Gattis Quote
Gattis was interviewed recently during the Harbaugh Golf Classic. This quote got me fired up for the season.
"In our building, don’t come near it with a lighter because there’s enough fuel coming out of that building that we don’t need anything to try and push us anymore further. Our guys are fired up. If people say, hey man, what do you need to fuel you? We need nothing. All of what last year went through, it fueled us to this point. We’re motivated. We’re inspired. At the same time, we’ve got the biggest chip on our shoulder because the feelings that our players felt and the feelings our staff felt, we gotta take that out on somebody. That’s why we can’t wait until training camp to get here so we can start building this team for 2021."
The other notable quote he said was Blake Corum was one of the Top 3 most talented players on the team.
Credit: The Michigan Insider https://247sports.com/college/michigan/LongFormArticle/michigan-wolverines-football-harbaugh-gold-classic-wtka-1050-josh-gattis-cade-mcnamara-168724225/#168724225_1
Shoulda asked him about Shea's golf game. Missed opportunity
August 5th, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
Honestly the most revealing pre-season interview nugget of the Harbaugh era.
I like Gattis but this kind of chin wagging is meaningless hype and nothing more. It sure as hell doesn’t frighten our opponents.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
I'd prefer if he talks about how much potential cha-ching $$$$ the players are going to get from NIL, what with Michigan being a national brand and all... like, he's hearing his backup QB has already got $1M in endorsements. A smart coach is dropping NIL talk left, right, and center these days.
Isn't this just a retread of the same thing they say every year.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
Why yes, yes it is.
This is a weird analogy, but I was reminded of "My Fair Lady" when Eliza Doolittle, sick to death of the endless stream of words from both Henry Higgins and Freddy Eynsford-Hill, sings:
Don't talk of June
Don't talk of fall
Don't talk at all
Show me
Eliza would've made a good UM fan.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:49 PM ^
Hasn’t U of M alum Sutton Foster played Eliza Doolittle a bunch?
So basically they're fired up and motivated to show the world what they're capable of, just like every other team in the country is the first week of August?
Then give Corum 20 touches a game. Time to earn your title or pack your bags. You’ve been a huge letdown. The 2019 team was stacked with nfl talent and we struggled to move the ball against army.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
The thing about 2019 is that it was the first year of a new offense and Army was only the second game under that new offense. There was definitely improvement over the course of the year starting with PSU. And then in the last 5 games of the regular season (ND, Maryland, MSU, Indiana, OSU), we averaged 39 pts/game. That's not too shabby.
But I hear what you're saying. There really shouldn't be any excuses for the offensive game planning this year. Most players have been in the system for at least 2 years. And a big step forward may be needed If the defense struggles like most expect.
What happened to walk softly and carry a big stick? This is gonna age so poorly if we play like shit and lack emotion on the field. It's easy to do it in practice, but once another team does something that works well, that's when fear and panic start and energy dissipates. I hope that doesn't happen, btw.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:03 AM ^
"...once another team does something that works well, that's when fear and panic start and energy dissipates."
That is where the psychology of coaching should take over. Unfortunately, we haven't seen that 'pick me up' coaching since 2017. Instead, its been dissolving into what we saw last year - the team flat out quit on itself. Hopefully, this big talk (which is all it is right now) has something behind it.
I'll withhold judgment until I see what is actually on the field...
Is he fired up about the play calling?
August 5th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
Let's see this on the field. Looking forward to it.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
Fucking blah blah blah.
Michigan football, especially under Jim Harbaugh, for once in my life can you just shut the fuck up and actually show me something on the field? Beat all of your rivals. Win the big games. Beat Ohio State. Win the Big Ten, Make the playoffs or win some impressive higher-tier bowl game. Have somebody show some leadership and step up and actually make a fucking clutch play when it matters. I'm sick of the horseshit pre-season hype and words words words. SHOW ME SOMETHING.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:15 AM ^
....win a road game against a good team and pull off an upset - which shouldn't be that hard as I am sure we will be underdogs against most good teams.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
This doesn't do anything for me, but I assume that 99% of what coaches say to the media is for the players.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^
Fluff is fluffy.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
Just win, baby...
August 5th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
Cool. Win some games
August 5th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
Clicked through thinking, "Huh, wonder what Gattis said..." Read quote and immediately wanted to post "Win first. Talk second."... Then noticed that in the hour this has been up, everybody and their brother had already posted the same thing. Yep, pulse of fanbase is thunderously loud and clear.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
I read through the comments first and then decided to go back and read the whole article. I think most of the comments are based on the one very brief quote in the OP instead of the full article. The article is quite long and Gattis actually addressed some of the issues often discussed on this board.
- RB's need more carries as a whole, especially the back ups without taking away from the starters.
- Had to use WR's in different roles last year due to Nico opting out and Johnson being injured early in the season. Better depth this year should allow guys to play in their ideal positions from the start.
