The Michigan coaching contingent was out in full force today at the Best of the Midwest camp at Grand Valley State University, with every full-time staffer outside of linebackers coach Anthony Campanile and safeties/special teams coach Chris Partridge in attendance (assistants Mike McCray and James Ross were there as well).
Head man Jim Harbaugh and the crew began arriving just as several coaches began giving speeches to the campers, which was actually kicked off with a talk from former U-M wide receivers coach and current Central Michigan head man Jim McElwain.
The several hundred campers were seated in chairs on the practice field in the GVSU indoor facility, and upon his arrival, Harbaugh grabbed a seat in the back with the kids and blended in as if he were one of the youngsters set to work out.
Bay City (Mich.) Central three-star wideout Devell Washington — who is currently committed to West Virginia but holds a Michigan offer — actually took a seat next to Harbaugh and the two sat next to one another for the following 20 minutes or so.
Belleville (Mich.) High four-star cornerback and U-M commit Andre Seldon sat in the row directly in front of Harbaugh and just a few seats down, and the latter clearly kept an eye on him throughout the speeches, as if to make sure he was paying attention.
Class of 2021 Belleville (Mich.) High athlete Jamari Buddin sat next to Seldon throughout the entirety of the talks, and drew a few waves and smiles from Harbaugh as well.
Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher then introduced Harbaugh as the morning's final speaker, and the latter gave an impassioned talk to the kids.
He spoke about the importance of education after high school, and how alcohol and drugs are “poison to an athlete’s body.”
Harbaugh then noted how America’s current generation of teenagers unfairly receives constant criticism (citing excessive social media and cell phone use, etc.), but that “the next generation” of humans has been critiqued since the beginning of time, referring to ancient Greek texts that echoed a similar sentiment.
Upon heading outside to begin the drills, it was obvious just how wide the array of coaches from around the Midwest was — staffers from Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Indiana (Mike Hart, to be exact), Iowa State, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Western Michigan were all in attendance.
While some coaches took part in the drills (throwing passes, demonstrating technique, etc.), Harbaugh only observed.
He also spent quite a bit of time in the stands with parents, chatting it up with redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield’s father for a while at one juncture.
Unsurprisingly, Harbaugh had a line of campers waiting to meet him and take pictures once the day’s first session ended (around 3:00 PM), and he gladly obliged.
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis was a major attraction as well, with one recruit eagerly running up to him after a workout, introducing himself, and asking, ‘Did you see my reps?!’ He also had several fathers come up to him afterward and introduce their sons to him.
Gattis actually told reporters that junior wideouts Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones are both finally healthy after missing all of spring ball with injury.
Defensive coordinator Don Brown was, as usual, the most involved and vocal staffer while coaching the kids through drills.
His shouts could be heard from half a football field away, with his trademark yells of “BOOM” and “SMASH EVERYTHING” bringing smiles to the faces of observers.
In fact, one bystander — he appeared to be a reporter who wasn’t familiar with Brown — was enamored with the intensity and enthusiasm he displayed, laughing about "how much of a character this guy is."
Today, however, was not even one of Brown’s loudest days.
McCray and Ross — each just a few years removed from their playing days — both still looked like they could suit up and fit right in, consistently demonstrating drills to the youngsters.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich also participated in the physical portion, throwing short passes to defensive backs for much of the afternoon, and even at 55 years old, still had plenty of zip on the ball.
Many of the coaches departed before the second session ended (Harbaugh, Gattis, offensive line coach Ed Warinner, etc.), and although he wasn’t one of them, defensive line coach Shaun Nua may as well have been.
Toward the end of the afternoon, he was spotted sitting in the shade at a folding table, leaning back in his chair with one leg propped up onto the table and taking in the afternoon’s events.
This normally wouldn’t be much to look at, but for a man his size, it was quite the scene.
The smile on his face and sweat-covered clothes clearly signified his afternoon had been a success.
Head man Jim Harbaugh and the crew began arriving just as several coaches began giving speeches to the campers, which was actually kicked off with a talk from former U-M wide receivers coach and current Central Michigan head man Jim McElwain.
The several hundred campers were seated in chairs on the practice field in the GVSU indoor facility, and upon his arrival, Harbaugh grabbed a seat in the back with the kids and blended in as if he were one of the youngsters set to work out.
Bay City (Mich.) Central three-star wideout Devell Washington — who is currently committed to West Virginia but holds a Michigan offer — actually took a seat next to Harbaugh and the two sat next to one another for the following 20 minutes or so.
Belleville (Mich.) High four-star cornerback and U-M commit Andre Seldon sat in the row directly in front of Harbaugh and just a few seats down, and the latter clearly kept an eye on him throughout the speeches, as if to make sure he was paying attention.
Class of 2021 Belleville (Mich.) High athlete Jamari Buddin sat next to Seldon throughout the entirety of the talks, and drew a few waves and smiles from Harbaugh as well.
Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher then introduced Harbaugh as the morning's final speaker, and the latter gave an impassioned talk to the kids.
He spoke about the importance of education after high school, and how alcohol and drugs are “poison to an athlete’s body.”
Harbaugh then noted how America’s current generation of teenagers unfairly receives constant criticism (citing excessive social media and cell phone use, etc.), but that “the next generation” of humans has been critiqued since the beginning of time, referring to ancient Greek texts that echoed a similar sentiment.
Upon heading outside to begin the drills, it was obvious just how wide the array of coaches from around the Midwest was — staffers from Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Indiana (Mike Hart, to be exact), Iowa State, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Western Michigan were all in attendance.
While some coaches took part in the drills (throwing passes, demonstrating technique, etc.), Harbaugh only observed.
He also spent quite a bit of time in the stands with parents, chatting it up with redshirt freshman right tackle Jalen Mayfield’s father for a while at one juncture.
Unsurprisingly, Harbaugh had a line of campers waiting to meet him and take pictures once the day’s first session ended (around 3:00 PM), and he gladly obliged.
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis was a major attraction as well, with one recruit eagerly running up to him after a workout, introducing himself, and asking, ‘Did you see my reps?!’ He also had several fathers come up to him afterward and introduce their sons to him.
Gattis actually told reporters that junior wideouts Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones are both finally healthy after missing all of spring ball with injury.
Defensive coordinator Don Brown was, as usual, the most involved and vocal staffer while coaching the kids through drills.
His shouts could be heard from half a football field away, with his trademark yells of “BOOM” and “SMASH EVERYTHING” bringing smiles to the faces of observers.
In fact, one bystander — he appeared to be a reporter who wasn’t familiar with Brown — was enamored with the intensity and enthusiasm he displayed, laughing about "how much of a character this guy is."
Today, however, was not even one of Brown’s loudest days.
McCray and Ross — each just a few years removed from their playing days — both still looked like they could suit up and fit right in, consistently demonstrating drills to the youngsters.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich also participated in the physical portion, throwing short passes to defensive backs for much of the afternoon, and even at 55 years old, still had plenty of zip on the ball.
Many of the coaches departed before the second session ended (Harbaugh, Gattis, offensive line coach Ed Warinner, etc.), and although he wasn’t one of them, defensive line coach Shaun Nua may as well have been.
Toward the end of the afternoon, he was spotted sitting in the shade at a folding table, leaning back in his chair with one leg propped up onto the table and taking in the afternoon’s events.
This normally wouldn’t be much to look at, but for a man his size, it was quite the scene.
The smile on his face and sweat-covered clothes clearly signified his afternoon had been a success.
