Recruiting Impact of a 49ers vs Pats Super Bowl

Submitted by JCM26 on

Of course I'm biased in my desire here but I'd sure like to see the San Francisco 49ers versus the New England Patriots in the upcoming Super Bowl.   Just imagine the positive impact this may have on recruiting high school athletes around the country as they tune in to the constant buildup of sports talk high-lighting the obvious common bond between Tom Brady and Jim Harbaugh. If this comes to pass I envision a bombardment of discussion contrasting the two former Michigan quarterbacks - their records and accomplishments at Michigan, life styles, personal ambitions, and NFL careers. Wow! This could be a cavalcade of prime time publicity for Michigan football. This is why I'm pulling for second place finishes for the Giants and Ravens today.

Football

Comments

WolverBean

January 22nd, 2012 at 7:23 PM ^

A post rises to diary quality when it not only generates thoughtful discussion, but provides unique analysis of an insightful trend (Mathlete's in-game win percentages), or tests a hypothesis (how many teams must a playoff include to give every deserving team a chance), or provides content that might otherwise earn front-paging (hockey preview of Notre Dame). This OP initiates a thoughtful discussion, but is it the kind of post that could be front-paged? No? Then it belongs on the board. Yes, a few posts get up here from time to time that maybe don't rise to this level -- but a few skating through once in a while is not grounds for lowering our standards.

/MGoGetOffMyLawn

Joined: 06/30/2008

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polometer

January 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^

 

Maybe I'm from Baltimore.

Or maybe I want the Ravens to crush the Pats with defense.  When Mattison walks into the door of a recruit's home he can say, "I coached that.  I wanted to come back to Michigan."

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MGoNukeE

January 22nd, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^

I imagine that this might be discussed a little bit, but it almost certainly won't be the focus of hype that will surround the game. In fact, having the Ravens in the Super Bowl would give Greg Mattison plenty of influence over recruits on defense.

Any effect this theoretical matchup has on recruiting will be significantly dwarfed by the tv time that Michigan got in the night game against Notre Dame.

Joined: 11/11/2009

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andrewG

January 22nd, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^

I'm not seeing how having the Ravens in the Super Bowl is another feather in Mattison's cap. He's not their coach anymore. And this isn't college where he can say he developed those players. He was only there for a few years. They were a great defense before him, were a great defense under him, and are still a great defense. This isn't a knock on Mattison. He's an amazing coach and was able to keep up a strong tradition of great defense for Baltimore, but this just doesn't seem like something he can use to sell recruits.

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BursleysFinest

January 22nd, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^

 

  Weird that you say that, watching a Tom Brady special on ESPN now, and he's talking about him being at the bottom of a 7(!!!) QB depth chart his freshman yr at Mich...goes to show you that another QB recruit or 2 this year or next would not be a bad thing 

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reshp1

January 22nd, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^

The Pats going to the Super Bowl may negatively influence Penn State since OBrien will have to keep juggling the two roles. It may give us a slight edge in peeling recruits from them.

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Mr Miggle

January 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^

But I think the opposite is true. Another Super Bowl ring will probably help in recruiting down the road. For this year, O'Brien is way behind regardless, but being able to tell recruits he is making time to talk to them while preparing for the Super Bowl might just help. The only commit we seem to be going after is from MA. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a Pats fan.

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Tater

January 22nd, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^

A lot of things go into recruiting, and having high-profile Michigan alums on both sides of the Super Bowl certainly never hurts.  Today, it seems like every elite recruit thinks college is where he is going to put in his time on the way to the NFL.  There really isn't any downside here; a NE/SF Super Bowl can only benefit the Wolverines.

Also, it doesn't have much to do with recruiting, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Eli Manning slurp-fest get derailed for another year, either.

Joined: 08/13/2008

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michelin

January 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

I agree with you.  The topics announcers focus on will be affected by the most salient sources of similarity and dissimilarity of the teams.  The most salient similarity involving michigan clearly would occur in a Pats-SF matchup (2 past UM qbs, Brady and Harbaugh, both of whom are probably the central characters in the game anyway)..   True, if the Ravens-SF metchup occurs, a UM fan could rightly point to the role of Mattison in preparing the Ravens for this year.   However, I think that the announcers would focus instead on the salient similarities of John and Jack Harbaugh--thus shifting the focus from UM to the Harbaugh family.

 

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Perkis-Size Me

January 22nd, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^

Minus having the Giants in the Super Bowl, I don't see any scenario that doesn't make Michigan look good, however indirect it may be.

Ravens-Greg Mattison. How could a recruit not salivate over Mattison coming into his home and saying "Yeah, I coached one of the likes of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, both almost certain Hall of Famers." Kids want to play for a guy they know has what it takes to bring them to the next level.

Patriots-Tom Brady. Enough said.

49ers-Harbaugh connection.

I don't see this having a really massive effect on us (minus maybe the Ravens getting to the Super Bowl and playing lights-out defense), but it just reflects well overall on the football program, and shows that Michigan breeds winners.

Personally, I want Ravens-49ers, with the Ravens winning. That's Mattison's defense out on the field, and shows what he may be able to accomplish here too. Also, I still hold a little bit of a grudge against Jim for speaking against his alma mater.

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An Angelo's Addict

January 22nd, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^

eh, Ohio gets hit with infractions and negative public media and reel in a top 5 class. Brian Kelly turns shades of purple and still gets top prospects. Unless Brady Hoke shows up at the super bowl i dont think it will make such a huge diff

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M-Wolverine

January 22nd, 2012 at 10:09 PM ^

The greatest QB of all time played for your school. And oh, our head coach helped recruit him.
<br>
<br>Not sure how many recruits are thinking "I can be a great head coach someday if I go there". So not sure Harbaugh helps that much. Might even get people saying "we should have hired him instead", which doesn't help recruiting.

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DarkWolverine

January 23rd, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^

Successful tandem of Offense/Defense football talent with Brady/Woodson, with big ten titles, national titles, heisman trophy, pro bowls and super bowls. What other school comes close?

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