Georgia SB Nation writer calls Ann Arbor "a barren wasteland". Is mad at Harbaugh
Naturally Harbaugh’s gambit has Greg Sankey and the SEC coaches up in arms. I can’t say I blame them completely. In the cut throat world of college football recruiting they almost must object to anything Harbaugh does to gain a toe hold in a recruiting territory which puts the barren wasteland in which he resides to shame.
Harbaugh’s still going to have to get players (and parents) up to the frozen north at some point before Signing Day. That’s going to be a great reminder that Ann Arbor is still a heckuva long way from Orlando.
Even in this connected world of ours, the best predictor of where a recruit will sign remains where he’s grown up. I don’t think Harbaugh’s going to turn Johnny Five Star from a lifelong Florida State Seminole to a dyed in the wool Wolverine by having him witness a few practices.
Finally, you have to wonder how Mark Dantonio, Urban Meyer, and other Rust Belt coaches spin this one. If I were Dantonio I’d be visiting every high school coach and top recruit from Detroit to Ontonagon and asking them if they’ve seen ole Jimmy around. In short, this move may help Harbaugh a little, but it probably doesn’t really hurt SEC programs that much.
http://www.dawgsports.com/2016/2/11/10966456/Michigan-spring-practice-Florida-Jim-harbaugh
February 11th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
Author refers to the "recruiting territory" in which Harbaugh resides as a barren wasteland, genius. You think anyone would ever talk about the small town of Ann Arbor itself as a recruiting territory? Wow.
It is a fact there there is more HS talent in FL and the SE recruiting territory than in MI and the Midwest recruiting territory. Calling the Midwest a barren wasteland of talent is certainly hyperbole, but he's not at all ripping on the town of Ann Arbor which is what your title implies. Bad title.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^
No need to be a smartass, especially when you are reading it wrong.
You're making an illogical conclusion based on something you want to be true but isn't.
Bad post.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
I think he was referring to Ann Arbor or the Midwest (i.e. The Rust Belt)
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February 11th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^
"to gain a toe hold in a recruiting territory which puts the barren wasteland in which he resides to shame."
Clearly talking about where Harbaugh resides in terms of a recruiting territory, referring to state of Michigan/Midwest in general. Not saying anything bad about Ann Arbor as a city.
February 11th, 2016 at 3:38 PM ^
No need to be a smartass, especially when you are reading it wrong.
You're making an illogical conclusion based on something you want to be true but isn't.
Bad post.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
I understand being annoyed by the post, but there is no need to be such a dick about it.
February 11th, 2016 at 4:03 PM ^
Damn every other time I see you comment you are acting like some sort of self-appointed policeman. He's being called out for clickbaiting, which is 100% legit, and he then proceeded to be a dick to those who tried to help him understand what the article *actually* said and not what he falsely interpreted. How can you fault anyone here but the OP?
February 11th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
"gain a toe hold in a recruiting territory which puts the barren wasteland in which he resides to shame"
No, he is directly comparing the two territories in regards to recruiting. It is common knowledge the South pumps out more highly rated recruits every year.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
I mean, if I were referring to the academic opportunities offered in the SEC region, I would use the same phrasing.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina don't have an abundance of high school football talent compared to Florida.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:57 PM ^
might not be in the same league as Florida but other than Texas and Caly no other state is. However, after those 3 states Georgia is fighting to claim the spot as the 4th best state for high school football recruits.
February 11th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
this link shows the number of 3, 4 and 5 stars by state from 2011-2015. Going just by the number of 3, 4 and 5 stars in a state the top 4 states are Florida, Texas, Caly and Georgia. The state with the 5th most is Ohio and they are 300 behind Georgia.
Georigia is closer to being in 3rd place, passing California, than they are of dropping into 5th place.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2015/4/15/8143431/s…
February 11th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
GA is pretty on par with FL, at least for the 2017 class. GA has 12 and FL has 13 in the 24/7 Top 100. You are correct on the other states.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
You need to look further than the top 100. I was shocked back in the RR days when I saw a Florida top 100 list and the 4* OT we desparately wanted from Miami NW was ranked 94th in the state. It's the depth that places Florida and Texas so far above other states.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
You ever get the feeling that most of the people associated with SEC football (coaches, writers, fans, etc) have never visited anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line? It's not actually Hoth, guys.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
It's not Hoth until night...
... then the Ice Weasels come out.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:32 PM ^
Southerners may never know the joy of riding a tauntaun to the hockey game and then going out for hot cocoa after.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^
My favorite game is which way to point the snow blower so that you don't get snow blown back in your face!
SPOILER ALERT! IT DOESN'T MATTER!
February 11th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
professionally only see Michigan from Toledo up 23 or from their rental car window from Romulus. To be honest, both those trips look a hell of a lot like.... Ohio. As for choosing a place to live, I'll take A2 over any city in the SEC and Michigan over any state where they're represented.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
No, it's not Hoth at all...
*kicks dead tauntaun back into the garage*
February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
Heh, JCV16 asks question about people in the south understanding things.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^
They do not understand this. Really - they don't.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
I was in Detroit this week. When I got out of the rental car, I pointed my face into the cold wind and stood there for a minute just to remind me of what I have been missing in the south.
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February 11th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
fire ants, giant bugs, snakes, alligators, hurricanes, sweet tea, and having to sit inside air conditioning all damn summer long.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
The bugs are HUGE! At least we kill all of ours off in the winter and they have to start again in the spring. Keeps them small and manageable.
Also those little lizards. I hate those little bastards. What is their purpose??
February 11th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
their purpose is for my dog to bark at and chase.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
is to eat the big (and small) cockroaches. Let it roam the house at night. The sound of eating is highly satisfying. (Just don't scare yourself when you turn on a lamp.)
February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
Well, he's already done it with Devin bush jr
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February 11th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
He said Johnny Five Star, not Devin Four Star or Rashan Five Star. Point one for the author imo. Actually, I am just glad he didn't say Dylan Five Star. Still got a shot with that guy!
That being said, there isn't a Five Star named Johnny according the 247. Unless the author is talking about Tyjon Lindsey out of California. Who knows.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:56 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
It was pretty nice when my aunt lived there years ago.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
finding Ontonogan. I love it up there.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
Harbaugh travels so much that I think it might backfire for Dantonio. The response: "Oh he was here yesterday."
February 11th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
At the end of the day, they're all talking about Michigan. The SEC will come up with endless complaints about what Harbaugh has done and will do throughout the entirity of his Michigan tenure, but ultimately their whining doesn't matter. The larger goal of these sorts of things is to continually put Michigan on the minds of recruits and their families, and by continuing the story the SEC is very much aiding that mission.
"Don't turn a one-day story into a two-day story." Mr. Sankey could learn a lot from Mr. Canham.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 1:56 PM ^
Guy obviously didn't do his research.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
Pretty sure he means "barren wasteland" in a recruiting sense, in terms of the number of top prospects available, which is a slightly less ignorant take I suppose
February 11th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
To a clickbait article. No thanks.
February 11th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^