2009 MICHIGAN.wmv

barwas is the shit!!!!

By now, it's clear that anyone familiar with Big Ten football who hasn't heard about new Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis is just emerging from a several months long slumber. Barwis put on a clinic over the weekend – literally – fascinating the couple hundred or so in attendance.The five-hour demonstration was presented the only way Barwis knows how – with high intensity and great enthusiasm."It was unbelievable," reported TheWolverine.com subscriber Rob Thomas, in attendance for the event. "My wife, who I had to drag there, was even blown away and happy she went. All I can say is believe the hype. Barwis' knowledge, intensity/ energy, attention to detail and leadership are what set him and will set our program apart. The man leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing the players."
Strength coach Mike BarwisThe clinic was slated to last four hours and was truly designed for "anyone who wants to improve the athletic performance of others," but it was extended 45 minutes so Barwis could answer questions. Most of the time was spent in the team meeting room, where Barwis gave an overview for the first hour, "often raising his voice almost to the point of shouting because of his enthusiasm."The man hardly paused for a breath during the entire hour," said Thomas. "He talked about the different types of muscle fibers and how nutrition and exercise affect them and the cellular level – my head is still spinning – it was like attending a anatomy/physiology class. "His assistant coordinators (Parker Whiteman, Jesse Miller and Chris Allen) then came out and demonstrated how they use the exercise ball to work on the core strength and agility. [Allen] laid back on the ball near the small of his back, bent his knees so his feet were flat against the side of the ball and not touching the ground, and then proceeded to do sit ups without falling off the ball. There was literally a collective gasp from the room. They then proceeded to demonstrate several Pilates/yoga type stretches while balancing on the ball."An ordinary person wouldn't be able to most of the exercises on the floor let alone on a ball, Thomas opined. The players, however, are expected to learn quickly and perform the same exercises.Next came injury prevention, called "pre-hab" by Barwis because they use the very same techniques used in post injury rehabilitation as part of their regular program to prevent injuries. Barwis and staff demonstrated some of the things they do with players, including using a flex-band for several different ankle, shoulder and knee exercises. "They also showed how they used a partner exercise to increase the strength of the neck muscles," reported Thomas. "Does it all work? They said in that 33-5 run they had at West Virginia they did not lose a single player the entire season due to an injury. Yes, injuries occur, but because they do pre-hab, players will bounce back quicker."Following was a tour of the weight room. Barwis talked about the different stations and spent most of the time talking about the nutrition bar they set up. Written on the wall is the amount (and exactly what) players are expected to eat and drink before and after workouts. Peanut butter, chocolate and caramel nutrition bars are provided for snacks; for drinks, there are a handful of flavors of Gatorade, several types of fruit smoothies and three different types of chocolate milk (regular, cookies and cream and mint). Barwis verified the administration spent $1.1 million on the weight room and are going to spend another $400,000-plus to put in a glass wall/entry to the new practice facility. From there, the group ventured to the indoor practice facility, where speed trainer Kentaro Tamura (who reportedly arrived in the U.S. from Japan five or six years ago) demonstrated several speed improvement exercises. "By this time I was becoming mentally over-loaded," Thomas admitted. "They did a lot of things I think a lot of track guys do, but they really stressed and focused on proper technique – and how they drill the players."The clinic ended with a Q&A with Barwis, the highlight of which was his doing push-ups for the group – the same push-ups only a handful of incoming high school recruits have been able to do over the years, and not your normal "let's do a quick 50.""He laid face-down flat on the ground, extended his arms above his head like someone diving in a pool, and did five push-ups from that position," Thomas marveled. "The man is incredibly fit. I now believe all the stories."Thomas then added one Barwis trait that perhaps doesn't get as much publicity as deserved."You can't underestimate his leadership," he said. "The guy is incredibly approachable, yet has this commanding presence that you can feel when he enters the room. He walks the talk. He leads through example. He is the type of guy you'd want to lead you into battle – someone you know will be right there with you. "I can only imagine the effect he has on the players, and he's not even the head coach. Yes, those who stay will be champions … there's no doubt in my mind."

