decommits
rashad weaver

Rashad Weaver Decommits Comment Count

Brian

sdsds[1]

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.

Comments

grumbler

January 26th, 2016 at 1:59 AM ^

I've never understood why people with the "just win" attitude are Michigan fans.  If all you want is to back a winner, find a team that wins more and cheer for them.

If winning isn't everything to you, then stop saying it is.

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 14109

jaggs

January 25th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

Can it be called decommiting when you are told your spot is no longer available? "Rashad Weaver scholarship pulled' is a more fitting description. Saying he decommitted makes it seem as though he had a choice in the matter.

Joined: 02/03/2009

MGoPoints: 4832

BigBlue02

January 26th, 2016 at 3:17 AM ^

Are we reading the same thing? He wasn't told his spot wasn't available. I guess if you want to put words in Harbaugh and Weaver's mouth that neither said, go for it

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003

Preacher Mike

January 25th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^

There is a lot of feigned outrage and virtue signalling going on here. Anyone who doesn't know that competing at the highest level of college football involves a certain amount of shadiness and rule bending/breaking is completely living in denial. The best you can do is hope your program is a little less shady than the others, but it probably isn't.

If you can't live with the thought of UM being less than above board in the way the program runs, you need to stop rooting for college football altogether. No team worth watching is clean. The handwringing from the people who run the site is particularly worthy of eye rolls.

I know Brian and Ace don't want to consider that the teams and university they make their living from are in some ways dishonest or even corrupt, but the moral posturing is a bit much. You can pick, all of Michigan sports can be like the Tommy Ammaker era basketball program, or you can compete with the top programs. Pick.

Anyone who doesn't want to live with mediocre or worse programs should spare us the finger wagging.

Joined: 04/06/2014

MGoPoints: 4231

Reader71

January 25th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^

I played at the highest level of college football. I was recruited by coaches with national championships for blue blooded programs. Not one of them offered me until they were sure they wanted me to play for them. All of them, even shady characters that we hate around these parts, were honest with me and communicated with me almost daily. I had a guy offer my dad a car, so I am not oblivious to the dirty parts of recruiting. I chose Michigan (turned down the car). The rest of the guys in my class were pretty good players. None of them were paid. None of them had their offers pulled. None of them were lied to, cooled on, or anything else. My class won two conference championships and had a good shot at a third. My class was recruited cleanly. It was a long time ago, sure. But you can win cleanly. You can recruit cleanly and still get quality players, championship players, and 4-5 NFL players. To say that you have to resort to shady tactics is not only false but a real cop out. Don't be so afraid. We are Michigan. We will get good players. We will win games. We should do it while being above the fray. And we can.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Preacher Mike

January 25th, 2016 at 11:59 PM ^

You turned down the car, how many of your teammates didn't? How many guys were accepted who academically didn't have any business getting in to MIchigan? How many of your classmates actually attended class and passed their classes honestly? What was the highest rank those UM teams had at the end of the season? Winning a Big 10 cahampionship is great, but I saw a lot of three loss Michigan teams go to the Rose Bowl. That's not national championship caliber.

Joined: 04/06/2014

MGoPoints: 4231

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 12:02 AM ^

Team mates talk to each other. I am very confident that none of my guys was paid. I think quite a few of us wouldn't have gotten into Michigan without football. I don't see that as a bad thing. Some of my guys have gone on to become great successes, and they might not have without football helping them get an education and make connections. One of us from the class didn't make it to campus because he didn't qualify. Everyone else did, and almost all of us made it through. I am very confident that none of my guys cheated. We had ample help with tutors and study table, and we got the pick of easy classes. But those classes were open to anyone, so i dont see a problem. But again, I don't think anyone cheated. We would have heard. Again, team mates talk. I don't recall the highest rank, but we went into I believe 3 bowl games ranked in the top 5. To our everlasting shame, we didn't win too many bowl games, so we ended up a bit lower than we would have liked. I mean this with no snark -- I hope you will believe me that our program was pretty squeaky clean. I'm proud of it. You should be, too. And I know it is disappointing that we didn't win a few more games. It probably bothers us more than it does you. But we tried really, really hard.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Njia

January 26th, 2016 at 8:52 AM ^

If "blue blood" schools like Alabama, OSU, Michigan, etc. gave scholarship offers only for the players they actually wanted, they would be more valuable. I get the sense that the "market value" of these offers in the recruits minds are actually pretty low - and also in the minds of the schools themselves. The value of something is inversely related to how rare it is. Maybe it's time to change the recruiting game instead of playing by the old rules.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 35773

