<!--/date-->Tuesday, April 12, 2005 <multipix name="top" multitemplate="standard"></multipix>
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<!--CA-->Matt Gutierrez has participated in spring drills because of a fast recovery from surgery on his right shoulder.<!--/CA-->
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<!--kicker-->Football<!--/kicker-->
<!--head-->Michigan's Gutierrez is armed with new attitude<!--/head-->
<!--deck-->Quarterback is happy to be back after enduring a shoulder injury.<!--/deck-->
<storytext> </storytext> <!--byline-->By Angelique S. Chengelis /
The Detroit News<!--/byline-->
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<!--CA-->Gutierrez's injury paved the way for Chad Henne, right, to start every game as a freshman last season.<!--/CA-->
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ANN ARBOR -- Matt Gutierrez isn't all that interested in discussing the possibilities of his football future.
He's relieved and overjoyed just to have a football present.
Gutierrez, a junior, was named Michigan's starting quarterback before the season opener last fall. But an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder diagnosed that week kept him from the starting job and ultimately led to season-ending surgery Oct. 25 to repair a torn labrum.
That he was able to begin lightly throwing two months ago surprised many at Schembechler Hall, where the Wolverines meet and work out. Now pain-free, Gutierrez, who has two years of eligibility remaining, has been able to participate in spring practices, although he has not absorbed a hit.
"I didn't really anticipate that he'd be able to throw until later in the spring," coach Lloyd Carr said. "He's been able to participate in seven-on-seven drills, so he's got the repetitions on his reads, and timing, and communication, so I really think he's benefited from the fact he's recovered so quickly."
Gutierrez isn't about to predict the future, but it could be an interesting fall. Chad Henne started every game as a freshman last season and led the Wolverines to a share of the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl. The starting job this fall looks to be his, but Carr wants to encourage competition at the position.
It is unknown whether backup Clayton Richard, who is pitching for the Michigan baseball team rather than participating in spring football practice, will return this fall.
The Wolverines know they will have Henne, Gutierrez and freshman Jason Forcier in camp come August.
It is difficult to blame Gutierrez for embracing the "one-day-at-a-time" mantra. Though it might get old to hear it, it truly is his reality.
He laughed when asked if he believes he can compete for the starting job this fall.
"It's only (April)," Gutierrez, 20, said. "It's so early that I just really think about one day at a time, trying to get stronger every day and improve. I know I'm not full strength yet, and I don't want to get too far ahead of myself mentally or physically, because I know that could set me back.
"I really don't know what to think, to be honest. I'm just happy things are going well so far. I don't try to be too excited, because obviously I know how quickly things can change. I just enjoy being back out there, and I'm trying to take each day for what it is and just have fun."
Trainers designed a spring program for Gutierrez, who is 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds. He said he does not know exactly the number of passes he throws each practice.
Though his accuracy has been good, he does not quite have the velocity on his throws.
"They keep me monitored every day, and I quit when they tell me to quit," said Gutierrez, who was the holder on kicks for eight games last season and has practiced that as well. "Not willingly, but I know that even though sometimes I feel I could go more, they know better than I do, so I end up taking their word for it."
Gutierrez said he has seen gradual progress from practice to practice.
"Any time you're away from the game and especially such a cerebral game at a cerebral position, you're going to be a little bit rusty and take some time to get acclimated to the speed of the game and what's going on out there," Gutierrez said. "I feel I've gotten more comfortable with each practice."
Gutierrez is thoughtful and grasps the power of perspective. Once his injury was diagnosed, he realized that surgery was the best option and he had a simple choice. He chose to be positive.
"I thought I was a lot more positive than I really was," he said. "This experience, getting hurt, has really been revealing to me in that way. There are going to be a lot of times in life that things happen that you don't necessarily want or plan on happening, but you have to play the cards that are dealt, and you have to keep on moving. That's what separates successful people. The ones who are successful accept what's happened and make the best out of it and keep moving."
To those who figured Gutierrez could never come back from a shoulder injury that has idled other athletes permanently, he does not intend to wag a finger and say, "I told you so."
That's not his style. With his improved approach to life, he said he just wants to play football for himself and his teammates.
"I think I knew people were probably writing me off," Gutierrez said, "but I didn't really care because I was the one having to deal with it, and I was the one having to face either being able to play again or not being able to play again.
"You would like for people to believe in you and think highly of you, but all that comes in time. If you have your priorities straight and do the right things, people will respect you in the end either way it goes."
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at liquenews@aol.com.
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