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Posted on Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 6:33 a.m.

Tate Forcier was groomed to be a quarterback

By Dave Birkett

Long before he started putting his youngest son through backyard quarterback drills and well before he sent him off to train with workout and passing gurus Marv Marinovich and Bob Johnson, Mike Forcier knew he had a football player on his hands.

As an innocent-looking 2-year-old, Robert “Tate” Forcier used to sneak bottles from the refrigerator in his parents’ San Diego apartment. He’d chug one down, then another, and when he’d hear his dad pull up after a long day at the office, he’d hide the evidence the only way he knew how.

“He’d hear me coming and all of a sudden, ‘Whack,’” Mike Forcier said. “I’d hear it echoing against the wall. And the times I didn’t hear it, he’d have six, seven bottles lined up behind the couch.”

Now 19, Tate Forcier has graduated from flinging bottles to footballs.

The true freshman is one of the three quarterbacks in the mix to start Michigan’s season opener Saturday against Western Michigan.

Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez said he’ll decide today between Forcier, fellow freshman Denard Robinson and junior Nick Sheridan. But Forcier worked with the first team during the installation period of Wednesday’s practice and appears to give Michigan its best chance at sustained success this year.

He’s more polished as a passer than the ultra-athletic Robinson, fleeter at foot than the former walk-on Sheridan, and, after a strong spring and steady fall, a solid fit for Rodriguez’s spread-option offense.

“Ever since he’s been 6 years old, 5 years old, whatever, his family has groomed this kid to be a quarterback,” Michigan quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said. “The daily regimen’s wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning, grab a protein shake, go run, come back, go to school and go get a workout with his private instructor.

“He’s been eat-sleep-breath football ever since he’s been young, and he’s been trained that way. That’s a little bit different then most kids. I’m not saying Tate didn’t have a life, but his dad pushed him. And you can see why. You can tell.”

That wasn’t exactly Forcier’s daily routine, though growing up in one of California’s more prominent quarterback families, it seemed that way.

Forcier began training as a shadow to his older brothers Jason, who played two seasons at Michigan before transferring to Stanford, and Chris, a former UCLA quarterback now at Furman, when he was around kindergarten age.

He worked with his father, a Michigan native, on quarterback mechanics, ran stairs for exercise, even did scrambling drills in elementary school. For punishment, sometimes he’d have to do push-ups or sprints.

“My dad’s been preparing us ever since we were little kids,” Forcier said. “I hated it, but right now it’s like he got me to where I am and I love him for it.”

Though Tate was the runt of the family in some ways, smaller than Chris and slower than Jason, he always was regarded as the best quarterback.

He worked with Marinovich as a youth and still trains with the famed father of former NFL signal caller Todd Marinovich today. In grade school, he led his Pop Warner team to the national Super Bowl with a last-second touchdown pass. And he started three seasons at San Diego’s Scripps Ranch High School and threw for 3,424 yards as a senior.

“Tate’s always been a natural,” Jason Forcier said earlier this fall. “I think it’s funny, being a freshman starting, it’s going to be no different for him. I remember when we were playing sixth-grade, top-of-the-line basketball in San Diego and the most competitive in (Los Angeles), and he was in third grade, he was playing up. He’s always played up in age against a lot of kids three, four years older than him. So I think it’s nothing he can’t handle.”

If he does start, Tate, who's gained 20 pounds since arriving on campus in January, said he's ready for that responsibility, too.

“It’s kind of something I’ve been waiting for this entire time. That’s why I graduated early,” Forcier said. “I just got to do what I got to do, I got to lead the team. Just manage the game. That’s what coaches are looking for me to do and I’m going to try and do it.”

Dave Birkett covers the University of Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com

Comments

OSUbeBetter

Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 2:15 a.m.

The Ohio State ruined Mcgufie.

tater

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 8:59 p.m.

McGuffie ruined McGuffie by running too upright and seeking contact, causing him to have too many concussions. I hope he never plays another down of football. Concussions are serious, and he has had multiple ones. The rest of his life is a lot more important than a few years of football. I wish him well, but I hope he earns a baseball scholly at Rice and gives up football.

KeepingItReal

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 3:12 p.m.

Tater was "groomed to be a quarterback." I'm not sure I know what this means. Obviously his dad is lobbying for him to start at QB. Whose lobbying for Shoelace. Shoelace got what its takes to lead this team. Tater will do ok against the likes of Western and get everyone's hopes up but wait until he tangles with ND. We'll see the brillance of Shoelace shine through in that game. Since RR needs all the fan support he can get right now, he will cave into the fans and start Tater. Shoelace should have gone to a historical black college, just like Steve McNair where his talents and gifts would have been truly appreciated. I personally don't like the way RR is handling the situation with Shoelace. Everyone knows that he will start Tater.

Freemind42

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 1:28 p.m.

GoBlueScott, You're probably right, but imagine if he hadn't become a superstar. The only problem is that many, if not most, do not get to that level.

GoBlueScott

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 12:57 p.m.

"Grooming kids from early childhood to do what their father always wanted to do himself just seems sad to me." I promise you Tiger Woods is not crying right now.

Freemind42

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 8:34 a.m.

I love football and all, but doesn't it bother anyone else that this kid has had no chance to form his own life? Grooming kids from early childhood to do what their father always wanted to do himself just seems sad to me. Granted, he's a great football player, but that wasn't his only option in life.

Txmaizenblue

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 8:30 a.m.

Let's just hope he's been groomed to handle disgruntled Michigan fans...especially if they lose. I really think this kid will do well. Well enough to produce a winning season...not sure yet?

bigblue

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 6:57 a.m.

McGee ruined Mcguffie..LOL.. Mcguffie was not recriuted by the current regime and more importanly he was having family issues and needed to go back to texas. advice to aa.com: charge the trolls 1$ everytime they post and you will be more profitable than microsoft.

bigblue

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 6:55 a.m.

McGee ruined Mcguffie..LOL.. Mcguffie was not recriuted by the current regime and more importanly he was having family issues and needed to go back to texas. advice to aa.com: charge the trolls 1$ everytime they post and you will be more profitable than microsoft.

rrandjbblow

Thu, Sep 3, 2009 : 6:36 a.m.

Here's hoping Rod Smith doesn't ruin him like McGee ruined McGuffie.