Michigan football team unveiled secret weapon against Wisconsin - a stuffed animal
Was it a bear? Badger? Wolverine?
Did the Michigan football team unveil a top-secret weapon during Saturday’s game against Wisconsin?
Television footage from Michigan’s 48-28 loss showed Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Robinson rubbing linebacker Kenny Demens around his neck and head with - could it be? - a stuffed animal.
The Wolverines trailed, 24-7, at the time of the sighting.
Michigan’s defensive players were tight-lipped about the unidentified mammal - possibly a Wolverine or Badger - when asked about it Monday.
“Next question,” Craig Roh said.
Defensive tackle Mike Martin, who expects to play against the Buckeyes despite two injured ankles, confirmed the animal’s presence on the sideline, but declined to divulge further details.
“It’s a secret,” he said. “I can’t talk about that. That’s got to stay in our room.”
TheBigLead.com showed a screenshot of the footage here.
No word on whether PETA plans any objections.
Pete Bigelow covers the Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2551, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
RudeJude
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 2:29 p.m.
@ Pete Bigelow and the annarbor.com staff This does not deserve its owns story. Great...post an image, take it out of context and call it a "secret weapon," then ridicule the team for some laughs. At the very least, this is a missed opportunity to write a retrospective piece on the sometimes obscure ways coaches choose to inspire their players (See 11-time NBA championship coach, Phil Jackson for reference). Make it something of substance and leave the reader with maybe a new perspective on ways to inspire co-workers or family members. Instead, you chose to make a joke out of it. When a credible news site mocks, in this case calling the vague, unidentifiable object in the picture a "secret weapon," it limits the reader to point his finger and laugh if you're a rival fan, or shake his head in embarrassment if you're a Michigan fan, and leaves him no more informed than he was before reading it. I would expect to read this in the MSU or OSU student newspaper the week of the Michigan game, but not the supposedly credible annarbor.com news site. Report the news in the most interesting and compelling way possible. Save the laughs for The Onion. On a side note, does annarbor.com pay for reader submissions? I don't claim to be a great writer, but I feel confident enough that I could turn the meaningless photo and this lack of any real information into something with a little merit, thought and meaning.
Gaboo
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
Didn't work! They should have named the animal Defense. Then maybe they would have stood a chance.
stunhsif
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.
I guess the thumb sucking I saw on the Michigan sidelines was real. I kept taking my glasses off and rubbing my eyes as I could not believe what I was seeing!
Sean T.
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 1:56 a.m.
Keepinitreal, Give it up man, Denard isn't a QB. He's a speedy athlete that's very exciting but he can't complete a pass over 15 yards without the man being wide open. Do you really think he's so dinged up that Tate has to come in? It's more like when we get behind Tate has to save the day and RR doesn't want to admit it. Denard was a great athlete coming out of high school so guess which University recruited him as a QB........none!
DonAZ
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 11:02 p.m.
Oh, come on now... this is getting just stupid. This coaching staff is full of children. Get real men in to coach the boys so they can play like men. It's no damn wonder this team seems like kids on a playground.
CincoDeMayo
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
I'm thinking that there is some ice or heat inside of that Teddy Bear.
OSUbeBetter
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.
Gregg resorting to Creole VooDoo Hex? Could the mystical spirits have been confused and turned on the Wolverines? After all a Wolverine and a Badger look awfully alike. HaHa, Looking Awfully Desperate Michigan.....
The OSU
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:31 p.m.
Stuffed Teddy Bears for Michigan players? This seasn is getting so weird nobody in Columbus will believe it. Note to Mr. Begelow: Use of the term "secret weapon" is normally reserved for a tactic/technique that WORKS. UM still lost to Wisconsin.
Yelmonian
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:57 p.m.
CC, That's the best you got? Yeah, but you can't sell out your games. Of course, we could talk basketball. What's the name of UM's basketball arena... Breslin East? Back to football...Let's compare. And I'm mentioning the now and here... not 40 years ago, when your grandpa didn't need viagra history... MSU 10-1. UM 7-4. MSU Big Ten 6-1. UM Big Ten 3-4 RR total Big Ten wins in three years... 6. MSU wins this season alone 6. MSU beat Wisconsin. UM played with Teddy Bears. Dantonio 3 wins versus RR. RR none. And most importantly... MSU 34, UM 17. Hopefully they pass out teddy bears instead of water, so the Wolverine fans have something to hug when they are crying after the game.
