Blue By Ninety - Michigan QB Davis Warren talks Spring Game, experiencing JJ McCarthy's draft night, and looks forward to defending Michigan's title

Episode Date: April 30, 2024

Justin and Tanner are joined by special guest Davis Warren, quarterback for the 2023 national champions.

all right welcome back to blue by 90 i'm justin joined by tanner and we've got a special guest today we've got our guy davis warren on the pod we appreciate you davis how you doing man i'm great thanks for having me of course of course um so i want to want to do something here uh are we is that going to happen all day tanner what are we is that davis that was not mine's on silent special guest get special treatment it's okay yeah yeah we're locked in now all right we're locked in all right um i wanted to start with i wanted to go uh just position by position on the depth chart and we'll start with like i'll just go with like a random position that we'll start with why don't we just start with quarterback i'll i just kind of pick that out in my head um we can just walk through the

depth chart here for you no i'm joking i'm joking We talked about it the other day that, you know, he was hounded by the media after the spring game on the depth chart. But, I mean, at this point, everyone's possible QB1, right? That's really where it's at. You just never know. But, you know, we loved how you played in the spring game. Felt like you settled in after, like, the first couple possessions where it was like, all right, I'm like, you know after the first couple possessions where it was like, all right, the game slowed down

and it felt like you were feeling pretty good. Yeah, I think obviously the spring game at the end of the day is just like another practice for all of us. It does have a heightened importance and like the precedent that coach harbaugh said about the spring game from my first year uh was like it's a real football game and we like teams get split up and it it is it is it does carry a little bit more weight than it feels like the other 14 practices but um i know we talked about in the quarterback room with coach Campbell,

like, man, this is, this is just another chance for us to go operate and operate the system, play, play, play the position. We know how to play it, do what we've been doing all spring. And I feel like as a quarterback room, we really went out and did that for the most part. So, you know, it's, it's obviously a little bit more important and, and it's fun being able to be in the big house and in front of the fans. But at the end of the day, it's just one of 15.

And it's obviously the only thing that you guys get to see. So it's heightened importance for everyone else. But for us in the quarterback room, we really just take it like Coach Campbell says, like every whatever day we have practice, he's like, man, let's make this the best Tuesday or Saturday or Sunday of the year. And that applies all the way through the season. So he kind of sets up that mindset for us. And I think we all carry it really, really well.

How has the transition been? You know, obviously, Jim Harbaugh goes to the Chargers and, you know, some folks follow. And so some new faces in the building, you know, on the defensive side of the ball, offensive side of the ball. How has that transition been with, you know, Sharon's obviously been there your entire time at Michigan. He was there a majority of Harbaugh's tenure. But anytime you change coaches, it's obviously going to be a little bit different.

Each guy is going to want to run the program and practice and, you know, game planning and situational things the way that they want to do it. So what's that been like, you know, going from coach Harbaugh to coach Moore? And it seems like they're kind of two peas in a pod, but, you know, Sharon definitely seems a little bit different. He's definitely more savvy in front of the front of the media. So I'd love to know what it's been like over the last few months. Yeah, I think just, I mean, I, the way I kind of look at it is, you know, just if you go down the line, the whole building pretty much from Coach Moore to Coach Campbell to Coach Wink to Coach Trest, the strength coach, to, you know, pick out any position of a guy who got drafted in the top, whatever, including quarterback. So that includes all of us. Like, it's just, you know, we've got to see that position, whether it's head coach, head strength coach, OC quarterback operated at an incredibly high level.

And we all got to see that firsthand and got to experience it and got to see what happens when you perform at a really high level. Obviously, I need a national championship. And so now it's our turn to just take that added responsibility. And we're everyone's prepared for it. Whether it's me, whether it's Coach Truss, whether it's Coach Campbell, Coach Moore, we're all prepared and the people before us prepared us to take that next step and we're just going to keep going about our business in like the same way and I think coach trust did a great job like when when coach herb left I thought we were going to come in first workout without coach herb like

what's it going to be like he didn't say a word and we just went and trained and had our day and did the stuff that we had to do in the weight room. And then we got done and he was, and he pulled us all together. And he was like, man, did that feel really different? And the answer was no, you know, it's the same. The standard's been set. The culture has been set. All those things have been set. And I think the same thing has applied like this whole spring.

Like I remember first, the first spring ball practice, you know, you get the scripts before and it's in the same font. It's at the same, the schedule's the same way and it's in the same font. It's the same – the schedule's the same way. It's in the same format. And the way that we went about things, it was the same that I've had the last two years. And then you get out to practice, and obviously it's a little different without Coach Harbaugh out there for quarterbacks because he's pretty involved with the quarterback room.

But the standard's still the same. So I think Coach Moore's done a great job of keeping a lot of those things that Coach Harbaugh did. You know, a little more music here and there in practice sometimes and different things like that. But overall, it's been the same sort of structure. And I think it's allowed all of us who are in new positions, elevated, you know, positions of importance to, to really feel comfortable and, and feel like, you know, like we, we can, we know that we can thrive in this, in this kind of culture and in the building.

So real quick, just, I just want to ask. So it sounds like the biggest difference is probably less wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, maybe some more modern music that you guys are into. Definitely some more modern music and a little louder. What about for He's a Jolly Good Fellow? Yeah, we haven't done a He's a Jolly Good Fellow or wreck of the Edmund Fitz. I mean, listen, that – what is that?

Is that in October? That's that day? October, November, somewhere in there, yeah. We've seen whether or not Coach Moore will play that. Everyone's just going to be waiting on the edge of their seat to see what happens. That's what I'm most worried about. How different is Coach Moore than everyone else? Is the record of the Edmund Fitzgerald going to be played over and over and over on October whatever?

