2008 Big Ten Football Media Day [Archive]

Jethro34

07-25-2008, 11:37 AM

Here are some of the things Angelique Chengelis took away as highlights

Slocum off team, Grady in limbo
Rodriguez says tackle didn't live up to U-M's standards; tailback is suspended indefinitely.
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

CHICAGO -- Kevin Grady is indefinitely suspended from the Michigan Wolverines, and Marques Slocum is no longer on the team.

Grady, a backup tailback from Grand Rapids, is no longer working out with his teammates after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly driving while intoxicated, according to Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, Slocum, a defensive tackle who played one season for the Wolverines after transferring from a prep school and sitting out a year, did not "meet the requirements" to play football at Michigan, Rodriguez said on Thursday, the first day of Big Ten media days.

"Several issues, academically and football-wise," Rodriguez said when discussing Slocum.

As for Grady, he apparently has a long road to work his way back into Rodriguez's good graces. Grady sat out last season while recovering from a knee injury.

"He's working out on his own," Rodriguez said. "Still attending classes. It's kind of on a week-by-week basis on him getting back. He has to do certain things internally within the program to get back on the team. And then once he does that, there will be some playing-time penalties as well and then he's on a strict kind of a watch. He has to earn his way on the team, and we'll take it from there."
The settlement

Earlier this month, Michigan and Rodriguez agreed to pay the $4 million buyout to West Virginia, ending an ugly lawsuit that began almost as soon as Rodriguez accepted the job.

Rodriguez had not commented on the settlement until Thursday, when he was asked during the Big Ten meetings.

"It's a fair question, and I'll address it so I don't have to address it the next 13, 14 years," Rodriguez said. "There's a lot of things I would like to talk about, but I want to move on. That's one of the biggest reasons everything got settled, because everybody wanted to move on, and it's in the past."
Open communication

The Michigan players, under Rodriguez, have selected a group of 20 players from each class who are referred to as "the apostles." The group met at Rodriguez's home Wednesday night to chat.

"I'll meet with them every week and we talk about issues and things they would like to see," Rodriguez said. "It's a communication not that you have to be one of those guys to talk to me, but those guys are the voice of the players on certain things."

He would not reveal the names of the "apostles" saying it's "an internal team thing."
Mind your phrases

Asked about excessive use of foul language at practices, a question asked in conjunction with a reference to former U-M offensive lineman Justin Boren who left the program in the spring questioning the new staff's "family values," Rodriguez said he was dumbfounded: "I'm as proud as how our coaches coach as anyone in America. We don't enable (the player), we coach them. I think that's overrated. I don't know where all that came from. When coaches are upset sometimes there is salty language but it's not like there's a tirade all the time."



WTFDetroit.com > WTFDetroit.com Sports Forums > NCAA > 2008 Big Ten Football Media Day Log in View Full Version : 2008 Big Ten Football Media Day Glenn 07-24-2008, 03:16 PM Here's Pastor Mark's 15 minutes of fame: http://www.bigtennetwork.com/videos/football.asp?bcpid=1519681441&bclid=1119228130&bctid=1685953158 I'm waiting for them to post RichRod's presser. It's interesting that every coach got 15 minutes, except Rich, who got 30 minutes and got to go last. Apparently, he made a funny reference to "I don't use a countdown clock for any rivalry game". Glenn 07-24-2008, 04:10 PM RichRod: Approx 20 mins. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1463312976/bclid1460943230/bctid1688292352 Wizzle 07-24-2008, 04:28 PM thanks Glenn Glenn 07-24-2008, 04:28 PM Have they announced the coach's picks for the top 3 teams in the league and the offensive/defensive players of the year picks yet? I'd be shocked if UM or MSU was in the top 3. Wizzle 07-24-2008, 04:34 PM The Big Ten Media picked 1. Ohio State 2. Wisconsin 3. Illinois Wells and Laurinaitis were picked for offensive and defensive players of the year I have not seen anything from the coaches yet though Jethro34 07-25-2008, 11:37 AM Here are some of the things Angelique Chengelis took away as highlights Slocum off team, Grady in limbo Rodriguez says tackle didn't live up to U-M's standards; tailback is suspended indefinitely. Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News CHICAGO -- Kevin Grady is indefinitely suspended from the Michigan Wolverines, and Marques Slocum is no longer on the team. Grady, a backup tailback from Grand Rapids, is no longer working out with his teammates after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly driving while intoxicated, according to Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Slocum, a defensive tackle who played one season for the Wolverines after transferring from a prep school and sitting out a year, did not "meet the requirements" to play football at Michigan, Rodriguez said on Thursday, the first day of Big Ten media days. "Several issues, academically and football-wise," Rodriguez said when discussing Slocum. As for Grady, he apparently has a long road to work his way back into Rodriguez's good graces. Grady sat out last season while recovering from a knee injury. "He's working out on his own," Rodriguez said. "Still attending classes. It's kind of on a week-by-week basis on him getting back. He has to do certain things internally within the program to get back on the team. And then once he does that, there will be some playing-time penalties as well and then he's on a strict kind of a watch. He has to earn his way on the team, and we'll take it from there." The settlement Earlier this month, Michigan and Rodriguez agreed to pay the $4 million buyout to West Virginia, ending an ugly lawsuit that began almost as soon as Rodriguez accepted the job. Rodriguez had not commented on the settlement until Thursday, when he was asked during the Big Ten meetings. "It's a fair question, and I'll address it so I don't have to address it the next 13, 14 years," Rodriguez said. "There's a lot of things I would like to talk about, but I want to move on. That's one of the biggest reasons everything got settled, because everybody wanted to move on, and it's in the past." Open communication The Michigan players, under Rodriguez, have selected a group of 20 players from each class who are referred to as "the apostles." The group met at Rodriguez's home Wednesday night to chat. "I'll meet with them every week and we talk about issues and things they would like to see," Rodriguez said. "It's a communication not that you have to be one of those guys to talk to me, but those guys are the voice of the players on certain things." He would not reveal the names of the "apostles" saying it's "an internal team thing." Mind your phrases Asked about excessive use of foul language at practices, a question asked in conjunction with a reference to former U-M offensive lineman Justin Boren who left the program in the spring questioning the new staff's "family values," Rodriguez said he was dumbfounded: "I'm as proud as how our coaches coach as anyone in America. We don't enable (the player), we coach them. I think that's overrated. I don't know where all that came from. When coaches are upset sometimes there is salty language but it's not like there's a tirade all the time."