Interview with former Michigan wide receiver Toney Clemons
By joe stapleton, written on May. 30, 2009
So I know this comes closely following the Steven Threet interview, which may make it seem like I am a bit trigger-happy as far as these things go. To tell you the truth, this one really fell in my lap and Toney just wanted to clear the air, in a way, with the fans and the University. I also took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about the NCAA?s handling of coaching changes in general (scroll down to the last two). So, about a week ago I did this interview with him over the phone. Here it is:
Joe Stapleton: What does Colorado have to offer that Michigan does not?
Toney Clemons: The funny thing about that is, it was what was so similar to Michigan that attracted me to Colorado. Coming in my freshman year with coach (Lloyd) Carr, the way my position coach was a big part of the offense was the same thing Colorado had to offer, my position coach (Colorado offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau) was promoted to offensive coordinator, I was his number one guy coming out of high school, and they had a lot of the same values that coach Carr and his staff had to offer. Caring about you as a person before a player, that was actually the main thing, coming in playing with Eric Kiesau was a big deal for me. He did wonders with (current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver) DeSean Jackson coming out of Cal, and he thought I was the same type of talent, and he thought he could do a lot with me. So, the things that attracted me to Michigan coming out of high school were the same things that attracted me to Colorado. There really wasn?t much of a difference to be honest with you, that?s kind of the funny thing about the whole situation.
JS: There have been a lot of players who have said the values that were there under Lloyd Carr aren?t there under Rich Rodriguez. What values are you referring to?
TC: Well, the main difference for me, value-wise was with coach Carr (and his staff), they were like father figures, you know? They really raised you to be a man, they got you right, got you living right both on and off the field. When I talk about values, that?s what I?m talking about. I can talk to coach Carr now and get fatherly advice, same with (former Michigan wide receivers coach) Eric Campbell. They really teach you how to grow up. I can?t really compare my meaning of values to what other players have said, but for me, it just meant they really cared for you as a person?you came in the program as a boy, and they were going to make you a man. That?s something they stressed to parents, ?we?re going to raise your son, he?s going to be a great man as well as a great player.? That?s just something that they stressed and that was the difference for me. I just didn?t really see it as much in the new system, there were just different philosophies in the system. It was more than just a coaching change, it was a lifestyle change as well. That was the difference for me.