I mean, let's put it in our calendars. We've got to get a countdown going until that day, and then I think we'll need to know exactly what's going on there. I was downtown at the draft with some of you boys on Friday, and I was talking to Brady about this. And he was just like, yeah, man, everybody's just like boys in the building. And it's not just like you guys in your house, right? Because I know that you guys in your house, which is you, Brady,

Peyton O'Leary, Joe T. It's not you guys, just you guys that are boys. He's like, no, I'm like like we're boys with the equipment staff and like jesse with the grad you know assistants and like and then your coaches even i feel like are all just like everyone is like boys in that building and you know i think back to you know three four years ago pre you know 2020 like i don't think that was the case at all like guys like did their business got there wanted to get the hell out of the locker room like it wasn't a vibe and now it is and obviously winning a natty helps the culture right like there's no doubt about that right you

know winning cures all right they always say that but like tell us about just the vibes and, you know, from just chilling, just doing it all and like how that will translate to you guys, you know, hopefully succeeding this fall. Yeah, I think I mean, Brady's spot on. Like we all it is a really tight knit group. And a lot of the guys that are coming back, we're all good buddies and hang out, you know, in the in the facility and out of the facility. And just that chemistry that we all have with each other, you know, we, we like hanging out and I think it just translates into on the field stuff because we want to have fun out there. We enjoy each other's company, but we also were, we're all kind of wired the same way of we want to be hyper competitive.

We want to win and there's we know when it's time to to to handle our business that it's going to get handled in an appropriate way and it also helps when everyone's really tight especially this kind of group of upperclassmen we have and um you know leaders that like we we feel comfortable of calling each other out and, you know, we're close enough where we know that we can all work together and we're all working in the same direction at the end of the day. And, and what needs to get said or done will get said or done. So I think that's just been really helpful to have that kind of group that is all really tight and you'll see it, you know, you saw it last year,

the way that team kind of rallied together and you'll definitely see it this year where, man, we just look like we're having fun out there playing ball and that's definitely going to continue. Yeah. Go ahead. Well, I was going to say when, you know, what, you know, watching Michigan, there's no hate in your heart. There is no, you know, it's not negative as far as like, you know, trash talking and yeah, there's drawing and things like that, but it's really such a positive kind of outpouring from the team. When you watch you guys play

football, it's just love for one another and excitement over whoever makes the play. And you don't see that all the time. A lot of times guys at different universities across the country and the NFL really just want to make a statement, you know, kind of do like almost Allen Iverson over Tyronn Lue, like step over somebody, like make their point. And you guys are really just that, that fun loving team that just goes and handles business, like you said. So my question to you, Davis is, you know, as you continue to step into more leadership, one of the older guys on the team, while you're still much younger than us, as we talked about in our previously unrecorded podcast or unreleased podcast.

But how do you see the guys coming in, whether it's some guys that are transfers that come from a different college culture or the guys coming in from high school? The thing that I've seen from all of you guys is just how important being a player-led program is. How do you make sure that that continues and is sustainable with Jim Harbaugh leaving and some of the coaches leaving just making sure that you know when

Blake leaves and JJ leaves and Mikey and all these guys like how do you keep that going I think it's a good question that's a that's a thank you right there uh I would say I think even just like Jay Sean coming in the kid from Maryland like I think he realized off from the start he was like oh, this place is different. And like the level of accountability that you're held to here is not like is not like anywhere else, I think. And even I think even the new strength coaches we got from Northwestern, we got two new guys coming in and and they realized it, too. Even even in that first couple of weeks, I asked him, I was like, hey, like, what's what do you find is the biggest difference? And they were like, man, just the way you guys they were like man just the way you guys like police each other

and the way you guys like coach each other and he's like our jobs are easy like he's like at north you know at wherever they were at before they felt like it was a little bit more of uh you know seriously this is probably like no hate to maryland no no hate to northwestern right it's literally just like you guys – it's internally that you guys are upholding yourself to a better standard. Well, and we got to remember that we are talking to Davis Warren of the 2023 15-0 National Champions. So, higher standard, higher level of performance.

Yeah, it's there. And, obviously, it comes – there's a ton of talent. But I think it goes back to the type of, it's easier to institute that culture and to feel that when you bring the right guys in. And like Jay Sean fits in perfectly. Josiah Stewart, obviously he made the big play in, against Alabama and he's a guy who came in and just like totally attacked it

and understood the culture. And now he's a leader. He's only been here for a year and it just kind of shows like the type of culture that we have where guys want to come in and and they want to be a part of it and they want to they understand kind of the standard that's been set and it's easy to follow it when you have guys who want to follow it and be a part of it and so uh it's like hey Hey, get in line and get on the train. I remember my freshman year, coach Harbaugh, like before we even played a game, I thought, I was like,

damn, we, I think we're pretty good. And coming off that two and four year, I knew nothing obviously, but I was like, I think we're a pretty good football team. And he said, after that first game, like, you know, no one's on the bandwagon now, but you better get on. Cause we're, we're going to roll. And he said after that first game, like, you know, no one's on the bandwagon now, but you better get on because we're going to roll. And he was he was spot on with that because we I mean, obviously we've we've rolled in and it's it's so true. Like you either get on the bandwagon, the bandwagon and get on the train and roll in the right direction or get off and leave. And Coach Moore talks about that every day. Like every day you put your finger in that fingerprint scanner to come to the building, like recommit to being the best person you can be for this team and for this program

and everyone in the building. And it's really shown itself. And it's because we talk about it so much. Yeah. And I think that you look at what Aiden Hutchinson's legacy is, right? And then, you know, the next year and that and then you know JJ Blake and Mikey and anybody who just got drafted right there's 15 you know guys that are now in the NFL but I think a lot of people would point to like Aiden's legacy is the Ohio State game in 2021

where he has three sacks or JJ and Blake you know their legacies are the Rose Bowl and, you know, that final drive and everything like that. But I think that the reality is their legacy is the impact they've had on the culture and the standard that they've set for you guys in that building every single day. And that's how their legacy is lasting beyond when they're in that building beyond when they're in that michigan uniform and it's pretty obvious now to hear you talk about it with like all right you just lost insane talent insane guys right like unbelievable guys that are are now no longer you know in practice and in the locker room every day but but the standard's still there. Don't you think that that's like, that's actually the legacy that lasts for them, right? I think you said it perfectly.

