"We were a team nobody really cared about." With those words, former Wolverine starting defensive back Troy Woolfolk summed up the thoughts of what many players in the 2008-10 seasons have echoed: Former Michigan football players and prominent alumni turned their back on the Michigan program during the Rich Rodriguez tenure in Ann Arbor.
Woolfolk, who has given up football and is training to re-enter track and field and compete in the Olympics one day, took a Q&A session with fans today on the Detroit News' website. What makes the statement even more bold is that Troy's father Butch Woolfolk is a very influential former Wolverine and NFL player. The elder Woolfolk was a 3X All Big Ten player from 1979-81 and was the 1981 Rose Bowl MVP under legendary coach Bo Schembechler.
More from Woolfolk on the RichRod years:
On the support of former players:
"I follow Rich because i like members on his staff and i'm curious to see if that offense can work anywhere other than his previous conference. I am interested to see that offense. He runs a good offense, but it doesn't work in the Big Ten."
"It was extremely tough to see how Tom Brady is back now being close with Devin Gardner. It would have been cool to see that when we were there. I understand it, but I wish we had gotten the same type of support from former players. I would have liked to have more support because I feel we were a team nobody really cared about."
"We have one of the largest alumni bases and to not see that, it was hurtful."
On his thoughts on Rich Rodriguez as a coach:
"He just wasn't my preferred coaching type. He could scream at me, but it had to be constructive. I feel sometimes he did meaningless screaming, just screaming to express anger. That's where I disagreed with him."
Check out the entire chat recap below:
Tuesday September 17, 2013
Troy Woolfolk: I miss everybody! I just want to answer your questions!
2:31
Comment From Sam
Having been on the 2007 team against App State and watching this year’s team against Akron, what similarities do you see? Other than the score, what differences?
2:32
Comment From Guest
Hoke has stated many times that the running game will emphasize the tailback this year. Yet Michigan is one of the worse rushing teams in the Big 10. Is that because of the coaching or lack of talent? They are going up against Akron, fergodsake!
2:32
Troy Woolfolk: Guest -- that's a great question. I've been asking myself that same question. While pondering, i came to the conclusion it may be a little bit of both. We have great linemen, as long as you're running the ball, you should execute blocking schemes and the back should be able to find the hole. So it's a little bit of both.
2:33
Troy Woolfolk: Sam -- I would say the similarities....two different teams, but both times there was a lack of preparation for the Michigan teams.
2:34
Troy Woolfolk: Sam, they thought it should be a for-sure win. the main similarities was a lack of preparation ...especially after a high of going against Notre Dame, no one would ever admit it, you're not going to prepare the same way the next week.
2:34
Troy Woolfolk: It's hard to prepare for a team that's not at the same level on paper.
2:35
Comment From BT
Troy, what was your most memorable moment as a Wolverine?
2:35
Troy Woolfolk: BT -- Great question. My most memorable moment, the first game under the lights against Notre Dame even though I had a broken nose, broken leg, broken hand.
2:35
Troy Woolfolk: The atmopshere was unreal
2:36
Comment From Steve
How would you grade the secondary's performance in the first 3 games? We've seen a lot of soft zone coverage and even some guys beat deep in man.
2:36
Troy Woolfolk: Steve -- I would say they're going to get better. Blake Countess is finding his way back -- coming back from an injury is tough. I think he's recovered physically, but he has to trust his knee again.
2:37
Troy Woolfolk: Aftrer that Notre Dame game, Blake got a lot of confidence. I'm excited to see what he'll do.
2:37
Troy Woolfolk: Overall with the secondary, it's kind of shaky now, but it will evolve into the best component of the defense.
2:38
Troy Woolfolk: I truly believe that -- even though we're young, we have solid players at each position in the secondary. Thomas Gordon will evolve into a great safety. Ray and Blake, they are two young corners, and where they are, they're at a pretty good stage
2:38
Comment From Bo
What are you doing now?
2:39
Troy Woolfolk: Bo -- I am working at an advertising/PR company. I have taken an extended lunch break to take these questions from my favorite people in the world
2:39
Troy Woolfolk: Since my injured ankle, i don't have the movement i used to, i'm getting back into professional track. I have a coach. I've been training for four months. You're going to see me debut track and field next season.
