s and you've got to make each one in 15 seconds with only 25 seconds rest in between. When he told me that coming in I told him, 'that's impossible.' In a couple of weeks I started making the times.
"The next part is we run like 14 40s. You've got to make it in seven seconds, and you get 15 seconds rest. We top it off with three 120s, like suicides, where you touch the 10, come back, touch the 20, come back … that's in like 24 seconds. The man doesn't believe in recovery time; he's his own program when it comes to that."
Foote, a seven-year veteran, said he felt as fast and strong as ever at a recent minicamp.
"Mike [Gittleson] wasn't a fan of the squats and powercleans, and that gets mixed reviews around the country, but it helped me a lot [with Barwis]," he said. "It's mainly technique. [Barwis] is real patient with me, and he'll break it down with his staff to do it properly to prevent injuries and things like that. But as far as the core, he's just showing me more muscles I've got to work. We'll do the big muscles everybody does, but let's do the small muscles, also. He doesn't leave any rock unturned.
"I can understand people wanting to quit, because at times you feel like you are going to die."
Somewhat understand, anyway. Foote said he had no use for those who trash the program upon leaving.
"I was reading a couple articles about the one guy who transferred to Ohio State saying it's not a family atmosphere; it is in my eyes, being up there and hearing from other guys," he said. "It's ALL family. Just being in the weight room -- there are about eight of us working out -- Mike Barwis and the other guys are spending time out of their day just to work out with us for nothing. We try to give them money, but they say no. It's total family atmosphere. They tell us to bring some of our high school coaches in there, people we work with, and he's willing to show them new workouts and things like that.
"Rich Rodriguez told me I was always welcome -- if there's anything I need to let him know -- and this guy doesn't even know me. I see a big time family atmosphere up there. The coaches are real in tune with the players, and you can see that. It's an open door policy. A lot of people say it, but they do it."
All of the changes should excite the fans in Ann Arbor, Foote concluded.
"Those guys should embrace that [conditioning program]. All it's going to do is help you," he said. "All it's going to do is get you better. I'm not saying Mike Gittleson didn't do a great job, but this new breed they've got going up there, Michigan football is on the rise. I could see runs like USC, national championship after national championship. It will probably take a couple years, but when that system starts getting embedded there, I can't wait to see the championships pile up."
More football …
In landing two four-star quarterbacks in the Class of 2009, Michigan has its fans excited, and rightfully so. But the question of who U-M will recruit now turns to: how will this work?
"Coming out of high school, knowing that you have to compete with another quarterback is like anything else in life -- let the best man win," said former U-M quarterback Andy Mignery (2000-03).
Mignery arrived in Ann Arbor the same year John Navarre did and would eventually move to tight end after it became apparent that Navarre would get the first crack at replacing Drew Henson under center.
"In our situation, Navarre, early in our career, got one leg up on me because I sat out our true freshman camp due to an ankle sprain," Mignery said. "I cannot underscore this enough -- first impressions are very big and in our case he made it right away because I was sitting out.
"Anytime you have two quarterbacks in the same class, I think it's fair to say that the coaches will make a decision in those first few months, maybe the first year, on who they like more and from that moment on they invest a little bit more and a little bit more in that one guy. To then beat him out … well the reasoning would have to be overwhelming."
Mignery doesn't believe it impossible that both Kevin Newsome and Shavodrick Beaver could share the spotlight, but it is unrealistic.
"The more realistic scenario is that one guy will emerge as the full-time starter," he said. "You usually don't have a two-quarterback system very often at a successful program. But at the same time, the thing to remember is that Rich Rodriguez's offense is so dynamic that there could be offensive packages within the same offense tailored to each individual quarterback.
"It's probably a lot easier to play multiple quarterbacks under Rodriguez's system than it was in the offenses we've had in the Big Ten in past years, including ours."
One last note … one close to the situation told us at Monday's Ufer Banquet that pace alone should help Michigan win some games, confirming that while the keys won't be given to freshman quarterback Justin Feagin the way they were with Chad Henne, it's likely there will be some packages for him if he's up to the task.
They fully expect to be the best-conditioned team in the Big Ten after a summer with Barwis … anything short would be a disappointment.
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