5th Year seniors had to "audition" during spring practice
This bummed out Keith Heitzman, which led to his transfer to Ohio University.
We've all heard some buzz about 5th years not being invited back, but this is the first time I've heard that there was a formal try out process.
to graduate in five years. They use those summer sessions to spread out their schedules, not an extra year. They have to meet NCAA standards for credit hours and making progress towards a degree. Schools get dinged hard in the APR when players leave after four years and don't graduate. Also, to take advantage of the grad transfer exception the player must have his degree.
My take on players being able to graduate in four years is this, counting on a fifth year to get your degree is a big risk and I have a feeling players who know they're at risk of not getting that fifth year probably figure it out within the first couple of years and can start to make an academic plan that gets them to a degree within four years while taking advantage of the summer sessions. I can't imagine there isn't a support system in place in which they are told what their academic options are and given staright talk as to what they need to do and should plan for. I think at some point natural sympathy for the time commitments they are asked to fulfill has to be balanced against the realization that people have to be held responsible for the choices they make, even if conditions aren't ideal.
the scenario you describe with Urban Meyer. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Beyond that, it's annoying how some posters are so eager to jump to Urban Meyer's defense for imaginary slights. It's a rival's board. If OSU's coach never got any unwarranted criticism here, that would be extraordinary.
But this sounds perfectly fine with me...
I was always nervous under a new coach because I knew my job was in jeopardy. It made me work harder. I don't understand what the issue is if Harbaugh didn't revoke his scholarship.
I support it but understand how a player could be upset thinking his 4 years meant nothing.
End entitlement. Promote a meritocracy. Destroy the Utes.
Hope he gets to make some plays against The Ohio.
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You were lying to yourself about who was wearing those Khakis. Harbaugh is here to win. Period. No free rides, no holdover handouts, no hand-holding. Everyone knew there would be attrition, its a new era, and no one is owed anything.
I haven't ever been on the inside of a big-time D1 football program, but this seems to me like a "Duh, of course that's what you do" type of thing. You've had your four years, so now if you want to stay, you tryout. That's kind of what athletic teams do, right?
If you're eligible for a 5th year, your first 4 years are essentially a tryout to see if you'll be granted a 5th year. Harbaugh wasn't here for these guys first 4 years so all he had was film to see what they did in games and then in spring practice to see how hard they work, attitude, coachability, etc.
He gave them the interview, and the Det News article is summarizing his comments. Not surprising they would troll Michigan at this time of year.
I think this is perfectly fine. There is enough tape of these kids and some coaching holdover, so that the "try-out" is probably a formality. Like a job evaluation for an underperforming employee. They're unlikely to keep their job/position on the team, but you need a mechanism to justify that decision. For a potential fifth year, this should be an expected part of the process. I bet most of them already know whether they'll be back, or not.
A former 2 star with not much track record of contributing on the field is "bummed out" a new coaching staff wants him to prove his worth?
Ok man, don't let the door hit you on the way out, and be sure to invite the rest of the country club members to leave with you.
You'll notice that big schools aren't exactly beating down the door for your services. Enjoy MAC football.
I tried to be neutral in the OP, but I have no problems with making people earn their spot on the team.
This is true. The "I was bummed out" comment really illustrates the entitlement. It sounds like Heiztman thought he belonged just by virtue having been around for 4 years and feared having to prove his worth. When your companies president is fired and replaced changes are made and your spot isn't guaranteed. This is no different. In fact isn't customary that 5th years are discretionary? At least a try out gives you the opportunity to earn a spot rather than the coach just deciding based on film or reputation.
If it wasn't for the fans none of those guys would be getting a free education at the nation's 45th best university.
the BEST public university in the world, right?
the Forbes thread from yesterday.
Why is it hilarious?
You know what is even more hilarious? Lions fans! Supporting a loser for 53 years. 1 playoff victory in all that time, 0-16, and the best running back ever to play the game just up and quitting cause he couldn't take it anymore.
