Team 137 by Jim Harbaugh. Football talk and Predictions.

[iam416]

I don't think that it would make much of a difference. IMHO the competitive advantage of having the practice in Florida is extra exposure to the local high school powerhouses.

So, the thing with IMG is that the kids are almost all transient. There's no "IMG Program" like there is a Glenville program or a Cass program. Kids don't grow up going through IMG. They transfer there in their junior or senior year when they already have relationships with coaching staffs.

It seems to me that the benefit would be at program where you introduce your brand to frosh and sophomores and become associated with the "program" -- from like 7th grade and up...kids get used to seeing your program there every year...that's just not how IMG works...

HARBAUGH'S Summer Swarm and spring practice at IMG in Bradenton were both really creative and innovative.

The "Summer Swarm" was unique only in the sheer hype JH tried to generate. Satellite camps certainly weren't a new idea. JH tried to amp them up, as he has amped up "hiring policies."

IMG is innovative. It won't last, but it's innovative.

We'll have to wait and see the effects if they eventually sign any IMG recruits.

At a minimum, he'll get to scout out some Ohio State kids.

Comparisons to OSU's recruiting success mean little, UfM has built a machine that's dominated the B1G and CFB some time before JH was hired at M.

At some point in time it's got to be fair to compare JH to UFM, but I understand the reluctance to do so.

[iam416]

You say he recalled incorrectly then agree with him that UFM's first class ranked 5th.

Yeah, he was comparing UFM's 1st class to JH's 2nd class -- Incorrectly:

It's JH's 2nd year. As I recall, UFM had the 5th ranked class his first year as well.

UFM's first year:JH's first year is 5:37 -- not 5:5. If you think JH's "first class" is 5th, then UFM's "first class" was 2nd.

The comparison was absolutely wrong.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Yeah, he was comparing UFM's 1st class to JH's 2nd class -- Incorrectly:



UFM's first year:JH's first year is 5:37 -- not 5:5. If you think JH's "first class" is 5th, then UFM's "first class" was 2nd.

The comparison was absolutely wrong.

Right, looking at the first classes put together by the coaches JH was 37 and Urban was 5. I incorrectly compared the first classes. However, let's not forget Urban had a full two months to recruit and JH had one.

My point was JH is changing the recruiting game which also means he is "redefining" it.

This talk of "Creepovers" and "anointing Moses" is douchebaggery at its finest.

[lineygoblue]

they can easily draw a line between practice and games. Baseball teams go south to play games.

Not completely true. Both baseball and softball teams (OSU does this too) go south to finish their pre-season practices, and then start playing games that count, against teams from the south and southwest. This has been common practice for years, and is actually necessary, because with the way the "spring" seasons are structured, the northern teams would not be able to field teams, if they could not practice and play in a warmer climate, in the early part of the season.

This was actually discussed a couple years ago by the B1G, who floated the idea of flip-flopping their CONFERENCE games to AFTER the NCAA tournament, so that they could play games in real baseball weather. They also hoped that this would help attendance, because some B1G teams have some pretty nice stadiums.

The idea didn't get too far, because in order to qualify for the NCAA Tournaments in Baseball and Softball, they needed to have played more than just a handful of games.

I suppose that the larger football programs could really get crazy with a spring break practice to some exotic location, but I don't see how the NCAA can put a complete kibosh on the idea. Its already being done by baseball and softball.

Point well taken on the NCAA being hypocritical whenever they choose, however.

[lineygoblue]

And RE: Meyer v Harbaugh and "whose is bigger" recruiting results ...

I don't think Harbaugh has to set a goal of "out-recruiting" Meyer/Dantonio/Saban/whomever every year. I think all he really needs to do is get a group of players aboard who can play the way he wants them to. Anything can happen once two teams can take the field, and its my 11 against your 11.

[iam416]

Not completely true. Both baseball and softball teams (OSU does this too) go south to finish their pre-season practices, and then start playing games that count, against teams from the south and southwest. This has been common practice for years, and is actually necessary, because with the way the "spring" seasons are structured, the northern teams would not be able to field teams, if they could not practice and play in a warmer climate, in the early part of the season.

