Posted on Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.
Tate Forcier, other Michigan football players, get their winged helmets back
By Pete Bigelow
Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier and other Wolverines who were stripped of the wings on their helmets before summer camp started got them back Thursday.
Coach Rich Rodriguez said he had wanted to see Forcier and the players practice consistently well over several days before giving them their winged helmets back.
"We wanted to see some consistency a few days in a row," Rodriguez said. "Those guys did."
He did not disclose how many other players wore the same plain-blue helmets as Forcier. Rodriguez added this is the first summer he has used the wingless helmets as a motivational technique.
Comments
nathan
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.
i read the story and all i got from it was RR and Loyd Carr did the same thing.RR didnt say your off the team or you have to leave UM.All he said with the helmets was earn it to be part of the team.And im starting to think edward is drew sharp from the freep.
PortageLkBlu
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
Bo always believed, differant players differant punishment although I like the wing thing. Some players need mom and apple pie and some players need a spanking. Tate might be a brat and was treated accordingly. There were players complaining about Tate's work ethic look, some of these kids play this game and practice with deadly earnest becuase of what they've come from or how they were taught by their parents, coaches and peers. Some of these kids believe that football is their future to secure their lives and a future family and these guys and their coaches don't like malingering and then again maybe they just didn't have enough wings to go around that day? I like Tate he seems like a sweet kid although toughness is the key here for a Mich. QB and in this scheme toughness is necessary and it requires the QB to give it his all and then some within the rules we don't want the complainers reporting RR for anymore rule violations. Tate will be fine and I expect good things from Tate and the other QB's.
Sean T.
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
Well said, Edward Murrow's Ghost! That does sound like we are fostering a non-compliant nature still going strong in the program. Though, I hope you're wrong! I hope Tate wins the job because he shows the clutch play we need to squeak by in close games.
Yogi
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
Edward R - The NCAA investigation of the practice time fiasco has ended in case you hadn't noticed. The NCAA is now in the penalty phase that is why the representatives went to Seattle last week. Your silence on the other matter points to the fact that you in fact have never played organized sports.
Jaxon Boyfriend
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 12:06 p.m.
Right on Yogi...you are correct...a picnic basket for you tonight.......!
Yogi
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
@edward r - My guess is the you have not ever played organized sports. Because if you had you would know it is your responsibility to be in top condition when reporting to camp if you want to play. It has absolutely nothing to do with the NCAA it has to do with wanting to be the best you can be and help the team as a whole. The players have no one to blame for their embarrassment but themselves. Lloyd Carr made Adrian Arrington run steps every morning to prove he wanted to wear the most famous helmet in college football. No NCAA probe needed.
Ignatz
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
Unreal. Last year, the staff was getting blasted for players not being properly conditioned. This year, Coach trys to get players to pay attention to conditioning and he gets blasted for that! Bottom line is the top teams have the best conditioned and motivated players. Do we want Michigan to be a top team? I think many on here want Coach to fail, but the team not fail. It doesn't happen that way. Every wins or everyone loses.
Yogi
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.
The players were not being disciplined for missing voluntary workouts but for their poor off season conditioning. It is the responsibility of all the players to show up in shape and ready to go. That shows respect for the program and the university. I'm sure that there were players who did not show up to all the voluntary workouts but still came to camp in shape and ready to practice and received helmets with wings for their trouble. Go Blue!!!!
Dschan
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 8 a.m.
hes not punishing him for skipping the work outs, its because he showed up to camp assuming the job was his. RR just wanted him work for it. only time will tell if this works or not (personally i think its a good idea).
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.
Ah, how easy to forget the 5th "W" of journalism. After Who, What, When, Where comes Who Cares?
nathan
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.
So where did RR say they where punished for not going voluntary work outs?...Id like to read it.
Salinegoblue
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.
I would have thought leaving your family in California to play for the U of M, starting 11 games and all that goes with that, which I believe include enrolling early would have been enough to earn his wings. rr needs to go, he is an embarassment to the U of M.