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^

No, but I did talk to a lot of them (call it 50 or so) on recruiting visits and the like, and others who were recruited but never offered. More importantly, I talked to every single one of the recruits who was at any point considered a commit. Every single one of them, besides the one who didn't qualify, ended up at Michigan. The issue isn't that M offered kids that didn't choose to attend. Duh. Everyone does this. This is natural. M cannot compel kids to commit. The issue is that M seems to be squeezing out guys who did choose to attend. The simple solution is to not offer those guys unless you are sure you want them in the class. This used to be common practice at M, as I'm vouching for. And we did pretty well. Your question is good, though. Glad I could answer it.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

jsquigg

January 25th, 2016 at 11:35 PM ^

This is such a false fucking dichotomy it isn't funny.  Either Amaker basketball or compete with the best?  Brady Hoke had a pretty good and honest recruiting track record and Jimmy just went 10-3 with pretty much those players.  As others have pointed out, you can win the right way, which with the level of coach that Jim is on the field would make one wonder why he feels the need to recruit this way.

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621

MGoJeezy

January 25th, 2016 at 11:44 PM ^

How is this fucking wrong at all? This breaks no NCAA violations he was told in NOVEMBER to take all his 5 visits AND there was a 50/50 chance he'd make the cut.

You think Michigan has some kind of Arrogant Moral High Ground to other schools? I think that ship sailed when one of legendary coaches got arrested piss drunk urinating on the side of the public library....



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/10/2015

MGoPoints: 1220

Nolongerusingaccount

January 26th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^

In my opinion, it depends on communication and timing.  Frankly, I'm inclined to believe that the staff warned the kid in November (at least of the potential scholarship crunch) so I agree with you to a certain extent.

I also don't believe in some moral high ground with respect to Michigan. The school signed Harbaugh last year to a $40mm plus contract.  It certainly wasn't to better the school's US News & World Report rankings.

Additionally, I'm fairly certain that if the team does well next year that no one will give a crap about this [*EDIT: or rationalize it to fit their glorious Michigan Man world view], which will really lay bare what the fans' priorities are on this board.  Do they care about pulling scholarships pre-signing day or winning B10 titles?  I'm willing to bet that it's the latter.

What's pretty clear is that most of the posters are hypocrites about this.  They have an issue with the practice to the extent that it causes them great pain as the integrity of Michigan has been impeached.  Yet, I've seen few if any calls for Harbaugh's head.  No, they will probably wait for the first 7-6 or consecutive 8-4 seasons before they do that, and then they will probably use recruiting tactics as ammunition.

 

Joined: 07/13/2012

MGoPoints: 2264

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 2:30 AM ^

Also, the assumption that people who truly don't like this practice would demand Harbaugh is fired. Apparently, it is impossible to hope Harbaugh learns from this and changes his methods. The arguments from the pro-silent-treatment crowd have been very, very poor.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

Nolongerusingaccount

January 26th, 2016 at 7:14 AM ^

You're assuming that he needs to be taught a lesson.  Since you are such a wise and holy sage, go up to his office and teach him a lesson about being a nice human being.

Second, if you actually read my post, I didn't say I'm okay with being silent to the kids.  I said it depends on timing and communication.  I just don't automatically assume the kids had absolutely no hint. 

Joined: 07/13/2012

MGoPoints: 2264

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 9:43 AM ^

What's your deal? I didn't say I'm wise or holy, nor did I day you are unwise or unholy. Why resort to ad hominem attacks? I think your point about communication is dead on. That's the problem I have with Harbaugh's recruiting this cycle. Its precisely the lack of communication, or going silent for 7 months in this case, that I find distasteful. And yes, we only know one aide of the story. But between Stanford, Swenson, and Weaver, it is starting to look like a trend. This is why I think your argument was poor.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

westwardwolverine

January 26th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^

You have to understand: We have a bunch of people who are butthurt that they were wrong about Swenson (in that he didn't just have his scholarship yanked 2 weeks before NSD with zero warning), so now they have to try and use Weaver to buttress their non-argument about Swenson. 

Harbaugh has done nothing shady. People may not like the method, but he isn't taking recruits he thinks can't play and he is telling them before they get on campus so they can go where they are wanted. That's it. And in Weaver's case, we know he should have known this months ago because EVERYONE knew it. 

