Wonderful DetNews article on Da' Shawn Hand visit
Sam Webb has a really good article on DetNews about Da' Shawn Hand's visit this weekend.
Link?
We've heard it before, but it's worth hearing again: this sounds like a really good kid. He's very focused on his studies. There are some quotes towards the bottom of the article about Alabama's Dean of Engineering, as well as the other competitors for his services (Florida, South Carolina and Virginia Tech).
There's a lot of good stuff in the article, but my favorite quote (on questions he asks himself about each potential school):
Said Hand: "Can I live there for five years (and) do I get along with the people there? (Other factors will be) coaching staff, academics, teammates, the environment, my family, and food. I'm an eater. I like seafood, but you can't eat everybody's seafood . I've learned that. The place has to have good food. If you don't have good food, then I don't know why you're a college."
March 14th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
So, do we want to introduce him to Chicken Broccoli Bake or no?
March 14th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
Broccoli should be the 8th deadly sin.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
Vile weed!! Someone, please, honey mustard!!
March 14th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Can't upvote you anymore cause you're already at 5. One of my favorite scenes ever.
You wouldn't eat brocoli if it was deep fried in chocolate! LOL
Love how he slams the honey mustard like it's a shot of Jack, too.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
is obvious.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
Sounds delish, but I think he said he loves seafood. Got any shrimp, or lobster broccoli bake?
March 14th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
VT has what is consistently rated as by far the #1 dining hall food... sounds like this ship has sailed.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
I've been to Tech to visit friends and got to eat in their dining halls. They're definitely a lot, a lot better than ours. How much that matters to Hand is the question
but given he's mentioning seafood, I don't think it's dining hall food he's worried about. In that respect, A2 has waaayyyy better restaurants than Blacksburg does. No question
March 14th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
I agree, Michigan's dining halls are probably below average when it comes to schools. However, don't forget that football players get training table, which is significantly better than the dining hall.
Not sure how UM's training table compares to other schools...unfortunately, I was never allowed to partake.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
I worked Training table many a time and their options far our classed what most of us could get at a decent restaurant in Ann Arbor.
The most impressive thing wasn't the prime rib or countless strip steaks, lobster, etc... what impressed me what the choice they had and the consistent amount of options...
Cool Story Bro: I watched Lloyd give a huge speech before the Tennessee Bowl game and I remember it being very pumped up about our choices. I clearly remember Carr stating over and over again that we would have a great game plan for the bowl game. I also remember putting 500 down on us and knowing that it was lost within 20 minutes of the begining of the game.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
Out of the gate we have a Statey.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
There's alot of "wonderful" articles being posted today.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
You're picking up what I'm putting down?
March 14th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
March 14th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
baggin' what I'm raking?
You eatin what I'm cookin'?
I'm hip to your jive.
March 14th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
I hope he's not hooked on Maryland crab cakes. Michigan could be in trouble.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
Well I'm from Maryland and I love seafood. I now live in NYC where there are endless food options. But I can honestly say that nowhere I've lived, or even traveled to, has a better food selection for college kids than Ann Arbor. Period. BKFinest it.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
The thing that stood out to him the most about Alabama was the engineering program? Certainly, that is one battle we will win.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
March 14th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
'A lot of people say the workload is crazy, but the dean for engineering is a football guy, so that helps out so much'
March 14th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
No, I agree. That is certainly one way to interpret that statement. With everything you hear about student athletes these days coupled with the thought of majoring in engineering while playing football, it's hard not to be jaded. That's a crazy workload. That being said, Adam Finley, our old punter, recieved his degree in Biomedical Engineering so it can be done.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
Yeah, but dude was so busy he didn't even have time to tweeze his eyebrows.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
Some students really do want to take advantage of the resources available to them.
March 14th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Yeah it should be no contest but...North Campus? Oh man,it's so dreary up there.
I spent a little bit of time in the engin program and I honestly can't a fathom a big-time football player enduring that. The bland location, awful homework load and the near complete lack of women. Unless the kids got the dispostion of a monk I'm guessing he'll change his major (or pick a different school).
March 14th, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
steps up their game. Too bad he won't be able to bear witness to Blimpie's. Pun intended. . . .
March 14th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
Someone get this kid to Real Seafood.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
edit: beaton to the punch.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
What I found most interesting is this statement:
Said Hand: "Can I live there for five years (and) do I get along with the people there?"He's the top recruit in the country and he's planning on spending five years in college? Most elite kids are not planning on redshirting and are hoping to be in the NFL by the end of Year 3. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I love this kid's character.
March 14th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
"The key to connecting with Da'Shawn is being able to teach him," Harris said. "He's one of those kids that if he feels like he can learn from you, then you have his attention. As long as you keep his attention, he'll continue to bond with you. What will happen with some coaches, is they say 'Oh, you're great now', and he'll kind of shut it off and say, 'no, I'm not." - Woodbridge High assistant coach John Harris
I would think that this is another area where Michigan shines because it seems like this is precisely the approach that our staff takes, and indeed, the notion of continually learning and improving is what the culture of the staff seems to be built around. What I really like about how Hand is approaching this is his effort to make sure that he feels he can fit culturally into a particular school's environment as well, and this is very important if you want to maximize your potential both academically as well as on the field, I would say.