And I think even we talked about it before spring ball started, like Coach Campbell was like, hey, like obviously it's going to be different, like being out there and like Trevor Keegan's not out there or Zach Zinner's not out there or Blake's not out there. Like that's going to be different. And it's on us as quarterbacks to uphold the standard that has been set.

And I think just being able to have that conversation where it's like those guys. And before then it was like Hutchison here anymore. Like it's on that at that point it was on Blake and Zinn and Keegs and, you know, Cornelius Johnson, like, Hey, we got to uphold that standard on the practice field every day, player led. And the fact that those conversations happen where it's like, they did that. Now it's your turn. Like the fact that that happens just shows how important that is to this program. And that, that was something that was big. This spring was let's it's on all of us to step up and be that leader and to

lead by example and to show that we're you know we're still about our business and nothing's going to change davis i'd love to know your thoughts on some of the you know younger receivers some of the guys that are really stepping into their own uh i know you had a nice connection with freddie moore who i was very excited watching in the spring game. Kendrick Bell, Ronnie's little brother. It's going to be great to have another Bell on the roster. And, you know, obviously Tyler Morris. I don't think he was on your team.

I can't recall. But he was showing some of that speed that he showed in that Alabama game in the Rose Bowl. And obviously, you know, you've got Colson Loveland. You've got Brady. You've got all the running backs. Marlon Klein looks like he's coming on. what what can you say about the weapons that this team has where yes you lose roman wilson you lose cj you lose blake you bring back donovan you bring

back kalel you've got some younger guys in the mix what you know how excited are you about this this group of skill position weapons that you have on this offense? Yeah, I think super excited. And I think they all this spring totally stepped up to the plate. All the guys that, you know, obviously guys like Tyler Morris and Samaj and Peyton have contributed in certain amounts throughout the year last year. And but they definitely were obviously a backseat to, you know, Roman and a CJ. And so for them to be able to step up in this spring and against a really good secondary and be like, we got to make plays and this, you know, this is, this is on us now. And so for those guys,

they stepped up and then on top of that, the young guys, Fred Moore, Kendrick, Marlon Klein, guys like that, who didn't contribute much last year. They were like, you know, it's time for me to make a name for myself. And they all did that. And then some. So it was just really cool. And to have that, you know, we put a lot of work in in the winter, getting out throwing and saying, like, we're we're not going to be the group that lets this team down you know it's on us to be because that was probably you know we losing JJ losing all those guys like the O-line as well but the offense as a whole like we we have to take that next step up and elevate ourselves and we all kind of committed to that and to see it you know manifest itself in the

spring game but through every practice we you know you win some you lose some against the defense but we I think as a whole we really took a big step up and and proved to ourselves and then to the whole team that like you can trust us and when when you need us when plays need to be made like we're going to make those plays and and operate with precision and detail um that really happens so i think all like like i said all the guys you mentioned um they're going to be studs for us this year and and they all took a big step up and i'm really proud of all of them and you you talked about this uh this defense and the secondary and everything um do you have empathy for jalen milrow of what he had to go up against like every quarterback we played last year

it's like obviously i'm not getting hit in practice so it's a little bit different but there are times where i would like have gotten just absolutely destroyed. It's a credit to that defense. There's a ton of really good players on that defense. I think what happened in the spring for us was great. We got the chance to go up against them every single day. For our offensive line and for me as a quarterback, for our receivers, tight ends me as a quarterback, for our receivers, tight ends, all of them, to know, like, hey, we better bring our A game today or else we're going to get, you know, our ass handed to us.

And, like, for lack of a better term. And I think we stepped up to the plate. And, you know, I'm so proud of all the guys in the room because we really – we gave them a run for their money and knew that, you know, I'm so proud of all the guys in the room because we really, we gave them a run for their money and knew that, you know, this is, we took it as an opportunity, not as a burden. We took it as an opportunity and knowing that whoever we play this year, whatever defenses we play, probably won't be as good as the one we're facing in practice. And that's a credit to the defense and that's a credit to us as an offense for for stepping up to the plate and it made for some really fun practices and fun days where man it was a battle every single day we were prepared for it so it's

fun were were there were there ever times though where you're just like i coach i don't know what you want me to do like that dude just made the most unbelievable play I've ever seen. I mean, there were some things like that, and you've got to give credit to those guys and being great players on defense. But we got them. We got them, too. So we made them work for it. It's almost a better feeling then when you know that you're going up

against possibly, what, three top top 10 top 15 picks on that defense and and a lot more that are going to go throughout you know a year from now in the draft and lambeau um it's got to feel even a little bit better like all right everyone talks about this defense right everyone you know all that stuff i love it all this chatter about the defense and the offense is going to be this or that um and we just put our head down it worked and and uh it definitely it it was like like i love it every every second of this like i love being an underdog put us put us behind the eight ball and and watch us watch us surprise you so uh i think we all took that mindset and and uh it's's going to pay dividends in the fall when they're making plays and we're celebrating

and then when we're making plays and they're getting hyped for us. So it'll be fun. I can't wait. What are your thoughts on Wink Martindale so far? Because just as an outsider who follows him on Twitter, I think one of his first posts was like the F around and find out meme. He seems just like a player's coach, just kind of a guy's guy. Like what is your impression of him?