Yeah, what I think the NCAA would/will do is tie the trip to games. B10 teams may go down south to finish practice, but they ultimately play games. It's a necessity, as you point out. Hell, they often play other northern teams.

But, I think the rule could drafted to say that practices must be held w/in X miles of the campus UNLESS practices are part of a continuous trip involving game(s). I mean, it's obviously ok for M to practice in Orlando when they're going to play a game there. So, I think they can do something like that.

I don't think Harbaugh has to set a goal of "out-recruiting" Meyer/Dantonio/Saban/whomever every year. I think all he really needs to do is get a group of players aboard who can play the way he wants them to. Anything can happen once two teams can take the field, and its my 11 against your 11.

Exactly. Well, except that last part - I mean, it's true, but eh, whatever. The key is getting the best players for your team. That will often include well, the best players. Rashan Gary fits into anyone's scheme. But there will also be be players that have greater value to, e.g., M than they do to OSU and vice versa.

The comparison thing is only because, apparently, JH is "redefining" recruiting as we knowing it -- breaking the paradigm. In that regard comparisons are appropriate. But for the big picture, JH just needs to keep recruiting like he is. His wackiness works for him. It'd be crazy for him to recruit like UFM and crazy for UFM to recruit like JH.

[iam416]

My point was JH is changing the recruiting game which also means he is "redefining" it.

The recruiting game will remain, by and large, unchanged. The keys to recruiting remain the keys to recruiting. The one real innovation JH has come up with will be short-lived -- likely one year.

Meanwhile, recruiting is still all about comfort and relationships. And there a million different ways to build those things with recruits. HARBAUGH!!!!! opts for a slightly more zany approach than others. But he's not changing the way the big boys do business, and he's certainly not "re-defining" the way they operate (I don't equate "any small change" to "redefine").

[froot loops]

Getting Ric Flair to show up was impressive.

[Prime2]

Talent is so threatened by Harbaugh NFL Machine Inc. , that he's overwhelming compelled to "mico-litigate" or diminish every single accomplishment by Michigan, almost daily. LOL

[Prime2]

Harbaugh beats Meyer in Columbus this fall , straight-up, $700.

Time to put up.....

[Prime2]

Bitched out?
Year before, offered to wager, post went unanswered?

As for last season, you pissed and moaned for weeks leading up to the game, MSU's backup QB destroys Meyer's NT aspirations in Columbus , sends a Shockwave through B-EyeNation. Feeling merciful, gave you the option to reduce the bet from 5 large to avatars, which you immediately jumped on.

$700 still stands until L-Day weekend, Meyer has spent his entire career at the Kiddie Table, has the CFB market cornered, easy money.

[iam416]

You didn't even live up to the avatars wager.

My last post on this outside of the OSU thread. There's lots of 'on topic' ways to clog up this thread. This is far better discussed on the 50-4 thread

*EDIT -- I took the liberty delete my previous posts on this topic

[WM Wolverine]

You've passed us in all-time B1G winning percentage, how much longer before all-time winning percentage too? Amazing how quickly you closed what was an awfully large gap in about '06.

[iam416]

Years. Currently (with ties factored in):

M: 943-349
OSU: 901.5 - 346.5

So, OSU needs an improbable 42-3 run to match M's performance through 1292 games. But, even if OSU did that, they'd still need JH to win at 0.729 or less over the next 3+ seasons, and that ain't happening.

OSU was one more disaster hire away from making it really close, though.

I should note that OSU's record doesn't include the 12 vacated wins from 2010. That'd make things a bit more doable....but, c'mon, 30-3 is still a really hard ask.

[iam416]

But, speaking of B10 winning percentage, Ohio State is the runaway leader in all-time winning percentage since OSU joined the B10 (Western) in 1913. OSU=0.742; Bama=0.731. M is 5th at 0.712.

OSU and M are much closer if it's just OSU joining to Wheels Come off (1913-2007): 0.735 to 0.729.

I love Stassen.