offer coming in a month, most likely
Demar Dorsey Dramatics: Depressing
Filed under:
OR: O LET NOT DO IT
OR: LET'S ALL BLAME THE SHOTGUN-WIELDING BEAR FOR KILLING OUR SECONDARY.
This story is still rapidly developing, but in a nutshell this is it:
"Demar is an NCAA qualifier with a 2.5 or 2.6 GPA and an 18 score on the ACT," said [Boyd Anderson head coach Mark] James. "But he hasn't yet been granted at Michigan."
In one swoop, ESPN's Corey Long clarifies the bizarre split between optimism and pessimism on the "controversial" recruit who could just save the Michigan secondary. The optimism was about his ability to qualify. The pessimism was about whether it would matter. Sam Webb's assertions on the radio that it would be interesting to see where Dorsey ends up if it's not Michigan suggested that the problem was something other than a test score, but James's coach would like to take the thunder out of that:
"Right now I think the plan would be to re-open his recruitment and see what's out there," James said. "If he can't find something he likes he'll probably go to a juco for a year and try it again."
James says the coaches "continue to work on it," and Dorsey gets to twist in the wind longer. At least he's used to it by now.
There are two ways to be qualified. One is to be qualified. The other is to be Michael Oher or Derrick Rose, in which case you are "qualified" via a string of correspondence classes and/or a sketchy test score. Michigan takes qualified guys, but when scare quotes get involved Michigan tends to go the other way. Ask new Bearcat Adrian Witty. Is Dorsey qualified or "qualified"? We don't know until he enrolls somewhere, whether it's Michigan or Florida State or a JUCO. Available evidence suggests the latter, in which case it's better if Michigan doesn't enroll him. But still…
This situation is the Draper/Labadie/compliance dysfunction all over again, with miscommunication between Rodriguez—who went to bat for Dorsey with a provost before signing day and got a signoff on him—and admissions replacing the lack of communication between the football administration and compliance. It's a different sclerotic artery, but the root cause is the same.
Unfortunately—wait. No. Fortunately, in this case we don't have a meticulously documented report to the NCAA featuring 18 months worth of emails between the main parties, so it's hard to tell who's at fault. The proverbial reliable sources have reported that Rodriguez is recruiting with an eye towards NCAA minimums that most programs claim to be above until push comes to shove, while admissions is looking at a larger-than-usual number of players near the borderline and having a little freakout. We've finally gotten some clarification on exactly how Michigan hamstrings itself in recruiting: they'll take kids who scrape by the NCAA minimums (hello Marques Slocum) but only so many.
So here we are, with a kid who said he'd come to Michigan having held up his end of the bargain only to get stiffarmed by some bureaucrats hell-bent on being a hooker who won't do that. If there was a time to shoot Dorsey down it was before he signed a letter of intent, kicked off a media firestorm, and got everyone all excited about having someone in the secondary approximately as fast as Denard Robinson. Saying "we didn't mean it" and kicking the guy to Florida State or a JUCO or somewhere else validates the firestorm, makes other high-caliber guys worried that they will be cast aside when admissions turns him down, and, most importantly, is totally unfair to Dorsey.
Admissions should feel free to say "not again, except maybe a few kids," but after someone in the university greenlighted an offer you can't take it back because you made a mistake. If Dorsey is qualified sans scare quotes and doesn't end up at Michigan, everyone gets hurt for no benefit whatsoever. If he's legal in an extremely technical sense only, well… I'd prefer it if Michigan avoided another investigation, but I would like it even better if people in Michigan's athletic department had a clue what other people were doing.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:38 PM | 
question (non-rhetorical variety) re: evidence
question (non-rhetorical variety) re: evidence
June 8th, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
Goddamit.
Goddamit.
Can we please stop shooting ourselves in the dick?
Either he was academically of the offer, in which case, please take the helmet and start killing people, or he wasn't, in which case, don't make the offer.
Let him in, and then if you want to toughen the standards, ok, but don't hang the kid out to dry.
You may resume your unbreakable faith in David Brandon's pimp hand.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:28 PM |
agreed.
agreed.
Admissions should do what Selig wouldn't.
The right thing.
"Let him in, and then if you want to toughen the standards, ok, but don't hang the kid out to dry."
"He stood there like the house by the side of the road, and watched that one go by"
June 8th, 2010 at 1:42 PM |
This isn't a nail in the coffin, though. Right?