Obviously he's not your coordinator, but I'm sure you're seeing a lot of him in practice and he's probably getting pretty fired up with all the talent that he's got. I think the term that defines him best is just a football guy. He's a definition of a football guy. Football guy's guy. If you look up him in like Merriam-Webster dictionary. Yeah, he wears wide receiver gloves when he works out.

Big Drake fan. He always has the white undershirt with the cutoff hoodie. That's his signature look, and he looks like a stud. Yeah. He loves football. He loves defense. Obviously, he's coached a lot of incredible players and he's going to get the opportunity and he's gotten the opportunity to do the same thing here with the guys that we have on defense. And I think all the guys love him. So it's it was a great, great pickup by Coach Moore.

And and it'll it'll show itself in the fall when when you see kind of the level that that defense is going to play at. And he truly, like he self-coined himself the OG and he is the OG. He's the OG of that defensive scheme. Well, real quick, Justin, I'm sorry. I keep doing this, but I just wanted to follow up on that. What is it like? And we talked about the player-led dynamic of the program. What's it like when a guy like Brad Robbins, or not Brad Robbins, he's with the Bengals. Brad Hawkins comes back to work with the program,

a guy that was a part of the 2021 Big Ten Championship team. What's that like when you've got those guys that were there when you were a little bit younger coming back to be a part of the program? I think it's really cool. And when I saw that he was hired, I was fired up because he's a Michigan man. I think before Mike Barrett beat him out, he had the most starts in Michigan history, I think. He committed to Michigan before Jim Harbaugh ever coached a game at Michigan.

That's how long you've been there. He was – and when I was a freshman, he was one of those senior guys that I was like, oh, like – I was like, wow, that's a guy who does stuff the right way. And, you know, was committed to being the best version of himself and was a big part of that defense in 21. And I was – you know, being a scout team guy, spent a lot of time around him and he was awesome and was nothing but great to me. And so to see him come back and with all the wisdom he has to keep, like I said, like he's been a part of it. He knows what it looks like.

And obviously that 21 team didn't finish the year exactly how we wanted to, but that 21 team set the table for 22 and obviously 23 to be really successful. So he knows what it's like and that for him to be able to maintain that and impart that onto the younger guys, especially in the role as a coach is, is really awesome and knows the system and can relate to the guys. And he's already done great things with a loaded secondary, and I think he's just going to keep elevating that room to a new level. Yeah. Well, what I was going to say is are we just like a sleeveless program now? Like Coach Moore's got the vest. Wink's got no sleeves kirk goes best a lot too yeah coach campbell is a big vest guy we discussed that a lot in the qb room you know his his best

game um i coach bellamy loves a good vest yep yep steve kasula uh who's back with the program who was there in 21 another guy uh tanner you talked about who who was kind of there and then left and came back even even just in a coaching role yeah a lot of a lot of vests um and a lot of like kind of those that sleeveless hoodie look which i definitely don't rock but a lot of the guys that's that's kind of you got it if you're gonna do it you got it like you better be doing biceps like yeah you got to build arms for that. And Coach Wink, he's hitting those a lot. A lot.

Curls for the girls, huh? He's suited for that sort of – and Coach Moore, he's a hoss. He's a big dude. He's jacked. So that's – it might be – I mean, you might in the fall get out there and see the whole coaching staff, you know, vested or sleeveless. Like, I don't know if you saw the Lions front office all wore black Dan Campbell jerseys yesterday, which was elite. We might have to do like have the coaching staff do all coach more or wink.

Like just one day wear the wink outfit. I think that would be phenomenal. I think that would be phenomenal. I think that would be phenomenal. I think Max told me that because his older brother plays for the Giants, and I guess they ran into Coach Wink and his family in like Times Square in New York or something, like something like that, like in New York when Max went out there for a game. And he still had it on.

Like he had it on. He's committed to it. And he looks great. He's also a big golfer. So he had it on. He's committed to it. And he looks great. He's also a big golfer. So he had like a Nike Golf 1, 2 that he was rocking. And I don't know if he wears it on the course or not, but I'm going to find out. Yeah.

I mean, that's just, though, that's him of like, why wear something different? I know this work. We need that, though. Like, that was Harbaugh, right? Wearing the same thing. Coach Harbaugh, you know, Steve Jobs kind of wearing the same thing every day. I think Zuckerberg might do it, too.

It's like – Zuck's changing it up, though. Zuck's – I don't know if you guys saw Zuck. He's completely off topic. He's got the beard. He's got a chain. He's got some curls in his hair. I don't know.

Marketing is – marketing, we're talking with Davis before, he's got the beard. He's got a chain. He's got some curls in his hair. I don't know. Marketing is marketing. We're talking with Davis before he's got some marketing stuff. Their marketing team's going crazy over at Meta slash Facebook. They're getting after it. Anyway, I think it's just if you're a genius and just the top of your field, you got to streamline your decision making by

decreasing the amount of decisions you have to make in a day that aren't related to whatever you're doing doing so exactly it's a good thing i think we've been talking about doing like themed tailgates for for each uh like for oregon maybe like a camo like hunter look because we could be duck hunting um you know we we do, like, everyone wears the wink outfit one time. It would be easy. All you need is an old hoodie. You cut the sleeves off, and, you know, you got a little white undershirt on, and there it is.

I love it. We might have to do that. It's like the Oakley, like, sunglasses, you know? Yeah. Have a jaw in. That's a must as well. Yeah. We might have to go with that. Yeah, seriously.

