UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Pasadena Blue]

I think SF analogies are useless. NFL and CFB are totally different worlds.
Jeff is fundamentally correct. The issue is, it can still be handled better than it has been, and I expect it will be,

[WM Wolverine]

Saban does all what you say and more, Froot. Would take him back at Sparty?

[WM Wolverine]

Saban isn't above criticism, it just deflects off him when he's winning. If he were winning 8-to-10 games a year instead of 12+, I think some of the things Saban does would be looked at much closer.

[froot loops]

Nope

[WM Wolverine]

PSU has already replaced Quinn Nordin who will switch his commitment after his USC official visit.

[WM Wolverine]

Penn State is really pissed at M for this along with stealing all the talent in Jersey that used to be theirs.

M has commits from 13 states and just 1 from Ohio and Michigan combined.

[Cody_Russell]

People in NJ aren't happy about Harbaugh too

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2016/01/recruits_beware_jim_harbaughs_word_means_nothing_a.html

Just reading the comments... I feel like a lot of people have just read headlines with this Harbaugh thing and have form opinions with only that.

[WingsFan]

When Michigan agreed to pay Harbaugh $7 million per year, it signaled that Harbaugh cannot beat the top teams while riding on the high horse some Michigan fans still think the school still sits upon. That means cutting kids from the class and from the existing roster to create more room, and it means taking academically questionable entrants -- the same kids SEC schools worry about getting qualified. Will Michigan fans be cool with having the same standards as Ohio State or Alabama? I think Harbaugh's alumni status will give him leeway in this area that Rich Rodriguez did not receive a decade ago.


Welcome To The New Norm For Michigan Football

https://michigan.n.rivals.com/news/recruiting-welcome-to-the-new-norm-for-michigan-football

[Pasadena Blue]

I'm on board

[Jeff Buchanan]

Drok, I've gotten a little callous about recruiting. I don't like the preening of 18 year olds, their sense of entitlement, getting love and all that.

Having said that, I agree with you on transparency and integrity when dealing with recruits. I don't think we know the full story. Only that provided by "unknown sources close to the M athletic department" used by the sports journalists who get off on taking shots at high profile targets like Harbaugh. With regard to that, Harbaugh does not care.

He does, however, care about his players and his recruits ......... If they are fully down with his expectations. To me it's like the Marines. Either you want to be excellent and work your way up to excellence, or you volunteer for the Army. You get in, you do well, you are among a band of brothers who will look out for you till the day you die. This is not hard.

Harbaugh has every aspect of a Marine Commander in his character. He has said as much. He surrounds himself with Marines and Marine slogans. Lead, follow or get the fuck out of the way. Accordingly and on balance I'm totally on board with what JH is doing.

[Mackenzie]

I see the benefit of treating recruiting as a tryout. Give them contingent offers (probably what Swenson got) then have candidates prove they want to play for JH at M. If they demonstrate they don't have the talent or desire, there's nothing wrong with culling. This way, coaches who choose this approach are in control for the most part, not having 18 year olds and their handlers jerking them around.

Not sure I agree with you here. Guess I feel that if a school thinks a kid might not be good enough then don't offer in the first place. Then again, can't wait too long or the cupboard might just be bare come signing day. In the end, I guess it just depends on whether you want to be the "jerker" or "jerkee."

[Mackenzie]

He does, however, care about his players and his recruits ......... If they are fully down with his expectations.

Not sure that Harding ever got the chance to show this.

[lineygoblue]

I'm on board with Harbaugh. He isn't breaking any NCAA rules, and he's playing hardball.

Lesson to potential recruits? If you accept a Michigan offer, you better continue to compete at a high level, or you may find the offer slip sliding away.

***cue Paul Simon***

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUODdPpnxcA"]Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away (Audio) - YouTube[/ame]

[hack]

Silly oversimplifications. As for academic standards specifically, we just lost Raulerson, and to another school that's pretty respected academically in UCLA, because the kid's grad program of choice wouldn't bend the rules for him.

[UMStan White]

Hey WM where's this guy on the UM recruiting chart? :-)

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/football/sportsmonday-column-i-tried-out-michigan-football-team