[Upchurch/MGoBlog]
Coach, what are your thoughts on Lovie Smith taking over at Illinois?
"Uh, I think it's positive for the Big Ten, for college football. The level of competition I look forward to elevating- fair, honest, healthy competition and a tremendous football man."
What are the issues with going from the NFL to college?
"I can't say that there is any issue with it."
There was a Michigan release this morning indicating that Drake Johnson was injured in an accident and I was hoping you could explain what happened, and can you confirm the widespread rumor/speculation that he was hit by a forklift in the track building?
"I was with the family last night and I'll let them comment on all the specifics. Better, I think, coming from Drake or his family, but he's doing well. I can tell you this, it would have killed a lesser man but he is blue twisted steel and very flexible. Amazing. But, you know, it's one of those miraculous things and he is doing well. As to be expected, yeah."
I was wondering what his prognosis is, if you can share that, and will this affect his football future?
"To the best that I know, I'm not a doctor, but talking to him a week or two or three at the most. So it's…it's a miracle right up there with Easter. Just thanking God. Thank God that he's alright. That's my thoughts on it."
We didn't talk to you after the spring game. Did you guys go into summertime here with a guy leading at the quarterback spot or is it still open?
"There's so much that can happen over the summer in terms of improvements that you expect all of our quarterbacks to make, and we'll want to gauge that when we come back to start practice in August as to who made the greatest amount of strides in those four months so have not decided yet."
Was there one guy who had a better camp than the others?
"I haven't decided that yet."
Your decision to speak over at Paramus Catholic obviously created a lot of headlines. Why did that appeal to you?
"Has it created a lot of headlines?"
It has, yeah. In our parts it has.
"So why? I was asked. I didn't know that, but why I said I would agree to speaking as the commencement speaker?"
Yeah. Why did it appeal to you?
"I think the biggest thing was because I was asked."
Obviously it creates a unique situation with--
"I think that was the most appealing thing, that they wanted me to do it and I was asked to do it. My default is usually 'yes' when asked to do things."
Do you think it creates a unique situation to actually come into Rutgers' backyard and actually speak at a rival school?
"You said 'obviously' it does. I don't agree that that's obvious, no."
I think it's fair to say that there's many coaches in college football who would like to see satellite camps continued versus discontinued. As this goes to the board of directors there's still an opportunity to have the decision reversed as it may be. I'm wondering what plans you may have to be involved in mustering an effort among coaches to get this looked at a little bit more?
"Yeah, right. I think we're all looking at that. I do agree that there are a lot of coaches—most all coaches—there's always an urgency to help the youngsters and their own programs and in this case the spirit of football.
"Really I'm taking those words from Warde Manuel, our athletic director. I thought he framed it extremely well when he talked on the subject yesterday and I think it's a good message for everybody here in our athletic department and our sport here at the University of Michigan. As he said, we're going to continue to put more thought into it and then have a course of action. I'm proud that he's taken a lead in that on that topic.
"We all believe—we believe here it's beneficial, you know. Like Warde said, this is exactly the way he said it, there's always an urgency to help kids, our program, and in this case the sport of football. I would refer you to some of his comments because I think they're spot on."
With the satellite camps, I know your opinion on it so I won't ask about that but something that's interesting for me is the coaching side of it, banning coaches from being able to coach at other camps. I know at your high school camps you invite coaches from smaller programs or smaller conferences. What's your opinion on that? To me it seems like it eliminates opportunity for those smaller coaches to network and build relationships with guys like you and other bigger coaches to build their careers up and have opportunities for them to come in and show you guys that they can coach too. Do you have an opinion on that, how it could affect those coaches?
"Yes. I mean, as I said the other day, I think it affects thousands and thousands and thousands of people. Some people have scoffed at that but it's at least thousands and thousands and you bring up a good point. There's a collegial gesture that goes on when you're working a camp and you have coaches from all backgrounds—high school, college, professional—we get together and we talk about the sport of football and trends and best practices.
"That took place—Pat Fitzgerald was here last year at our camp. It was a tremendous, tremendous learning experience for us being around him. And Pete Lembo was here. There was was many colleges represented. Hundreds of coaches were here and that's just at our school. Yeah, that's another part of the debate."