While the general public was focussed on the BBQ At The Big House, the USS Michigan secretly snuck into harbor and tied up. Provisioning is nearly complete. Once a proud nuclear powered, ballistic missile submarine, is has since been converted by the US Navy into a "special operations" warfare vessel. Rumor has it, Jim Harbaugh himself oversaw the final stages of construction in order to ensure its preparedness for its true mission.
Tomorrow, in final preparation for fall camp, the last of the Michigan Wolverines coaches, staff and team will come aboard. Each will walk the plank to come aboard, saluting the US Flag above, and the maize and blue, block M banner on the bow. As they do, Lt. Commander Mattison will check their names off the roll call list and direct them below. As they descent on the ladder, they will hear the voices of Commanders Drevno and Brown yelling "Offense Forward .... Defense Aft".
Searching for their berths thru the narrow passage ways, they notice many things. All the clocks aboard have been reset ... all ticking down to November 25th. The many racks of life vests have been replaced with shoulder pads. The token Navy crew left aboard have discarded their Navy Blue uniforms for Maize n Blue, Nike/Jordan jumpsuits. The forward torpedo bay, once bristling with munitions now is full of weight sets and athletic machines. The vast missile bay has been cleared and now houses blocking sleds and racks of footballs. The mess hall, now tripled in size, is bristling with cooks as they begin the daunting schedule of cooking 6 meals a day. The command center is a flurry of activity with coaches and analysts reviewing game film.
Once the last man is aboard, the order is given to set sail. The hatches are closed, the bulkheads are secured, and the linesman fore and aft discard the lines to the pier. Ashore, family and friends with a lump in their throat and tear in their eye watch as the vessel slowly sails away.
Aboard, the players are silent. Their eyes wide open. Their ears begin to pop due to the change in pressure .... then all of a sudden, the Klaxon sounds. Over the speakers they hear the loud and clear sound of Captain Harbaugh ... "Blue 80, Blue 80.....DIVE...DIVE....DIVE..."
Training camp has begun.
Tomorrow, in final preparation for fall camp, the last of the Michigan Wolverines coaches, staff and team will come aboard. Each will walk the plank to come aboard, saluting the US Flag above, and the maize and blue, block M banner on the bow. As they do, Lt. Commander Mattison will check their names off the roll call list and direct them below. As they descent on the ladder, they will hear the voices of Commanders Drevno and Brown yelling "Offense Forward .... Defense Aft".
Searching for their berths thru the narrow passage ways, they notice many things. All the clocks aboard have been reset ... all ticking down to November 25th. The many racks of life vests have been replaced with shoulder pads. The token Navy crew left aboard have discarded their Navy Blue uniforms for Maize n Blue, Nike/Jordan jumpsuits. The forward torpedo bay, once bristling with munitions now is full of weight sets and athletic machines. The vast missile bay has been cleared and now houses blocking sleds and racks of footballs. The mess hall, now tripled in size, is bristling with cooks as they begin the daunting schedule of cooking 6 meals a day. The command center is a flurry of activity with coaches and analysts reviewing game film.
Once the last man is aboard, the order is given to set sail. The hatches are closed, the bulkheads are secured, and the linesman fore and aft discard the lines to the pier. Ashore, family and friends with a lump in their throat and tear in their eye watch as the vessel slowly sails away.
Aboard, the players are silent. Their eyes wide open. Their ears begin to pop due to the change in pressure .... then all of a sudden, the Klaxon sounds. Over the speakers they hear the loud and clear sound of Captain Harbaugh ... "Blue 80, Blue 80.....DIVE...DIVE....DIVE..."
Training camp has begun.
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