ViSHa
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.
@ohnou812. maybe denard only agreed to play QB for UM? maybe this teddy bear is some kind of therapy recommended by the sports psychologist that was mentioned on ESPN. maybe it is some kind of inside joke concerning Theo (referring to Elvis' song Teddy Bear)?
CC
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:28 p.m.
Hey jonny spirt we may be down on our luck now but we can still have people going to our games. The best season in years for state and you still can't sell out your stadium.
Ben
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:27 p.m.
RR: "Okay team, we have a winning plan against OSU" Team: "What's that coach?" RR: "We're going to give the OSU players cuddily teddy bears" Team: RR: "Think about it team; they'll be too happy with their teddy bear to focus on the game" Team: RR: "Defense - instead of practice this week, you're going to go to Build a Bear and make some cute bears" RR: "Let's go team!"
3 And Out
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:24 p.m.
Weird...more continued weirdness / oddities from our coaching staff who though that they could reinvent a wheel that did not need to be reinvented and massively failed in the process.
Elaine F. Owsley
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:21 p.m.
I can see a wolverine, but a badger? Maybe they got the wrong totum - hence the loss.
superbuck
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:05 p.m.
Do you actually think that Sweater Vest has not thought about shoelace and taint in at the same time. they have been practicing for that for 9 weeks. You must think you cross the state line into stupidville. Scotty beam them all up in Ann Arbor no buisness being here. GO_OOOOOO BUCKS Watch for all the signs as you come up 23.
SpartyInExile
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.
Maybe RR should give the team some warm milk and tuck them in too.
Yelmonian
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.
Teddy Bears and Chocolate Milk! You cannot make this stuff up!
chiro19
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.
Oh boy, this may give a little insight into what goes on in the locker room and during practice and film sessions! Greg Robinson is talking about the fine points of "build a bear" and how they are so cuddly! This could get a "come on man" by the NFL guys on espn. Do you think he puts that in a resume for next season or leaves it out and just mentions he has a secret weapon? He may explain it as tackling is like cuddling a teddy bear or what ever it is. You put your arms around it and love it and squeeze to death! What an unprofessional joof ball!
ohnou812
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Keepingitreal.....All I'm saying is have a package where Denard plays a Percy Harvin type roll. Denard still is the starting QB, but can u imagine the possibilities...Tate is not fast enough to play that role. Defenses would have to contend with more pressure as Denard is out in space with less defenders and if they bring more to him Tate has the touch and ability to throw long ball. And they still have to defend run...just would be a nightmare for defenses I believe. Would love to see it against OSU. I'm sure Denard wouldn't mind as I believe when he goes pro that it'll be as as that type of role player and not a QB!
KeepingItReal
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
@ohnou812: What about Tate coming out of the backfield or in the slot? DR has proven that he can lead this team so it seems to me if you want to see both of them in together, why not this combination?
GoblueinNE_PA
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 3:37 p.m.
Seems more like an early April Fools joke
Jonny Spirit
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 3:36 p.m.
HA ha ha ha ha, Secret Weapon. That is great. I'm so glad Ann Arbor reports these types of things. Ha, a teddy bear. I can't stop laughing, my side hurt. Go Green! Rich Rod For Prez
SemperFi
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.
How about launching a secret weapon called, "DEFENSE!"
ohnou812
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
The only secret weapon I and many wanna see, is Denard getting the ball handed or thrown to him in space from Tate. At least a few plays with them both in together. With Tate's ability to throw the longer passes and Denard coming out of backfield or in slot like Harvin...OMG the possibilities. Denard getting the ball out in space spells trouble for any D!!!! Come on RR can't believe they haven't worked on some plays like that. When Denard goes pro it will be as a Percy Harvin type anyway...why not work on it!