Dann O'Neill Has Left The Team
This first started with a message board post around these parts, and now we've confirmed it with two additional sources close to the situation: freshman offensive tackle Dann O'Neill has left the team. It's unclear whether he's transferring or giving up football.
Now… as we learned to our collective terror during the McGuffie transfer wobbling, these things aren't official until they are official. This appears to be a done deal, however, and has passed the threshold of likelihood where it's worth reporting. Thus: this post.
The departure shouldn't affect Michigan's 2009 season, as O'Neill wasn't on the two-deep and had never been mentioned as a threat to find playing time. Most of what we'd heard on him was along the lines of "great frame but needs a ton of work with both technique and strength." But he was a big-time recruit in the hybrid Carr/Rodriguez class, and his washout is disappointing. With Kurt Wermers' departure that six-member line class is now down to four; further departures will start cutting into players earmarked as future starters.
The good news is that Barnum, Khoury, and Omameh have all positioned themselves as future starters, possibly as early as this year, and are unlikely to depart. Elliot Mealer's recovery from his shoulder injury makes him something of a wild-card, but he's also been the subject of scattered positive reports.
This takes Michigan to approximately 21 scholarships in the 2010 class, but Michigan is probably going to have to fill O'Neill's spot with another offensive lineman; expect four to sign up, with OH guard/center Christian Pace already in the fold.
Is it too late to make a "he looked soft" joke, Chi? I couldn't get to this page for days. Saw him at a water polo...forget it.
IMHE
I attended the Spring Coaching Clinic, and this kid really struggled in practice. Did not move his feet when engaged with a defender, had terrible footwork in zone blocking drills, and no confidence at all. He was made to repeat several drills and never improved. Frey was on him constantly. Walked over to him one time during a break and told him he was "about one rep from never seeing the field next fall". O'Neill wouldn't even look at Frey. Just stared straight ahead. Even his team mates were getting frustrated with him. The only surprise for me was that he waited this long. I don't think it will be long until we see that he has transferred to Grand Valley. Big doesn't mean good.
Robocoach
That jpeg of the dogs is hysterical.
You can hate on me all you want to, but what can you possibly say to somebody that looks like Rambo, pretty much, with his shirt off?
Sure he was a big recruit, but he was way too far down on the depth chart to ever make a impact really.
Right. There's clearly no chance that a highly regarded lineman recruit who wasn't awesome as a redshirt freshman could have made any significant improvements over the next four years.
This post needs to be retitled
Dann O'Neill Hass Leftt the Teamm
I will miss him and his repeating consonants.
He was the first player I thought of after that GBMW rumor post about a possible loss that would affect "depth". I don't think any of us should be all that surprised. OL is kind of a crapshoot. Some big guys like getting bigger and some others decide they don't feel like being in pain just about every day.
In such a cynical, sarcastic society, oftentimes looking for the negative on anybody or anything, if you're fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.
-Thom Brennaman
one year, in the baseball abstract, bill james' comment was "i wonder if his mother calls him 'dannnny?'"
that still makes me laugh, 20 years later.
can be the most misleading and frustrating thing in sports.
Good luck to him, regardless. Big time college sports aren't for everybody, and there's no shame in that.
It's analogous to weeding out MD-hopefuls in freshman Bio/ Chem, or B-School-hopefuls in freshmen Econ/ Math.
The kid tried football at M for a year, was buried in the depth charts, (apparently doesn't want to make college football his life, for which I don't blame him), and was weeded out. Fine and good luck Dan, I hope you earn your degree at M in your desired field of study.
Boycott the Detroit Free Press! Do not click on any link to a freep article.
GO BLUE
+1
Maize & Blue...nothing better!
Chrisgocomment is LOST....get it?
I qauack myself up.
Los marcos--want some Viton?
Infinity can only happen once. Think about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGXMryTbwE
"Most of what we'd heard on him was along the lines of "great frame but needs a ton of work with both technique and strength.""
PROS
big frame, athletic, upside
CONS
needs strength, must work on pad level, increase love of football score by 12 points
great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA
Nice, another scholarship available for a slot receiver.
but we didn't let mr. oneill break the news himself. according to chrisgocomment we're all "douchenozzle with whorish mouths" :(
lloyd was better.
Not everyone, just people disseminating rumors that lack credibility.
Brian = credible.
Some guy = not credible.
JBT was dead on though, so I salute him.
No question, Jim.
sources for news about M football besides MGoBlog. "Some guy" was probably passing on things he heard from other news sources. No big deal.
I'm gonna take two weeks off, and then quit.
That guy was right, though, and phrased his post in a way that was respectful. I didn't have any problem with it. It's newsworthy.
MGoBlog | Sporting News | HTTV 2009 | e
BOOM COOK'D
No question, Jim.
your avatar sums you up pretty nicely i see
great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA
yes, my avatar sums me up as well as your avatar sums you up.
ahh, the wla, welcome back. we alllllllllllllllllll missed you guys
lloyd was better.
... only two ever left
great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA
Everyone knows that blogs are the place for only rock-solid facts, confirmed directly from the source, announced with their explicit approval. Don't you remember Brian's scoop interview with Lloyd Carr breaking the story of his retirement? As I recall, that's how MGoBlog burst onto the public scene in a major way.
Brian corroborated that story with sources, as he has done with this. That is actually exactly what a MSM publication would do.
wolverineliberationarmy.com/blog
Yes, just elaborating on the concept being discussed on the board that if someone is hoping to avoid all but the most well-confirmed info, or waiting to hear info directly from the source, that the discussion forum of a blog is probably not the ideal place for them. - I do know that Brian does a good job of fact-checking before reporting things here.
Last week, Dann quit the band,
Now we're back together, uh.
Misunderstanding, didn't understand.
It doesn't matter, now we're back together again.
A-la la la la la.
Couldn't split up Kato and Nash. (that's true)
Couldn't split up Tango and Cash.
That's also true!
This is our song of exultant joy because
We only came to kick some ass.
Rock the fuckin' house and kick some ass.
What we gonna do with all the cash?
Smoke hash, and then we thrash.
We'll throw a big ol' bash y'all.
And everyone is invited to the bash.
And everyone you're all invited to the bash!
C'mon Dann, one time c'mon!
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
sounds like a country song.
Well i hope you leave enough room for my fist, so i can ram it into your stomach, and break your goddamn spine!!-Lloyd Carr
Even more so when set to a banjo and cigar box guitar.
Sooner or later, you're going to have to stick your arm up a cow's butt.
some kickass jew's harp
Biz hundert azoi ve tsvantsik
Sarcasm? It is Tenacious D.
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
Well thats about as funny as the blue collar comedy fellars.
Well i hope you leave enough room for my fist, so i can ram it into your stomach, and break your goddamn spine!!-Lloyd Carr