Michigan Kicks Off Big Ten Media Day Activities
7/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Head coach Rich Rodriguez and three senior members of the 2009 University of Michigan football team are taking part in the two-day Big Ten Kickoff Eventon Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Preseason All-America punter Zoltan Mesko (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS), hybrid linebacker Stevie Brown (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East HS) and left tackle Mark Ortmann (Klein, Texas/Klein HS) represented the 130th team in school history in Chicago.
Ohio State was selected as the preseason conference favorite followed by Penn State and Michigan State in the poll voted upon by the media attending the kickoff event. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones were tabbed the preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.
Coach Rodriguez Big Ten Media Day Press Conference(from the Big Ten Network)
Click herefor Coach Rodriguez's comments from Monday's podium session at the event (PDF format).
Following is a look at how the players and Coach Rodriguez spent their time:
Monday, July 27
9:27 a.m. CDT -- The Michigan contingent arrived at the hotel via shuttle and checked into their rooms. Rich and Rita brought their children, Raquel and Rhett, to their first Big Ten Kickoff Event. It was the first trip to Chicago for both of Rodriguez's kids.
10:00 a.m. CDT -- The Media Day activities officially began with an introduction to the 300-plus members of the media from Big Ten Associate Commissioner Scott Chipman.
10:44 a.m. CDT -- Rodriguez stepped to the podium and talked about the team's outlook for the 2009 season. He fields questions about the new defensive under coordinator Greg Robinson, compared the Big Ten with other conference around the country, discussed how teams are defending the spread offense and about the conference playing later in the year.
10:45-11 a.m. CDT -- All three players sit down for 10-15 minute televised interviews with Big Ten Network reporters Dave Revsine and Rick Pizzo.
11:01 a.m. CDT -- Rodriguez meets with the media following the podium session outside in the hallway.
11:15-12:15 a.m. CDT -- All three players and Rodriguez interview with nearly 50 local television stations from around the Big Ten and country.
12:25 p.m. CDT --Rodriguez signs a dozen football that will be handed out at the Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday.
12:30 a.m. CDT -- The Michigan contingent eats lunch at an area designated for the coaches, players, administrators and conference officials.
1:30-1:43 p.m. CDT -- Rodriguez sits down with Dave Revsine for a television interview on a wide range of Michigan and Big Ten football topics heading into the season.
1:47-2:12 p.m. CDT --Rodriguez shoots commercial spots and promos for some of the college football shows on the Big Ten Network, and does one spot with Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. He also signs a dozen footballs for the network.
2:35-2:58 p.m. CDT -- Rodriguez and Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel shoot a public service announcement for the American Football Coaches Association. The spot is for the Coach to Cure Muscular Dystrophy (MD) weekend that will take place during all college football games on Sept. 26.
3:02 p.m. CDT -- Rodriguez does a live seven-minute interview on ESPN College Football Live shown on ESPNU.
3:40 p.m. CDT -- The trio of players call into WTKA's Big Show hosted by Ben Holden to talk about the experience at the Big Ten Media Day.
3:40 p.m. CDT -- The Rodriguez family heads out for a walk in Chicago and for a trip to the Adidas store.
6:00 p.m. CDT -- A group of 30 former players host Rodriguez and members of the staff at a reception in downtown Chicago.
