Wolverines getting back to work (w/video)

Just two weeks after ending the regular season, the Michigan football team is back on the practice field prepping for their Outback Bowl clash with South Carolina on New Year’s Day.

Just shy of two weeks after Michigan’s 26-21 loss at Ohio State, the Wolverines returned to the practice field Friday after spending some extra time in the weight room, on the track, as well as resting up (and finishing their semester) while an Outback Bowl matchup with South Carolina looms on New Year’s Day.

“Good to get back to practice,” said Head Coach Brady Hoke Friday afternoon. “I thought we practiced with a lot of spirit --- pretty physical.”

“They’ve been doing some running and lifting on days we’ve been out recruiting, but it was good to get back. I thought we had a lot of intensity and a lot of crispness to what we were doing. We’ll go again tomorrow morning. We did some development work for young guys, and we’ll do some more tomorrow with the young guys.”

Hoke said the Wolverines won’t practice Sunday to Thursday of next week as players finish up their semesters with finals.

Michigan will then return to the practice field next Friday and Saturday before taking Sunday off, followed by three straight practice days Monday to Wednesday the following week. Then players will be allowed to head home for four days, before the entire team leaves for Florida December 23rd and spend Christmas as a football family.

“None of these guys have been away from home yet for Christmas because we left after the holiday a year ago,” said Hoke. “To me I think it’s good to be away for Christmas.”

“We’ll do something. We’ll have Santa Claus, maybe reindeer.”

Injury update

Hoke wouldn’t go into details but did point out that quarterback Devin Gardner was full go in practice after suffering an ankle injury against Ohio State.

Senior captain Denard Robinson practiced Friday as well. When asked whether or not Robinson was able to throw the football Hoke simply said, “He’s good.”

Junior running back Fitz Toussaint’s leg surgery was a success according to Hoke, and he was given some encouraging reading material as he begins his long journey back to football.

“He knows he’s got a lot of work ahead of him,” said Hoke. “There was a great article on Adrian Peterson, and that’s one of his idols, in USA Today today about coming back from injury, and the mindset and those kind of things. I gave it to Fitz after we met ,and he’s got a lot of support. They’re really happy with how everything went.”

It’s still unclear whether or not Toussaint will be able to travel with the team to the Outback Bowl.

To watch video of Hoke’S Friday press conference, press play below.