Top 10 Funniest Recruiting Stories in Past Decade
Mike Farrell over at Rivals has a free article with the top ten most ridiculous recruiting stories of the past decade. LINK: http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1239615
The list doesn't include Jimmy Claussen's announcement with the white Hummer limo, spiked hair, and promises of 4 national championships. More importantly, it doesn't include any Michigan recruits.
As you read through the list, there is a fascinating and striking fact. Namely, you don't see a single recruit who made a flashy announcement actually pan out as a great player. These recruits got their "15 minutes of fame" and the attention they wanted. But it didn't make any of them good on the field. The reality? Many of them flamed out.
Reading through this list just points out the wisdom of Hoke, Mattison, and the rest of the coaching staff in being genuine themselves, and recruiting strong character guys who will be a good fit at Michigan. I'm reminded that when the fit is bad, good things rarely happen, regardless of the recruiting hype.
It also makes clear that much of the recruiting hoopla is ridiculous. This just feeds a monster created by college football fandom.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:29 PM ^
Maybe they changed things up since you posted but the first sentence of the article mentions Claussen and legendary douchbaggyness.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
The article mentions Claussen as the lead in. However, he doesn't make the top 10 cut in the article itself. My guess is that Claussen's announcement had more publicity than many of the others, but wasn't as ridiculous as some of the lesser known recruiting incidents.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
I always wonder how many of these kinds of stories never see the light of day. The book "meat market" gives us a little insight into the recruting world, but I'm still watiting for a more comprehensive look into the dark world of college footbal recruiting.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
I agree and have been thinking the same thing for a while. If someone can put together a really good, insightful book about college football recruiting I will buy it immediately.
The problem, as I see it, is that you can only write recruiting stories after the fact. No high school player is going to let you follow him around and then write about how people threw money and girls at him because it would cause major problems.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:46 PM ^
And, it would border on NCAA violations.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Do you know any hockey recruiting stories? I'd imagine some pretty interesting things happen in that arena as well.
I have known several players over the years. However, the only one I'm in contact with regularly now played on the OL for Kansas, and then played semi-pro ball. Interestingly, he was recruited by Bo, and initially offered a scholarship. Bo pulled the scholarship because his grades weren't up to snuff.
I asked this guy, let's call him "Mike," about recruiting. He immediately verified the whole girls offering sexual favors, along with wining, dining, and cash, as incentives for a recruit to go to a particular school. However, I could never identify him publicly. He's got a wife and kids and this stuff happened more than 30 years ago, and is part of the ancient past. I'd also guess that oversight is a lot tighter now than it was 30 and 40 and more years ago. I can only imagine what went on from 1900 through 1970. Anyone who thinks that a lot of girls and alcohol and cash and cars didn't happen is hopelessly naive.
Probably there are a ton of people on the board who know stuff that either happened when they were recruited, or to guys they know who played. But no one wants that stuff out there in the public eye. I can only imagine what has happened at USC and Alabama and Georgia and Texas and Ohio State and on and on and on. To be honest, while some schools may have less of this go on than others, I wouldn't be surprised in the least to find out a lot of the same things happened at Michigan.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^
This is a great story.
Also, I'd assume that many of the hockey stories are of the cash payment variety, as seen with Michigan's many recent run-ins with OHL teams.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^
Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to start.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^
That was a excellent 30 for 30. Some shady recruiting went on with him. I thought I saw Saben as a little tyke getting in on the Dupree sweepstakes.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 4:36 PM ^
Come on....how can Cullen Christian's 26hr commitment ceremony not be on there?
September 26th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
Also, I believe he's our last "hat" win, for whatever that's worth (nothing)
September 26th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
Here's one in the not-at-all funny category:
September 26th, 2012 at 4:52 PM ^
Auburn has a Chick-fil-a closer so he picked Auburn over Clemson.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^
Not gonna lie, I don't find anything odd about using that as a reason to decide where to go. When I moved back to Ann Arbor after living in Arizona for a few years, there were 2 things that made the decision to move back more difficult than expected: the first being no longer living within a short drive to Vegas, the 2nd being a 1 hour drive to the closest Chick-fil-A...
Yep, the whole new job thing and finding a new place to live wasn't as much of a concern as my gambling prospects and delicious chicken sandwiches. I'm indeed a shallow and easily pleased man.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^
What about not having an In-n-out. That has to hurt as well.
Just curious what Fwy do you take to Vegas. The I-15 is the worst, so I usually just fly to Vegas if I can find a really cheap flight.
September 27th, 2012 at 8:33 AM ^
I do enjoy the occasional 2x4 animal style with fries well done, but I liked In n' Out alot better when it was a once a year thing. Having it readily available kinda made seem less special. Driving to Phoenix to Vegas is a straight shot on 93/I-40. It used to be a nightmare once you hit Hoover dam, but the new bridge they put up cut 30-45 minutes or so off the drive so it wasn't so bad the last couple times I drove up. Besides, I hate McCarran airport... a lot.
Edit: Flamebait, huh? To whoever this extremely lewd and utterly outrageous post of mine deeply offended, I truly apologize. I must've really struck a nerve...
September 26th, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
Not even remotely shady, but Calvin Johnson decided to go to Georgia Tech mostly because he absolutely did NOT want to leave home. The campus was within walking distance from his parents house. Said he had a pretty tough time being homesick after he got drafted.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^
Wasn't there a recruit a few years back who held his press conference at a strip club? I recall something of the sort, but couldn't find it online.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
What kind of a countdown goes from 1 to 10? Fail.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
That article is over a year old.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^
July 16, 2011
September 26th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
Meh, cut him a break. It's been a very slow day.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
I think he just wanted the points.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:26 PM ^
Oops. Crap. Good catch, shouldn't have posted the link, didn't see that myself. Thanks.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
Shame on you
September 26th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
I don't remember reading this before so it was still worth a read and a chuckle. Carry on.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^
In other logical leaps I think the resolution of J. Edgar Hoover and the creation of a centralized identification system for criminals in this country also shows the true genius of this coaching staff. Honorable Mention: pinneapples, Colonel Mustard, eating vanilla zingers, picture frames and the political unrest is Guinea.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
lol politcal unrest.
September 26th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
after reading some of those stories, i think that mike farrel fails to understand what "funny" is.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
mike farrel fails
September 26th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
There is - very sadly - video evidence from an old USC site:
These poor kids... "Hey, mom, remember that recruiting visit? Well, the coach took his shirt off, and..."
September 27th, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
Before Penn State.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
Mike Farrell is reporting that Florida State remains Willie Williams' leader
September 26th, 2012 at 7:14 PM ^
September 26th, 2012 at 7:23 PM ^
Cyrus Koundjiao is pretty good...
September 26th, 2012 at 8:59 PM ^
And isn't that the Greg Little who is now a wide receiver in the NFL? Assuming the Browns are still part of the NFL, of course.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^
Kass' statement is kinda true. Little or Koundijiao didn't make flashy announcements, just had some delays
September 26th, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
Individual recruits is nothing, many times its entire top recruiting classes that bust. I posted this over the summer, but it's very telling about the importance of great coaching.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1336343
Unsurprising some of the recruits from the Forum topic made it onto this list as well.
September 27th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
Florida State's 2004, 2005, and 2006 recruiting classes are all in the top five.
That's a remarkable streak.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
Florida State's 2004, 2005, and 2006 recruiting classes are all in the top five.
That's a remarkable streak.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
In 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Oh, wait...
September 27th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
Just imagine if recruiting hype machine was in operation 25 years ago. I can't imagine the kind of shenanigans a guy like Deion Sanders would be pulling when we made his signing announcement.