"At one time it was all about having a big quarterback with a strong arm, " former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

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"Arm is a great company with a strong market position and a unique culture, " he said.

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"You don't train with physical abuse because he's so strong, it's a mental arm-wrestle, " he explained.

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Listed at 6-foot-4 and 237 pounds, Manuel has a strong arm, is mobile and went 25-6 in four years with the Seminoles.

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And in May, Lenovo, a firm with strong connections to China's government, had finalised its purchase of the PC-making arm of IBM.

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