This isn't a nail in the coffin, though. Right?
I've been keeping the hope alive that he still may be admitted.
Hide ya kids, hide ya wife.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:45 PM |
I remain optimistic that
I remain optimistic that
I remain optimistic that Dorsey will be the one putting the nail in Pryor's coffin come November.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:46 PM |
So
So
you predict he won't get into Michigan and instead will work at a funeral home? Interesting, I had not heard this rumor.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:30 PM |
Actually, I hope that is
Actually, I hope that is
Actually, I hope that is someone on th eline or in the linebackign corps. If Pryor is that deep in the secondary then it is too late.
Then again, maybe you meant intercepting Pryor's arm punts.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:48 PM |
Maybe its
Maybe its
a Corner Blitz that results in a fumble, and one of the big boys (Cambell?) picks up the rock and makes an oxygen tank worthy run to the endzone ala Woodley against ND in 2006.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain
June 8th, 2010 at 1:52 PM |
correct
correct
Contrary to what Rivals and at least one other source said, there is no definitive word saying that he cannot come to Michigan.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
June 8th, 2010 at 3:06 PM |
Right, I would think they
Right, I would think they
Right, I would think they would announce it if it were. If Rich Rod knew he had no chance of getting him in, I think he would do whatever he could to help DD find another school (unless that school is in Columbus). He seemed supportive of Witty when this was happening to him.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:45 PM |
Complete guess on the
Complete guess on the
Complete guess on the situation that may not even be true:
Dorsey, who has never been a good student, says he will get the grades needed to get into Michigan. He then pulls a miraculous 4.0 in every class for the final full year of his high school career. He has made the grades. Michigan academic office looks at the grades and says "no way in hell did he get those grades" and says no.
Dorsey goes to FSU.
4 years down the road there is no investigation into the Shady McShade grades of one Demar Dorsey... thus saving the university yet another awesome media storm.
That is my weird, crazy and quite possibly dead wrong theory.
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:46 PM |
Thanks Brian
Thanks Brian
Brian:
Thanks for the post. Totatlly agree!
This will seriously hurt us with recruting elite level kids. High school coaches don't forget these types of stories. We already have enough problems with recruiting, we don't need admissions stabbing the program in the back.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:15 PM |
At the danger of sounding
At the danger of sounding
At the danger of sounding like random arrogant guy from Michigan, admissions serves a purpose. I am not advocating the entire football team be National Merit Scholars or have a 4.0 and a charity they founded that saves kittens, but there is a line somewhere, and it is not carte blanche admission to all NCAA qualifiers.
Edit: Demar Dorsey may be the exception or several a year that are enrolled with questionable academics, but I do not believe that admissions denying enrollment to someone that has cleared the NCAA necessarily qualifies as backstabbing the football team.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:17 PM |
This isn't the subject of criticism
This isn't the subject of criticism
If admissions had a problem, they should have told Rod at the time of recruitment, much less signing day, much less NOW. They basically dropped the ball and are probably still holding their dicks about this waiting for Rod and Brandon to bust heads.
No excuses. Play like a champion.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:22 PM |
That may be true, and if it
That may be true, and if it
That may be true, and if it is then admissions did indeed screw up in this case. My comment was half directed at the poster above and half at the atmosphere on the thread (at least as I perceive it) that admissions' job is to let in whoever the coaches tell them to let in, which I fully disagree with.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:34 PM |
The line should have been
The line should have been
The line should have been established back in December or January. Not now.
That said, if the grades are fishy, then OK.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:46 PM |
This will be Rich Rodriguez'
This will be Rich Rodriguez'
This will be Rich Rodriguez' first victory of 2010. O Let do it! (I'm praying.)
Touchdown Michigan!
June 8th, 2010 at 2:01 PM |
When he comes here
When he comes here
I can't wait to see "O Let do it!" on a t-shirt.
Also, sorry for having the same signiture, just joined and saw the quote, and didn't think anyone else had it. I will change it.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain
June 8th, 2010 at 1:47 PM |
Delightful:
Delightful:
...some bureaucrats hell-bent on being a hooker who won't do that.
is there any other kind? Of bureaucrat, I mean. Hookers come in all flavors.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:00 PM |
"Hookers come in all flavors."
"Hookers come in all flavors."
That's what he said!
