Harbaugh Pressures Pipkins to Retire
Should be interesting going forward. It is one side of the story, but we have seen these instances (OSU had a similar situation a few months ago I believe).
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13154115/ondre-pipkins-s…
"I don't want to sign the form. I wanted to play for my seniors and for the team. Coach Harbaugh said, 'I recommend you take the medical.'"
"College football is a business. New coaches have to win games. They want to go with guys they think can win. If I'm a victim of making room, so be it. But if there is no concrete reason to disqualify a player. He should have the right to keep playing."
"I feel bad I wasn't able to complete this journey with my classmates," Pipkins told ESPN. "I feel I am healthy and without pain. I believe Michigan wanted to free up the scholarship. I felt I was practicing well and could compete at a high level at the nose tackle and tackle positions."
"All I want to do is play football," Pipkins said. "I tried to finish my career at Michigan but I wasn't given the chance."
"Schmidt told me, 'Call it quits. Hang it up.' He said, 'You've had a good run'," Pipkins said of the Wolverines' head athletic trainer.
"I need you to sign this," Pipkins said Harbaugh told him of the medical form. "It's not fair to your teammates. Let's get it done."
It's only what you typed. Acting like you've just outlined a comprehensive summary and conclusion is dickish following it with cheers is douchey.
and if it doesn't stop we will lose our best and brightest hope for the future of Michigan Football.
Good reading here: http://hotair.com/archives/2015/05/05/the-left-eats-its-own-and-liberals-dont-like-it-much-at-all/
Remember Bo was as right wing as they get. Football and politics are mutually exclusive.
you posted that link and you weren't being satirical?
In your post at all
What here, on this thread, leads you to that conclusion? Or are you confusing this site with one of the other ones you apparently populate?
Let's just file this under postcards from Bolivia shall we?
We were already under 85 and he's a senior. This does zero good scholarship wise unless Harbaugh is trying to bring in another grad transfer (we haven't heard about). This also means our D-LINE could be atrocious this season if Henry and Wormley don't stay healthy and productive.
Mone?
I forgot about him. Great point -- Mone will need to make an impact as well!
M is not really super deep on the d-line right now.
If Pipkins could play without risking too much health-wise, then it would make no sense at all to shove him out with a phoney medical.
If he were healthy he would contribute and would get into the playing time rotation, especially given how d-line players are rotated these days.
M is already at the 85 liimt, so shoving him out with a phony medical would not help M at all in terms of the 85 scholarship limit.
Plus there are other medicals on the way, so with oriwthout Pipkins M will be below the 85 limit for the season.
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from artlcle. still on scholarship and counts towards scholarship limit.
"After consulting with our medical team, we do not think it is in Ondre's best interest as it relates to his health and welfare to play football, short or long term," Harbaugh said in a statement given to ESPN on Friday. "He remains on full scholarship and counts toward the 85 scholarship limit in pursuit of graduation from the University of Michigan."
so.... nothing to see here - move along? or not....
Two points:
1) It's clear that Pipkins realized that even if he kept his football scholarship this season he was never going to see the field. So he decided to transfer.
2) The pressure to sign the papers to take a medical looks bad, but there's a lot of room for ill will and exaggeration on the part of Pipkins there.
Question:
Is this why Notre Dame transfer DE Jhonny Williams couldn't get a scholly this year?
No. Rivals site is saying when Jhonny got to town after meeting the staff they didnt think he would mesh with what they were planning for him position wise.
If true all I can say is what did you expect? Harbaugh is hyper-competitive. He will push boundaries. I think people are being really naive when it comes to Harbaugh. He isn't the saint you supposed him to be. He coaches with an edge in all respects.
and finding out that '3rd time's the charm' is not good when it comes concussions.
...is going to push the edge for any advatange.
But the evidence suggests that at least in this particular case this is probably a legit medical and not cutting a guy with a phoney medical.
M does not need to cut scholarships for 2015. Already at 85 and there are other medicals rumored.
M is not very deep on the d-line, so if Pipkins were healthy he would probably get some PT and contribute.
I expect Harbaugh to test the limits. But there is no rational reason for Harbaugh to use shenanigans in the Pipkins case, at least juding from the available information.
It sounds like he wants to play, but I've gotta side with Harbaugh and the medical and training staff on this one. We have no idea about the extent of his injuries and what it might mean for his future.
For those that are complaining about the optics, would you rather have this scenario or Shane Morris on the field obviously concussed?
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If not, and this is Harbaugh trying to politely nudge Pip out the door, well, I'm somewhat disappointed, but maybe this is just a new reality that Michigan fans have to accept if they want to win in today's college football world.
I just hope he gets to finish his degree in scholarship. If he leaves the team, he deserves at least that much.
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cause you used up your hope comes true with the hoping he'd get to finnish his degree if he stayed thing.
It doesn't sound that bad when you read the actual article:
"Pipkins said doctors initially told him he has some arthritis in the knee but that he should not be disqualified from competition. But as pressure continued from others within the program to sign the medical form, he was sent by Michigan back to his knee surgeon who then recommended he rest his body for six months.
"After consulting with our medical team, we do not think it is in Ondre's best interest as it relates to his health and welfare to play football, short or long term," Harbaugh said in a statement given to ESPN on Friday. "He remains on full scholarship and counts toward the 85 scholarship limit in pursuit of graduation from the University of Michigan.""...