2:40
Troy Woolfolk: I'm training for the Olympics. Track was my thing before football. I gave it up for football. I'm training for the 200 and 400.
2:40
Comment From brian
hi troy. what are you up to these days? and how is your dad doing? whats he up too? your dad was a great player as well!
2:41
Troy Woolfolk: Brian -- my dad owns a company. he's in Sugar Land, Texas
2:41
Comment From Blue in PHL
When you watch from home, who on the current team really impresses you? And looking at the underclassmen who has your attention & could be a big time contributor in the future?
2:41
Troy Woolfolk: Blue in PHL -- I would say one of my favorite players because he has great passion for the game is Norfleet. I feel he has a chance to take it home. You can tell he has great passion for the game.
2:42
Troy Woolfolk: Norfleet is going to be a phenomenal player. And last year, I would have said Funchess.
2:42
Comment From Dave in Detroit
Is it tough to come back for game like Akron after N.Dame or is that overstated or used as an excuse?
2:43
Troy Woolfolk: Dave -- it is tough to come back. Nobody would truthfully say you're going to prepare the same for Akron as you do for Notre Dame. It's a flaw in the brain. You could say it's going to be equal preparation. I'm not going to say that's the reason why they almost lost. It was poor play on the players and coaches. There's no excuse for that. Akron should not have been in that game. they're going to have to pick it up.
2:44
Troy Woolfolk: The schedule is not that complicated. They have Ohio STate and Michigan STate as the hardest opponents. they have to realize anybody can beat them at any moment. I hope that was a wakeup call for them.
2:44
Comment From brian
hi troy. do you follow richrod at arizona? are you interested in him
2:45
Troy Woolfolk: Brian -- I follow Rich because i like members on his staff and i'm curious to see if that offense can work anywhere other than his previous conference. I am interested to see that offense. He runs a good offense, but it doesn't work in the Big Ten.
2:45
Comment From Iceman
How tough were the Rich Rod years? Did you feel like fans and former players didn't give you the support you're seeing now with the program?
2:45
Troy Woolfolk: Iceman -- it was extremely tough to see how Tom Brady is back now being close with Devin Gardner. It would have been cool to see that when we were there.
2:46
Troy Woolfolk: I understand it, but I wish we had gotten the same type of support from former players. I would have liked to have more support because I feel we were a team nobody really cared about.
2:46
Troy Woolfolk: We have one of the largest alumni bases and to not see that, it was hurtful.
2:46
Comment From Guest
Troy, how do you think Ohio matches up with Michigan this year? Can our defense be up to the task to slow down their offense?
2:47
Troy Woolfolk: With Braxton Miller or without?
2:47
Troy Woolfolk: I think we would need with Jake Ryan, it will be a matter of our DBs being able to cancel out the deep ball and the Dends shutting down Braxton Miller.
2:47
Troy Woolfolk: as long as we don't give up the deep ball and contain Braxton Miller, they're beatable.
2:48
Troy Woolfolk: I've seen people contain Denard, so it can be done.
2:48
Comment From Fred
Was there pressure to go to Michigan because of your dad?
2:48
Troy Woolfolk: Fred -- No there was no pressure to go to Michigan, but the option was heavily stressed to go there, let's put it like that.
2:48
Troy Woolfolk: My dad boosted up Michigan, talking about the great academics.
2:49
Comment From Ollie
How was Rich Rod as a coach?
2:49
Troy Woolfolk: Ollie -- He just wasn't my preferred coaching type.
2:49
Troy Woolfolk: He could scream at me, but it had to be constructive. I feel sometimes he did meaningless screaming, just screaming to express anger. That's where I disagreed with him.
2:50
Comment From @Hail2MI
Hi Troy. Glad to hear you are back into track. What was the biggest lesson you learned from football that applies to non-football life in general?
2:50
Troy Woolfolk: Hail2M -- the biggest lesson I've learned from football that i use every day is discipline and organization.
2:51
Troy Woolfolk: You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have the mental aspect, which comes from studying, you won't get better. studying is ingrained in my life.
2:51
Troy Woolfolk: I didn't know much about advertising and PR, but i've studied. I've put myself in it every day. I've only been working here two months but I feel like I'm a two-year vet.
