Michigan lineman leaves team

[BumpCityWV]

'Family values have eroded,' so Michigan lineman quits team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Offensive lineman Justin Boren says he's left the Michigan football team because the program's "family values have eroded.''

By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Offensive lineman Justin Boren says he's left the Michigan football team because the program's "family values have eroded.''

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Boren would have been one of two returning starters on the offensive line next season and the Wolverines' most experienced lineman. The junior-to-be started every game last season, either at center or left guard.

Boren left the team Monday. On Wednesday he released a statement saying in part: "Michigan football was a family, built on mutual respect and support for each other from [former] Coach [Lloyd] Carr on down. We knew it took the entire family, a team effort, and we all worked together.

"I have great trouble accepting that those family values have eroded in just a few months. ... That I am unable to perform under these circumstances at the level I expect of myself, and my teammates and Michigan fans deserve, is why I have made the decision to leave.''

Boren told reporters after Michigan's first spring practice 10 days ago that adapting to new coach Rich Rodriguez's no-huddle spread offense was physically challenging. He mentioned the difficulty the offensive linemen had constantly running to the line of scrimmage.

In comments reported by The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and The Ann Arbor News, Rodriguez said Tuesday that he would not discuss Boren's decision.

"I don't know if we'll have any more [attrition], but we're forging ahead with guys that play for Michigan,'' the coach said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Offensive lineman Justin Boren says he's left the Michigan football team because the program's "family values have eroded.''

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Boren would have been one of two returning starters on the offensive line next season and the Wolverines' most experienced lineman. The junior-to-be started every game last season, either at center or left guard.

Boren left the team Monday. On Wednesday he released a statement saying in part: "Michigan football was a family, built on mutual respect and support for each other from [former] Coach [Lloyd] Carr on down. We knew it took the entire family, a team effort, and we all worked together.

"I have great trouble accepting that those family values have eroded in just a few months. ... That I am unable to perform under these circumstances at the level I expect of myself, and my teammates and Michigan fans deserve, is why I have made the decision to leave.''

Boren told reporters after Michigan's first spring practice 10 days ago that adapting to new coach Rich Rodriguez's no-huddle spread offense was physically challenging. He mentioned the difficulty the offensive linemen had constantly running to the line of scrimmage.

In comments reported by The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and The Ann Arbor News, Rodriguez said Tuesday that he would not discuss Boren's decision.

"I don't know if we'll have any more [attrition], but we're forging ahead with guys that play for Michigan,'' the coach said.

[dehayes35]

I guess I'm not too surprised. I was actually curious to see if any Offensive Lineman transferred or quit because Rich's requirements for the offensive line are extremely different from that of Lloyd Carr's. It must be quite the shock for these big boys to go from a conditioning program of heavly lifting and heavy eating, to a program of heaving lifting AND heavy heavy running.

I'm not sure I buy the comment about family values. While this kid probably had a lot of O-Line potential in UM's old offense, the type of O-lineman Rick looks for are VERY different than what Mr. Carr would have brought in 2 years ago. I'm certainly not trying to defend Rich, but there's a chance this kid just couldn't physically handle the new training program and feels insulted that the new coaching staff didn't adjust to his skills as opposed to him adjusting to their new offense.

It does make Rich look terribly bad, though I'm anxious to go to some UM boards today and gauge their response to this.

[smiteedawgwv]

I agree, maybe it was too physically demanding for him but I also believe his comment about family values. Maybe this young man comes from a deeply religious and family oriented background and doesn't appreciate being cursed up one side and down the other, because that's what Dick does. I can't see Lloyd Carr using words of the 4 and 12 letter variety. I hate it for the kid, but anything that makes Dick look bad makes me happy.

[milkman]

I looked in on Scout to see what UM fans are saying!!! They are REALLY worried that they will become the Miami of the north!! Remember there are alot of OLD SCHOOL people ar UM that remember the days of Bo and they don't like the way Dick is running the show!! I know its still the Spring but these guys have lived 50-75 years of UM Football and don't like BIG CHANGES!!! They are not getting the recruits that fit the UM campus!! But they are also talking the the lineman is talking to OSU about sitting out this year and transfering!! But one guy was saying that when he played he was able to transfer because of a coaching change and not lose a year!! I've never heard of that but there are a lot of NCAA rules I've never heard of!! With what I read UM fans are not real big Dick fans at this time!!!

[dehayes35]

Good points, Shoe! I guess I hadn't thought of that angle. As much as I hate OSU, I hope he does go and play there!

[WVUMntneerJim]

I think Ohio State will welcome the kid with open arms. I hate it that he has to leave because of Fraudriguez, though... but it does sound like he comes from a religious family where cursing everybody up and down has never been acceptable... sounds like a complete 180* going on in Ann Arbor right now...

[smurph]

Michigan fans think they'll have a "rebuilding year" and only win 8 or 9 games. The reality is that dickrod was 3-9 his first year at WVU, and unlike UM, that team had a quarterback. I predict 6-6 or 5-7 for the weasels this year.

[theodaddy]

5-7 sounds good, with a few more defections from the team