Olympic Games appearances for Ann Arbor native Betsey Armstrong. The 2008 silver medal winner with the U.S. water polo team was named to the 2012 squad on Thursday. Story »
Michigan's Donovan Warren breaks down on Notre Dame's George West during a run in the fourth quarter of game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 15, 2007. Michigan won the game 38-0.Ann Arbor News file ...
There was a bit of drizzle Wednesday as Michigan started its open practice session for Saturday's Big Ten opener against Indiana. Rich Rodriguez seemed pleased there might be a little bit of weather during practice as there's a chance it could rain in Ann Arbor this weekend for homecoming.
A sign of the defense this week: Safety Mike Williams was in a red no-contact jersey and was barely noticed during the media viewing time in practice. Jordan Kovacs filled in for the dinged up Californian.
Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint also showed up at practice again wearing a red jersey.
During stretching, the team was doing somewhat of an odd stretching drill - at least one I hadn't seen before - where the team crawled on their hands and feet, arched up and then jumped down.
Also during stretching and while music was playing, defensive end Dominique Ware informed one of the assistant coaches that the music playing was, in fact, Tupac.
Rodriguez was also getting into the stretching act, doing standing calf stretches at midfield while his team also stretched out.
As the players and coaches broke out into individual group, both Martavious Odoms and Greg Mathews started dancing as they moved over to punt return drills.
Speaking of punt returns, Odoms, Mathews, Junior Hemingway and Terrence Robinson all worked on punt returns. Donovan Warren was going to work with them, but got called away to other drills.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S BORN TO RUN, LIVE IN 1975 (NOT PART OF THE PLAYLIST, BUT IT IS BRUCE'S 60TH BIRTHDAY TODAY):
When the offense started working in group drills with a center and tackles, Perry Dorrestein worked with the first team on the drills, which could lead to an earlier mention by Rodriguez that Dorrestein might get the start Saturday, moving Mark Huyge inside to right guard.
As music was playing, quarterback Tate Forcier began playing with running back Carlos Brown's hands, waving them in the air in an effort to get the senior to dance. He didn't seem to bite.
Although Rodriguez said Brown will start Saturday, Brandon Minor appeared to be practicing fully Wednesday.
Kevin Grady appeared to be running with the first team at fullback.
Kicker Jason Olesnavage worked on field goals during the typical special teams segment. He was, from my estimation, perfect, connecting from 21 yards, 31 yards, 37 yards, 42 yards and 47 yards.
Olesnavage also worked on pooch punting.
Today's partial playlist: A lot of cuts and mashing up today from Chris and Dusty but here's what we could get: "Amazing," by Kanye West; "Another One Bites The Dust," by Queen; "Ambitionz Az A Ridah," by 2pac.
A COMPLETELY ODD VIDEO OF A BIRD GETTING DOWN TO "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST."
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.