Journal Entry - Day 782 of living amongst inbreds - Actually heard this today, "I don't see what the big deal is. All he was doin' was protectin' the players. What's wrong with that?"
June 8th, 2010 at 2:30 PM |
Is "he" me, or
Is "he" me, or
June 8th, 2010 at 1:51 PM |
Really want to see...
Really want to see...
Demar Dorsey get in, prove all the haters wrong, and become the next in line in the long lineage of great CB's.
Also, I'm new to posting (been reading for a while, but just made my profile) and I don't know how to make a new post. Anyway, I love the Blog as it has kept me sane during these dark times (note:dark times = off-season only) and I need a starter pic for my icon. Anyone want to help a newbie with a cool pic to start out with and a tutorial on how to create a post. Thanks. (by the way, sorry to Brian and the other posters for getting off topic)
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain
June 8th, 2010 at 2:07 PM |
To create a thread first you
To create a thread first you
To create a thread first you need 20 points, then go to the upper left hand corner under Navigation and click create content then the new menu has diary or forum topic. Occasionally you will need something like 500 points to create a new topic after particularly bad losses like 2009 Illinois to cut down on forum spammers.
In terms of a picture.... take my approach and roll with no picture. All the cool kids (meaning me, myself, and I) are doing it.
Or just choose a random hot girl and reap the benefits of many undeserved +1s from the many MGoUpVoteAnythingHot users on here.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:44 PM |
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
I like your suggestion of playin it "old school" and not having a picture.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain
June 8th, 2010 at 3:52 PM |
What is this Mark Twain
What is this Mark Twain
What is this Mark Twain bullshit?!? Michigan quotes or bust.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:41 PM |
I panicked
I panicked
I had a Bo quote to start, but noticed another poster had the same (which seemed like a major breach in etiquitte) so I put in a quote I liked that fit Michigan. I'll work on getting either a Michigan Man quote, or something that is Michigan. Maybe I should change it to "O let do it!" cause from my perspective, DD is a Michigan Man until official word tells me otherwise.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain
June 8th, 2010 at 4:50 PM |
Don't sweat it.
Don't sweat it.
I love the quote, and I'm pretty sure WW was joking. In fact, why not make
this your avatar?
June 8th, 2010 at 8:05 PM |
Concur...
Concur...
...Mark Twain is a perfect avatar for MGoBlog.
Here's another option:
Mark Twain in his gown (scarlet with grey sleeves and facings) for his D.Litt. degree, awarded to him by Oxford University.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | Maize Pages Wolverines on Twitter | @MGoShoe
June 9th, 2010 at 12:02 AM |
Well, thank God SOME
Well, thank God SOME
Well, thank God SOME institution of higher learning has scarlet and gray for their official colors.
--------------------------------------------
"I cannot think of a better person to guide our university's athletic strategy than the inventor of The Noid."
June 8th, 2010 at 1:53 PM |
I wish that somebody at
I wish that somebody at
I wish that somebody at Michigan that does know the facts, or timetable for a decision will just go on the record and provide a "this is the way it's going to be" (I don't even need a "and here's why") and stop this ridiculous speculation that the defeaning silence from those in the know has generated.
Demar, the only one truly affected, deserves much better treatment than this.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:54 PM |
SO IS THERE A CHANCE OR IS THE DOOR CLOSED?
SO IS THERE A CHANCE OR IS THE DOOR CLOSED?
IS THERE STILL A CHANCE OR IS THIS THING OVER?????????
June 8th, 2010 at 1:56 PM |
I DON'T KNOW
I DON'T KNOW
BUT THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
They mostly come at night... mostly.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:04 PM |
WHAT?!?!
WHAT?!?!
I CAN"T HEAR YOU! TYPE LOUDER!
June 8th, 2010 at 3:27 PM |
SHOUTING
SHOUTING
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!!
June 8th, 2010 at 3:23 PM |
.
.
LOUD NOISES
June 8th, 2010 at 1:55 PM |
This kid is a hell of a talent
This kid is a hell of a talent
Honestly, for UF to dump him (and they did) and Michigan to pursue and now any other D1 school to pursue with the amount of baggage he's accumulated over the past year or so, is pretty remarkable. It's obvious that he's going to be a real difference maker.
