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NCAA Denies Ty Isaac's Hardship Waiver Comment Count

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Brady Hoke announced at today's presser that the NCAA denied running back Ty Isaac's request for a hardship waiver to play this season after transferring from USC:

Hoke said earlier this week that Michigan's "appeal" to the NCAA's denial was pending.

"The waiver got denied initially, and we've appealed it," Hoke confirmed Wednesday. "(We appealed) probably last week, mid week."

While Michigan is appealing, it's unlikely that'll change the outcome: hardship waivers are normally granted to players transferring to a school within 100 miles of their home, and Ann Arbor is well outside of that range for Isaac, who hails from Shorewood, Illinois.

Michigan's depth at running back should be just fine without Isaac for this year; in fact, it might be best for the team if he redshirts this season so he's not in the same class as Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith. Hoke confirmed today that Green will start in Saturday's opener. Adam will have much more from today's presser when he gets it transcribed.

Comments

ThoseWhoStayUofM

August 27th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

One of Mike Weber's stated reasons for not committing to Michigan State was the players that were already committed.  He thought of Michigan as a more appealing option, in large part, because we didn't have any other runningbacks in our 2015 class, and none in our 2014 class.  Now that Isaac will be redshirted, does that have an impact on Mike Weber's commitment?  He is still the only 2015 runningback, but he would have to wait until his senior/redshirt junior year before being the most experienced guy at the position, a whole year later had Isaac received his waver.

Joined: 11/09/2010

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CLord

August 27th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^

A few years ago Isaac was the topic of minor obsession on this board, and losing him to USC hurt quite a bit given how close he was to being Blue.  Amazing what a few years does to perceptionl, where he's a semi-afterthought for a team coming off of 7-6.  Here's to hoping he stays dedicated and works hard to stay in great shape so he can help us go beastmode next year as a part of the three headed RB monster.  More importantly, hopefully Funk's head will be dislodged from his nether parts this year to allow these  guys to flourish behind a competent line.

Joined: 09/11/2011

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Firstbase

August 27th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^

...that the conventional wisdom was that he wouldn't get the waiver. I'd be surprised to learn that Ty didn't believe the same thing and expected to sit out a year.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 9411

skegemogpoint

August 27th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

Not to look too far forward but we'll have a bevy of RB's and WR's in 2015 & 2016.  Assuming Chris Clark's commitment sticks, our ills at TE will also be cured with him, Bunting and a  healthy Jake Butt.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 503

Commie_High96

August 27th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^

This is good for the team.  If Smith and Green can't run this year, I don't think Isaac would do much better.  Besides, if someone told me before signing day that we would get Smith, Green and Isaac, but Issac would redshirt and we could only keep him for three years, I would have had no problem with that deal.

Joined: 02/10/2012

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Firch

August 27th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^

Let's let Green be the monster he was billed as. I never thought we'd acutally have Ty as an option this year with how the blog was describing the various hurdles in the way of him playing right away. He'll be able to learn the system and come in next year to compete!

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 819

True Blue Grit

August 27th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^

Pretty much what most people thought would happen.  This is probably best for all concerned including Isaac actually.  He'll now be able to acclimate himself to U-M more easily and will have up to 3 more years to play behind what should be (knock on lots of wood) a much better offensive line.  It also works out better with the depth chart. 

Joined: 01/21/2011

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SF Wolverine

August 27th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^

Hoepfully, we can put on a decent running performance, and then let him come on when the line is a year stronger and more experienced.  Pour on the gravy in 2015!

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24906

chatster

August 27th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^

IF Ty Isaac knew before he transferred that there was a strong chance that his waiver request would be denied, then he probably won’t be too upset.  
 
IF, by (a) transferring when he did (several weeks after completing spring football practice at USC), and (b) despite knowing that his waiver request most likely would be denied, he still expected the request to be granted and that he’d become the main back in Michigan’s rotation this season, then he took a risk in transferring to Michigan.  However, I suspect that before he transferred, he knew that, even if the waiver request would be granted, the competition at running back could be as tough at Michigan as it was at USC.  Plus, he must’ve had some positive feelings for the Michigan coaching staff, because they’d recruited him when he was in high school.
 
The advantage for Ty Isaac is that, as possibly the best scout team running back in the nation,* he’ll get regular practice time against what’s supposed to be a very good defense.  By extension, the Michigan defense will be tested in practice, trying to contain him.  He’ll also have a year to bond with his teammates and also hope that by next season’s opening game, Michigan’s offensive line will become stronger.
 
At best, he misses fifteen games against other teams and traveling with the team for road games.  At worst, he misses twelve games against other teams and finds that, once again, he’ll be dealing with a new coaching staff in 2015, just after he’d experienced a coaching switch at USC in 2014.  (And I seriously doubt that the latter will occur.)
 
*  Venric Mark’s transfer from Northwestern to Division II West Texas A & M (instead of Texas Tech) makes him immediately eligible to play this season, so he won’t get that self-proclaimed designation.

Joined: 09/14/2010

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Perkis-Size Me

August 27th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^

This is probably for the best. We've got a really crowded backfield as it is, and there's no shortage of talent there anyway. Besides, we really don't want all those guys walking out the door at the same time.

Hopefully by the time he plays next year, he'll have a decent to good O-Line to run behind.


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Joined: 11/30/2011

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DualThreat

August 27th, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^

Call me crazy, but for some reason Ty is the player I missed the most when he went to USC instead of UM.  When I found out he was coming to UM, holy cow was I excited!  I just got a hunch about this guy that he'll be something special when given the opportunity.

This is why I'm HAPPY (from a purely football perspective) that his waiver got denied.

I don't want to see him buried in the same class as Smith and Green.  I want him to have a chance to shine his senior year (make that RS senior year), and shine he will.

Joined: 05/04/2012

MGoPoints: 781

BlueFordSoftTop

August 27th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^

 
As others have observed here, Ty can now focus on learning each opponent's style of play with zeal. This should strengthen our practice squad and by extension the defense, too. It's a tough break short term but in the long run both Ty and the team will benefit.

Joined: 04/09/2011

MGoPoints: 665

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

August 27th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^

another example of the NCAA not ruling in the best interest of the student-athlete. His former coach is allowed to immediately take a new job 1200 miles from USC for income, but Ty cannot play at a school 1400 miles away to be in driving distance of his ill mother? It's OK for the team, but not in Ty's best interest.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18054

Sam1863

August 27th, 2014 at 8:28 PM ^

I'm sorry for Isaac, even though this wasn't unexpected. But Green and Smith, with Hayes and Johnson in reserve, really should provide enough talent in the backfield this season. And when Isaac comes back next year, along with Mike Weber, that is going to be one of the deepest backfields Michigan has seen in years.

(Yes, I know - so deep that somebody transfers? But I prefer not to think about that right now.)

And on the Debbie Downer side, if the O line can't move anybody, it wouldn't have mattered much anyway. Isaac would've simply been one more tailback trying to avoid a TFL. But I prefer not to think about that either.

Joined: 04/27/2014

MGoPoints: 28893

M-Dog

August 28th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^

Ty will be a beast next year, and will be runing behind an experienced O-Line with some actual upperclassmen on it.

I can live with this.

 

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