- Team lost a lot of confidence when Aiden and Kwity went down with injuries because they were the leaders. This lead to the spiral down mentality when something bad happened. Too many freshman to overcome this leadership void last year. Working to make this year different, but many of the young guys have not played in a college stadium with actual fans so that will be the first hurdle.
- O-line had far too many young guys rotating through due to injuries. Didn't want to say that was the excuse, but it was the reason. There is only so much you can do when that happens.
- Probably didn't have a QB to even play by the end of the season due to injuries. Cade is a good leader and the team has rallied around him. Still has to keep proving it, but he continues to be "the guy" to lead the team. Good at being on time in the play design which helps the team execute.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:26 AM ^
They are fired up because of all the shit talking and doubting. If they need more fuel they can just read the responses on this post.
I get it "put your money where your mouth is", but damn some of you are brutal. Do you want them to come out and say the team sucks?
August 5th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
This would be refreshing if we don't hear it every year. At some point you have to just prove it. Most michigan fans loved the submarine, Don't come out saying they have the fuel and end up 7-5.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:54 AM ^
He can say whatever he wants. Its his team, not mine, that's for sure. I just wish his team would find ways to actually back up all of the preseason hype.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
For once, the preseason hype isnt there. Maybe internally there is some hype, but the national "media" and fans are not buying in.
Leadership isnt just coaching, you need it from your teammates as well. I fully expect these guys to play with a chip on their shoulders. For the first time in awhile I see some of the players actually talking like they give a F. Im not saying they will win it all, but I sure hope they prove everybody wrong with their general expectations.
August 6th, 2021 at 11:59 PM ^
This has been my hope as well, that THIS year will be different and we take the quantum leap into the rarified air of the CFB elite. I've certainly seen the same script before but maybe this year? Maybe. Awe hell, it's fun no matter what.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
I give it 4/5 Fred Jacksons
August 5th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Wouldn’t mind if he STFU until his offense consistently sustains drives and scores against teams with a pulse on defense.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:16 AM ^
....and knows how to run a 2 minute offense in 2 minutes and even score!
August 5th, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
Well now you're just being ridiculous...you want the offense to run an actual 2-minute drill in 2 minutes, AND score??
August 5th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
Coach-speak 101.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
Yaaaaawwwwnnnnnnnnn
August 5th, 2021 at 10:47 AM ^
Need to know how Johnny Sears is looking in camp
August 5th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
He's well on his way to getting torched by Dexter Jackson and Armanti Edwards.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:38 PM ^
Both those dudes played in the NFL by the way.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
In the words of Michigan Basketball, Do more. Say less. Seems like these quotes are heard and uttered around this time of year every year for this team, and we see how far it gets them.
Fortunately for Gattis, he and his offense will have the opportunity to prove themselves on the field in about a month's time. I hope he proves himself and shuts me up.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
My biggest takeaway reading through the article was that Gattis and Warinner didn’t get along and the players noticed. Pretty interesting to me. the rest was just fluff.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
Which is interesting from my perspective... a young OC who hasn't shown much of anything pushed out a proven and experienced OL coach.. Warriner just happened to Peter Principle himself out of OSU when he was given OC duties.
I would bet this is a make or break year for not only Harbaugh, but also Gattis.
August 5th, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
More empty promises. We have heard this all before. Beat Washington, Wisconsin, and MSU otherwise it is just more smoke filled coffee house crap.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Damn, some of you guys are acting like you'd rather him say we suck, everything sucks. You guys complain where Harbaugh is too short with his answers to the media by saying it reflects poorly on the school and makes him look weird. Then turn around and complain when Gattis is too long winded with the media. It's all coach speak. You can choose if you want to buy into it or not but he is basically just saying we can't wait to get the pads back on and play this game we love. He didn't promise an undefeated season or give any other team bulletin board material.
News flash people! Every team in the country is fired up and feels like they have something to prove and can't wait to get the pads on. It's part of being a football player. This time of year roles around and you get that itch to strap the chin strap up and go play. I've been out of football (NAIA college ball) for now 10 years and I still get the itch to play. I would want my coach to feel the same way.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
Damn, some of you guys are acting like you'd rather him say we suck, everything sucks.
Gattis could have said something like this:
"I'm not going to try to put a shine on the fact that we know we pretty much stunk last season on offense, and that's my responsibility. I can assure you that all of us are very aware of what the media and many fans are saying about us, and we're extremely eager to prove them wrong on the field. Nobody's interested in pre-season hype, and I'm not going to waste your time with that."
August 5th, 2021 at 12:27 PM ^
I do not think insulting last year's team will be great for the morale of this year's team. They know they stunk, we know they stunk. Why would this comment be helpful to anyone?
August 5th, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
Why? The players have done it themselves after every crap year “We are more committed group than the past” that’s a direct shot at their “Brothers”
August 5th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
I don't want him to reference how bad they were last year every time he speaks. That doesn't help anyone. We all know they were bad. They know it more than we do.
He doesn’t have to say we sucked ass last year. He can say we’re focused and looking forward to training camp.
Your actions will speak much more than your words.