I like it. Have the chew can poking out of your back pocket. You know, I feel like that's a football guy move. That was Coach Harbaugh. I'm sure wink on the sideline you see him probably got it poking out. So, we may have to do that as well. So, you were at JJ's draft party, right? So, I mean, I saw his parents on Friday as well

gave them a big hug um what was uh I mean that's got to be just so much fun to watch your boy uh just you know live out his dream and and I know uh he is so thankful and just a very special person for you know he's so thankful for all the people that have gotten him to where he is now. What was it like being there with that whole squad and watching him get his name called? It was great. It was really cool and just kind of surreal. Always feeling like – sorry.

The one hour I guess turned off or something something i don't know what happened there um obviously the uh you know like you always think about you're like yeah he is he is really uh you know like a top whatever draft pick like that's cool but then to actually hear his name get called and to see him you know with the vikings hat on And it was just an incredible thing. And he's such a good kid and so grateful for all of us. Like he said, he gave a little speech before and was just appreciative and wanted to have it not be in Detroit because he wanted to just have as many people that helped him

along his path as he could. And whether it was his quarterback coach back from Chicago or high school coaches or Pop Warner coaches, they were all there. And then Coach Campbell and Coach Moore and you know his whole family J.J.'s whole family being there and so it was just a really cool thing and and cool to be able to share it with him and and you know spending us coming in at the same time and kind of seeing his development and us kind of working on different things together and trying to me trying to push him to be the best quarterback he could be and and me me chasing him and as in as many ways as I could it was just really special so I was just fired up for him and and it's I he's gonna ball I can guarantee that all the all the

Vikings fans out there he's he's gonna do his thing and he's in a great situation there and so it's just it's really cool yeah man i'm so pumped for him uh he does like i we're diehard lions guys on this pod for the most part um he looks really good in purple and gold i'll say that you know i need to get me to get one of those throwback jerseys. Those things are sweet. I might need to invest. Yeah. No, he's in a great position there. The people that talked, you know, everyone's going to talk their shit, all the rivals and, you know, Ohio State people and everyone else that doesn't. They just said J.J. throws the ball off –

or hands the ball off, not throws the ball off. That's a stupid claim. I mean, what are we talking about? I mean, there's so many – like, I know, obviously, we ran the ball a lot, but he also made some unbelievable plays with his arm too. Yeah. I mean, it's whatever. People can say what they want.

You saw it in practice. The NFL executives know better than Joe Schmo on Twitter. Exactly. It is what it is. But yeah, I mean, what I was going to say is like, listen, you can have your narrative. You can have your thought. And even I think some Michigan fans may have some hesitance on if he's going to be a great NFL QB right um my my response to that is always like listen I'm not gonna doubt him he's proven everybody wrong all this way like if I'm gonna put like if you gotta tell me all right hey you gotta put your

chips in one side of the other if he's gonna to be great or not. Like, I'm betting on him because just knowing him and knowing the way that he operates, like, he's going to do everything he needs to. Like, that kid is unreal. And until he proves me wrong, I'm going to think that. Yeah. Listen, I'm in the same boat. I'm on the train, the JJ train, all the way to the promised land. He's done it once. He'll do it again. And he's just a winner.

So he's going to find a way to make it happen. And whether it's football or golf or spike ball, the guy just wins. He wins. Hockey. That was a big talking point. Davis, have you guys as quarterbacks had any practice one-handing balls off the jugs machine just in preparation for some sort of poor Donovan? I shouldn't say that about Donovan, but it was just a tough scenario. I just wanted to make sure that if that scenario does come up again, that you guys are ready. You talk about his athleticism. That was freakish. Freakish. We have not worked on that. That will be a summer project. We have not worked on that.

That'll be a summer project. We'll all get out there and we'll wrap it. We have a drill set up already, Coach Campbell. We've been working on that the whole season. We've been practicing that every week, the one-handed catch and turn and throw and then have – No laces. Land on your face. He was prepared for the moment when it came right what was your what was

your reaction david so we're at the pretzel but well justin was at the game but a lot of us were at the pretzel bell and i'm like oh that looks really cool and then i'm like oh my god he's gonna get murdered and then flips his hips around no laces perfect spiral somehow which that's not easy to do without the laces just puts it it on a dime to Roman. What was your, like, thought process when you were watching this? Like, oh, JJ's about to get lit up. Well, it happened so fast. I was just like – I couldn't even believe it. I was just, you know, obviously knowing what the play was called

and knowing that, you know, we had the – we'd been working on it. We were ready to run it. And we were, you know, thought it was going to be a big hitter. And you're just kind of keeping your eye on that backside D end and hoping he doesn't read the play out. But even before the snap, he somehow, he was like pointing the other direction from like the direction in which the, you know, JJ was going to end up being. So I was like, oh no. And then just Donovan

putting a good throw out there. And then JJ obviously making an incredible play with that guy bearing down on him. That's a teammate now. That's Dallas Turner. Yeah, obviously a really good player. And we knew he was a great player. And he showed that he was a great player because he almost broke it up and diagnosed the play so fast.

So it was just – it was unreal. Hard to come up with another term for it. Yeah. I wonder if they're gonna they they might uh watch that play together a few times and they might maybe maybe rib each other well did you guys see at his press conference he said he unfollowed jj on instagram for a little bit because he was upset about that loss yeah that's funny that's funny um so okay talking about the rose bowl um you know i think we haven't really heard from you or any of your teammates yet on this podcast of just living that run that national championship run from your perspective um we have all talked at length about how it was you know some of the greatest days of our lives and a lot of us have gotten married and and had children and gotten you know those types of

things but um you know we're trying to be very cognizant of when our wives are in the building to you know make sure we keep that wedding day up there above the rose bowl day and the national championship day but um i you know from your perspective like you're you're in you're in first person view of everything from the start of the season in weights and practice and then it all comes together and you go on first of all the season was long as far the longest season ever when you go as far as you did. But how special were all those moments? And can you even put it like, is it all a blur? Or can you look back to some things?

