MGoBlogs: Football, Vol. I, No. 1
February 14, 2008
Chasing the Dream
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2008
The underlying theme of the Michigan football program since 1969 has been "The Team, The Team, The Team." First-year head coach Rich Rodriguez provided students at U-M the opportunity to join the 2008 team in an open tryout held at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse on Valentine's Day.
"The tryout provides guys with the opportunity to chase a dream," said Rodriguez. "They want the Michigan football experience and that opportunity to run down the tunnel and into the stadium in front of 110,000 fans."
Sixty-five students registered for the tryouts and went through an hour-and-a-half workout session that included stretching and conditioning drills, position drills and a 40-yard dash. The goal was to find student-athletes that can help the program during the upcoming season.
Rodriguez, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship at West Virginia, estimated that over the past six years he kept 20-25 walk-ons from open tryouts, including four players that earned scholarships and two that became starters for the Mountaineers.
"The importance of a walk-on can be immeasurable," added Rodriguez. "They can provide special teams support, participate on the demonstration teams, or earn a role on the offensive or defensive units. It's great to get walk-ons out for the team because you know they are playing for the love of the game. All they want is an opportunity, and I hope that we want to provide that to them."
Rodriguez plans to keep some walk-ons for the winter conditioning program and spring practice slated to begin March 15.
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