Former receiver Braylon Edwards impressed by one Michigan coach, down on another following busy Friday
Mike Hart has some laughs from the bench during Braylon Edwards' charity basketball game Friday night at Pioneer High School. Edwards wasn't impressed with Hart's coaching in their Blue team's two-point loss.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
One coach disappointed his players Friday. One inspired his audience.
The culprit in the first case, former Michigan running back Mike Hart, had the audacity to coach the losing side in Braylon Edwards’ charity basketball game at Pioneer High School.
“Mike should have gotten fired,” Edwards laughed, taking some good-natured shots and his former college teammate and still-friend after an opposing team that included Detroit Pistons Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye escaped with a two-point win.
“Mike did an awful job of coaching, and we’re going to look into his contract after today.”
Lucky for the Wolverines, their real coach earned better reviews.
In advance of Saturday’s spring football game, Brady Hoke hosted an alumni event for more than 250 former Wolverines at the Al Glick Field House on Friday afternoon.
“That just says a lot about the direction we’re going under Brady Hoke,” Edwards said. “He appreciated the alumns, and is going to get us involved to do everything we can to educate the players who are here now.
“A lot of them still don’t know the tradition of Michigan.”
Edwards’ annual charity basketball game was held at Pioneer for the first time because of ongoing construction at Crisler Arena.
Former Wolverines playing in the game included defensive back Marlin Jackson, receiver Steve Breaston, defensive back Ryan Mundy, receiver Ron Bellamy and Fab Fiver Jimmy King.
On the opposing side: former Ohio State standout and New York Jet Vernon Gholston, Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee, New York Giant Devin Thomas and Kansas City Chief Maurice Leggett.
The event benefited the Braylon Edwards Foundation and specifically, ongoing Lou Gehrig’s Disease research at the Taubman Institute of Michigan.
Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
PeteM
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 3:52 a.m.
I don't mind that the A2 News/Ann Arbor.com printing quotes attacking the old regime, but I wish the reporters would at least follow up. I assume Braylon knows that the players can sing the lyrics to the Victors. That attack is absurd, but most likely reflects what Braylon and some other ex-Wolverines felt about the RichRod era. I'm sure that RichRod mishandled some personal interactions, or offended some people unnecessarily, but a lot us also suspect that the real reason that the ex-players didn't reach out to him was that he was a force for change (coaching staff, workout techniques, offensive style etc.). Bo did a lot of that too, but he also went to the Rose Bowl his first year. In fairness, Bo also hired a better staff and reached out to Bump and the other figures from the past. I'd love to know if RichRod did anything specifically to make the players who stayed away feel unwelcome. At this point, if so, I wish they would say what it was and explainwhy other players did workout at U-M, attend the spring game etc. I think what bothers me most about the quote from Braylon is that he is simultaneously dumping on RichRod for not valuing former players or tradition while participating in the alumni game RichRod started.
deb
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
. . . former Michigan State standout and current new york giant Devin Thomas