3 And Out
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 4:25 a.m.
Austin White had a blue helmet....and now he is gone... after shredding the D in the M drill...thanks Rich! way to go coach! how many more recruits can you make leave???? loser
NoBowl4Blue
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 3:35 a.m.
The question is: Is it better to embarass players or encourage them? Rich Rods methods have done noting but backfire since he arrived.
Alexander John Migda
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 1:41 a.m.
This is stupid. Prepare to be stomped by the Spartans this year.
Sean T.
Fri, Aug 20, 2010 : 1:18 a.m.
White and one of his older brothers(former spartan) are known as hotheads but I believed that he would make an impact if he touched the field. That dream is over!
MetricSU
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 11:09 p.m.
Word has it that one player who was wingless, freshman RB Austin White, has left the team. White, you might remember, was the recruit UM fans were crowing about when he committed to UM because that meant Nick Hill would be the leftover for MSU. (Of course, Hill committed to MSU before White committed to UM, but that would ruin the story for UM fans.) Several knowledgable MSU fans pointed out that Austin White was known as having a poor attitude. Nick Hill enrolled early at MSU, got good grades, and is impressing on the football field. Any of you UM fans worried about RR's judgement when it comes to recruiting? If the reports are true, that's 4 players gone from the 2009 UM class.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:09 p.m.
If the reason for the discipline was that Tate didn't go to voluntary workouts, he-who-cannot-be-named is violating the same rule he just had to go to Seattle to answer for. Which means he's risking losing scholarships his successor is going to need next year.
Veracity
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 10:05 p.m.
When is humiliation ever a good tool for creating leadership and confidence? When did Bo, Gary or Lloyd ever use such a method? (Should we compare records?)
3 And Out
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
Watching the BTN preview today it was very odd to see Tate and others running around out there with blue shells on.
DagnyJ
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:37 p.m.
@3and out, that cracked me up. Thanks.
heartbreakM
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.
Well, now I can sleep at night. (What a stupid and insulting thing Rod has done. And did you all catch Calvin Magee's comments--"I've got mine". And what did YOU (coach Magee) do to deserve it? Coached up that terrific offense??? Well deserved coach. With arrogance like that, well, it's no wonder we have done so well in the last 2 years.)
A2D2
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:55 p.m.
sounds like a old Eastern Airlines commercial - "we have to earn our wings everyday"
HailToASquared
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:34 p.m.
614- they may not be mandatory summer work outs but they are mandatory summer work outs. if you see what I'm saying. That happens all across the country and you definitely expect your team leaders to be there if anybody. I like the new winged helmet deal rodriguez came up with. as for tate, i like to believe this was mostly just a kick in the ass the get him back into season mode and to step it up. i don't believe there is any bad blood between RR & Forcier from it-
amaizenblueballs
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8:33 p.m.
Theo sings again with the thought of wings. Welcome back. What is next? Will the maize football decals return for great contributions? Stay tuned. If we don't start to win some games the coaches should lose their pants.
jameslucas
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 8 p.m.
Best Michigan football news I have heard since signing day.
Blue in the 614
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 7 p.m.
I still don't see how erratic attendance at VOLUNTARY summer workouts merits being stripped of wings. On the other hand, I do see the need for the QBs to be leaders on and off the field.
Jaxon Boyfriend
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 6:55 p.m.
Oh..you gotta love it. Coach Mr. Rodrigeuz is the best at firing up his players this summer, look for a great fall, 8-10 wins and a bowl win.
Ryan
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 6:20 p.m.
I like it. If RR wins some games and is allowed to stick around it could be the start of a pretty cool little tradition.
JimRhatt
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 6:02 p.m.
They still need Tate, this year. After that, we'll see. With any offense, almost, you need 2 quality QBs. Next year, 3 or 4. Looking good at QB. Go Blue! Glad to see them get their wings back.
clarklaker
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 5:48 p.m.
I still believe in tate. This kid has moxie go blue
3 And Out
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 5:46 p.m.
every time a bell rings a wolverine gets his wings