JonnyHintz

March 10th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^

But that is to be expected when you go 7-6 and 5-7, while Ohio State goes out and goes 12-2 and then wins a title at 13-1. Those types of players are going to look towards that top program. Let's be honest. We simply aren't stacking up to Ohio State right now. These kids can see that. It doesn't rule Michigan out, but it definitely makes Ohio State a factor. But these things happen. Top players can leave the state. Just as we can go into other states and get their top guys. These things happen, especially when your program has been down for the better part of a decade. I don't see it as anything to worry about too strongly.

Magnus

March 10th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^

I agree, but that's not what you were saying above. You said:

"Is it just coincidence that they're getting guys during years where we have 15 or fewer spots?"

The answer is no, it's not just a coincidence. There are other reasons, like the ones you point out in this post.

JonnyHintz

March 10th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^

But what I was saying is I think it is partially a coincidence. My example being Alabi. Michigan didn't go hard after him at all because we had a small class and he wasn't really a position of need (depending on where you project him). So he goes to Ohio State. In most years with 20+ scholarships, I believe Michigan goes after Alabi and we get him. We didn't have the spots, so Ohio State plucks him. Guys like Webb and Weber aren't coincidences. Those are top flight guys (at least ranking wise) and Ohio State genuinely beat us out for those players. For the reasons I stated above mostly. I think it is a little of A and a little of B. But I don't see a player or two leaving Cass for Ohio State as a major issue. Not by any stretch.

west2

March 10th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^

a lot of urban meyer haters on this site obviously but underestimating the guy and the appeal of a rock star coach is not reality. The battle against osu is going to be an uphill one for a couple of years but I believe its ultimately going to lead to some epic games with national repercussions. I cant wait!

Roc Blue in the Lou

March 10th, 2015 at 11:32 PM ^

He's a surly, swarmy and slimey winning coach.  Sludge eventually slides to the bottom, while positive/optomistic guys like Harbaugh tend to rise to the top.  And, if they're especially intense, with razor sharp focus and limitless energy, like JH, they jet to the top and swim a victory lap.

getsome

March 10th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^

bc theyve been a much better team than um for decades.  

and while recent cass tech kids have struggled at um, the younger classes see players winning rings at osu and then signing pro contracts at higher clip than um

getsome

March 10th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^

ok, a decade and a half, 15 years.  

post-cooper, it has not been very pretty - and thats certainly amplified considering current and near-future prospects only recall a struggling um / powerhouse osu dynamic - they werent alive in 97.

guess my exaggeration stemmed from what seemed like very simple answer to the initial question of why top prospects are flocking to osu - meyer started with strong foundation (not to mention all his previous success) yet has still only lost a handful of games while winning one of more impressive national titles in recent memory.

i cant stand osu or meyer - but i refuse to ignore the obvious.  theyve been better for a long time, 15 yrs -  and recruits who want to win rings or go pro, even those at cass tech, see very promising option at osu.  now hopefully harbaugh changes all that. it wont be easy but i believe its possible (though i mentioned 2 yrs ago um / hoke / brandon allowed meyer to build up too much of head start) - and if anyone can turn around um its harbaugh

alum96

March 10th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^

"Does anybody know exactly how in the hell OSU got a foothold in Cass Tech anyways?  "

Have you watched UM football the last 7 years? (It was rhetorical)

Being "old guys" I think us folks in the 40+ category have to realize the average teenager right now doesnt know anything about UM being very good.  Their "sports watching life" (which for most kids is like 8 years old forward) has been all about OSU, Wisconsin, and MSU being the alpha dogs of the conference other than 1 year.  For the 17 year old HS senior out there, 2006 (the last year UM really looked great deep into the season) was when he was 8 years old.

NCMtnBlue

March 10th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^

If Harbaugh wants him, then I don't care if he plays as a 300 lb cornerback.  It is important to prevent the best players from the state of Michigan from signing with OSU.  If a highly rated in-state recruit does not pick Michigan (if offered), I would rather they pick MSU, than OSU.  At least that way they would still be in the state. 

