5th Year seniors had to "audition" during spring practice
This bummed out Keith Heitzman, which led to his transfer to Ohio University.
We've all heard some buzz about 5th years not being invited back, but this is the first time I've heard that there was a formal try out process.
Crazy to me how everyone is so judgemental on this dude for saying he was bummed he couldn't finish his career here. He never said anything about how it was unfair, or he didn't think he should have to. Just bummed out about it.
Big deal, he moved on without saying anything bad about the program or Harbaugh, unlike some other people have. Sounds like he handled it alright to me.
Maybe he could have finished his career here
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It's silly to criticize this "practice," because the practice of evaluating and making decisions about personnel and direction happens in every single organization when there's turnover in leadership. Every time. Harbaugh was just up-front about it.
And it's silly to criticize Heitzman for feeling "bummed." No matter how hard-working you are, it's inevitable to feel "bummed" when you have be evaluated. Nobody likes having to prove themselves, even if you know you're good. All premeds, even the smart ones, hate taking the MCAT. It's a bummer man.
Now, quitting to avoid being evaluated...
I'm confused... I thought you had a tryout (tryouts not scholarships -- let's not pollute the disucssion by mixing the two up ) every year?! Isn't that what goes down in spring ball? You're competing for playing time for the fall?!
You have to earn it everyday. As I blow 20 minutes reading through this thread at work and reply on my work computer.
Meh. Option A is to be a backup on a team that is projected to win ~8 games. Option B is to potentially start on a team that went 6-6 last year. He won't be missing out on a Big Ten championship or anything, so I don't know that he'll have any major regrets.
low expectations
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The numbers say Michigan will probably win about 8 games.
I'm hoping for 8 wins during Harbuagh's first season though I'm wishing he gets 10 wins and beat OSU much like Bo did in his first season!
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Huh? You don't think any players are thinking about whether they want to be a backup on their current team or a starter on another team? I'm confused.
Magnus, I've upvoted lots of your comments (I am in favor of empathy and being reasonable about a kid's choices), but you keep asserting that Heitzman transferred because he thinks he can get more playing time elsewhere. While that's part of the equation and I certainly hope he can get more PT at a lesser program, the fact remains that the catalyst for his transfer was that he had to try out. A fair and reasonable conclusion is that he did not want to compete for his roster spot at U-M. And that is a completely understandable position to take, and also a completely understandable reason I don't think Harbaugh would have wanted him on the team.
But please, stop asserting that playing time was the reason he transferred. Before he heard about the try out, he knew what his playing time looked like. He could have decided to transfer then. But he didn't. He decided to look around after he heard he had to try out.
And I've said several times in this thread that people rarely make big life decisions based on one lone factor.
I'll just leave this last comment here, because we generally agree.
5th-year players transfer all the time. Mostly, they transfer for PT reasons. Heitzman was aware of his PT situation, and did not initiate a transfer. Once Harbaugh told him he had to try out, he started looking.
Yes, PT was part of the decision. But the try out is what made him think about leaving, and I do believe it's fair to say that represents a lack of desire to compete for a roster spot. Do I blame him for feeling that way, after working for four years to earn his spot? No. Do I think that's the type of player Harbaugh wants in his program? No. Do I think that's the way I would have handled it? No.
The kid is not a jerk, a weakling, or a malcontent, as far as I know. Like I said, I wish him the best. But neither is he the type of competitor Harbaugh is looking for. I would have been upset if I had been in his shoes, too, but he had the opportunity to prove himself for a new coach with a demonstrated track record of success, and he chose instead to try his luck at a lesser program that is likely to offer more PT.
Seems mutually beneficial to me and a good decision.
He is a young kid who gave nearly a quarter of his young life to a program not a coach. One quite in an article does not trash our program and we are a smart enough fan base to empathize with him, be better for it and move on. Let him be pissed, vent and go.
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I want to care, but I just don't.
This thread basically played out exactly how I expected. I just hope that the "hard work" subset here has his or her bootstraps firmly in hand so that they can show these players where they can locate their own.
I suspect this has happened before, perhaps less obviously and behind closed doors. I don't blame Harbaugh was employing his measures, but people around here questioning the heart and passion possessed by athletes who gave 4 years to this f*king trainwreck of a program should take a good, long look in the mirror.
will have to try out.
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I think this, if true, is bullshit. If you are offered a scholarship, it should be good for your stay at Michigan, or any other school. Kicking kids with eligibility to the curb might be popular and legal, but I think shows a lack of accountability and commitment to these kids.
Poor form, and we've done this in football and basketball now. Just lame.
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We hired Harbo to toughen the program back up. Its gotten soft and the players have been playing soft. We may not like some of these methods, but they have to be done.
Remember how many players left when Bo came in?? I don't have the number, but it was huge.
We will see a difference in the teams toughness this fall and it will only get better.
A 250+ thread because a guy said he was "bummed"?
My God, stop the presses! I must start tut-tutting and elevating my RAGE level! HOW DARE ANYONE BE BUMMED AT ANYTHING MICHIGAN-RELATED?!?!? ESPECIALLY HARBAUGH?!?!??!?!? GOOD RIDDANCE, I SAY!!!!! Harrrumph.
. . . Complete
The bukeyes are going down this November...DejaVu all over again
Lots of talk about 'entitlement' and what not. Carr and company, and Hoke, emphasized the importance of senior leadership. I can see how a 5th year guy would be upset his senior status suddenly doesn't mean much. The word "audition" has an odd and negative connotation here, at least to me.
However, I am more concerned about the reaction to Heitzman leaving. There's a bit too much of "good riddance" going around. For what?
Good!! Put the BEST players on the field regardless of seniority!
Yeah , i agree with this