2:51
Comment From Guest
Troy, what goes into training for the olympics? How much time do you dedicate outside of your job?
2:52
Troy Woolfolk: Guest -- the good thing about track and training for the Olympics, I don't have to sacrifice any job time. I run 5-6 times a week and lift two times and that can be done before or after work. sometimes i wake up at 5 in the morning.
2:52
Comment From Zach
Who was the hardest WR to cover at Michigan that you played with?
2:52
Troy Woolfolk: Zach -- that's a great question
2:53
Troy Woolfolk: I'm going to narrow to two -- unfortunately I came there the same way Super Mario was a senior. He made me look silly when I was a freshman and gave me bad ankle problems
2:54
Troy Woolfolk: I'd also say Martavious Odoms. I know he's short, but he makes up for it with toughness and quickness. I think the NFL really missed out on drafting a great receiver and not picking him up as a FA. He was a phenomenal receiver. for him to not be in the NFL makes me question the scouts.
2:54
Comment From Howard
Troy, what's your favorite memory of Dulles High School? What do you love most about the Houston area?
2:55
Troy Woolfolk: Howard -- my favorite memory, I would say on a punt return I was blocking for Darryl Stonum, we were down a touchdown, and all we needed was a touchdown to win the game. Darryl caught the ball, and I pushed someone out the way, he had one more guy to beat and i sacrificed my body and blew him away.
2:56
Troy Woolfolk: That sticks out in my head. That guy was a big linebacker and I had to give him everything i had. But I cleared the path for him.
2:56
Troy Woolfolk: About Houston, I like a lot of things. I just recently moved and there's a lot of parks, and I can take my dog to a park and I just taught him how to play Frisbee.
2:57
Comment From @Hail2MI
Which position did you have more fun playing, CB or S?
2:57
Troy Woolfolk: Hail2Mi -- It was more fun playing safety because I didn't have to zone in on one specific person. But I liked to play corner because those big running backs were not easy to take down.
2:57
Comment From MiamiWolverine
Sorry I arrived late! Just wanted to say Troy, we can use you in our backfield. We miss you! Anything you see scheme wise as to why the D line is not getting any serious rush/pressure on the oposing teams QB?
2:58
Troy Woolfolk: MiamiWolverine -- I'm not an expert on DLine, so I can't critique it like I can DBs, so I"m not sure.
2:58
Comment From BWT
As a past player what is your level of access to the team? Are you welcome to come back at any time or does the coaching staff invite the alumni back only for certain weeks? A lot has been made about former players not supporting the RR years.
2:59
Troy Woolfolk: BWT -- I think i'm able to come back. For the Notre Dame game they gave a couple tickets to the alumni who played. For me, it's about getting my butt back up to Michigan.
2:59
Troy Woolfolk: I'm planning to come up for the Ohio State game.
2:59
Comment From Guest
Troy - where do you see college football offenses going? With traditional pocket passer QBs like Tom Brady/Peyton Manning types or with mobile QBs like Russell Wilson or RGIII. If if it is going to mobile QBs, do you think Coach Hoke who uses traditional passing QBs can adapt?
3:00
Troy Woolfolk: I think they have done a good job of adapting. Devin Gardner is still a dual QB, but people are used to Denard. Devin can do both. they give him the freedom to scramble at will. We've made strides to get away from the traditional drop-back passer.
3:00
Troy Woolfolk: In the first game after Devin threw the INTs, they gave him the opportunity to run. they've done a great job game planning for him
3:00
Comment From David
Hi Troy, Does your dad ever talk about Bo Schembechler? If so, were there any special memories he had with Bo or important lessons that Bo taught him?
3:01
Troy Woolfolk: David -- My dad and Bo had a love-hate relationship
3:01
Troy Woolfolk: My dad, like me, was high on track, he was 10-1 in high school and he came to college wanting to run track as well. Bo didn't like that. Every spring, Bo would make my dad start at third string, and he'd eventually make his way back.
3:02
Troy Woolfolk: they loved each other, but hated each other!
3:02
Troy Woolfolk: Well, I have to get back to work! Thanks for the questions and hopefully we can do this again!
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