College football: U-M notebook

Woodson gets grief from fellow Packers over U-M slump

Heisman Trophy winner isn't happy about losing streak

Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

Ann Arbor --For former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, watching the Wolverines this season has been tough.

Almost as tough as dealing with the ribbing he has been getting from his Green Bay Packers teammates.

Michigan is 5-4 and have lost four straight Big Ten games, including a brutal 38-13 loss at Illinois last Saturday. U-M faces Purdue on Saturday.

Woodson, in Ann Arbor on Tuesday for a visit, was asked his impressions of the current program, now in the second year under coach Rich Rodriguez.

He didn't mince words.

"Well, I'm not excited about it. I'm not excited about losing," said Woodson, who won the Heisman in 1997 while helping leading the Wolverines to a share of the national championship. "It started out on fire (with a 4-0 start this season) and looked good for a short period, but it's hard to watch a place you love and played and to see your team struggling like that is hard."

Woodson said he and Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, a former Wolverine, have been ribbed by fellow Packers.

"We're taking a beating," Woodson said.

"I'm getting flak from a guy who went to Cincinnati. I never thought a day in my life I'd be taking flak from a guy who went to Cincinnati."

Of course, Woodson was referring to a teammate who attended Cincinnati, now 8-0 and ranked No. 4 nationally.

Rich Rod sees no panic

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has continually asked for patience while he builds his program, and during Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference he was asked about the patience level of the fans and alums.

"Oh, I think it's OK," Rodriguez said. "I'm not walking around the streets and conducting a poll or anything like that. We just come to work every day and do all we can to build this program to where everybody wants it.

"But the fans have been very supportive, our administration has been supportive. To have patience is a tough thing nowadays, because everybody wants it right now."

Forcier pressing?

Rodriguez said he and his staff recently have considered whether freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has been pressing during the Wolverines' four-game Big Ten losing streak.

In the loss at Illinois, Forcier lost two fumbles in the red zone.

"I actually talked to Tate last week about that," Rodriguez said during the teleconference. "He had some success early but even when he had success early, there were still some things he had to work on that just weren't highlighted or featured because we won.

"When you're not winning, those things seem to be featured more. That's just the nature of the beast. So you've just got to relax."

Safety commits

Michigan has received a verbal commitment from New Orleans safety Carvin Johnson , GoBlueWolverine.com reported. Johnson, a 6-foot, 180-pounder from Archbishop Rummel High, is the 20th commitment for the 2010 class.

angelique.chengelis@detnews.com