Nick B Interviews Jack Miller on Reasons for Departure

I know there is a thread for it but I think hearing from the horse's mouth is worth its own story and not getting lost among 200 other comments.  Nick B at Mlive has a very nice article out with lots of Miller quotes - sounds like something he wrestled with at the end of last year as well - was going to do his 4 years and call it a day but reconsidered. 

"It wasn't an impulsive decision (to leave), it's been thought out and calculated and I've consulted countless people who I'm close with about this," he says. "I just thought it was the best thing for me. I thought about it last year, too. I had talked with coach Hoke last year about it. There was a time where I was prepared to go through senior day and (be done), but I had a change of heart.

"But, again, it was calculated. And probably over-analyzed. My gut just told me it was time to move on. I had four great years, and it's been the most challenging and most rewarding time in my life. It's sad it's over, but I know it's the right thing to do."

His heart was not 100% into football as it needed to be to compete at this level.  Sounds like a very smart and forwaard thinking person in regards to his future.

"It obviously was a really tough decision to make and it's one I've thought about for a long time, and I've gone back and forth on it for a long time," Miller said Thursday in an interview with MLive. "The truth is, this game requires a sacrifice and effort and time. And if you're not crazy passionate about (all of it), it's really hard to do.

"This has been my life as long as I can remember, and I think it's run its course with me. I came to Michigan and I've accomplished all the goals I set out to do. I've gotten a free education from the greatest public institution in the world. I played a lot of football at the highest level, in front of the largest crowd to ever watch the game. But I'm ready to pursue other goals, I'm ready to move on into the next chapter of my life."

Miller is currently finishing his undergraduate work as a political science major, and will graduate this semester from Michigan. At this point, he's considering a number of real world options after college, including potential involvement in politics.

He'll also earn a certification in sales and marketing from Michigan's Ross School of Business. From there, he may pursue an MBA or potentially try his hand at law school. Or, he may venture into the business world and seek full-time employment.

Sounds like Harbaugh was fully supportive as the man knows what it means to be fully passionate about something...

He insisted this decision had nothing to do with the team's coaching change, explaining how he was excited to work with Harbaugh and would've loved to be a part of his first team at Michigan.

"He told me he had a great deal of respect for me and my decision, a guy like him who is as intense and as passionate about things in his life, he can relate to the fact that I wanted to pursue other things that I felt that way about," Miller says. "And football wasn't one of them anymore. (This had nothing to do with Harbaugh), coach Harbaugh and I and his staff all got along and I was looking forward to working with them if I was going to stay. They're going to be great for Michigan and they're going to take this program back to where it belongs and I'm confident in that.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/03/jack_miller_explains_…