.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Linebacker Mike Sherels Holds Live Chat at Gophersports.com
3/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Moderator:: | Don't miss the “Gopher Nation Celebration” FB Pep Fest presented by TCF Bank at the IDS Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis featuring Coach Tim Brewster, Goldy Gopher & more on Wed., April 4th from 12-1 pm! |
| Moderator:: | Mike will be here shortly. |
| Mike:: | Hi everybody...it's great to be here to answer some of your questions before practice starts. |
| rick:westlake: | Mike, can you explain any differences between the teams development at this stage in spring practice compared to this point last year? |
| Mike:: | The biggest difference has been our intensity this year. It’s 100 percent more intense than any other year I’ve been here. The coaching staff we have now is a very excitable bunch of guys and they expect nothing less from the players. |
| Tom :Albert Lea: | I can't remember a Gopher team starting spring practice so early. How have the players felt about that? |
| Mike:: | It was nice to start this early. I like the split over spring break for a number of reasons…it weeded out the people that weren’t as committed and it was easy to see who worked over the break. We’ll finish early so it will give us a chance to finish the year strong academically which has been stressed by Coach Brewster. |
| Anthony:Bloomington : | Why is Bloomington so much better than Rochester AKA "The Rock" at just about everything? |
| Mike:: | If you are referring to Bloomington Kennedy, then yes they have some ups on Rochester. Bloomington Jefferson is a different story. |
| Moderator:: | Gophersports.com cannot confirm nor deny that Anthony from Bloomington is currently Minnesota’s starting center. |
| Jason:Springfield, MO: | If you could sum up the new defensive mindset in one word, what would it be? |
| Mike:: | NASTY!! |
| Ken Slocumb:State College, Pa.: | Mike, with what appears to be added depth and speed on the defensive line, how do you feel that will open things up for linebackers; being more active in blitzes, pass coverage, filling the gaps, etc. |
| Mike:: | Our defensive line is so far ahead of where they were last year. In addition to a few new guys, we have a lot more experience coming back. We will have a lot more size and a lot more quickness. The linebackers including myself, Shevlin, Hightower and Steve Davis are very excited about the line prospects because it really does allow us to come up and make some plays. |
| John:Minneapolis: | Will Logan Uu help out this year? |
| Mike:: | He’s been hampered by his knee, but he’s one of those guys that’s flying around out there. We’re really excited to see what he can do for us when he’s 100 percent. He’s become a good friend and he’s worked extremely hard since coming here….studying film, going to meetings. He has put in the work and that will show up on the field |
| Jeff S.:Bemidji: | How is the new linebackers coach John Butler? |
| Mike:: | Really intense guy, much like the rest of Coach Brewster’s staff. You can just see the intensity and the love he has for football when he’s working with us. |
| Jeff:Woodbury: | I have heard a lot of Rose Bowl talk during the past three months. Is that really a reasonable goal or more of a future goal? |
| Mike:: | It’s a reasonable goal. Coach Brewster has made a believer out of every single person on this team. I truly feel we can accomplish it this season and it would be an injustice to the seniors on this team and this coaching staff to believe otherwise. |
| Dee:s. minneapolis: | Has the new coaching staff and all the newness of the Brewster era in a way erased your memory of the Texas Tech game? |
| Mike:: | I will always remember the Texas Tech game for the rest of my life. It’s one of those things you have to keep in the back of your mind so when you see the signs of that ever happening again, you can do whatever it takes to stop it. |
| Seth:Rochester: | Mike, I am a huge fan of yours and proud that you are from Rochester. What has your journey from walk-on to team captain been like? |
| Mike:: | Thanks Seth. It’s been a dream. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s paid off. Still have another year left though to do something special! |
| Sean:Edina, MN: | How is your little brother doing this spring? |
| Mike:: | He’s on the opposite side of the ball so I try not to focus on him too much because if he catches the ball over the middle I have to do what I have to do. He’s been working hard though. He’s a tremendous athlete who is trying to make a name for himself. |
| Michael:Eau Claire, Wis.: | How is Steve Davis doing at linebacker? |
