Extended McDowell Signing Day Drama
According to TomVH on twitter Malik McDowell has yet to sign and send in his LOI. It's been publicized that Malik wants to attend to MSU (and announced State during a ceremony this morning) but his parents (specifically his mother) don't think that MSU is the best place for him. Tom's latest tweet (@TomVH)
"There is definite drama with the Malik McDowell situation. HS coach doesn't know ehn he'll send it (sic) in letter of intent"
I'm a bit torn here. There's obviously something going on with this young man and his family that involves a huge life choice. However, possible SPARTY NO on NSD just after star rankings started to matter?
February 5th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
....?
February 5th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
....?
February 5th, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 8:13 PM ^
on a bigger payday elsewhere. Last minute either Ohio or an SEC team swooped in with a load of cash. That stop any LOI being sent in.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
Umm, no.
What she's been saying repeatedly is, "anywhere but MSU." She seems to have a real problem with either the school or the football program. I just hope that whatever she ends up doing works out best for her son in the long run.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
But I'd downvote that 20 times if I could.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
As a mother, I'm trying to put myself in her place. My two cents is that it's one of two things. One, she definitely has a beef with MSU, but the real reason she's digging her heels in is because she feels like no one is listening to her concerns. So the more they don't listen (Malik and whoever else is championing MSU), the more she digs her heels in. Her anxiety over whatever is bugging her about MSU gets bigger and bigger because everyone keeps ignoring or dismissing her.
Or two, there is some big bad issue that we're not privy to. It would be hard to imagine her just acting like this if she just had some minor issue, or didn't prefer MSU.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
This is very simply taking the easy way out. No mother wants to see her son do that.
February 6th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^
This is ultimately her son's decision. She may not like it, but it's her son's ability is the reason they're off the hook for paying for college. She doesn't have to live at the university for the next 4-5 years, her son does.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 8:44 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
Personally I could care less if he plays football here at Michigan or not. But I do love the stress he is causing MSU.
EDIT: I should say the stress that the situation is causing MSU.
February 6th, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
Maybe he cares a little, so he technically could care less.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
Fresh DetNews article says he still hasn't signed with MSU, but it appears he eventually will, once he gets his mother to sign off on it.
When asked if he had signed the letter, McDowell replied: “No.”
How come? “Just didn’t.”
Do you plan on signing it later Wednesday night? “I don’t know.”
Do you still plan on going to Michigan State? “Yes.”
Was Michigan State always your first choice? “No.”
When did you decide and why Michigan State? “Last two or three weeks. There was no major reason.”
Props to Sam Webb, who called it this morning, saying that if McDowell picked MSU there was a good chance there'd be no signed NLI today.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
"...no major reason". Not according to Mom.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
Not sure why people are so upset at his mom. Clearly something turned her off from MSU. And I am talking about much more than not liking the football team. This is a decision much larger than the football field.
To you people on this board that think it should always be up to the kid...
If your kid wanted to bully kids would you let him?
If your kid wanted to try drugs would you "sign off and let go"?
If your kid wanted to drive drunk would you let him "make the choice"?
February 5th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
Actually, I think this is part of her problem—she thinks her son's decision isn't well thought out. If he made a case based on solid reasons to pick MSU, then she'd probably be fine with it. She thinks he wants to go to MSU for superficial reasons, which an answer like "no major reason" bears out.
February 5th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 7:51 AM ^
If you ask Michigan fans...he went to a strip club on his visit, his mom found out, and she doesn't want him going to MSU.
If you ask MSU fans...he met a respectable young lady and feels he's in love and his mom only thinks he wants to go to MSU to be with her.
Drama. Drama. Drama.
Currently this is his perception of both schools.
^^^^^ Michigan State
^^^^^ Michigan
February 6th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^
That's the Greek chorus --- other Greek drama elements are present: the oedipal mother-son conflict, whether family loyalty trumps other allegiances (to MSU), and so on and on.
Did I not read somewhere that both mom and dad --- especially dad --- wanted MM out of the State of Michigan because dad was afraid MM's (apparently somewhat disreputable) Southfield pals would motor up to EL and hang with him, thus exerting a "bad influence"?
I suspect MM will end up at MSU, but MM and his family feud is one more drama that Michigan does not need at this particular time. Anyway, I did like Lawrence Marshall's comment: "I can't wait to meet him [MM] on the field." Go Blue.
February 6th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
Sam Webb said on WTKA this morning that he thinks McDowell will still end up at MSU but that he may simply go there with ever having signed an NLI. His mom is at serious odds with the MSU coaches, and that dispute may be unresolvable.
As Sam said, hopefully McDowell and his mom can get past this difficult point in their relationship.
February 6th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^
Good luck to the kid, I hope he's able to focus on whats important and make the most of his opporunity to play football and receive a free education.
That said, and I've said this since October...I think Michigan is better off without him. Not sour grapes, I don't think that about Webb or Hand...even Wiegars or Johnny Williams to some extent.
Michigan just doesn't need anyone with maturity issues or questions marks right now. We don't need anyone who has focus and interests that aren't aligned with that of the team.
It sounds righteous, but I'm just talking about the current state of Michigan. I wanted Demar Dorsey, I won't like...but I felt those teams had much better leadership and direction. Right now we the number of young guys on our team, we need a solid foundation. These next 2 years may be the most important for Michigan Football for a loooong time. If Michigan is going to build a foundation like Bama or Stanford, it literally HAS to happen over the next two years.
One guy isn't going to mess that up, but you add enough question marks, and you can quickly mess up that foundation when those question marks are juniors and seniors and considered "leaders." See the Florida Gators.
February 6th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^