Jim Harbaugh and the Intangibles

    

Spring practice for Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines is rapidly approaching. The majority of players on the 2015 team are there because they were recruited by Brady Hoke and his staff. If the 2014 season was an indication, their football and athletic ability to play solid Big Ten football this year is in question. It’s true that Coach Harbaugh added freshman to this year’s team. I have no doubt that Jim Harbaugh and staff can evaluate football athletic ability. I am curious as to the character or intangibles of both Harbaugh’s and Hoke’s recruitments. Hopefully, the mortar has the right ingredients for a solid base. Of course that answer is to be determined.

A complete change of coaching personnel brings me back to 1968, when Coach Bump Elliott was fired. In 1968, Coach Elliott’s team compiled an 8-2 record. We knew that Elliott’s team was athletic and had football ability. Elliott also had the gift of evaluating the intangibles or character of college-age men. For example, a couple of players from Ohio come to mind-Dan Dierdorf, Tom Curtis, Jim Betts and Jim Mandich from the 1968 squad.

These Ohio athletes had terrific careers at the University of Michigan. Honors included being All-American; Michigan’s all-time interception leader; being selected to the all-time Michigan team; being team Captain; and being drafted to play in the NFL. Curtis and Mandich have Super Bowl rings, and Dierdorf is in the NFL Hall of Fame. So much for their football talent.

Coach Elliott also recruited Frank Gusich and Thom Darden from Ohio and Jim Brandstatter, Mike Keller and Reggie McKenzie from the state of Michigan. Keller, Darden and McKenzie were drafted, and played in the NFL. Both Darden and McKenzie were all pro with the Browns and the Bills respectively. Keller played for the Cowboys, and was then hired to be in their front office. All told, Keller had over 38 years of football experience as a player, scout, front office staff and CEO. It is clear that coach Bump Elliott knew how to recruit football talent and the intangibles.

While interviewing Mike Keller, one of the questions I asked him was to construct a football “robot “with the qualities necessary to reach the highest heights in the professional game. Some of his thoughts included: 1. Competitiveness- which he defined as a player that hates to lose, never quits on plays. And, every play is most important in the game. 2. Being a team player. Keller talked about the individual who was willing to sacrifice his own personal glory for the sake of the team. The thinking was” I’m one of 11 or I’m one of 40.” The player doesn’t subvert all of his personality, however; he knows if the team is going to be successful, then Individual players are also going to be successful. 3 . Intelligence. For Keller that meant the player had to make quick decisions on the field. He thought it could be called instincts which was making good decisions, avoiding mistakes, and knowing how to react in battle when the opposing player is coming at you as in combat. The players know something bad can happen in a game, but they are trained to do their part and make good decisions under pressure. Another example might be engaging the enemy in trash talk, and motivating ones teammates on the line. Keller played on the line at times. 4. Mental toughness. This meant, according to Mike, being able to differentiate between pain and injury. Players are expected to play with pain and pain tolerance is a major component and part of the game. This “game” is about current performance, not what the player did yesterday. Another aspect of mental toughness was ability to focus. The player has to focus and put out of his mind outside factors such as personal issues and still play the game at 100%.

Hopefully, Jim Harbaugh has Incorporated, some of Mike Keller’s [recruited by Bump, played for Bo] wisdom and experience. When you put together the physical statistics along with the intangibles the potential is there for a terrific team. Let us see how long it takes for Jim to further develop his young recruits and turn them into Michigan men, as Bo taught him. Jim Harbaugh is a Michigan man, true and true.

Go Blue!

Jim Harbaugh Can Thank Bo Schembechler for his $5 Million

  Jim Harbaugh Can Thank Bo Schembechler 5 Million Times

Jim Harbaugh has a tremendous responsibility to put it mildly. According to an article in Time dated September 16, 2013, the University of Michigan’s football team revenue for 2011-2012 was in excess of $86 million. Let me repeat, $86 million was the total team football revenue and that placed Michigan second to Texas, whose revenue was over $103 million for the same football season. Of Michigan’s total revenue, their profit was over $61 million so they can easily afford to pay Jim’s $5 million plus or minus salary per year. And just think of the 2015 season’s worth of the Wolverines home games and all the revenue that is going to generate. The city of Ann Arbor should thank the Michigan Wolverine football team.

