Michigan is known for its football team and sometimes for its basketball team. It’s a good sports school.
Ask a Michigan Man like Bucs guard Ben Bredeson about academics, and they will boast Michigan takes a back seat to no one with the possible exceptions of Ivy League schools.
Northwestern? Overrated they will say. Duke? They aren’t impressed.
But Bredeson told Joe he was impressed with how Bucs rookie center Graham Barton is preparing for his first NFL game today. And it has nothing to do with Duke, where Barton went to college.
“He’s asking some smart questions,” Bredeson smiled when Joe spoke with him last week.
Barton should ask Bredeson questions. As a member of the Giants, Bredeson played Washington six times over the past three years. So Bredesonn should have intel and insight on the Commandos.
Then there is Tristan Wirfs, the Bucs’ monster left tackle. Bredeson told Joe there is something about Wirfs that rubs off on fellow offensive lineman.
This seemed evident a couple of times before Wirfs signed his contract in the middle of training camp. A couple of times, not often, the offensive line seemed to collapse with Wirfs off the field.
“Just having his presence in the huddle is huge,” Bredeson said. “He’s a great leader in the room. Great friend to all of us.
“I don’t know what it is, but he might be rubbing off on everybody.”
Joe hopes whatever Wirfs is rubbing on his fellow offensive linemen, they are dripping in the substance the whole season.
