Unverified Voracity Wishes This Wasn't So Apt Comment Count

Brian

tate-forcier-terrelle-pryor-punchout_thumb[1]

Via the Shredder.

No worries, but you'll still worry. These days there are many emails I get that fit neatly into categories. One category: "oh noes Devin Gardner!" All I can tell folk concerned that Gardner might decommit is that he is asked about the strength of his commitment every ten seconds and has not yet deviated from strongly endorsing it. Two more examples, one from MGoBlog recruiting analyst Tom VanHaaren on the twitters:

QB Devin Gardner told me tonight that the Florida rumors going around are not true. Everyone take a collective sigh of relief.

Gardner says "I'm listening to what they have to say, but I'm still solidly with Michigan" in another article from The Sporting News that notes he has no plans to visit anywhere else. As long as that remains the case, you should not panic. If he does visit, panic.

This will not dissuade hardcore worriers, but there's literally nothing short of signing a LOI—it appears that Gardner will not enroll early, unfortunately—that will do that.

HE MUST BE PUNISHED SEVERELY. I'm normally pretty libertarian when it comes to arbitrary restrictions imposed because we must Think Of The Children and care zero percent about the various MIPs and assorted citations that football players pick up when they do what everyone else in college does. Live and let die, man.

However, in this case I recommend no less than a one-game suspension:

terrelle-pryor-the-little-bar

Terrelle Pryor! At a bar! He's 20! Someone arrest him at the state line. Do it for your country.

What's with the jerkery? At this point we're forced to confront the fact that Rich Rodriguez going bust after four—or even three—years is a real possibility, so the actions of one Jim Harbaugh at Stanford are of considerable interest. You're probably aware that Stanford has just finished beating Pete Carroll's head in, causing this terse postgame exchange to occur:

"What's your deal? What's your deal?" Carroll said, according to two sources near enough to hear.

"What's your deal?" Harbaugh retorted, and that was that.

Ah, the You Can't Do That On Television defense. Excellent work after thoroughly sliming the opponent. Carroll could have been referencing any number of things, but the "go for two up 48-21, miss it, get it back, and score again" sequence was probably the reason Carroll became verrrrry un-Dude in the aftermath. If Rodriguez does indeed flame out, Harbaugh will be the first name on many lips, and he will be a deeply strange candidate to consider.

On the one hand: Harbaugh turned around a non-scholarship I-AA program, took Stanford from the 1-11 Walt Harris debacle to 7-3 in year three with consecutive wins over Oregon and USC, and has a family coaching tree a mile long. His 2009 recruiting class finished 20th nationally according to Rivals, the first time in forever that Stanford has peeked into the top 25. Walt Harris's last class was #50. Assuming continued progress on the Farm—likely since his quarterback is a redshirt freshman—he's going to have a hell of a resume.

On the other hand, he's a kind of a big jerk. When he got to Stanford he immediately pissed off Pete Carroll by suggesting he was headed for the NFL—twice. He then trashed Michigan's academics and caused this site to pen a bombastically-titled post called "Destroy Harbaugh." He also picked up a DUI in 2005. Then there was the two-point stunt last weekend. These are not isolated incidents.

Are the items in the latter group enough to disqualify a guy who is almost certainly going to be a, if not the, grade A candidate? I don't know. Probably not something to consider seriously until we get a verdict on Rodriguez.

Warren departure? As expected, Donovan Warren is definitely going to look at his NFL options after the season:

“Definitely I’m going to look into it as far as where I stand,” Warren said. “If it’s the best thing to do for my family then I’ll just have to decide that. But if it’s not then I’ll definitely be here helping Michigan.”

Definitely. If Warren projects as a mid-round pick, as an NFL scout who talked to AnnArbor.com claimed, that would probably mean a return. Caveat: I think Warren's better than that and the scout did not break down his film, he just offered an off-the-cuff appraisal.

Etc.: Hey, guess what: Forcier isn't transferring. Duh. Chait also rips Wilbon.

Comments

Seth

November 17th, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^

Now and forever, I will imagine Pryor's voice as that of Tyson. [flowery voice] "Everyone does .... kills people, murder people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever."

Number 7

November 17th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^

But can't everybody see what Pryor has done? By defining delinquincy as something somewhat south of murder, he makes a little underage drinking seem like not so much a big deal. (And, btw, it isn't, is it?) Anyway, it's not like he was hitting the wieght room beyond the NCAA-prescribed limitations on such activities. . .

matty blue

November 17th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^

rodriguez' comment: "without an open date" that's something i've been wondering for a couple weeks now, whether the lack of an off-week has hurt us lately. yes, baby seal u and all that, but they didn't have any off days from practice that week, either. typically, i think the team has a weekday off during a bye week (and sometimes the actual saturday as well, although not every season), and they haven't had that this year. it's been a 7-day-a-week job for a while now. of course some of the kids have burned out. have you ever seen a michigan team more in need of a few days off? also: denard robinson "refused to talk?" what's that about? has that been discussed at all?