"He also Harbaugh told him that he wanted "to make sure you graduate from Michigan" and that the coach did not plan to invite him to fall camp due in part to medical concerns. The lineman added that Harbaugh told him that he did not believe he would be drafted into the NFL for medical reasons."
Either we worry about the long-term heath of players and encourage staff to make these medical-relatd decisions for players (or pressure the players to make their own informed decision), or we let the players make these medical decisions themselves and stop all the fuss about their long term health. Its tough to have it both ways.
Pipkins said doctors initially told him he has some arthritis in the knee but that he should not be disqualified from competition. But as pressure continued from others within the program to sign the medical form, he was sent by Michigan back to his knee surgeon who then recommended he rest his body for six months.
"After consulting with our medical team, we do not think it is in Ondre's best interest as it relates to his health and welfare to play football, short or long term," Harbaugh said in a statement given to ESPN on Friday. "He remains on full scholarship and counts toward the 85 scholarship limit in pursuit of graduation from the University of Michigan.
So he is on the roster and if he feels the pressure to get a medical, that don't mean much since he is on scholarship... So I do not get the point of him speaking out? Added, the medical staff is concern.... That is not a concern?
What a novel concept.
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This isn't a scholaship issue. He would still be on the 85 scholarship count this year if he stayed.
Yep, this is a move to free up space for the 2016 class. It can be be used on an early enrollee and count towards last years class. The guy wasn't going to contribute, so Harbaugh pushed for the medical DQ. He still gets a free education and we can use that scholly on an early enrollee. SEC schools woudn't even bat an eye at this, so why should we? It's not like we asked him to pay his way for his final year of school.
Becoming a football factory means some of us are going to have to admit that we are hypocritical.
The problem is that you just can't win if you don't act like a pro team: so you can have the higher ground morally or you can win; I don't think you can do both.
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I think it is an understatement to say, with all of the new information about CTE, that collegiate football programs should be doing even more to protect the player and his brain health.
Two concussions = automatic medical?
Outside of brain health, we should also acknowledge the potential long-term ramifications of repeated knee injuries on future quality of life.
There may be a fine line between doing the right thing for a student-athlete and being a "football factory", but a true "football factory" will put a kid through the meat grinder regardless of injury(ies).
In this case (two concussions, one neck injury, one ACL injury perhaps not fully healed, and arthritis in that knee as well), I side with the coaches and the medical staff.
...I agree.
Have people on this board forgotten the Shane Morris concussion incident? In addition to his other prior injuries injury, Pipkins suffered a second concussion that cut short his participation in Sping practice.
If Pipkins were to be allowed to play and then suffer a THIRD concussion... Now THAT would be somehting worthy of some ESPN reporting, MGoBlog hand wringing, and severe criticism of Harbaugh.
I feel bad for Pipkins. But after two concussions... It is better to just stop playing and get your degree.
I absolutely disagree that the choice is between moral behavior and winning behavior. I think that you can win doing things the right way, and that Michigan will do so.
This case in no way invalidates that argument; Pipkins has serios medical issues and not playing him seems to be doing things the right way. It isn't like he is some schlub who'd never see the field even if healthy. He'd likely be a starter or a first-off-the-bench kind of guy.
Of course he's disappointed and doesn't want to give up his dream. Of course that means he will claim that he's healthy and in no pain. But no player plays with no pain (except, maybe, kickers). Pain is, regrettably, part of the game. I don't blame Pipkins, but I see no evidence that Michigan is becoming a "football factory," no matter how much the Debbie Downers may want and claim that.
You brought s great attitude, quickness and size. I wish injuries would not have been an issue, because I believe you had the type of personality, attitude and skills that could have really helped us.
Good luck as you chart your course forward.
My take: Harbaugh told Pipkins he's got nothin left because he doesnt show the ability on the field even if Pipkins thinks he is healthy. Pipkins being the former 5 star that he is says "hell no." Harbaugh continues to dog Pipkins to retire becausePipkins simply isnt showing the ability to perform as a student-athlete and should perhaps be just a student. Pipkins finally gets it and in order to save a little face and possibly a future NFL flier seeks out Joe Shad to write a juicy story about how he is fine and Harbaugh pushed him out.
Only one problem. You can tell people youre healthy all day long but when you dont show it when the time comes through your actions on the field then you are too proud to admit youre done. I think is Pipkins was healthy he would be starting on the DL of the Wolverines this fall.
It doesn't seem like a huge stretch to think Harbaugh was actually looking out for him. Just because Saban abuses medical redshirts doesn't mean that it's a bad thing.
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So incredibly dumb...so par for the course for your posting.
I don't know man, straight from the buddy who is friends with someone out in Cali who lived on JHs street's mouth.
He's not even a good troll. That was one of the lamest trolls ever. I'd think it was intentional humor if I'd never seen any of his other trolls.
Even if what you say is true, hell, especially if it's true, stfu about it!
I'll be stopping by to collect your man card. Out another man for that. You should be ashamed.
troll
Michigan is still at the scholarship limit. Pipkins can decide not sign da ting and not transfer and it's still all good with the rules. And, if the coaches aren't going to play him there's no reason not to sign the medical, as someone else gets a paid scholarship.
HOWEVER, one really has to wonder how much the determination that this guy won't play has to do with wanting another player more. Maybe part of the reason they want Pipkins to retire is because they also want Jhonny Williams, for example.
I'm sure it's a bit of both, and knowing Harbaugh I think it's about winning as much as letting Pipkins evaluate his own situation.