Rashad Weaver Decommits
FL DE Rashad Weaver has decommitted. He's upset after Harbaugh told him there was only a 50/50 shot they'd have a slot for him on Signing Day and will take one of the other D-I offers he received. Weaver visited Temple recently and will be at USF and Illinois in the near future.
Weaver was one of the players we were assuming would not be in the class. Setting a visit to a non power-5 school is almost always a sign that a player committed to Michigan isn't going to get to Signing Day as a commit, and Weaver set that visit way back in November. He clearly had an idea of his status and moved to do something about it.
Still, you'd hope the past couple weeks inform the staff that in the twitter era you'd better do something a little more explicit than not calling for months if you don't want unpleasant public relations flare-ups on the regular.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:29 PM ^
It's very mature of you to tell those who disagree with you to "shut the F up." I'm embarrassed to read that on a Michigan blog.
January 26th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 11:57 PM ^
That Hoke is as good of a football coach as Harbaugh? Because I happen to think Harbaugh is far better. Recruiting - which is what we are talking about here - is not why Hoke failed at Michigan.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:33 PM ^
Look, handing out a lot of offers does not preclude the staff from clearly and honestly informing these kids of the nature of the offer. Then, not being in contact with a recruit who has verbally committed... How does one justify that?
I'd like for Michigan to win, but not at all costs. Misleading kids, if that's what they're doing, sucks. Forget about the "twitter era". Common decency was around long before twitter and will outlive it.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
True, but when other powerhouse programs do it why do we not see the kids post about it on twitter as if they were wronged, followed by national media ripping the coach as we've seen here.
January 26th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^
Probably because their fanbases don't give a shit about them doing things way worse than this? They allow kids to get on campus, then force them out afterwards.
Meanwhile, our fanbase and local media make a huge deal about it turning it into a story. Our fanbase and local media literally helps turns non-stories into negative regional and national stories about the program and then wonders why there are negative stories about Michigan out there.
EVERYONE knew Weaver wasn't ending up in this class. Every single post about recruiting has had Weaver out of the class. I know he's a kid, but are you telling me there isn't an adult anywhere in his life that could have helped him figure this out?
January 26th, 2016 at 10:13 AM ^
All the upvotes sir. How do we think the "stretchgate" non-story took off. At least that one had an actual violation behind it, however trivial. Michigan fans and media are insufferable.
January 26th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:18 PM ^
Harbaugh wasn't exactly sure what would happen this year especially before the season, hence early commitments from solid 3 star guys. After the season worked out etc...he had way more options than last year, I would bet two things, Harbaugh does do a better job communicating (assuming he didn't which I don't think so) and two there will be a few guys upset with him, those getting cut during recruiting, those not getting playing time, and those not getting 5th years. My take he would get a lot more shit for losing next year and beyond than he will for not being able to keep everyone happy during recruiting.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^
But I also hope the perceived talent upgrade of the last week outweighs the bad taste (and any future bad pub/negative recruiting ammo).
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January 25th, 2016 at 10:21 PM ^
but it is year 1 for JH. hopefully he has learned to hand out offers more judicially in the future.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:42 PM ^
January 26th, 2016 at 1:28 AM ^
Link us to the tweets from Alabama recruits dropped by Saban in the last week. If you can. Simply saying this happens all the time elsewhere is mere argument by assertion.
January 26th, 2016 at 12:55 AM ^
At this point it looks like the excitement of doing the camps brought out some early offers that should have been clearly of the "conditional" or evaluation type vs you can committ to Michigan now.
While I understand that Harbaugh needs to produce results, my hope would be that in the future, more of these early offers remain clearly and concisely given and that with the large staff now on hand with recruiting coordinators, etc that recruits are given the benefit of continous feedback on their exact status. One of my old CSMs in the Army shared with me that bad news gets worse with age, and it is very appropriate in these cases.
January 26th, 2016 at 3:29 AM ^
I wonder if some of these offers were a public perception thing to show "hey these camps are working".
But yes as the guy below your post says it is not changing - Jim is going to continue to throw out 200+ offers a year. The difference has to be in what he acceps - the "conditional offers" won't stop but the "real offers we'll accept immediately if you say yes" need to.
January 26th, 2016 at 6:24 AM ^
January 26th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^
January 26th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
Summer swarm got the Michigan name out there in places that are difficult to make inroads. It also allowed lots of in person talent evaluation. Not a problem.
January 25th, 2016 at 9:52 PM ^
Next time don't make the offer if you're not sure you want the kid.
