Michigan Football Q&A: Erik Magnuson
11/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan players and coaches will sit down with MGoBlue.com's Steve Kornacki weekly during the 2015 season to discuss Wolverine football. Offensive right tackle Erik Magnuson spoke on Sunday (Nov. 8) about the 49-16 win over Rutgers on Saturday (Nov. 7), why quarterback Jake Rudock reminds him of an owl, Jim Harbaugh's blocking ability, comedy, surfing, his love of reggae music and someday managing a band.
Q. With Michigan State losing at Nebraska on Saturday night, your team once again controls its own destiny in terms of at least sharing a Big Ten East Division championship and has increased its chances of reaching the Big Ten championship game and potentially the Rose Bowl. Can you share your thoughts on that?
A. Obviously, that was big. Like you said, we control our own destiny now and have a chance to finish off our season the way we want to. We've got to win these last three games, and that can really help us in the rankings.
Note: No. 15 Michigan (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) plays at Indiana Saturday (Nov. 14) before going to Penn State (Nov. 21) and hosting No. 2 Ohio State (Nov. 28).
Q. The offense played well against Rutgers, passing for 337 yards and running for 150 for the most yards (487) and points this season. What did you like best about the way your unit functioned?
A. Going into the game, we knew that they were young in the secondary and that we could take advantage of that. So, we did a good job with the game plan. But I was happiest about (quarterback) Jake Rudock coming back one week after an injury and throwing for his career-high yardage.
Q. Last week, when we were talking, you said strong safety Jabrill Peppers reminded you of a tiger. This came after you termed your offensive line "trained pigs" and the defensive linemen "wild boars." If I could ask for another animal comparison, what does Rudock remind you of?
A. I look at Jake as a wise, old owl. He's a man in a college game. He's very smart, and his wisdom sticks out.
Q. Tight end Jake Butt told me that you are one of the funniest guys on the team, and when I asked him to describe your style of comedy, he said, "Sarcastic, very sarcastic."
A. Yeah, I'm like that (laughter), sometimes a little too much. But that's the way it goes.
Q. Are you into any particular comedians?
A. Yeah, I'm into comedy. My favorite movies are comedies. Chris Farley is my all-time favorite. His movies are hilarious. And I like Will Ferrell.
Q. You've got quite a beard. How long have you been growing it?
A. This current beard, I started in (pre-season) camp. I was fresh-shaven the first day of camp. But unlike with last year's beard, I'm trimming it a little bit. Last year, I just let it go crazy.
Q. Is the beard symbolic of the season for you, like NHL players growing playoff beards?
A. Yeah, I guess it is. Every year, I grow one. It's kind of my deal.
Q. Back to football. Offensive coordinator Tim Drevno also coaches the offensive line. How much impact has he had on you and your unit?
A. Coach Drevno has been huge. He's coached with the (San Francisco) 49ers and has worked with players at the very top of the game. His overall knowledge of the game and the way he's able to teach us techniques and different things going into the game gives us the upper hand. I don't think it's a kind of coaching many college players get to experience.
Everything's a little different than what we used to do, and he's really smart and knows this game so well. He understands the offensive line as well as anyone in the country. The way we approach practice, approach watching film gives us an advantage.
Q. What are you studying at Michigan?
A. I'm a sociology major. It's cool studying people and how they interact. I love it. It's a cool degree, and I'm taking a lot of interesting classes.
Q. What do you see yourself doing when you're done playing football?
A. I don't know if it will be in the sociology field but learning how to work with people and getting people to work together is something that will help me in any business after football is done.
I want to get into the music business. I want to be in management for a record label and would like to work for and with a band.
Q. What's your favorite kind of music?
A. I'm a big reggae fan.
Q. You're from Carlsbad, California, just north of San Diego. How much do you miss your hometown?
A. I really don't miss it that much anymore. Though, I do miss the food a lot. It was a big change coming from San Diego, but I like it here a lot.
Q. Did you get into surfing?
A. Yeah, my dad taught me how to surf when I was two years old. My dad was a big-time surfer, and I've been around it my whole life.
Q. What's your favorite moment or story about Coach Harbaugh?
A. There have been a lot, but my favorite one came in a meeting room, and it was so funny. We were in an offensive meeting, and he was teaching wide receivers how to block defensive backs. He blocked the wooden podium, and he knocked it down. It went flying, broke and pieces went flying everywhere. Everybody was laughing.