Or is it like you guys sit in your house there on the porch, and you're just like holy shit i just remembered this one moment from this that you hadn't even talked about yet i mean there's so like i think that's the best way to describe it like there's so many moments and and memories and things i was like oh wow that really did happen and that happened oh my gosh that happened and like all this stuff so it's just like it's hard to really quantify it and feel like there's one feeling that can you know describe the whole experience because obviously there's i mean i might do not deserve his on i don't know what um julia he's fine leave him alone it's actually max

about ready what the fuck, man? Yeah. To ask me about golf shoes. Obviously, like, there's a lot of memories that come up in my head. And I think, you know, beating Ohio State and that whole whirlwind of Coach not being there and stuff like that is, like, so many – like, as I talked about earlier like guys having to step up like coach more stepping up to the plate and being the guy that we needed him to be for penn state and ohio state and even the maryland game which was a tougher game than a lot of people i think remember yeah and realize if you go back and watch that game that was a close game for a long time

um and mikey and other guys and you know derrick Derek Moore and guys stepped up and made big plays. But I think even just from that Rose Bowl to the Natty, it's such a tight time frame after having such a long break. It was so weird because it was like all this buildup to the Rose Bowl of, you know, knowing we're going to play Bama. It's like, OK, Alabama Rose Bowl is going to be a huge game. And then two weeks, three weeks of prep, Christmas, getting out to L.A., being out there, practicing, preparing, seeing, going to the Rose Bowl for the first time, seeing it, and then the game. And then you turn around, and it's like six days later, you're playing Washington for the Natty. And it's just that whole thing happened so fast.

I think you really – there was not even a break. It was just a turnaround and, all right, here we go again. Let's, let's make it happen after, after, you know, you have the season where it's just week after week of game, game, game, game, which was really like blowout, blowout, blowout, one by a lot. And then you have such a long break and then such a big win. And then you have to come off that and turn around and do it again. It was just, it all happened so fast. So so as we kind of as i look back on it i'm just grateful to be a part of it and and feeling

like just seeing it firsthand it was like wow that was really something special and meant so much to so many fans around the around michigan and around the world it felt felt like, honestly, just the fact that we can make it happen is just, and finishing. I felt like I even said after spring game, like closing it out with the ring ceremony, it was just, every time you think about it, you just smile. And I'm sure you guys have that same reaction, just being grateful for the opportunity and thinking about like, wow, we really, we really did the damn thing. So.

We did that. I was going to ask about the ring ceremony and what it was like, wow, we really did the damn thing. We did that. I was going to ask about the ring ceremony and what it was like getting Team 144 back together with everybody going kind of their separate ways to the draft or graduation and aren't going to be playing next year. What was that like getting everybody back together? And then second part of that question, do you have the rings handy to be able – this would be a great thumbnail for us personally. I don you have the rings handy you know to be able you know this would be a great thumbnail for us personally uh handy they are they are uh safe in a alternate

location that's smart that's smart so i do not have them handy um but i i would so sorry about that but um i think yeah just getting everyone back together was so cool. Like Coach Minner and Coach Harbaugh, seeing him again. And obviously him being out in my neck of the woods out there in L.A. is cool to talk to him about that. And just that, like even when I think Mikey or Blake got up, like for the rest of our lives, like those reunions will be really special. And having that group and all those guys will be guys that all, you know,

remember for the rest of my life is just really solid dudes. And every single one of them would, you know, can be the godfather of my kids. That's how great all of them are. So that's kind of a great way to describe it, I think, is just all great guys who came together and did something really really special so yeah I mean you mentioned the Penn State game like I people forget about that game even sometimes because like when you think about the all right what's what's the top five moments of this season and you're listening about and And then you think about that Penn State game specifically.

Like, I remember talking to my dad leading up to that game, and I'm like, I'm pretty sure this is the most important game in Michigan football history right now. Because all the stuff, all the scandal stuff, right, comes out. And then it's just coach warren you guys and if if that game doesn't go our way then everything is like that's the media narrative is you know they only did it because they stole signs as soon as they couldn't do it anymore then they lost and like at like almost everything of the last three years is kind of erased all those accomplishments.

Did you guys know, like the grant, obviously it all was, there's so much going on. You probably are just like, what? I don't even know what to think right now. But did you have any idea of like the gravity of that situation in like the grander scheme of things? I think we, there was a little bit of that feeling, but like coach coach and it goes back to coach Herb, like his whole thing of like, who, like who gives a F like, let's like, it doesn't matter.

Like nothing matters. Whether it's, I think Blake talked about it, like in the, in the winter, in a winter training cycle, he would just, everyone would have a playing card and he would be like, well, what's the lucky number today. Okay. if you have a five, you know, you're going to go jump in the cold tub, work out. Don't don't have any reaction to it. Just do it. Yeah. And I think that whole like neutral mindset of never getting too high, never getting too low. Like that's really what drove us that whole year. And that was it didn't matter what the situation. And that showed itself when we played Penn State and it felt like everything was on the line and like

our reputation was on the line when we felt like like thinking about the scandal like this is so dumb like you know we didn't even know you know so it was just like this is ridiculous and and and we just need to keep doing our thing. Because whether the scandal was there or not, we knew we had to win that football game if we wanted to achieve our goals of winning a nanny. So it was just that singular focus and that mindset of feeling that. I think probably you guys on Twitter felt more of a –

because if we lost, you would have had to defend this program to the – Fighting for our lives. Oh, my. Yeah. So I apologize that you guys had to be in that situation, but I'm glad. I hope you – Why are you apologizing to us? We alleviated those concerns.

