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Tom Strobel's Visit Reaction
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Ohio DE Tom Strobel (6'5", 245 lbs) took a trip up to Ann Arbor this past weekend. Strobel has had his interest in MIchigan steadily rise the more and more visits he's taken. Here's a look at his film and what he had to say about the most recent trip.
TOM: Who came up to Ann Arbor with you this time, and what did you get to see?
STROBEL: I've been up there before for the spring game, but I went with both my parents this time. We got a small tour of campus and facilities. We talked to all the coaches.
TOM: I'm assuming that this visit gave you a better chance to actually get to know the coaches?
STROBEL: For sure, we got to sit down and talk with them. They talked about football and family mostly. We didn't really go over scheme or film. We really just talked about football here and there, it was honestly more about the person they want to come to Michigan. It was all about character. They said they want to get someone that fits as soon as possible. I told them I wasn't supposed to make a decision any time soon. I'm not sure exactly when I'll decide, sometime in the near future.
TOM: Since your parents were there what was the overall impression of the coaches for both you and your parents?
STROBEL: The coaches are very kind, respectful, and very personal too. They didn't really talk about football it was more about my mom and dad. They asked me about how I feel about academics, which I appreciated. It's nice not to talk football all the time. They just explained to us that they want to have that Michigan man.
TOM: Have you narrowed your list down yet, or started to?
STROBEL: I'm starting to narrow schools down now. Michigan's in the top with schools like Ohio State, Stanford, and Notre Dame. Academics are big for me.
TOM: Have you been out to see all of those schools yet?
STROBEL: The only places I haven't been are Stanford and Nebraska. I'm interested in Nebraska also.
TOM: What's the criteria to evaluate these schools? How will you narrow it down?
STROBEL: I look for the pros and cons in each school. I'll look at the facilities and the strength and conditioning coaches. I'll be spending most of my time with them so that's important. I want to get in depth with the core of the program, rather than all the bells and whistles. I want to see the food too, I want to see what kind of food I'll be eating. I also want to see what type of coaches they are at each school.
TOM: I have to ask, since you're from Ohio did you grow up an Ohio State fan?
STROBEL: I think everyone in Ohio is an Ohio State fan. I grew up a little Buckeye, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will affect my decision. I'm looking at this without the fan side in it.
TOM: Did you know anything about Michigan before your visits, other than they're the Buckeyes' rival?
STROBEL: I just knew that it was Michigan. To be honest I didn't expect much going there, but then when I got there it was just an eye opener. These visits are what got them in the top group.
TOM: What about any of the coaches? I know they're new to Michigan, but did you know anything about them?
STROBEL: I knew that Mattison had been at Baltimore, but it shows that he's going to be there and he's not going anywhere if he came from the pros. I don't want to be switching coaches constantly, so it makes a difference for a coach to be there the whole time.
TOM: How do you think your recruitment is going to play out? Do you have a timeline yet?
STROBEL: I'm not sure how it's going to pan out yet. I want to get out to Stanford and some other places. I'd like to get my official visits in, but we'll see.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:13 PM | 
to be fair
to be fair
May 25th, 2011 at 12:32 PM |
It's kind of funny, but I
It's kind of funny, but I
It's kind of funny, but I think every alumni group defines "great schools" as all of the schools ranked ahead of it, its own school, and maybe a couple ranked right below. Obama said something similar about how every country thinks the G8/G20 should be the G#, where # = the smallest number of countries that would include it.
For Harvard grads, this doesn't include Michigan; for Michigan grads, this doesn't include MSU; for MSU grads, this doesn't include WMU; etc.
I'm not saying it's right (and "great school" is completely arbitrary anyway), but we just do what everyone else does.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:38 PM |
I have to admit, I wouldn't
I have to admit, I wouldn't
I have to admit, I wouldn't have guessed that OSU was this high on the list. It just goes to show how you can become biased by rivalries.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:40 PM |
Not so fast
Not so fast
I have it on good authority - from a "reliable source" no less - that the USN&WR reporting team has been tooling around Columbus in new cars way beyond their typical paygrade for a while now.
May 25th, 2011 at 2:03 PM |
Reading into his "food" comment
Reading into his "food" comment
I think it's actually pretty damn smart. Food is just an example. It seems to me that this kid really wants to see what his LIFE will be like for the next 4-5 years. He said he wants to see the nuts and bolts, not the bells and whistles, so things like the food, dorms, strength coach, the walk to class, those are important to him. He doesn't just want to know that 27 times or so he'll play in the big house, he wants to know about the other 1200 days.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
May 25th, 2011 at 2:33 PM |
I definitely agree with you
I definitely agree with you
I certainly didn't mean it as "funny = silly", but rather as something that is an unusual comment compared to what is found in the other interviews Tom has posted. I actually think it's quite astute of him to pay attention to these things. I know I didn't do that when I was college tripping (although obviously not for athletics)
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
May 25th, 2011 at 4:15 PM |
Why does Michigan drop every year?