It does not hurt to have these outlandish television contracts, souvenir hackers, Stadium vendor’s, parking attendants, hotels, restaurants, etc. that add and contribute heavily to the revenue. Of course, one could make an argument that the beginning of college football mania goes back to the late 1890s, when the sport became more popular. In fact, the 1894 Harvard- Yale football game generated about $119,000, which translates into about $3 million today.

However, if I was to give credit to the more modern big business of college football, I would turn to the idyllic college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan in to 1968. The new athletic director at the time was Don Canham. In 1968, Michigan had an 8-2 record and was coached by Bump Elliott. Unfortunately, for Bump his Wolverines lost to Ohio State’s Buckeyes coached by legend, Woody Hayes by the score of 50 to 14. That was all Canham could stomach. Essentially, athletic director Canham removed Elliott and hired an unknown named Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler Jr. at the end of 1968.

Athletic director Canham and, Coach Bo Schembechler were a dynamic duo. The Batman- Robin image does not apply here as both were giants in their own right. Canham enlarged the Stadium, marketed jerseys and other sports paraphernalia, involved the alumni in many creative ways, created new team rivalries with other universities, got involved with television and marketed, Michigan football across the nation. Canham set the standard and led the way for college athletic directors.

New head coach Bo Schembechler complemented the marketing genius of Canham. He was part of the 10 year war -Hayes and Schembechler’s teams won or shared the Big Ten conference every season; and compiled a 234-65-8 record from 1969 to 1989; his teams in all but one season were ranked; and 16 times his teams were in the final top 10 in both major polls. All Michigan did was win with Bo Schembechler at the helm. In essence, Canham, and Schembechler set the stage and laid the groundwork for Michigan success. On a side note, in 1982, Texas A&M offered Coach Schembechler nearly $3 million for 10 years. That was the richest contract in the history of college athletics at that time. Schembechler reportedly said that he decided to stay at Michigan because he came to the conclusion that there are things more important in this world than money. He could’ve said      or thought to himself that I’d rather coach Jim Harbaugh, instead. Yes, Jim Harbaugh was fortunate that Bo didn’t leave when given the opportunity of a lifetime. Things turned out well for Bo by staying and turned out great for Jim by playing and learning from the best.

Jim Harbaugh, it’s up to you to keep Ann Arbor, and the University of Michigan number one. There was a recent poll that ranked over 400 public universities on 6 criteria’s. To no one’s surprise, the University of Michigan ranked number one on that list. And to show your appreciation Jim, thank Bo Schembechler for your huge salary.

Go Blue!

A Major in Football- Jim Harbaugh

Make College  Relevant Jim Harbaugh

By and large, Jim Harbaugh’s 2015 recruiting class has been selected. Criticism recently has been directed at both universities and the student- athlete. I prefer to call them athletic students. It’s been reported that football players can spend up to 60 hours a week with their sport. Also, graduation rates for Division I football and men’s basketball players hover around 50%. Recently, the University of North Carolina has been in news related to their academic fraud. And that’s not all, because it’s believed that there are about 20 other colleges being investigated by the NCAA on suspicion of academic fraud.

So let’s face reality. For some athletes, the motivation is about their sport, while for others, the motivation to attend college is about their sport and a quality education. There is often criticism that the courses taken in college often have little resemblance to life in the real world and especially to the job market. So why not create a football and/or basketball major to better assist the athletes during and after college? Make college academics more concrete and realistic.

For instance, that doesn’t mean eliminating the first two years of traditional college classes like freshman English, introductory sociology, math, etc. But just think of relevant classes such as business law. A business law class can focus on contracts, contract negotiation, various rules pertaining to the University, a professional team’s code of conduct, etc. A course in sport economics covering tax implications, investment options, choosing agents, value to community and college etc.; a class in philosophy/ ethics, covering the value of sports, giving back to community, role of citizenship etc.; learning about the history and sociology of sports [on average, an NFL career is roughly three years], development of football, sports in Europe, sports in the United States, etc. are only a few ideas of college courses to include in a football major.