I appreciate you. I appreciate you acknowledging just that we're on the front lines for you. Yeah, trenches. Real trenches. People don't understand how hard it is for us to, you know, put those thumbs together and put a good tweet. My great-grandfather fought in Korea, and I'm fighting on Twitter, bro. It's the exact term of a foxhole guy.

So it's like, who would you want your foxhole? And you guys are foxhole guys. That is big, big props. We appreciate it. That is. This is up there. I will go to war with Mr. Ohio on Twitter to defend Michigan's honor any moment, whenever you need me.

I got you. Davis, real quick, I wanted to touch on this, and I don't want to get away from this conversation we're having, but are you going to visit Coach Harbaugh at his RV? Do you think he truly is just living at the RV? It just seems preposterous. Listen, I don't know. I do know he's a RV enthusiast and he's a simple guy.

And like he said in that video, I mean, shout out to speaking social media, the Chargers social media is phenomenal. They do a great job. And but he's a simple guy. And so I would not be surprised if he was living in the RV. I think if he could, he would have parked an RV on State street and lived in that and just come into the facility every morning so again that's like streamlining like why would i live farther away from the facility if i could just live in the parking lot yeah exactly so uh and he's he's doing the same thing with the chargers i know with the chargers new facility and in uh in la like he just wants to be close to it so um and close to the one like what the one that they have right now and the closest thing is an rv so and it makes the most sense for

him he yeah i think he's i don't know where the rest of his family's at right now but and so i i i don't know i i probably should it's not that far from where i live so i probably should go down there and check it out. You should. I don't want to get roped into having to spend the night down there or anything. Well, hey, I loved in that video, he's like, the best sleep you ever get is when it's raining on an RV. And then he does a rain hitting the metal roof sound. Yeah, it was electric.

He's got Greg Roman there. They're drinking diet soda, sitting and reclining. It's incredible. I love that guy there. They're drinking like diet soda, sitting and reclining. It's incredible. I love that guy. He's the man. Yeah. I don't know about like spending the night in the RV with Jim, though. Because I do know like you – I mean it would be – you would get about a million stories.

But I know for sure that you – like, if you just said the wrong thing, he'd be like, yeah, all right, you're staying. And then you can't get out of that. You're staying. You're locked in for the night. Yeah. I mean, it looks, I mean, that RV park, I kind of know where that is. It's a beautiful spot.

So people travel far and wide too. Is that down in like Orange County or? Yeah, it's down in like Costa Mesa or something. So I don't know if, I don't know if because that video he needs security now or if they released a video after he's done living in the rv hopefully so he's not getting hawked but it seemed like the people around him in classic kind of charger southern california fashion like didn't even know who he was so they got too much going on man we don't we don't have that much going on here so it's a different different culture for sure. Yeah. So it's, it's, but it rooting for you for sure. Is there, is there something

specifically that you're working on or like, what's, what's going to be the plan for, for this summer for you to be the best come September? Yeah, I think I was, you know, talking about with coach Campbell, just being, being a guy that being a leader. And I think being a guy that this team can trust because being a quarterback is more than just throwing the football um and more than just you know being able to make the right reads and all that stuff and I feel like I do all that at a high level and obviously there's room for me to improve there and I'm going to work my my butt off this summer to to be the best quarterback I can be on the field but just just as important is being a guy that,

that this team can trust and being a guy that being a foxhole guy truly. And I think that's a great way to describe it and, and feel and having the trust of the guys. And I think that was a big thing for me this spring was obviously coming off the injury last year, I had to prove to this team that I could be the guy and that I was healthy and, and ready to roll and play this, play the position at a high level because JJ set a really high standard here. And that was one of my goals this spring is to, you know, uphold that standard as well as I could and to play at a level where these guys could trust me going into battle. And I think I've done that and I'm going to continue to do that going into

these summer workouts and feeling like they can trust me to lead this team to win games in the fall and like I said before like the the guy who's out there is just a product of the room and we it was the way with JJ it'll be that way with with with you know whoever is out there in the fall hopefully it's me and I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen. And we're just going to do our best to win football games for this team. And whoever it is, we all have to be ready because anything can happen. Obviously, JJ did a great job staying healthy these last two years. And there were times when I was the backup where I thought I was going to have to be go in the game and be prepared so whoever is a starter or the backup I know we're all going to be prepared to lead this

team to win games because we do have a damn good football team and the standard of of a championship and beating Ohio State and beating Michigan State and now beating USC and Oregon and Texas and Washington like that hasn't changed so it So it's going to be fun. And I think for me personally, like this summer of just that idea of continuing to prove to this team that they can trust me and be a foxhole guy, that's the main focus for me. I love it. I love it.

I'm fired up. Yeah. Hell yeah. Is it September yet? Is it August yet? Like, let's go, man. I'm like ready. Yeah. Hell yeah. Is it September yet? Is it August yet? Like, let's go, man. I'm, like, ready for the season. You know, spring ball is obviously just a stepping stone,

but I wish it was September right now. You know, look over at the big house and be like, every time I go by that thing, I envision it in my head of 110,000 and, you know, that burnt orange and white on the other side or, you know, Ohio State or whoever it is and being like, you know, let's roll. So it's exciting. We had a good chunk of our tailgate crew together yesterday, and it was 80 degrees outside.

We were drinking Blue by 90 beers. Shout out North Peak Brewing. And we were drinking blue by 90 beers shout out north peak brewing um and we were ready i think we we talked there it was a diaper party for our buddy who's who's having a baby here soon i don't think we talked about the baby one time but we talked about michigan football the entire it was basically like when i walked in i was like hey do you guys remember when michigan won the rose bowl and then won the national championship like that's basically our conversation. Do you remember that? It was three months ago, but yeah, I remember it. Like I said, we do the same thing in this house.

