Story Published:
Aug 13, 2009 at 9:23 AM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 13, 2009 at 9:23 AM PST
After practice Wednesday, Lions coach Jim Schwartz greeted a visitor: actor Jeff Daniels, who lives in Chelsea and was sporting a Tigers golf shirt on the sideline.
The two talked awhile, and Schwartz thrust an arm into the air and yelled something.
Turns out, it was a line from one of Daniels' movies. He was telling Daniels how, as Tennessee's defensive coordinator, he used the line as a motivational tool.
The Titans started 0-5 in 2006. Schwartz showed a clip of the film "Gettysburg," in which Daniels plays Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Union officer.
"They were out of ammunition, didn't know what to do," Schwartz said. "They couldn't retreat. If they retreated, the whole flank would have caved in and the battle would have been lost.
"People were asking him, 'What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?' Finally, he just screamed, 'Bayonets!' and turned the tide of the battle.
"It was a message to the team of, 'Hey, look, we're not going to retreat, we're not going to quit, we're not going to cut and run.' That message was true. So in a little way he's contributed to some football in the past."
The Titans won their next two games and finished 8-8.
Nothing from "Dumb and Dumber," though?
"Oh, gosh," Schwartz said, smiling. "There's too many. No. Hopefully that won't be part of our program here."
CARR VISITS: Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr also visited practice Wednesday. He saw some old Wolverines: linebacker Larry Foote, and offensive tackles Jon Jansen and Jeff Backus. He also said hello to former Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton and other players.
Schwartz used to work under New England coach Bill Belichick in Cleveland.
"Bill and Lloyd are good friends, maybe because of that package he sent him with the name 'Tom Brady' on it," Schwartz said. "I think he probably gets a Christmas card every year from Belichick."