Michael Tillery.com

Lamar Woodley : Wolverine X-MAN

11/17/2006
by Michael Tillery

LaMarr Woodley, senior captain linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines is the epitome of what a linebacker should be. He’s focused on the priority that is directly in front of him regardless of what perceived greatness looms ahead. There’s been a legion of linebacker legends at Michigan and LaMarr’s place is etched in stone standing next to all of them. It would be a travesty if he’s not picked high in the first round in the 2007 NFL draft. He’s high on Michigan defensive lists but won’t lose sight of the ultimate goal, to win a BCS National Championship.

The highlight of his burgeoning football life will be the November 18th monster game at Ohio State. This blockbuster is probably the most hyped college game this side of the Super Bowl. ESPN Classic has been showing past games all week. In the 103 years this game has been played he names are legendary: Anthony Carter, Archie Griffin, Desmond Howard, Eddie George, Tom Brady, David Boston, Charles Woodson, Orlando Pace, Braylon Edwards—just to name a few. Even Maurice Clarett, who as a freshman looked as if he would be one of the all time great players in this rivalry.

Blacksports: How would you describe your personality and playing style on the field?

LWood: I’m a laid back player myself. Before the game, on the side line I’m laid back. Once I get that first contact I change into a whole different person. Then I’m all business doing what I have to do. You have to think the guy across from you is trying to take your livelihood. I try to go at the player across from me every single play. If he gets me one play, I’m gonna keep coming and coming and coming!
I’m just a hard worker. I try to find the ball. I do my job. My job is to find the ball. I hate losing! Like I said before, if you knock me down, I gotta keep going. I always try to work to the ball. You never know, a guy might miss a tackle, or the ball might come out. If I’m in a position to capitalize, it only helps my team.

Blacksports: What do you think is the biggest reason for Michigan’s success? More specifically, comment on the success of probably the most smothering defense in college football.

LWood: Every member of this program committed himself after we lost to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. We were going to work harder and do whatever the coaches asked of us. Whatever the strength coaches asked us to do. You had guys who were too light and gained muscle. You had guys who were too big and lost weight. It was a total team effort. A 7-5 record at Michigan? It was tough being around here being 7-5. It made us sick!

Defensively, we have a lot of guys back from last year, so we have a lot of experience—guys who have been around here for a while. We know what to expect at home and we especially know what to expect on the road.

Blacksports: If Tyler Eckert would have pitched back to Steve Breaston, and Breaston scored that last crazy play which was a climax to such a crazy game in the Alamo Bowl, would there be this much success for Michigan?

LWood: It probably would have given us a chance to win, but I personally don’t like to focus on that last play because there were so many other things that we as a team didn’t do to get the job done. It should have never come down to the last play of the game where Tyler was put into a position to lateral to Steve. We should have taken care of business and that play wouldn’t even have occurred. We gave up a lot of big plays and committed a lot of turnovers. If we executed the way we were supposed to that play would have never happened.

Blacksports: What has coach Ron English meant the team as well as you personally? He has been a difference maker for the Michigan football staff this year.

LWood: Coach English brings fire! He inspires us as players. He gets us fired up! You never know what to expect out of Coach English. Every where he goes, he is ready to go. Whenever you see him, he’s fired up, laughing or whatever. He gets other guys going as well.

Blacksports: Describe your Michigan experience and what it’s been like to play with high school teammate Jerome Jackson.

LWood: It’s been nice! I’ve known Jerome for a while. We’ve been playing football together since the seventh grade. We really didn’t know anyone when we got here, so it was cool to know someone from your high school. It gave us a different level of comfort. Jerome is a humble guy. When I’m down, he picks me up and vice versa. It’s definitely been nice with the two of us representing the city of Saginaw.

Blacksports: Why was Ball State such a tough game?

LWood: If you look back to that game, we gave up a lot of big plays on offense and defense. Chad threw an interception that was ran back and we gave up a safety, so that’s nine points we gave Ball State on offense. When you commit such mistakes it gives the other team confidence.

Blacksports: What is the 18th going to be like for you?

LWood: I can’t talk about the 18th. It’s going to come and I can’t wait until it does.

Blacksports: Have you accomplished your Michigan goals?

LWood: There’s one that has yet to be accomplished. I’ll let you decide what that is. I’m close to the sack record. I have 11 and the record is 13. I have accomplished some goals. I’m a captain on this team. We are winning. Truthfully, I don’t care about any goals as long as we win.

Blacksports: Michigan linebacker legends Larry Foote (Steelers), Cato June (Colts), Dhani Jones (Eagles), Ian Gold (Broncos), and Victor Hobson (Jets). What will it mean when your name is mentioned along side of theirs in the NFL?

LWood: Aw man! It doesn’t even seem realistic! When you hear those names, names that I look up to, been around and had the opportunity to talk to, it just doesn’t even seem real. It will definitely be a great opportunity and an honor.

Blacksports: Who was your favorite?

LWood: They all are great. When I was coming up, I had the chance to speak with Victor Hobson a lot. If anyone, that was the man I truly liked a lot.

Blacksports: He’s turning into quite the NFL player, but he didn’t get the pub he deserved. He was a beast at Michigan, like yourself, all over the field.

Blacksports: I have two sons that have Michigan Heisman dreams—both quarterbacks—so when they see you, David Harris, Alan Branch, Prescott Burgess, Leon Hall, Chad Henne, Michael Hart, Mario Manningham, and Breaston doing what you are doing? They are inspired to the utmost. You are inspiring the younger generation to do big things and to aspire at such an early age. It fires them up.

LWood: Wow! I appreciate that. Tell them Go Blue!

Blacksports: What is your most memorable Michigan moment and your most heartbreaking?

LWood: I have to say the triple overtime win against Michigan State last year and definitely the Notre Dame game this year. We came in as underdogs, no one expected us to win against Notre Dame at home, and we whupped them early! We were 100% as soon as we took the field. We shut their run game down. Everything that everyone said about us not closing games and whatever, we showed them that we are the complete opposite.

Blacksports: Was that the game that gave you the confidence you needed to be where you are today?

LWood: We knew they would be our biggest test early on. Going against a highly ranked team with the preseason Heisman Trophy front runner, we knew that would be the game that would make or break our season.

Most heartbreaking would definitely be the Ball State game. That game could have ruined our season—especially being seniors. We made a crazy amount of mistakes. They should not have been in that game. We can’t do that if we expect to accomplish the ultimate goal and win a national championship. We will get beat if we do.

Blacksports: What have you learned the most from coach Lloyd Carr?

LWood: I’ve learned so much from Coach Carr. I was just speaking about this the other day. Being on time. Representing yourself to the fullest. So many things that have nothing to do with being a football player. Don’t take anything for granted. Respect is the biggest thing—to yourself and others. He’s taught me so much.

Blacksports: Coming out of Saginaw, what’s it truly like playing in the Big House? Going down in the middle of that huge stadium with 110,000 plus every single game has got to be an amazing feeling. My first experience there as a fan was surreal. It was almost spiritual.

LWood: The best feeling before that is the bus ride from the hotel to the game. You see fans on the street waving huge Michigan flags. Yelling Go Blue! Just rooting us on! Then when we get to the game and get into that tunnel in complete darkness and then run out of the field? Man! It gets so loud. It doesn’t seem like it’s that many people until the game starts and then you hear roaring that you feel deep down. It gets you fired up and gives you goose bumps!

Blacksports: For the youngsters, why should they choose the Maize and Blue?

LWood: Man that’s a good question. Why go anywhere else? You have the best academics, the best alumni here, you are going to win championships so why go anywhere else when you can come here and be a part of greatness.