Remember when we won the Natty? That's a classic, like living with the boys. You just make those comments. I was going to ask Davis. Actually, I'm not going to say that because it would make me sound like a tool but when you win a national championship when was the moment that the mindset switches right you you're enjoying it you're celebrating and was it the first uh you know practice of spring ball like when is that kind of mentality shift of like all right time to go do it again oh i think once the workout started we were pretty much along our way and i think obviously there was some you know some question marks of who was

your coach or this or that but i think once coach moore and the staff was said that's when it was truly felt like okay it's it's time to roll again and we're not satisfied and and that I talk something that I've kind of thought about is and I've talked about uh with coach Campbell and stuff is like when you get to the top obviously it's great and being at the top of the mountains an incredible feeling but what you realize like pretty quickly is like what you loved about it was the climb and like the journey to get there and realizing. And I think we've all realized that is like that's what you love. And that's the cool part about this team is I think we have a group of guys who love the climb and the chase and. That the national title was great, but the opportunity to go do it again is like, you know,

makes the hair stand up on your arm a little bit and gets you excited. So I think we all kind of feel that way and that the chase is going to be, the chase is what we love. And when you have a group of guys like that, like that's why you have guys who the guys who've come before, that's why they're going to be great in the pros because they're not resting on, you know, they don't want to just rest on being national champs. They want to do even more than that.

And Coach Harbaugh is clearly that way because he's going to go do it at the next level. And Coach Moore is that way because he's hungrier than ever to make it happen and do it in an elevated role. And so we're all kind of feeling that way, and it's going to be exciting. I mean, it's the Tom be exciting i mean it's like it's the tom brady mentality the best ring is the next one right yeah you know i love that saying it's a little corny but i do like it yeah it i mean it's like it's very cliche and used now right but uh but it really is like i i feel like now you know i i think you've got you guys have gotten

the taste of it. Right. And, you know, you look at the Bama's and the, and the Georgia's and the Clemson's who do this, you know, or have done this over and over again, right. Year after year. Um, first of all, really freaking hard. First of all, um, people don't, don't like people underestimate it. Um, but, uh, yeah, you guys now have the opportunity to go prove it again, especially, like you said, like nobody's expecting you guys to –

everyone just watched however many guys just get drafted, right, this weekend. And everyone's like, oh, well, they're going to take a huge dip, right? Well, now you've got a chance to go prove it again and have the target on your back, especially when you look at what Ohio State has done this offseason, right? It's going to be fun. I'm fired up. So it makes me – just talk about it, I get juiced.

All right, I got one more to leave it on a light note here. In your house, who would you – like who's the messiest guy by far come on justin we we're not gonna burn bridges here but uh i think you know the answer to that i'm pretty sure i know the answer now you. I'm not going to put anyone out there, but I will say the people who take the trash out the most in this house are me and Peyton O'Leary. So I'm just going to leave that as it is. And we'll see if they listen deep enough into this podcast to understand the,

what I'm, what I'm saying there. Keep it tight. We don't mess around the trash kids we don't we we are i think i would say in terms of if you surveyed every single house in ann arbor every residency yeah it would be dorm room, apartment, house, whatever. We're in the top 15%. Of all houses? Yes. Like all student housing? Yep.

You think so? I don't know. I'll die on that note. That's impressive. I've been to one college house in Ann Arbor. It's my wife's cousin's. Drive around and look at what they've done. Immaculate.

It's true. I feel's. Drive around and look at what they've got. Immaculate. It's true. I feel you. I feel you. No, I mean, you guys – listen. You guys have good vibes in there. We're in the top 5% to 10% of men's houses. Okay. That's what I was kind of getting at.

Okay. I can get on board with that. I think we're definitely in that category, I would say. Okay. I don't of getting at. Okay. I could get on board with that. I think we're definitely in that category. I would say. I don't have a question. This is just a statement, but I just, Davis, want you to know that when NCAA comes back out, I'm going to make you 99 everything

and we're going to win the Heisman with you. I can't wait. It's going to be fun. I don't really play video games. Are you going to be in it? Did you sign everything? Yeah, I didn't pull an Arch Manning, so I'll be there. He's't pull an arch manning so i'll be not a diva breaking news yeah not a diva it'll be i don't yeah like i said i don't really i'm not a big video game guy uh but i will be playing that a little bit so it'll be fun yeah our baby is due like right around the time that comes out so i'm gonna have to foxhole guy right like i'm gonna have to finesse away to be able to play it so yeah i mean listen i'm picturing you baby in the you know here you're

yeah baby bjorn and you know it's it's 3 a.m and it's you're on duty and you're just you know kind of rocking back and forth playing you got the headphones in yeah maybe you just have the volume off and you're just hoping like when you turn on the xbox the sound isn't too loud yes maybe he stays asleep and you're in there just ripping the sticks and and you know operating the offense and leading leading this team to it absolutely absolutely justin i probably told you that exact scenario is of how i envision it so davis we're on the same page, man. Send me a picture when that happens. Absolutely. Davis Warren, certified

foxhole guy. We're now foxhole guys, too. We might have to trademark that and put out a shirt. I'm putting that in my Twitter bio. Just be honest. Part of Davis Warren's foxhole. That's the new

Blue By 90 Twitter bio. Yeah, I love it. I love it. You're the man. You know that. We've been blessed to have gotten close with you. And, you know, everything that's come about since we first talked, what, two, three years ago, something like that.

It's pretty cool to see how far you've come. And now, you know, like you said, competing for a starting job for a national championship program. I mean, that's not many people can say that. So pretty awesome, man. Proud of you. Awesome. I appreciate the support from all you guys.

So we'll keep it up. All right. We'll stay on the front lines on Twitter, defending you till the death. So we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll,

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we'll,