But no, we have to pretend like we're the Big Ten school on the wikipedia page when it comes to oversigning. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oversigning#Big_Ten_Conference

Joined: 11/26/2013

MGoPoints: 9007

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^

Weaver said the staff went silent on him for 7 months. That's where people are having a problem. Isn't that just kinda gross, if not shady? Yes, he should get the hint. But why should he have to take any hints? Why should everyone on a blog know about his situation before he does?

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 26th, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^

Agree, if there's a lesson here, like anything it's that more/clearer communication is needed.  However, how do we know they weren't clear at the beginning?  How do we don't know they told him when he committed to explore other options and 'we'll let you know whether you have a spot as we close the class out'.  I guess the staff did it 'right' somehow because we didn't hear any of bitterness from Enis or Scott when they decommitted and they were in the same boat as Weaver.  So why the different reactions?

Joined: 12/29/2010

MGoPoints: 40860

Reader71

January 26th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^

I imagine that the staff was clear with Weaver in the beginning, which is why he has supported Harbaugh despite being disappointed. I imagine Harbaugh told him they weren't done recruiting and they would continue to recruit until NSD, and that Weaver's spot wasn't guaranteed. I don't really like that but as long as the communication was open and honest, I'll live with it. The problem here is that even if Harbaugh perfectly communicated in the beginning, he eventually stopped communication entirely for 7 months. So all of that good work in the beginning is really undercut.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

BornInA2

January 25th, 2016 at 10:56 PM ^

I'm really not okay with this. A 17 year old kid being flakey is one thing. A mentor/coach going back on his word (a scholarship offer) is just not okay. It may be legal under the rules, but it's morally wrong.

If you don't want to honor your word, don't give it. Easy. An incremental increase in winning percentage is not worth lost integrity.

Joined: 02/15/2014

MGoPoints: 12802

Mr. Yost

January 25th, 2016 at 11:28 PM ^

Not questioning something you disagree with or feel is wrong is also morally wrong.

The key is to educate yourself and them form an opinion. But to not question it and not take the effort to find the other side you're referring to even worse.

Think I'm wrong? Go visit the 1960's or earlier in this country.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Woodstock Wolverine

January 25th, 2016 at 11:57 PM ^

Would love to go visit the 60's!

I just find it bizarre all the negativity being spewed at Harbaugh when he is not able to speak on his and his staffs behalf. These kids are young and upset and are probably making this look worse than it actually is. I personally can't fault Harbaugh for doing his job, which is to get the best kids to compete at the highest level. Edit: The kids are not making this look worse than it is, the media and a good number of people on this board are.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 07/16/2015

MGoPoints: 15496

jsquigg

January 25th, 2016 at 11:00 PM ^

You can neg me to Bolivia but I'm going to share my feelings on this:

1) This type of recruiting isn't over signing, but in a way is more deplorable.

a) It burns bridges with schools and coaches, not to mention recruits which makes it unsustainable.

2) This is what you have to do in order to win is complete bullshit unless you think all the top programs engage in this activity which is delusional.  Michigan has never done this until recently.

3) This type of recruiting undermines the work Harbaugh does to develope players and build a winning program outside of recruiting.

I really don't like where this is headed.  I prefer that Michigan win the right way, and if you think that makes me a pie in the sky delusional optimist, so be it.  The sooner Harbaugh stops offering players he won't follow through on, the better.  It's hypocritical for him to throw shade on other coaches via Twitter when he will reap what he himself sows.

I'm sure Brian will have a post on this, but it would be good to get John U Bacon's or Sam Webb's thoughts as well among other people who have sway at Michigan.  I have loved UM athletics as much as anyone for most of my life, but this simply continues to leave a bad taste in my mouth regardless of the unabashed Harbaugh defense.  I reserve the right to change my mind if further info comes out, but my fear is that this is the new normal.....

 

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621

jsquigg

January 26th, 2016 at 12:22 PM ^

Let's see, promising a recruit a scholarship and pulling it or dismissing a player who had a chance to perform but might not have been good enough for the coaches so they dismiss him from the program.  At least oversigners give the athletes a chance to perform, but both types of recruiting are terrible.  I stand by my statement and am sorry you are such a homer that winning at all costs is the only thing that matters.

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621

drexel

January 25th, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^

He said he has had little to no contact with the staff for 7 months. Did he ever take an official visit to Michigan or try to set one up during the season?



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 150