January 25th, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^
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January 25th, 2016 at 9:56 PM ^
By his tweet Weaver said he was offered a PWO or gray shirt, he declined those options. He never said that a scholarship offer was made and withdrawn.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:09 PM ^
http://mgoblog.com/content/hello-rashad-weaver
Quote from Weaver about his scholarship offer: "I started camp at the D-end, and went all the way through all the drills and the one-on-ones, winning those," he explained. "Then with like 10 minutes left, they pulled me over to tight end one-on-ones, and I did four routes and caught a couple balls. They told me they like me at both positions and they're recruiting me as just a big athlete. Possibly even both ways at the next level.
"A couple days later I was sitting on the couch, and Coach [Jay] had asked me something. I don't remember what I responded, but he said, 'how would you feel if I told you that you have a full scholarship offer to the University of Michigan?' I told him that I was sitting there smiling like a little kid that just got a whole bunch of candy. He said again when I got off the phone with them that they like me on both sides."
January 25th, 2016 at 10:15 PM ^
Well, except for your insinuation. Try putting on your reading comprehension hat, where does it say he received an official scholarship offer?
I'll help you, it doesn't. Two more points, official offers couldn't go out before August 1, 2015 and point two, Jay Harbaugh can't make official offers, only Jim Harbaugh can do that.
Why do you and so many others feel it necessary to think the absolute worst from Coach Harbaugh? It's almost like you want him to set himself up for failure.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^
Come on man, if ANY other coach was involved, you would agree that a full-time offer had been made and that it was pulled. Simple, just don't make the offer or accept the commit
January 25th, 2016 at 10:26 PM ^
If you don't want others disparaging your views, then stop insinuating that the kid is dishonest. Did Weaver handle this perfectly? Nope. But stop acting like the coaching staff is 100% absolved from having a part in creating a bad situation.
"Why do you and so many others feel it necessary to think the absolute worst from Coach Harbaugh? It's almost like you want him to set himself up for failure."
Get a grip for fuck's sake.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:35 PM ^
In fact I'm the one taking him at his word. In a venacular you might understand, read what he fuckin' wrote. Never once has he said he had in his possesion a written scholarship offer and never once did he say an type of scholarhsip offer, written or verbal, was withdrawn. What he did say is that he was offered to be Prefered Walk On or to Gray shirt. He further stated that he believed those options weren't worthy of his abilities and so withdrew his commitment.
Seriously, if you believe repeating what the young man said is disparaging, your beef is with him, not me.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:42 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:57 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^
Did you write that before or after Rashad Weaver told you to stop bashing Coach Harbaugh?
January 26th, 2016 at 8:58 AM ^
You seriously believe Weaver never had a full-ride offer. Quit while you're behind, kid.
And I haven't been bashing Harbaugh. Read my comment below.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
He was offered a full scholarship during the summer by Jay Harbaugh. He was told maybe in November that he might not have that and that he could be a PWO or gray shirt.
I get that you are playing a technicality on Jay not being able to offer a full scholarship or the silly 'official offers couldn't go out before August 1, 2015'. I bet a lot of guys that Michigan is recruiting were offered full scholarships by someone other than Jim Harbaugh before August 1st and they all believe those were real offers.
I don't have a huge problem with the way it's going down. I do hope Jim Harbaugh cleans it up a little in the future. But, your defense of this situation is not based in reality.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:27 PM ^
Before you continue bashing Coach Harbaugh, why don't you take 10 seconds from your life and read Weaver's latest tweet to the Harbaugh bashers.
January 26th, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^
Where exactly did I bash Coach Harbaugh? I was bashing you and your poor rationalization of how this went down.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:23 PM ^
'how would you feel if I told you that you have a full scholarship offer to the University of Michigan?'
That sounds like a verbal offer to me
January 25th, 2016 at 11:25 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 11:29 PM ^
It bears repeating, read Weavers tweet to those of you bashing Coach Harbaugh.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^
January 26th, 2016 at 2:02 AM ^
You would rather believe that Harbaugh is dishonest and by extension so is Weaver for his defense of Harbaugh.
January 26th, 2016 at 2:40 AM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:32 PM ^
There's a happy median here somewhere. But ultimately, if you're not sure you will be comfortable with a kid being in your class, don't offer him.
January 26th, 2016 at 1:33 AM ^
Or don't acept his commitment. Offers these days are just a way of expressing interest. Accepting a commitment is the key.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:39 PM ^
I thinik people need to stop complaining and consider things in its proper context. JH is a savvy coach and recruiter. A kid who continues to take visits cannot claim to be jilted. And a kid (Swenson) who refuses to present himself for proper evaluation cannot make a mishandling case against UM. I thought we all wanted JH to come in and kick ass and take names, bring Michigan back to football prominence? The bitching on this blog is puzzling.
January 25th, 2016 at 11:02 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:12 PM ^
If he did that then class is full already, sorry Rashan Gary and several other top targets. No one just offers the 20-25 they can take and that is all.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 11:06 PM ^
January 25th, 2016 at 10:35 PM ^
Thank you for a dose of common sense and decency.
January 25th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
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