Wolverines already seeing strength improvements under Mike Barwis
Michigan players saw new coach Rich Rodriguez a few times in December but haven't had a lot of interaction with him the past six weeks, as recruiting was in full swing.
But that doesn't mean they have been relaxing.
The new strength-and-conditioning program under Mike Barwis appears to be a major shift. Schembechler Hall's weight room has undergone a significant renovation, with black machines replacing royal blue setups.
Barwis has exclusive domain over the Wolverine players until spring practice begins March 15.
"He's got a lot of energy," said defensive end Tim Jamison, who's still adjusting to the more demanding (and earlier) workouts. "I like him. We're still in the introduction stages, and we haven't gotten to half of what he's going to teach us."
After about two months with Barwis, the results are showing.
"We're all going to be in really good shape, and definitely there's a change with his program," defensive tackle John Ferrara said, patting his chest. "I can already see it on myself. In four weeks, the change my body's gone through is amazing. It's a credit to this new workout system he has, a couple new things we had never done before."
Remembering '69
Trying to bridge the generational gap, members of U-M's legendary 1969 team spoke to the current Wolverines on Feb. 5, sharing laughter and honesty.
The 1969 team was the last to experience a new coach coming from outside the program, shifting from Bump Elliott to Bo Schembechler. So the old players can relate to the current Wolverines.
"One story I heard -- must have been (Jim) Betts -- they said, with the new coaching change, everybody was scared," Jamison said Saturday, before he and about 15 teammates ran a U-Move football clinic for children at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, U-M's indoor practice facility. "They didn't know what to expect, and that was how I was feeling. I was like, man, they felt the same way. Man, that's crazy."
The meeting struck a chord with the players, who now can relate to a class that overcame adversity.
"It just puts everything in perspective," Ferrara said. "They did an amazing thing with the change in the coaching staff, and they hadn't been doing as well, and winning the (Big Ten) championship that year was amazing. We could do the same thing."
Congress for ex-Lion?
Brock Olivo, who played for the Lions as a backup running back in 1998-2001, said at a Gasconade County (Mo.) Republican Party dinner Friday that he will run for a seat in the House of Representatives.
"Put the ball in my hands," the 31-year-old Missouri native said. "I want to be the citizen's politician."
Quick hit
• The latest NFL mock draft at cbssports.com has the Lions taking South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins in the first round (15th overall).
Protection for Spygate?
The lawyer for former New England Patriots employee Matt Walsh said his client is willing to turn over videotapes he made for the team if the NFL guarantees Walsh protection from lawsuits or other legal action.
Attorney Michael Levy said the NFL's initial proposals are not sufficient protection for Walsh, who is said to have taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough practice the day before they played the Patriots in the 2002 Super Bowl. The Patriots won, 20-17.
"The NFL's proposal is not full indemnification," Levy told the Associated Press. "It is highly conditional and still leaves Mr. Walsh vulnerable. I have asked the NFL to provide Mr. Walsh with the necessary legal protections so that he can come forward with the truth without fear of retaliation and litigation."
"No one wants to talk to Matt Walsh more than we do," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello responded. "But his demand to be released from all responsibility even if his comments are not truthful is unprecedented and unreasonable."
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