Yooper

March 10th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^

Wilcher said some nice things recently to cool things down because it is good for the school and his kids in the future to be seen as "putting his kids first' with respect to recruiting.  I doubt very much that his view of OSU and Meyer has changed a bit since his comments shortly after the Weber situation blew up.  Wilcher and CT kids obviously benefit from the close relationship with UM and with Harbaugh in place the coaching comparison will be a better sell as well.

BlueMD1927

March 10th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^

Cass Tech hasn't produced a decent product for us in years. As far as I'm concerned, osu can have cass tech for all I care. Does it suck that according to recruiting services the best states prospects are going to Ohio? Yes! But that same high school hasn't produced a single decent D1 player in a decade

Magnus

March 10th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^

First of all, Thomas Gordon was a decent product. And so is Jourdan Lewis, not to mention some guys who have yet to get much of a chance (Delano Hill, David Dawson). So you're wrong.

Nacho Man

March 10th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^

Detroit has been good for us, and Cass now seems to get all of the top Detroit prospects. I agree that things haven't historically been great with the way Cass players develop, but we would be absolutely dumb to neglect it 

LDNfan

March 10th, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^

The best corner on the team JLewis disagrees with you. 

I see a lot of people dimissing the Cass Tech program...but I'll take a Jourdan Lewis every few years and throw a party. That kid is the real deal. 

getsome

March 10th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^

disagree.  there have not been many but michigan needs to recruit the top handful of midwest kids (including in backyard detroit / michigan) every single year regardless, its their base.  they lack the numbers in their backyard unlike most other major programs which almost all have huge local recruiting bases.  its vital, even if theyre not gamebreakers, just from roster management standpoint.  

some have been decent recently and some have failed to produce.  jourdan lewis, if he continues any sort of upward trajectory, will get serious looks as nickel DB in the pros - thats not like usc / cali schools but its certianly not nothing

BlueMD1927

March 10th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^

Do we need to recruit our backyard? Yes! Absolutely. My point is that Cass tech kids get some unwarranted bump in the rankings that makes them seem much more desirable than they truly are. That's why I'm fine letting that pipeline of"disappointments" go to osu. Outside of Jourdan lewis( who is far far far from being a decent player) there hasn't been one Cass tech kid who proved they were deserving of a D1 offer much less a Michigan offer

BlueMD1927

March 10th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^

Outside of Jourdan Lewis (who has yet to prove himself) Cass tech has given Michigan football nothing but disappointing recruits. That's a fact and can't be argued. Would I like to see us keep the pipeline to Michigan going strong? Yes absolutely! However it's not debatable that they haven't produced a single quality D1 prospect in years. So from where I'm standing, if osu wants to waste a scholarship on what has PROVEN to be garbage program the I say "let em"

This is t to degrade Cass tech, it's merely a statement of fact. They aren't a don Bosco prep or a st Thomas aquinas.

Magnus

March 10th, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^

Thomas Gordon and David Dawson have not disappointed me.

"So from where I'm standing, if osu wants to waste a scholarship on what has PROVEN to be garbage program the I say "let em""

That's what you call a garbage program? The program that sends numerous kids to FBS schools every single year, won a couple state championships in a row, and went to the state title game again in 2014 (where they lost to Saline)?

I'm going to stop short of calling you dumb, but this is certainly a dumb comment.

BlueMD1927

March 10th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^

A dumb comment is using Thomas Gordon and David Dawson as examples of how good a high school program is. Thomas Gordon was barely enough to be a consistent start, and Dawson hasn't proven himself to be worthy of a schloarship

In reply to by BlueMD1927

Magnus

March 10th, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^

SMH. I didn't say they were good. You said that every player from there has been a disappointment, and those are at least two guys who have not made an impression yet. I have also mentioned others in this thread, but you have chosen to ignore those as well.

Willis

March 11th, 2015 at 6:38 AM ^

To be fair to the Cass Tech kids who "disappointed", the previous 2 coaching staffs didn't do a good job of developing players from a lot of other high schools as well.



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