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Crable Puts Career in Perspective
By: Sam Webb
Shawn Crable has matured both on and off the field and it’s evident
to all those around him, including his coaches. Now, with a newfound approach
and perspective, the junior linebacker is poised to take his game to the next
level.
Motivation and where it comes from is an age old debate in the realm of athletics.
Many observers believe it is the coach’s job to motivate a player to perform
to the best of his ability. Others believe that it is the responsibility of
the player. The reality of the truth is probably somewhere in between. Coaches
can inspire, but players have to meet them half way. Motivation to perform and
excel must come from within. When a player isn’t motivated, coaches are
left in a quandary. The coach can challenge the player’s pride or teach
him a lesson by withholding playing time, but ultimately it is the player’s
choice. During the past three years at Michigan, that was the dilemma with Massillon,
Ohio native Shawn Crable.
The former Army All-American came in with great fanfare as a five star prospect
and one of the top linebacker prospects in the country. After redshirting his
first year and playing sparingly during his second campaign, the 6-5, 247-pounder
was supposed to break into the line-up last year and become a major contributor
on defense. That plan, however, never got off the drawing board.
"Last fall he was a major disappointment in training camp,” Michigan
head coach Lloyd Carr said. “He did not understand the kind of effort,
the kind of intensity, and the kind of attention that you have to pay on a daily
basis to the game. So it kept him on the bench.”
Carr urged his talented pupil to play up to his ability and cautioned the
youngster about squandering the type of opportunity that most people wish they
had…the chance to play college football and have the God-given ability
to play it at a high level.
“Oh man,
Coach Carr was something tough,” recalled Crable. “He was only tough
because he always said I was one of those guys that he didn’t know whether
I was going to play or not. When I came in they were all hyped, like, ‘this
guy is going to do great things.’ While I’ve been here, I have been
playing around. Sometimes I was good, and sometimes I was just alright. He would
say, ‘I don’t know if you are really into it.’ After the season,
he sat me down and talked with me and said that he believed that I can play,
and that he believed that I could play here. He had high hopes for me and hoped
that I had the same things for myself.”
Crable did have high hopes for himself and they finally began to manifest
themselves in a change of behavior late last season. The light bulb seemed to
come on versus Northwestern when he registered a career best three tackles,
including a 15-yard sack. The youngster followed that up with another career-best
four-tackle performance versus the Buckeyes before ending the year with two
stops, one sack, and a pass break-up against Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. To
Crable the differences seem subtle initially, but in reality, they were momentous.
“I think I noticed that my approach was different,” admitted Crable.
“I don’t really think I really did too much different. I think I
just understood what they were asking me to do and just decided to do it. I
think it worked out good. It’s a big difference from last year. Last year
it was, ‘we don’t know where he is going to fit in…we don’t
know if he is going to step up.’ During Spring, it was kinda’ hush,
kinda’ quiet. They were on my back if I wasn’t doing good, just
like everybody else. Then after spring, I get all of the accolades people saying,
'you were ballin’, you were doing this or that.' But, I’m excited.
If you are going to put me in the play, let me play. They’ve got big plans
for me now.”
"Eventually he came to the realization that there was a standard that
he was going to have to meet,” said Carr. “The good news is that
he learned a valuable lesson. Late in the season, I thought he developed and
made a lot of plays for us. He worked extremely hard this winter and he had
-- of all of our linebackers, he was the outstanding linebacker on this team
this spring. He was outstanding.”
New defensive coordinator Ron English’s agreed with his boss’
evaluation of the young linebacker, but warned against reading too much into
the performance.
“He was outstanding,” said English. “He was a playmaker which
was really critical. I think Shawn Crable loves to play, and I think he played
like he loves to play. I think he is extremely talented. To me, those were the
things that really showed. He really loved to play and he was very very talented.
But I’ll say this…that was in practice. That was in Spring Practice.
Spring practice and the games are two different things. Shawn Crable has got
to prove it on Saturday. That’s the deal. That’s what we need from
Shawn Crable.”
For the rest of this story on Shawn Crable, plus features on Michigan
Hockey, Basketball, Recruiting, the disappearance of the fullback from college
football, and more, check out the next issue of GoBlueWolverine
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