Borges loves recruiting to Michigan

Submitted by Moleskyn on

Chantel Jennings, over at WN, wrote up a nice piece on Al Borges and how he enjoys recruiting for Michigan. Here's the link. The good parts:

“It’s Michigan -- that’s the bottom line,” Borges said. “We’re going to make people understand the advantages of coming to this university, and they go way beyond playing football. We just completely embrace that concept as a staff, and I think it resonates with the kids.”

“I love recruiting here,” said Borges, who has coached at Auburn, UCLA, Indiana and Oregon, among others. “Because it’s the best sell of any place I’ve ever coached.”

There are a few other money quotes in there, so it's worth the read, but it basically confirms what we already know about this staff: they love Michigan, they're honest, they genuinely care about the players, and they do a great job of letting the high points speak for themselves.

Also, how gorgeous does he look in these sunglasses?

(The answer: of corges Borges looks gorgeous)

Mr. Yost

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^

Sigh, no white neck hair in the picture. However, I think I see some white chest hair...a more than adequate substitute.

That is one gorgeous man. I mean, he's sexy and he knows it.

DonAZ

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^

It starts at the top ... Hoke bleeds Blue.  And that sets the tone for the program.

I love the implication behind "the advantages of coming to this university, and they go way beyond playing football."  I truly believe deep in the hearts of most of these recruits there's an awareness of the bigger picture.  I love the way Hoke and his staff talk about using football to make "better men, better husbands and better fathers."  The recruits respond to that.

I think the mothers of the recruits really respond to it.

* * *

Question -- how in the world do you make those boxes around the quotes?  What's the code used to create that?

oriental andrew

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^

Question -- how in the world do you make those boxes around the quotes? What's the code used to create that?

 

 

Click "switch to plain text editor" at the bottom of the text window.

Enter the following:

<blockquote>Stuff you want to quote. </blockquote>

Click "switch to rich text editor"

Type your response and save.

LSAClassOf2000

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^

"Several recruits have said that unlike other schools, there is no “sales pitch” with the Wolverines and that they appreciate that honesty from the coaching staff."

I really like to hear these sorts of things coming from recruits, and I like that this is a staff that really operates without pretense and isn't trying to sell Michigan to recruits. If you have a great school and a storied program, the name should do the selling for you, freeing you to be honest with people.

The fact that the staff can simply be themselves on the recruiting trail and be as successful as they have been to date is a lesson in what incredible brand equity - built carefully through the years - will accomplish without you moving a muscle. It also should say that we have the right people where they need to be.

Kermits Blue Key

May 22nd, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^

I wonder if it's the lack of a sales pitch that hurts us with some of the high tier recruits?  It's probably safe to assume that many of the coaches around the country are saying anything possible to get those kids on campus.  I'm in no way implying that's what Hoke & staff should do, just throwing it out there.

Spontaneous Co…

May 22nd, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^

I think there may be some overlap between kids who are the hat ceremony types and those who want a big showy sales pitch. In no way am I criticizing, just saying our style, which seems to be working, may not net us kids who want the recruiting game to be all "Hollywood"

jdon

May 22nd, 2012 at 9:31 PM ^

I don't like what the poster before said about missing out on 'high profile' recruits.  I mean we have like 7  recruits in the top 100.  Morris, Thomas, McCray, Fox, etc.  These guys are high profile recruits.

Now, the whole hat choosin', look at me guys, if they want to be pampered in 'the process' they are going to want to be pampered on 'the campus' (lol) and I have no problem losing out on a few of them, especially when we are bringing in the creme de la creme as it is.

As for getting to the pros, I think mattison and borges can speak to that without having to sell the recruits a line of bs.

jdon

 

scooterf

May 22nd, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^

I would say they definitely sell Michigan, but there's an art to selling something without it necessarily appearing that you are selling it. You don't pull in the kind of recruiting classes Hoke and company have been doing without being a very sharp salesman. That doesn't mean those kids are lying, but it means Hoke and company are doing THAT good of a job that it doesn't feel like a sales pitch to the kids. 

Vote_Crisler_1937

May 22nd, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^

My honesty is this: when I was being recruited D1 I did not care about the storied traditions and history of BIG programs at all. I wanted coaching and exposure to get me to the next level. Fans grow attached to traditions, recruits, despite what many say, are focused purely on the here and now opportunities to get themselves to the next level. Although it makes for good copy to say things like we love tradition and are excited about history.

Gssumcat

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^

loves Michigan? water is wet. we landed on the moon.
of course he loves recruiting at Michigan bc Michigan is awesome.
(he's so dream with his deep growl-y voice )

Here2CWoodson

May 22nd, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^

Michigan needs to keep this staff in tact for the next three years.  By then Michigan will hopefully be competing for national championships and if one of the great assistants gets picked off they should be at the point where they can get the cream of the crop to replace them.  Luckily I dont think there is much of a chance that Hoke goes anywhere ever. 

denardogasm

May 22nd, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^

Haven't we learned from taking the cream of the crop? I'm hoping by the time one of these guys retires we can promote from within like in the good old days.  I would obviously trust Hoke to find a great replacement more than we should have trusted certain people in the past  however (hindsight).

FrankMurphy

May 22nd, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^

I'd like to bring Scot Loeffler back when Borges decides to call it a career (assuming he does well at Auburn).

My ideal scenario: Loeffler has great success at Auburn, Hoke invites him to return to Michigan as OC when Borges retires, Loeffler fields some of the most prolific offenses we've ever seen at Michigan, he gets a head coaching job at Central or another MAC school, he does really well there, then Scot Loeffler becomes our next head coach when Hoke decides to retire.  

Goblue2.0

May 22nd, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^

He loves recruiting at michigan and all the advantages huh? Then why can't he get any top rated play maker to commit here? Thats what we need!! 3 star slow pokes aren't gonna get the job done!! Meg bomb all u want! It's the truth!! Missin out on Isaac was a major f" up bye the staff- can't let that happen!

Goblue2.0

May 22nd, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^

Meg bomb!!! Knew the mods would be butt hurt for statin facts! Other than Shane Morris we have pulled the Brandon Inge on every play maker!!!! I can't be the only rational fan on here!

Goblue2.0

May 22nd, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^

Hill n York! I like dukes cuz of his height.. Just gettin frustrated - the best arm in the country committed- best o- line committed- theres not one recruit in the top 2 or 3 at their(play maker) positions that wants to play here! Tryin to still wrap my head around it!