Of course though, if the refs would have called that pass interference penalty, it would have been totally different... and don't forget it's Matt Millen's fault (he was the GM for 53 years?) /s
I have no problem with this. Harbaugh should be reevaluating the previous regimes players. Heitzman comes across as entitled in the article. Did he even try out? Was he afraid to be evaluated? I say good riddance, it's time to change the culture.
If Immortan Joe was a coach, he would withhold water like in the good ol days.. That's the best way to prepare the men for Valhalla!
It almost sounds as if Hoke was running some sort of country club here! Players not being coached well or working hard to improve themselves. I'm glad those days are over! Just hope some of our talented players can finally shine under Harbaugh!
Hope he was bummed out about going 5-7 last year including losses to Maryland and Rutgers. I know I sure was.
That probably would've saved Hoke's job. Maybe we should not be so bummed out about those losses now.
That was just pure speculation from people who knew nothing about how Hackett and Schlissel would operate. It seemed obvious at the time that Hoke was done for after Minnesota. It's even more obvious in hindsight that keeping an underperforming Hoke was never part of Hackett's vision for Michigan football.
Like a try out.
Bring your enthusiasm.
And let it be something mankind has never known.
All fifth-year seniors at all programs have to try out. Your try-out might have been the previous four years, or it might have been shorter than that. But I'm not aware of any program that guarantees five years. That fifth year is offered to those who have earned a spot.
What, no guaranteed playing time? Isn't that what the registration fee is for???
/s
Very smart on JH's part!
If this story was about Ohio State, this message board would not unanimously support this practice.
Personally, I'm not sure. I think it might bum me out too.
Other than their local paper being the source of the story? If our standard is that anything some of our fanbase would criticize OSU for is wrong, then practically everything is wrong. If this story was about OSU, I think the people criticizing them here would be a small minority.
His point is that if it wasn't Harbaugh and it wasn't Michigan, people wouldn't be so unanimously "Tough kid! You gotta work hard! Life is hard!"
Imagine this is about Saban & Bama or Mora & UCLA. This thread would be a lot more divided
When it was about Charlie Strong and Texas he had as much support here as Harbaugh, if not more. And that was a much more analagous situation.
I disagree with your other point too. People consistently bring up our criticism of OSU as a way to criticize our own program. It's annoying and it's not inadvertent. You're right about Saban, because people do that as well. Anything they do are lightning rods for criticism here.
Have Saban and OSU earned the same benefit of the doubt for their ethics we'd give Harbaugh and Michigan? If this happened at UCLA or Washington or Kansas State the two main two reactions on the board would be "So what?" and "This is a terrible topic".
You mean Harbaugh made his players compete to prove they were worthy of a spot on his team? Truly a shocking revelation this is. Never would have expected that from him.
Did anyone else notice how it was the Columbus Dispatch that sought out Heitzman for the interview of why he transferred, as if they were looking for dirt? I wonder if the Free Press is too afraid of Harbaugh to invent dirt to sell more papers.
They're also shittier than shit. I don't know what's worse than the lovechild or dirt and shit, but whatever it is, the FREEP invented it.
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Honestly, why do stories like this only pop up with regards to players who came up under the "old" regime of Michigan football? This strikes me as more of an idictment to the culture pervasive in the late-Carr and Hoke coaching eras.
COMPETITON! He lives by this principle and the sooner all his players and coaches embrace this concept the sooner they will win.
If you're a 5th year player and have yet to contribute significantly, then it's time to turn attention towards younger players that can impact the future trajectory of the program. I have no problem with this. The players had the opportunity to earn their degrees and they've been here for four years.
Our play in recent years has been soft and entitled... as if walking on the field in maize and blue is enough to earn wins. That was not just a gameday issue - it was a reflection of the personality of the program. Wearing the winged helmet is a privilege, not a right. I don't want to ever see my alma mater stoop to unethical behavior. However, I have no problem with decisions that change our past culture of entitlement.
Amen, amen, and amen!