Dewayne Peace

South Grand Prairie, Texas, wide receiver/defensive back Dewayne Peace recently stated that he would have a decision in the near future. The choice for the The 6-0, 177-pounder came even quicker than expected, with an announcement this evening."I committed to Michigan," Peace said Tuesday evening. "I'm kind of glad the recruiting process is over with. Now I can focus on my senior year of football. My family is happy for me and everybody is happy with the decision."
Peace finalized his commitment to Michigan on Tuesday nightEarlier in the day Peace told TheWolverine.com he was nearing the decision and debating between three schools; Michigan, Kansas and Texas A&M. He came to that decision Tuesday evening, giving the coaching staff a call to inform them about the commitment soon after."First I called the recruiting coach for my area which is Jay Hopson. He said he was waiting for it and very happy that I made my decision," said Peace. "Then I talked to [Rich Rodriguez] and he was saying it's a great fit and he likes how I compete. He started going over some things he likes about me and how he can't wait for me to be up there. "From there I talked to the offensive coordinator and he was telling me how I am going to fit into the scheme and they really believe as a true freshman I can come in and play if I came in and worked hard."Just over a week ago Peace did not hold a Michigan offer and had never seen the campus, but his visit to Ann Arbor for the Wolverines' summer camp got both tasks accomplished."You go from Kansas really being the biggest (offer) and New Mexico State, Tulsa and schools like that," Peace said. "Then to grab the offer from Michigan, that was big."Now that his future will be with Michigan, Peace plans to help recruit other players to Ann Arbor and he is starting right on his own team."There's one right in my backyard from South Grand Prairie, Thomas Ferguson, and they are looking at him," Peace said. "Of course I am going to try to get him down there with me too."Peace is the Wolverines' 12th commitment to the recruiting class and the second prospect to declare in favor of the Maize and Blue today, joining linebacker Jordan Barnes of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Homestead.

M ZONE CALLS IT QUITS

farewell it was fun while it lasted. we will keep it going. GO BLUE

Travis Barker Remix Soulja Boy

had to put this up!!!! unreal go blue.....

comcast deal finally done!!!!!!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—Finally, the Big Ten Network and Comcast Corp. reached a deal.
The BTN and the Philadelphia-based cable carrier announced a multiyear agreement Thursday for programming that starts Aug. 15 on expanded basic cable in states with Big Ten schools: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Comcast doesn’t have any subscribers in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.
After the 2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the network to its digital service in Big Ten states. Outside of the region, Comcast has the option to not offer the channel at all, or to put it on its sports and entertainment package or other tiers of service.
BTN programming includes coverage of every men’s and women’s sport played in the conference, from football and basketball to soccer and track.
Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman praised Thursday’s deal.
“This agreement allows us to reach many more Big Ten fans with our programming because of the high concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states,” he said in an e-mail message. “With the Comcast deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be available to more than two-thirds of all homes in Big Ten country.”
Comcast has agreed to pay about 70 cents per subscriber to the Big Ten, which had sought $1.10. It’s the first major cable operator to agree to carry the network.
The parties negotiated for more than a year. The Big Ten wanted to put the new network on Comcast’s basic level of service at a price the company wasn’t willing to pay.
In February, Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo expressed frustration with the stalemate after being flooded with letters and calls from fans angry that they couldn’t see games they watched in the past.
“I think it has been a PR nightmare,” Izzo said at the time. “And I think it has hurt all of us.”
Comcast has about 5 million customers with basic cable and 4 million with digital in Big Ten states. The sports network is owned by the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.
AP Business Writer Deborah Yao in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

another 4 star

Orland Park (Ill.) Sandburg offensive tackle Michael Schofield is one of the most heavily recruited offensive line prospects in the Midwest with 20 scholarship offers to his credit. The Rivals.com top 250 prospect has looked closely at his recruitment in the last couple weeks and now has a decision."I just committed to Michigan, so I'm feeling pretty good about it right now," Schofield said. "I felt pretty good about Michigan for awhile now. Ever since I made my first visit there last month I felt really good about them. I was thinking about some other schools too for a little bit there, but decided Michigan was the best place to go."
Schofield committed to Michigan on MondayMichigan's coaches are in the midst of their summer football camp, but were around to receive the call when Schofield placed it."I called Coach (Scott) Shafer, my recruiting coach, and he passed the phone around to a bunch of people," Schofield said. "I talked to Coach (Greg) Frey, the o-line coach, the offensive coordinator and then Coach (Rich) Rodriguez as well. Rodriguez was pretty happy."In the past several weeks leading up to the start of his team's summer camp, Schofield took trips to Notre Dame, Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan. His trip to Ann Arbor occurred last week Tuesday and was a catalyst for the decision."That really got me. After I visited I was really excited about Michigan," he said. "The whole time I was there I felt really comfortable. I felt like I fit in. They are really nice coaches and the strength coach is somebody I want to work with because he's just so intense. They do lifts that, of all the colleges I've been to so far, no one does lifts like that. They do pre-hab so no one gets hurt and no one else does that."Another aspect of Schofield's visit that intrigued him about Michigan was the introduction to Michigan's education."Academics is the reason why you actually go to college and Michigan has some of the best academics in the country," Schofield said. "It's exciting that you have some of the best football in the country and the academics – it's the perfect fit."Schofield had always planned to announce his decision before the start of his senior season, but that it came this early in the process is somewhat of a surprise."When you find the right school, why wait? That was the school I wanted to go to so I didn't wait any longer," Schofield said. "It just takes away a lot of distractions. I don't have to worry about calling a bunch of coaches and it allows me to focus. I feel relaxed, excited and just happy I got it done with and picked the right school."Rivals.com ranks the 6-7, 292-pound Schofield as the No. 197 player in the country, the No. 16 offensive tackle and a four-star prospect.