Why does Michigan drop every year?
We used to be Top 20, and now we are barely Top 30.
"They're stuck with that quarterback (sophomore Braxton Miller) for the next two or three years, that's fine with me. He throws worse than (Tim) Tebow. - Steve Everitt
May 25th, 2011 at 5:04 PM |
Depends
Depends
It depends on the rating source. Many people question USN&WR. If you look at the Times, it shows us 19 and OSU at 129, and if you look at QS World University Rankings, we are at 15 and OSU at 125. Those rankings also have some other schools I would expect to see above OSU in fact above OSU, unlike USN&WR.
In the morning he would read the Bible with another coach. Then, in the afternoon, he would go out and cheat kids who had probably saved up money from mowing lawns to buy those raffle tickets. That's Jim Tressel.
May 25th, 2011 at 5:18 PM |
of course
of course
you have to take ALL of the rankings with a grain of salt. USNWR attempts to rank comprehensively the academics at each respective US-based 4 year university. The Times ranks based on reputation as teaching/research institutions, which has ohio state above UVA and USC. The QS world rankings are also heavily biased toward reputation (academic and employer), with a slight bias toward emphasis on international faculty/students. Every set of rankings has its flaws and biases. The point is that osu is a good school. (although we all know UM is better in every way ;))
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
May 25th, 2011 at 12:48 PM |
i have heard/propogated
i have heard/propogated
the second silent thing too. i got it from bucknuts, who got it from RCMB. seriously, talking about a rumor, not clamhydia.
2013 resolution - make it onto the 2014 favorite MGoPosters post, not ironically
May 25th, 2011 at 11:37 PM |
Wow
Wow
This is building up to a first-man-in Top 5 type class. Righteous.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
May 25th, 2011 at 11:52 AM |
That sounds great - thanks Tom
That sounds great - thanks Tom
FWIW, Duane Long lists Strobel as a three-tech and not an SDE.
http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/march/picking-my-starting-22-defense.html
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
May 25th, 2011 at 1:08 PM |
That's one hell of an
That's one hell of an
That's one hell of an athletic 3-tech.
May 25th, 2011 at 2:15 PM |
Like Mike Martin?
Like Mike Martin?
Like Mike Martin?
T
May 25th, 2011 at 3:17 PM |
Martin's a nose tackle.
Martin's a nose tackle.
Martin's a nose tackle.
May 25th, 2011 at 3:31 PM |
And also a rather small one,
And also a rather small one,
And also a rather small one, more than likely. Rivals actually has him listed as a WDE.
May 25th, 2011 at 5:22 PM |
Question
Question
I admit i am not terribly knowledgeable about these things so i am wondering how Strobel compares to our other DE offers and commits. I know he is highly rated but thats about it. Will he be manning the 5 tech? or is he more of a WDE?
I am become Tim Hardaway Jr. Destroyer of Worlds
May 26th, 2011 at 10:01 AM |
He looks to me like a SDE.
He looks to me like a SDE.
He looks to me like a SDE. He's not quite as athletic as our WDE commits and he has a bigger frame than them, so my guess is he would play the Van Bergen/Godin 5-tech position.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:03 PM |
Impressive restraint, Tom
Impressive restraint, Tom
STROBEL: I'm starting to narrow schools down now. Michigan's in the top with schools like Ohio State, Stanford, and Notre Dame. Academics are big for me.
I don't know how you bit your tongue there. I don't think I need to spell out the obvious snark follow-up question to Strobel's statement.
"There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn't really much confusion."
May 25th, 2011 at 1:04 PM |
I think this is just a
I think this is just a
I think this is just a mistake on Tom's part, he's only human. The quote was supposed to end like this:
"Academics are big for me. But I also like Ohio State."
May 25th, 2011 at 12:06 PM |
no subject
no subject
Thanks Tom, we're all really excited to see what happens with...Tom.
Formerly known as PahokeePahokee
May 25th, 2011 at 12:12 PM |
Thanks for commiting
Thanks for commiting
your time to these interviews. Love reading them. Tom, you want rich football tradition AND top tier athletics? UM is the One. Go Blue
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:16 PM |
I think you meant "rich
I think you meant "rich
I think you meant "rich football tradition AND top tier academics." In that case, per USNWR, notre dame would actually be at the top of the list, being ranked #19 with just as rich a football tradition as at Michigan. There is no other school, though, which can approach Michigan and the notre dames in both academic and football standing (limiting it to current FBS programs).