| Mike:: | Steve will be a tremendous linebacker before he leaves. He’s very smart and has picked up a lot already…probably a lot quicker than when I moved to linebacker. He will help us a lot! |
| Nick:Waco, Texas: | Interested to get your thoughts on how the offense looks...are the guys able to pick up the spread offense? Will we still run the ball? Thanks! |
| Mike:: | They’re catching up to us Nick. At the start of spring ball, the defense was farther ahead by a lot. They have had a lot of new things thrown at them. The offense is really starting to push us and that will make our team that much better. |
| Aaron Zehringer :Ortonville MN: | What do the Gophers have to achieve defensivly for us to win a Big Ten championship? |
| Mike:: | We have to be able to carry this team. We can’t rely on our offense like we’ve done in the past. We know we’re going to be dangerous offensively, but still, as a defense, we want to carry the team on our back. We feel like we will be able to do that. |
| josh:Braham: | Are there any new guys on defense that will have an impact next year? |
| Mike:: | We have a couple of JUCO guys like Eric Small and Durrell Clark-James who can help us in the fall. Alex Daniels is at defensive end and has shown a lot of promise. I’ve said before he’s like a little brother to me so I can’t wait to see him develop into the player we know he can be. Add in the redshirt guys from last season and I like the depth we’ll be able to throw out there. |
| Matt Andersen:Minneapolis: | What are the main differences between this year's philosophy on defense and last years? |
| Mike:: | We’re still going to be aggressive but I think we’ll take it one step further this year. We’ve taken the chains off. We’re going to be a more free-spirited…able to show our personalities a little bit more. |
| Nathan :Delano: | How is Nate Triplett doing this spring? does it look like he will get some playing time this year on the defense or on special teams? |
| Mike:: | Nate is a great athlete and has really developed the past couple of years. Once he’s able to combine his physical ability with what he last learned here, he will be a tremendous asset for our defense. I hope he sees the field and can help us, because I really believe he can. |
| Gary:Bayfield: | If you can comment, who is running first team on the D? And who is getting the most reps at QB? Thanks Mike and I am looking forward to the Spring Game. Gary |
| Mike:: | Right now we do not have a set depth chart. The coaches have thrown the veterans in with the new guys. We also have a number of guys making the adjustments to new positions. I think the depth chart will be solidified once we get through the spring game. Everyone is fighting for playing time right now! |
| Mike:: | As far as quarterback, it seems to be a dead heat between Mike, Tony and Adam. They’ve all looked great at times, but they still have a lot to learn because of the new offense. It's been a fun battle to watch in practice. |
| Troy:Mankato: | what are your plans for the offseason once the spring game is over? |
| Mike:: | Get right back to work. There will be no break. For us seniors on the team, this is our last go around so relaxing would just be a waste of time. |
| Wags:Appleton: | Do u think you'll ever get the Paul Bunyon axe back? Because Im really not sure you can |
| Mike:: | I think they said the same thing about Floyd last season. Wisconsin had a great season, so we'll be ready for them when they come to the Dome this fall. |
| Tracy :Big Lake: | I have heard a lot of talk about improving the special teams and using starters on those units. Will you play on special teams and what do you think of its progress? |
| Mike:: | A lot of the starters, including myself, are on many of the special team. Coach Butler has spent a lot of time stressing the special forces, which we now call the special teams. Our special forces work just as hard as the offense and defense and we know it can make a big impact during a game. |
| Mike L.:Sioux Falls, S.D.: | Hey Mike, what did you think of the Rose Bowl turf? |
| Mike:: | To have a piece of real grass from the Rose Bowl especially when there was still snow on the ground here was real cool. It was kind of a shock. It’s in our lockerroom right now so guys touch it before heading out to practice. We talk about it all the time. It gives us something to work for. |
| Mike:: | Thanks for the all the questions everybody. I'm sorry I couldn't answer more but I've got to get to practice. I hope to see all of you at the dome for the spring game. Go Gophers! |
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDT
/ FootballLB
/ FootballGopher Football at the Barn
Wednesday, February 18
Speed is Strength | Winter Workouts
Tuesday, February 17
Winter Workouts Week Two
Monday, February 09
Winter Workouts Begin
Monday, February 02