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**froot loops** · January 26, 2016, 02:16 PM

The commitments go both ways argument is valid, I guess it depends on how strict you are about closing the recruiting process once the kid commits. That was what Hoke was famous for, once you were committed to Michigan you were supposed to be committed to Michigan. If you are really that strict and then pull a January surprise then you will leave yourself open to some criticism. It is definitely different now and any recruit should be aware.

As Michigan Men wouldn't it seem preposterous that there would be a better offer for a young lad than a scholarship offer from an icon like Harbaugh at Michigan?

**drok** · January 26, 2016, 02:20 PM

I'm pretty aligned with what Brian's recent post says on mgoblog:

Pick Up The Damn Phone | mgoblog

http://mgoblog.com/content/pick-damn-phone

[Patrick Barron] You will not be surprised that the Rashad Weaver decommitment set off another media/twitter/message board tempest. The guy who called Kyle Flood "real" two weeks before his grade-fixing scandal came to light has weighed in. Teddy Greenstein has resumed calling Michael Spath a hack so he doesn't have to actually address Michigan's point of view. Lawyers from Alabama have invaded my mentions. This is not a good state of affairs. It is not the End of Integrity, as the pearl-clutching wing of the fanbase has fretted. The decommits will sign elsewhere; they won't have to transfer or take a medical midway through their careers. Finding yourself with a guy who would be better off elsewhere is inevitable and it's better to rip off the bandaid. Michigan isn't in this situation because it's evil or untrustworthy, but rather because it's been disorganized and sloppy. There are countless examples just this year of similar decommits that were handled much better, like when Florida commit Isaiah Williams flipped to Washington State in December. Was that a voluntary switch? Not bloody likely. Did it cause a rending of garments and beating of the breast? Not at all. Michigan took a number of early commits from fringe players, and they did so without checking up on grades. While there have been no complaints from anyone other than Swenson and Weaver, the sheer number of decommits looks bad even if Michigan has valid reasons for consciously uncoupling. There was no reason to take commits from a slew of academically questionable three stars this summer. Michigan gave them a plan to get right and they couldn't get there, which is fine. More or less dropping contact with them is not. Meanwhile Michigan's two talent-based decommits were given broad hints but not told flat out until they did not want to take those hints. Whether or not this is how it's done elsewhere, that's the equivalent of breaking up with your girlfriend via meaningful eyebrow arcing and the occasional pursed lip. It results in confusion and people buying you gun racks. Erik Swenson should have been explicitly dumped as soon as he did not show for Michigan's summer camp, and certainly by October, when his midseason senior film arrived in Ann Arbor. Weaver got enough of a message that he started looking around in November; his situation should have been made explicitly clear by midseason at the latest as well. This is both ethically better and less damaging to the program. A Swenson set loose in October is both more capable of finding an appropriate landing spot and less capable of setting off a media firestorm. If Rashad Weaver simply flips to one of the four schools he visited over the course of the season his decommit is as newsworthy as that of Isaiah Williams, ie, not newsworthy except to Washington State fans. So. To prevent further outbreaks, pick up the damn phone. By December.

Basically, the kids and program will be fine, but this should be handled better. The coaches are creating unnecessary drama for themselves.

**BlueInFlorida** · January 26, 2016, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by The Oracle View Post

Suuuuuure Gonz. And I just got back from Costa Rica.

I'm glad I didn't get back from Costa Rica.

**The Oracle** · January 26, 2016, 02:49 PM

Wish I could have stayed longer! Will be back.

**Mike** · January 26, 2016, 02:51 PM

MassSpartan's reaction to the Swenson news caught on film:

[ame]https://youtu.be/tLB1g33viNM[/ame]

**The Oracle** · January 26, 2016, 02:54 PM

Cute analogy.

**Masspartan** · January 26, 2016, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by The Oracle View Post

Suuuuuure Gonz. And I just got back from Costa Rica.

wait, nevermind

The new Fiance' and I at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, Thailand.

**Masspartan** · January 26, 2016, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by The Oracle View Post

Suuuuuure Gonz. And I just got back from Costa Rica.

wait, nevermind

Originally posted by whodean View Post

Been "camping"

sort of ....

**Da Geezer** · January 26, 2016, 03:02 PM

As Michigan Men wouldn't it seem preposterous that there would be a better offer for a young lad than a scholarship offer from an icon like Harbaugh at Michigan?

The offer from Texa$ would $eem better. This Texa$ kid has decommitted from 3 $chool$ $o far, and it might be that the Texa$ offer had $ome other benefits$

**Kstat** · January 26, 2016, 03:05 PM

I can't tune in to 97.1 for 10 seconds without hearing valenti rant about how dirty and unethical Jim Harbaugh's recruiting is...

**Mackenzie** · January 26, 2016, 03:11 PM

As I admitted, recruiting is a more complicated process than I understand. All kinds of vagaries i.e. what is an offer, what is a commitable offer, etc. I still stand by my opinion. If the university offers a kid a scholarship they should stand by that, even if it was a previous coach who offered. And no, I don't think finding a better player is a compelling reason for pulling an offer/scholarship. If kids want to jerk the school around that's fine. They're kids and some the whores of their "team." I don't give a rat's behind what Jordan Elliott says. But, I do care what JH says. If M wants to jerk the kids around, that's different. We're the University of Michigan (put the name of your university here). You teach by example. You lead by example. You want kids to understand what giving your word means, you do it by example. Can there be discussion with the kids and their parents when coaching changes are made and what that means for a particular player, their position, how they'll be used, etc. That's all well and good, should happen, and the kid has a decision to make. But, if the kid wants to stay, work hard, keep his end of the bargain, then his offer/scholarship should not be pulled. Maybe they should change the transfer rules (for all players) when coaching changes are made. Maybe coaches should have to sit out a year. Yeah, the door swings both ways. BS. If better players are recruited and that pushes a player/recruit further down the depth chart then the player/recruit has a decision to make but his offer/scholarship should still stand. Maybe it is "all moving parts til signing day." And yes, this too shall pass. Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

**whodean** · January 26, 2016, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by Masspartan View Post

sort of ....

He's cute.

**paul daugherity** · January 26, 2016, 03:20 PM

Resorting to name calling Mass? On that level I guess it takes one to know one.

Anyway, yes it is a business. The players and coaches both know it. And the players at issue here are not out of options. Swenson will likely end up at northwestern, Weaver at temple. So they are not out "big bucks for the dress and limo" because they are still going to go to prom (get a scholarship). Further, as I wrote. I am critical of Harbaugh not telling them directly and sooner. The players do it too, so I don't see the problem. Everybody should be well aware that a commit and offer isn't done until the letter is signed.

**Masspartan** · January 26, 2016, 03:44 PM

um ... that was an analogy Paul. An analogy in which the dude from the anaolgy asks 1 girl to the prom then dumps her for another. He's the douche.

I don't know you and have no idea if you are a douche or not.

It had nothing to do with you.

**The Oracle** · January 26, 2016, 03:45 PM

Originally posted by Masspartan View Post

The new Fiance' and I at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, Thailand.

Congrats! Thailand is on the list.

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