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
May 25th, 2011 at 12:26 PM |
Yes, thank you,
Yes, thank you,
that is what I mean. Thanks for clarifying. And Michigan has no cheesy and potentially sacreligious 'touchdown Jesus', and never had any big turds named Weis. And of course the uniforms, there is no better than the maize and blue.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.
May 25th, 2011 at 4:12 PM |
Well, to be fair, USC's got a
Well, to be fair, USC's got a
Well, to be fair, USC's got a pretty good history even though they're in a bit of hot water at the moment.
May 26th, 2011 at 1:28 AM |
I had the same sentiments but
I had the same sentiments but
I had the same sentiments but I've heard a few articles contradicting themselves. Some you here you kids are not being. Pushed and they are not talking football. However, other articles Nd interviews lead me to believe the kids are being pushed. I would have to believe these coaches know what they are doing Nd handling each one individually and separate as far as each kids personality and each position....let's face it, some positions are done.
I really wanted wormley but apparently Washington and Strobel are better. Ill be interested to hear the Washington interview after this weekend
Hot girls we have problems too. We're just like you. Except we're hot.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:12 PM |
I'm very confused by this
I'm very confused by this
I'm very confused by this quote.
"They said they want to get someone that fits as soon as possible. I told them I wasn't supposed to make a decision any time soon. I'm not sure exactly when I'll decide, sometime in the near future."
May 25th, 2011 at 12:15 PM |
Pure speculation on my part
Pure speculation on my part
Maybe what the coaches told him caused him to move up his decision date.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
May 25th, 2011 at 12:27 PM |
That stood out to me as well.
That stood out to me as well.
That stood out to me as well. Sounds like the coaches were letting him know in a respectful way that they want him but don't be suprised if the spot is taken if you wait to long. It also seems like he might be speeding things up a bit because of it. My guess is that once this run of DB commits ends the DT/DE will pick up a lot of steam.
"Tequila on the reg, chicks on the reg, fashions on the reg. Living the life most men can only dream of" - Kenny Powers
May 25th, 2011 at 1:25 PM |
Or..
Or..
To be honest I am not a big fan of that. I hope it isn't them pushing kids to make a decision before they are comfortable making it. RR had trouble with a lot of decommits his first year, and I felt like a lot of times it was because of kids being pushed to decide before they were quite ready. One thing that is different now is that the majority of our commits are from MI/OH, and are probably less likely to waver, than say, DeQuinta Jones for instance.
May 25th, 2011 at 10:02 PM |
Exactly what I got out of it
Exactly what I got out of it
Exactly what I got out of it also. He who hesitates may not get a slot . . .
"Underwear Wearing Basement Dweller"
May 25th, 2011 at 1:20 PM |
Here's hoping that means "I
Here's hoping that means "I
Here's hoping that means "I wasn't supposed to make a decision any time soon, but I just did."
May 25th, 2011 at 3:09 PM |
The coaches are being up front with him...this is a factor...
The coaches are being up front with him...this is a factor...
in the size of this class so far. I read as saying it is unlikely this spot will be available late in the recruiting season. I don't think any of the commits so far are going to wander - but that would be the downside of such a strategy - as well as losing the spots for the gifted athletes who can afford to wait until the last minute.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:29 PM |
One thing that seems to be in
One thing that seems to be in
One thing that seems to be in our favor his Quote " I don't want to be switching coaches constantly, so it makes a difference for a coach to be there the whole time.
Tressel on shaky ground could be the difference
GoBlue
This is Michigan
GoBlue
May 25th, 2011 at 12:31 PM |
Ahem
Ahem
"I think everyone in Ohio is an Ohio State fan."
Let's not try and project the mistake you made onto EVERY former Ohioan, Tom. Some of us got it right from the start.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:02 PM |
I don't think its
I don't think its
I don't think its speculation-The SDE spot will be filled soon.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:11 PM |
I grew up in Ohio and still
I grew up in Ohio and still
I grew up in Ohio and still live hour away from Columbus. My dad was taking me to Michigan football games since I was 5 years old. There are actually a lot of Michigan fans in Ohio.
HE16MAN '11
May 25th, 2011 at 1:35 PM |
I have lived in Ohio for 27 of my 36 years
I have lived in Ohio for 27 of my 36 years
The last five in the same Cleveland suburb where Strobel lives.
This town is Buckeyeville. Tressel was born here while his dad was coaching at the high school (coaching John Kolesar's dad and encouraging him to attend UM, but that's another story). The Mentor uniforms are OSU's with a cardinal on the helmet. Their fight song is Across The Field. Recent history has emboldened the faithful but still, I get dirty looks wearing my UM gear.
Michigan has had only two players ever from Mentor High School, for many years the largest high school in the state and currently #2.