Not forgetting about science, courses in kinesiology, exercise science, nutrition, and rehabilitation would also be pertinent. The athlete would learn skeletal structure, ligaments and tendons; philosophies of training, fast, and slow twitch muscles; rest/ tapering; about hydration; about injuries common to their sport. [Concussions] and how these injuries are treated as well as prognosis. Classes in psychology and sociology, and learning about motivation, drive, will, competition, teamwork, learning, leadership and group dynamics would be  pertinent and appropriate as well.

Just think of what the athletic student would be learning. In addition to the skills attained. An exposure to a wide variety of different careers along with a curriculum that makes sense to athletes could be a worthwhile goal. I would guess that classroom motivation along with graduation rates would improve.

I know that Jim Harbaugh, to say the least, has a lot on his plate at the moment. But I believe because of his influence, he would get the attention of the A.D. and more than likely President Mark Schlissel [Andy Geiger former Ohio State athletic director is in favor of such a plan]. Jim is a tremendous motivator, and great communicator. I put my money on him to be able to influence the thinking at the University of Michigan.

Former Michigan legend Bo Schembechler was outraged at the old rule that a Big Ten team couldn’t go to the Rose Bowl back-to-back years consecutively when he arrived in Michigan. It didn’t take Bo long to change that silly man-made rule. Jim Harbaugh, there’s no commandment that reads “Thou Shall Not Have a Football Major at the University of Michigan.”

Go Blue!

Dwight Hicks The Former Wolverine

Dwight Hicks  the Former Wolverine and 49er

On January 16, 2015 the World Premiere of X’s and O’s [A Football Love Story] began at the Berkeley Rep in Berkeley, California. The promotion includes: it’s a story about football and America’s love for the game. For this play, K J Sanchez and Jenny Mercein interviewed players, their families and their fans and examined the country’s passion for this generous and dangerous sport. They present the story that is visceral, emotional and highly theatrical. In fact, one of the actors is none other than Dwight Hicks.

Dwight was recruited by Bo Schembechler In 1974. He received, All-American honors in 1977, and then in 1978, played for the Toronto Argonauts for one season and then joined the San Francisco 49ers. There he had four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl rings [he made a pivotal interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1981 Super Bowl game]. Dwight Hicks was also selected as a member of the 49ers all-time team.

In an interview in the February 1, 2015 edition of The New York Times, Hicks talked about football injuries, and stated “I’ve seen some of the guys that I played with, that I played against, and that were dear to me. I’ve seen some of these issues that were talking about happen to them.”…. “This is the thing about playing football in the NFL; if you play, the risk of injury is 100%. It’s just a matter of to what degree.”

All the University of Michigan players that I interviewed In Bo’s Warriors, left, professional football because of injury. For example, Reggie McKenzie, the All-American, all Pro with the Buffalo Bills and the Seattle Seahawks told me of an injury he sustained in 1984 when his Seattle Seahawks were playing the San Francisco 49ers, at Candlestick Park, in a preseason game. “Seattle had the ball with second down and long. In the 49ers defensive backfield was all Pro Ronnie Lott along with another safety. Back then, employing a cutting block was legal, and Reggie wanted to cut both of them at their knees. He figured that since one, was behind the other, he could take both of them out in one shot. He had done the same thing many times before. He made a terrific block and took out Lott, as well as the second safety. In fact, it was such a good block that Seattle made a first down on the play. Unfortunately, Reggie did not get his right hand extended as he fell to the ground, and his opponents landed on his elbow. The impact tore up his right shoulder. Reggie ultimately lost his muscle in his joint and never was the same afterward.” That was Reggie’s last season of professional football. We know that NFL stands for “Not for Long” as that is one of the reasons.

Reggie didn’t say that one of the players [the unnamed safety] was Dwight Hicks. Anyway, Hicks the football player is now the actor. And McKenzie runs Reggie McKenzie Industrial Materials Incorporated, and gives back by way of the Reggie McKenzie Foundation.