Magnus

November 17th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^

If I'm not mistaken, the guy in the picture with Pryor is Corey Brown - who is also under age. Not that I really care if they're in a bar, but I guess Pryor isn't the only "guilty" one on the team.

jblaze

November 17th, 2009 at 1:17 PM ^

I'm not sure why Brian made that the source, but FYI, the Forcier link is to a Freep article. Also, a couple of my non-Michigan friends who watched a couple of Michigan games offered up their unbiased opinion on Warren (I believe them, but they are just crazy NFL fans, and not professionals in any manor) agreed with the mid round (3-5) range for Warren. On another topic, the problem for Pryor is that he hangs out with dudes who wear Ed Hardy shirts. Wearing an Ed Hardy shirt = instant douche. Can anyone say Jon from "Jon & Kate + 8"

EZMIKEP

November 17th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^

And a gun, and a vile of crack. I strongly suggest you look at the picture again and again until you see it(its like one of those sailboats), as well as I strongly suggest he be suspended for Nov 21st immediately.

caup

November 17th, 2009 at 1:30 PM ^

2008, in their first 7 Big Ten games Michigan scored 170 points. And this year in their first 7 Big Ten games M has scored... 167 points! I think my morale has hit a new low point.

lunchboxthegoat

November 17th, 2009 at 1:54 PM ^

Harbaugh is a MICHIGAN MAN. It makes sense he has special ability. Hiring him will obviously do the following:

1. Give Obi Ezeh the ability to tackle and defense the pass. 2. Give Jonas Mouton the awareness to not over run everything. 3. Give Mike Williams some ability in the area of pass coverage. 4. Lower Kovacs 40 time to sub 4.4. 5. Cure the Big East myth of "Freshman mistakes" 6. Eliminate turnovers for anyone wearing maize and blue. 7. Make sure M never accepts another 3 star recruit. 8. Stop--and reverse--global warming. 9. Cure feline aids. 10. Eliminate the "rookie holdout" by giving a salary structure to 1st year players in the NFL. 11. Change the public perception of the Big11Ten to a "power conference"

Am I missing anything?

Blue2000

November 17th, 2009 at 2:03 PM ^

Not that I'm advocating for the hiring of Harbaugh, but why is the fact that he may be a jerk necessarily a bad thing? Lloyd's grandfatherly charm aside, I don't really see a problem in a coach being a bit dickish, so long as he cares about his players and his program.

MayzNBlu

November 17th, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^

As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Robinson is considering transferring, especially at this point. People are just assuming things and throwing out wild guesses. You have to keep in mind that he wanted to play quarterback, and Michigan was one of the only schools who said they would keep him in that position. For him to transfer would likely mean no longer being used as a quarterback, or dropping into a much less competitive area.

Gene

November 17th, 2009 at 6:30 PM ^

I'm pretty sure you can say you're worried about whatever you want without showing that your worries are justified. Note there's no claim that anything is or is not going to happen. I'm worried that Tate is going find Jesus, transfer to ND, and proceed to win 3 consecutive Heismans and MNCs.

MaizeSombrero

November 17th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^

So, you say "im worried about x." Now what? If you don't provide any context or justification, then you haven't added anything to the conversation. What you've done, essentially, is just added noise. We don't post comments just to create noise, we should try to add value. There is enough noise on the internet. This is kind of the whole basis for this blog's existence; to create signal through all the noise that's out there. Comments like "LOL Brandon Graham is so good he's going to clobber tO$U" don't fit here. Either do random thoughts. We're trying to grow intelligent conversation here, not just wild speculation. So yes, you can say you're worried about whatever you want. But you shouldn't. Unless you're gonna add something worthwhile in addition. So instead of "I worried about x.", you say "I'm worried about x, and here's why..."

Duncan

November 17th, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^

Warren is rated as the 2nd best junior CB. But, of course, it's Mel Kiper who has rated him this. If I had to guess, Warren would be ranked somewhere between the 5th to 10th best CB. Is that mid round? Who knows. Then you have Ezeh as his 4th best junior ILB and Schilling as the 4th best OG, behind Boren at #2, according to Kiper. edit: Then you have McShay and his group of 'evaluators' ranking Warren as the 44th best overall prospect, ahead of BG at 47. Umm, no.