Michigan Football: Apostles are the leaders for the team

from Toledo Blade
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/SPORTS17/807260364

'Apostles' to spread faith in Michigan
Rodriguez uses special term for leaders

By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

CHICAGO - Tim Jamison reads at least one Bible verse when he wakes each day.

Morgan Trent says gospel music dominates his iPod, and Mike Massey was reared Catholic.

Now, these three Wolverines are among 20 "apostles" on the University of Michigan's football team. But this is no faith-based initiative.

The Wolverines' apostles are a group of players - seniors through freshmen - selected by their teammates as leaders. They met with UM coach Rich Rodriguez at his house Wednesday night and will serve as communicators between players and coaches.

"It's not in a biblical nature," Rodriguez said yesterday at the second of the Big Ten's two media days at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Rodriguez is breaking from tradition at UM by not having any permanent team captains before the start of this season. He said the players will pick their captains at the end of the year, and different game captains will be selected each week.

In the meantime, the Wolverines have apostles.

"You can call us whatever you want," said Massey, a senior tight end. "It's basically just labeling some guys who can keep each class focused."

And this is a good idea?

"It's a great thing," Massey said. "Whether they're labeled 'captains' or 'apostles,' every team knows who its leaders are. All this is doing is letting guys know they have an opportunity to lead this team."

Trent, a senior cornerback, said he wasn't too sure about the apostle concept at first, but now sees its merits.

"We can go to him with anything that we feel or any concerns that we have," Trent said. "I like it.

"I like the fact that we can all come together and talk about something we think needs to change or something we just want to talk about.

"I like that we can all come together instead of two people making the decision."

Rodriguez said he had apostles as a head coach at West Virginia and a variation of the concept at Glenville State. He said anywhere from eight to 20 players - again, selected by their peers - make up these apostolic councils.

"We have a lot of fun with it," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes it's as simple as picking the pre-game music.

"It's not like we're making major decisions. It's not like, 'coach, we're going to run the wishbone this week.'•"

While trying to downplay the importance of being an apostle, Rodriguez also said those players are held to higher standards.

"I told the guys, 'You are going to be held to a higher standard on and off the field, so if you're not willing to accept that you've got to let me know,'•" Rodriguez said.

"It's not like they're going to be scrutinized anymore. It's kind of like a sounding board for the players, for me. More than anything else, I want the communication to be open."

Rodriguez didn't disclose who the "apostles" are this year, but Trent, Jamison, and Massey are in that group. So too, apparently, are senior defensive tackle Will Johnson, senior safety Brandon Harrison, and sophomore quarterback Steven Threet.

SERIOUS ISSUE: Rodriguez said he hopes all his players learn from the suspension of junior running back Kevin Grady, who was arrested this month for drunken driving.

"I think certainly Kevin has, at least that's my hope," Rodriguez said. "I heard somebody say I should just kick him off the team and make an example of him. If a guy is a bad guy or has gotten in trouble a couple times, yeah, you do that. If you can teach a lesson off of it and he learns a lesson from it, you can turn it into a positive."

Grady, who missed all of last season with a knee injury but was in the mix to be a starter this year, has to meet certain criteria to be reinstated with the Wolverines. Rodriguez said he is rooting for Grady.

"Kevin's a good guy that made a bad mistake and he's paying a price for it."

NO SUPRISE: Trent said he "knew it was coming" in reference to Justin Boren's departure from UM.

"I say that because the way we're working out, the way we run, the way we train, if you don't love football you won't last," Trent said.

"That's the great thing about it. If you don't want to be there, with your whole heart, you won't be there long."

Boren, a starting offensive lineman last year, left UM during spring practice and said the family values in Rodriguez's program had eroded. He transferred to Ohio State.