Good work men. Go Blue!

Jim Harbaugh, and the Recruiting Class of 2015

I must admit that as a result of the University of Michigan, hiring Jim Harbaugh as head football coach, I paid more attention to the 2015 recruiting process. Wow, the competition was so fierce. Not only are these teenagers ranked individually and by position, we also got to see them on television on the day of reckoning as they made their decision as to what program they were going to attend. They said things like, I want to win the championship. And they are called student-athletes? Come on, let’s get it straight.

I do not remember hearing, I plan to attend the University of Michigan, so I can get the best education possible; I want to major in computer science; with all the great alumni contacts. I’m solidifying my future so I can be a doctor, lawyer or captain of industry, just like the Pru man wrote in 1969, under Bo Schembechler.

Because of the turmoil with the 2014 football season and the late firing of Brady Hoke, the recruiting class was suspect. Some players that committed to Michigan or Brady Hoke abruptly uncommitted. Others were not interested in the rudderless direction in the Wolverines football program. Then miraculously, Jim Harbaugh clashed with San Francisco 49er management , was courted by Michigan’s powers that be; paid $5 million to return home to Ann Arbor. He did just that very quickly.

The fervor was tremendous, the sea parted, and the sky became blue and gold. Coach Harbaugh was introduced in a press conference. The coach then started to assemble an impressive staff of NFL coaching cohorts. Because of circumstances uncontrolled by him, Harbaugh and his new staff had to hit the trails very quickly and proficiently.

High school phenomes that DE committed were courted. Others that committed elsewhere were “stolen.”  Coach Harbaugh hired ex-Michigan great Tyrone Wheatley and Wheatley’s impressive tight end son followed. A fifth year player that Harbaugh recruited at Stanford, with one year of eligibility then arrived in Ann Arbor with mother, who is now part of the Michigan staff. I guess Harbaugh did what he had to do.

In a very short time, Jim Harbaugh’s labors will either be ripe, bear fruit or fall from the vine. He will have an opportunity to make his magic on the gridiron. Will his players demonstrate their character off the field as well? Bump Elliott had no trouble selecting teenagers with fine character. His recruits like Mike Keller, Thom Darden, Jim Betts, Jim Brandstatter, Reggie McKenzie, Tom Curtis, and Frank Gusich had the Michigan imprint instilled in their psyches and became Michigan men, true and true.

Let’s hope that the lightning transformation that took place in 1969, with Bo Schembechler strikes again with Jim Harbaugh. Remember, Harbaugh learned from the best. I’m sure, Bo would be proud father today.

Bo Schembechler's Greatest Victory- Part 2

Bo Schembechler’s Greatest Victory -Part 2

The Wolverines were sky high returning from Iowa City after their blowout victory. Ann Arbor was cold and there was snow on the ground when the Wolverines returned. Then came Monday for practice. The players were huddled, but warm inside their building. Looking out, they expected that they would have to clear the snow off the playing field. However, to their surprise, it was the coaches that were clearing the playing field for their players. That act symbolized how much the coaches were behind their players and made a mark in the player’s psyche.

At practice during that week, the players were focused, high and excitable. They practiced like no other week. The players blocked hard, tackled hard and ran their plays with heightened enthusiasm. In fact, Coach Gary Moeller was concerned about the amount of effort and focus by the players, and he was afraid they were going to burn themselves out and play their game on the practice field. Coach Moeller went to Bo and shared with him, his fear. Bo, the other hand, reassured, Gary Moeller and said “let them go.” And go, they did.

Friday, prior to Saturday’s game, the team stayed at the nearby Sheraton Hotel. Then a peculiar thing happened. There was a fire alarm. Players were taken from their slumber and had to take their blankets with them to the lobby of the hotel to cover themselves. And with all the commotion they didn’t get much sleep that night. Was that fire alarm a blessing? It was simply a distraction. Everyone knew about the importance of that first meeting between Bo and Woody. No one had to say the word-they all knew.