It would be a big surprise for a talented athlete from Mentor to attend UM.
May 25th, 2011 at 5:49 PM |
Mentor's Kicker from a few years ago
Mentor's Kicker from a few years ago
I wish UM had recruited Mentor's kicker from a few years ago (I think his last name was Harper). I watched him kick a 67 yard field goal (new Ohio high school record) against our team (Solon). It blew me away watching a high school kid kick it longer than the NFL record.
But, as you say, Mentor is probably locked into Ohio State as is so many of the Ohio schools.
May 25th, 2011 at 8:42 PM |
Kevin Harper, kickoff
Kevin Harper, kickoff
Kevin Harper, kickoff specialist for Pitt. He should be in line to be the primary field goal kicker in 2011.
May 26th, 2011 at 10:39 AM |
Solon
Solon
My wife ('95) and I ('92) are Solon graduates.
I attended a Mentor at Solon game and watched Harper's predecessor (can't remember his name, though I think it was Russian or Eastern European) hit a long field goal too, at least 50 yards. I think I recorded it on my digital camera, so must have been 2004 or later.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:32 PM |
I think he is the only
I think he is the only
I think he is the only recruit I have heard mention food as part of his decision.
I really like Tom's answers though they seem really genuine, informative, and up front. Not your standard recruit answers.
-Eternal guardian of the Prevent (you from winning) Defense
May 25th, 2011 at 3:23 PM |
I just want to make this very
I just want to make this very
I just want to make this very clear ... I am from Ohio and i am NOT a Ohio State fan ... in fact i cant stand them with a passion that burns deep in my heart and soul.
Just so that is all cleared up
May 25th, 2011 at 4:40 PM |
His answers seemed
His answers seemed
His answers seemed straightforward. He seems like a pretty chill guy. I liked that bit about the food being important. I was also confused when he indciated that he wasn't supposed to be deciding soon but would probably be deciding in the near future. That, taken with his "I'd like to get my officials in but we'll see" seem to suggest that he was impressed with Michigan and is willing to move up his decision date if need be. Hopefully we can pry this kid away from OSU and ND. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. I feel like any visit where the parents come along is a good sign, though.
Denard has spent the offseason working really hard and smiling at people.
May 25th, 2011 at 7:58 PM |
Yeah, I think a handful of
Yeah, I think a handful of
Yeah, I think a handful of these guys are moving up their commitments a little bit based on competition. There are a lot of DEs in MI and OH this year, and the top schools don't all have room for them, and ND took 3 blue chip DEs last year so they're not great option for guys who want to play early. For some of these guys it's going to be a first come, first served situation and the don't want to be left out.
May 25th, 2011 at 6:34 PM |
Nice Post!
Thanks....
Nice Post!
Thanks....
May 25th, 2011 at 9:08 PM |
The kids are fast
The kids are fast
The kids are committing faster than Hoke feels comfortable with, to be honest. He's stressed often enough that they should be focused on their senior years, their last year (or 2 years) with their current teams and teammates and he's said he's not a fan of early committing. He won't be pushing Strobel to commit faster than he's comfortable with. Academically Michigan is a bit lower on the list than usual. It seems to move around year to year.
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon
May 25th, 2011 at 9:15 PM |
So how is the food nowadays for FB players...
So how is the food nowadays for FB players...
I'm assuming they eat some of their meals in the dorm and some in Schembechler (or some athletic cafeteria). The Pizza House is good but probably not a huge amount of the calories for these guys. What is it like at Michigan wrt to food right now? Does anyone know?
My dorm food in the 80s was OK but I didn't play varsity sports.
May 25th, 2011 at 9:16 PM |
Well if it ever was bad I'm
Well if it ever was bad I'm
Well if it ever was bad I'm sure Hoke will make sure its up to par before Strobel's next visit
May 25th, 2011 at 9:39 PM |
According to this Daily
According to this Daily
According to this Daily article, they have their own dining room in South Quad. I had a friend who worked there when I was at Michigan a couple years ago and she said the food was a cut above the general student fare, but take that FWIW. Although I never thought the dorm food was too bad.
Denard has spent the offseason working really hard and smiling at people.
ohio state is actually a very fine academic institution, for as much crap as we give them. Per USNWR:
5. Stanford
12. Northwestern
19. Notre Dame
29. Michigan (#3 among public schools)
45. Wisconsin
47. Illinois and Penn State (tie)
56. ohio state (#16 among public schools and tied with Purdue, UGA, SMU and Maryland)
104. Nebraska - this is the one I wouldn't consider a top tier school, although it's certainly not a bad school, especially considering there are 262 schools on their list (197 are ranked).
The food thing was pretty funny and not something I've seen other recruits mention.
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"