CC - Brandon's Delay Hurting Recruiting?

Submitted by Nick Sparks on

This post is not about who should/will be our head coach next year, whether or not Brandon waiting to make the decision is the best move or not, and if the question I am raising has already been raised I apologize for missing it.

The point of this post is to simply challenge the generally accepted notion that DB's decision to wait until after the bowl is hurting our current coaching efforts.

It's easy to see why this belief is fairly widely held. Dee Hart withdrew his commitment , and numerous recruits have expressed that they were waiting until DB made his decision to commit.

With this in mind, if national signing day was before or on the bowl game, I would say that these signs make it clear that Brandon's delay is hurting recruiting, but the the thing is that national signing day isn't until freaking February. 

What Brandon's delay is doing is keeping Michigan football headlines far more than it would be otherwise, culminating in even more national press after the bowl game when the decision is announced.

I see this announcement having 3 different possible effects on recruits depending on how things turn out:

1. RR does poorly/mediocre  in the bowl and DB decides to keep him. Effect - meh, not much. By February the recruits will do what all 18 year olds do and will have forgotten all about this and will sign with RR if they were going to anyway

2. RR surprises people when the team plays above expectation and DB keeps him in a big nationally televised love fest (my bet, like it matters). Effect - positive. Anyone who was going to sign does and all of the extra publicity this waiting game has garnered attracts more recruits

3. It doesn't matter how RR does and Harbaugh is brought to a big nationally televised reunion-themed love fest. Effect - positive. Some of RR's recruits stay, some of Harbaugh's recruits come over, and overall we get more guys than we would have because of the extra publicity Brandon's delay has garnered the program.

So, it seems that the biggest negative effect this delay has had, in my opinion is in regards to the public perception of Dave Brandon, who has taken a lot of the negative feelings off of RR and focus them on his handling of the situation - which would certainly make the announcement that RR is staying easier than right after the OSU game when public opinion of RR was at its lowest (just saying).

Btw, I would love nothing more than to have the error in my thinking highlighted by anyone so I know better for the future.

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rman247

December 13th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^

Every day the same shit on this board. Is Brandon doing the right thing? Should rr stay? Dammit stop!!!! There is a reason db is our ad, and I think he knows what he is doing. So would all of you idiots who think they are smarter than Brandon, shut the fuck up. Feel free to negbang :)

Joined: 01/24/2010

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antonio_sass

December 13th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^

While I agree with the general sentiment of this, I do have a problem with the argument "there is a reason db is our ad" -- and i've heard that same reasoning over and over again. Here's the issue:

There was a reason Bill Martin was our AD

There was a reason Obi Ezeh started at MLB this year

There was a reason Charlie Weis was ND's HC.

You can literally use that argument for anything.

I tend to think that DB is neither an incompetent idiot nor an infallible leader. The truth is, we don't know yet because it hasn't played itself out. He has a plan -- and we will eventually see if it is good one or a bad one.  

Joined: 09/08/2010

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Blue in Yarmouth

December 14th, 2010 at 8:16 AM ^

I have said this in numerous threads before and agree with you 100%. The idea that people are willing to blindly cling to the idea that DB knows what he is doing based on what little evidence we have is amazing to me. He hasn't proven anything yet.

I am not saying he won't be a good AD, but I am not willing to to out on a limb and say that he definitely will be great based on what we have seen thus far. There is nothing to go on at this point. This is the decision that he will be judged on and it won't be clear until after it has been made whether it was a mistake or not.

If RR is kept, I don't think there is any way to justify what has transpired. If JH is brought in, the reason for the timeline becomes evident and also, justifiable.. Which was the "right" decision will only be known after the 2011 season if RR stays. If JH comes in it will take longer to determine whether it was the best choice.

My point is, DB really hasn't proven to me that he knows exactly what he is doing. I am not a negative person, running around like a madman screaming he is an idiot (because I don't believe he is), but I have to form my opinions based on evidence, of which there is very little.

Also, the OP is tyring to make the point that this isn't hurting recruiting (which I don't agree with, but there are certainly reasonable arguments for each side). There is also the point, however, that it is definitely limiting our options if we want a new DC.

Again, we will only be able to make judgements after it is all over, but if the result is this: RR is retained and we need to pick up a new defensive staff, this timeline was a complete and utter disaster.

Joined: 02/18/2009

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sarto1g

December 13th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^

This is kind of a funny picture by itself.  He could just be poking a sleeping animal or maybe trying some kind of harry potter magic with a really big wand.

 

EDIT:  Just kidding, it started moving.  Slow internet and such.

Joined: 08/28/2010

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BiSB

December 13th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^

and if the question I am raising has already been raised I apologize for missing it.

It's okay.  It was easy to miss this discussion... 

... if you've been in one of those soap opera "deep-brain double-comas" for the last three weeks. 

Joined: 08/15/2009

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Nick Sparks

December 13th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^

I just wasn't aware that anyone else felt that Brandon's process would actually help recruiting because of the national publicity gained.

I don't know what the best decision is. DB is 100000 times more qualified than I to make it.

Sorry again

Joined: 06/15/2009

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lilpenny1316

December 13th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^

So you think having the Michigan alumni and fanbase in a circular firing squad for an entire month, with all the drama to play out on national television, is a good thing? 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but WHA-WHA-WHAT?  We're Michigan.  We don't need extra national publicity.  Are you sure that horse didn't kick you in the head before you beat it?

Joined: 11/19/2009

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lilpenny1316

December 13th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^

Geez man, why not just read all the other posts instead of risking your 200+ points on a potential negbang to Columbus?  I usually cut people slack, but it's like 10 degrees and I'm looking out my window at half empty, "sold out" Ford Field at a free football game that I can't go to. 

I'm done.  Please resume the beat down of Mr. Ed.

Joined: 11/19/2009

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dearbornpeds

December 13th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^

     Is it reasonable to assume that some of Harbaugh's recruits will pass up a chance to go to Stanford in order to play football for him at Michigan?  I love my school and value its educational reputation but we are talking about Stanford here.  I don't recall any of RR recruits coming here from West Virginia.  Does anyone know how this plays out at other schools when there is a high profile coaching change?

Joined: 11/07/2009

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NateVolk

December 14th, 2010 at 8:03 AM ^

That is possible, but it is even more possible that better recruits that Harbaugh knew he couldn't get qualified at Stanford, can now be pursued and brought here.    Guys that might not even show up on Stanford's known list right now. 

A coach like Harbaugh has a board of wish recruits that he knows not to even try to bring to Stanford because it would be a waste of time trying to get them admitted. 

The effect of all this on the recruiting of the current list of guys we read about on this site is definite.  A new coach will bring with him a whole new list though. 

Joined: 07/19/2010

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bluenyc

December 14th, 2010 at 8:30 AM ^

The better recruits you say all have established relationships with coaches and had to narrow their lists.  If JH has a list that he didn't even try with, will 5 weeks allow him to build those relationships when other have been doing it for years. 

If DB wants JH and JH wants to be here.  This should have been done right after the OSU game.  JH would have more time to get his players that he wants. 

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