Then, the next morning as the Michigan players were ready to go on the playing field, there was Woody and his team warming up and practicing on the Michigan side. Bo went nuts. In the locker room, Bo made it clear they were the number one team in the country and they took three quarters of our playing field during pregame practice. Bo said “they disrespected you. We are going to show them. Let’s go get them.” Bo, being excited pounded his fist into the blackboard exploding it. Then, the seniors got up and started throwing chairs around. It was a chaotic atmosphere and the discharge of energy was unchecked.

As the players started to go through the rather narrow tunnel a fight that broke out likely started by Cecil Pryor. That added commotion of the heightened moment prior to the big battle. Then, Captain Jim Mandich leading his troops turned around and faced them. Jim, with tears, spittle, as well as hands and fists shaking in the air started shouting unintelligible words to his faithful teammates. His teammates will never forget about Mad dog Jim Mandich the captain and leader at that moment in time.

The players remembered that week in practice; time spent at the Sheraton; Bo’s pregame speech in the locker room; the eruption that followed; gliding as if on air propelling them through the tunnel; and witnessing their leader Jim Mandich’s entire body full of pent-up impulses discharging like missiles.

This sequence of events has never been duplicated at Michigan, or even at the professional level. This was an once-in-a-lifetime experience only remembered by those who were there. They can talk about it as its left its indelible mark on each and every psyche. In fact, Captain Mandich stated that playing in the Super Bowl, and playing on an undefeated Miami Dolphins team takes second fiddle to the University Michigan experience on November 22, 1969.

Without a doubt, Bo Schembechler’s mark on college football was made when his team beat the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes coached by his mentor Woody Hayes on that cold November Saturday at the Big House. Make no mistake about it.

Go Blue!

Tom Brady and Super Bowl XLIX

Yesterday’s Super Bowl game was terrific. Leading up to the Super Bowl XLIX, there was too much controversy surrounding the amount of psi in the football. There were pros and cons, as well as a lot of misinformation. People had their beliefs and were sticking to them. In the very first Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFC used a different size football than the NFC’s Green Bay Packers [if the Chiefs had  used  the NFC football, would the outcome have been differen]. But in this Super Bowl, the football was safely under lock and key and was “identical” for both the Seahawks and the Patriots.

The controversy in this game was the “Call” in the closing seconds of the game with the ball on about the Patriots 1 yard line. Marshawn Lynch the Seahawks running back ran like a beast throughout the game. Many thought with first down, Coach Pete Carroll, run the ball into the end zone leaving little time left on the clock. But no, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw the ball on a slant play. However, the rookie Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler, made a terrific play and intercepted the ball. Now all the Patriots had to do was run out the clock and they did.

Tom Brady the 37-year-old Patriot quarterback only threw four touchdowns in this game. Would he have thrown more touchdowns if the ball was slightly under inflated? Who will know for sure? But I doubt if the critics will bring up that point. With this victory, Brady has thrown more touchdowns than any other Super Bowl quarterback. And with four victories, he joins Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana at the top of the list.

After the game, Brady was interviewed by Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin about his game day performance. Early on, Brady criticized his dumb play that resulted in his two interceptions, one at the beginning of the first half, and one at the beginning of the second half. He had no trouble blaming himself or taking responsibility for his performance. When questioned about the mistakes, Tom Brady talked about not wanting to let his teammates down. He also stated that in two previous Super Bowl losses, he played the game over in his mind and would’ve liked to have played better and not made mistakes. In essence, Tom Brady is a team player and it’s all about the team.

Tom Brady had no difficulty heaping praise on the Patriot organization, his coaches and all the great players and teammates over the years. He also talked about all the great players in the league and acknowledged Faulk, Sanders and Irvin about their legendary play. There was even a picture of young Tom in the parking lot at Candlestick with a football. He added that being from San Mateo, California his boyhood idols were Joe Montana and Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers.

For Brady, it’s about mental toughness, being in the foxhole with his buddies, practice to make himself better, and about the team. These lessons started at the University Michigan with Coach Bo Schembechler. Lloyd Carr coached under Schembechler and I’m sure instilled the same values as Tom’s head coach at the University Michigan.

 Go Tom Brady and Go Blue!