Secondly, I've never had the chance to speak to Dorsey, but I've spoken with guys who played with him at the Under Armour All-American Game and he seems like a riot. Adrian Hubbard (album commit) said he was constantly cutting up. Told one story in particular about the ESPN staff taking Dorsey's pads to "mic him up" for the game. Dorsey got back to his locker and the pads were gone. So he started going crazy, stole a lineman's pads and ran around the lockerroom screaming about how that guy wouldn't get his pads back until they gave him back his own. A few minutes later the ESPN people showed up with his pads and microphone. He's quite the clown, apparently...
June 8th, 2010 at 2:36 PM |
They only revoked their
They only revoked their
They only revoked their offer when it became clear that he wasn't going to commit to them, and IIRC, that was about 2 weeks before signing day.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:15 PM |
To MGoPHILLY
To MGoPHILLY
Eh, not so much. They revoked their offer because they found out about some legal/character issues with the kid. His decommit was a long time in the works.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:42 PM |
Urban?
Urban?
...is that you?
...you just got Nard Dawged!!
June 8th, 2010 at 3:54 PM |
Ha, na. Just a resident SEC
Ha, na. Just a resident SEC
Ha, na. Just a resident SEC fan and a big follower of the recruiting scene.
June 9th, 2010 at 12:04 AM |
Nice to see you, Mr. Saban.
Nice to see you, Mr. Saban.
Nice to see you, Mr. Saban. Have you talked to Plaxico lately?
--------------------------------------------
"I cannot think of a better person to guide our university's athletic strategy than the inventor of The Noid."
June 9th, 2010 at 12:16 AM |
they just found out about
they just found out about
they just found out about those issues two weeks before signing day? It took the FREEP all of 10 mins to dig up this kids entire life. Plus, Urban has never been one to shy away from an at-risk student-athlete (doesn't he have something like 30 player arrests over the past 3 years?).
June 8th, 2010 at 1:57 PM |
One Can Only Hope
One Can Only Hope
that David Brandon provides a needed kick in the ass to the athletic department bureaucracy. It is plainly apparent that a corps of fat, dumb and happy administrators has flourished in a self satisfied department. It truly is an unpleasant legacy of the Bill Martin regime and it needs to end. Ritual firings must proceed. It will be cleansing and it will focus the remaining staff members on what is truly important.
Adams Axiom: The major difference between something that might go wrong and something that can not possibly go wrong is that when a thing that can not possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:02 PM |
Does teh AD have any
Does teh AD have any
Does teh AD have any influence on the admissions dept?
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:14 PM |
No
No
Nor should he.
"out of these tunnels will come the meanest, toughest sonsabitches ever to put on pads"
June 8th, 2010 at 2:17 PM |
Technically you're correct,
Technically you're correct,
Technically you're correct, but this is a lot like the separation of Church and State in US Politics. It's technically separate, but there's a lot of behind-the-scenes finagling that none of the common public sees.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:42 PM |
This is correct
This is correct
in my experience
June 8th, 2010 at 2:29 PM |
No, but the President does.
No, but the President does.
No, but the President does. Coleman, Brandon, and whoever the Honcho of Admissions is need to get in a room and hash out a workable standard for athletic admissions so that extremely limited resources aren't wasted on landing a kid that is going to get turned down.
It's one thing to see yakety-sax execution on the football field, those are amateur athletes trying to figure things out, but seeing it in the administration of the University is so much worse. These are professional people at a preeminent institution of higher learning. This is very much a preventable fiasco...they all have been. WTF.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:32 PM |
You Sir,
You Sir,
Have struck gold.
...so that extremely limited resources aren't wasted on landing a kid that is going to get turned down.
Going with the hypothetical, if RR and Co. had known that admissions wasn't going to take this kid, then they might have pursued other secondary prospects with those two remaining weeks before signing day (read: Rashad Knight, Sean Parker).
June 8th, 2010 at 4:12 PM |
Sorry
Sorry
but this is a straw man argument. It is based on a completely incorrect assumption. The kid was cleared in January by admissions and then admissions changed their mind. Two weeks ago. So completely inappropriate argument.
Is Dorsey qualified or "qualified"? We don't know until he enrolls somewhere, whether it's Michigan or Florida State or a JUCO. Available evidence suggests the latter, in which case it's better if Michigan doesn't enroll him.
What is the evidence that it's the latter? Just that Michigan hasn't admitted him yet?
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra