Cullen to transfer?
UMGoBlog just tweeted that there are rumors of a possible Cullen Christian transfer. This is the first, and hopefully last time I hear this rumor.
http://twitter.com/#!/UMGoBlog
It may be true and may not, but I fully expect to see at least 4 players leave. There are logjams at a few places, and I am quite sure that Brady Hoke is very honest with players about where they fit into the program. Honestly, I'm just glad we are not seeing nearly the attrition one would expect from a coaching change, especially with a system change.
I also fully believe that the ones who leave are going to be players who weren't going to get much playing time anyway and "saw the writing on the wall." At least I hope that's how it works out.
GBW that posted the info. He will be requesting his release tomorrow. If you have questiosn about where I heard it, it was straight from the horses mouth. He gave me additional details, but none that would make him look good. too bad
Yeah, but where did the horse hear it?
from the same voice in his mind that is telling him he should be starting. I was trying to convince him to stay, but he thinks the coaches are out to get him, just like RR's staff was. quiet kid, but a prima donna nonetheless.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^
I did not expect a serious answer.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
Well I guess he's not going to Pitt
April 20th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
Pitt would make sense. It's becoming Casablanca for Michigan refugees.
Honestly, though, I've had a close view of what's happened at Pitt recently. They're program is ripe with opportunity, because the club almost imploded after what has to be the most singularly disastrous coaching change in the history of the gridiron. They lost a lot of good recruits and starters because of the late unpleasantness, and due to the strong common ties to West Virginia, I think it's a natural home for RichRod's former players.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
the post above indicates he believed RR's staff was also out to get him. Gibson was RR's DB staff, and CC's position coach. So I don't think he'd want to head out there
Other than that I agree, and would add that I think he and Vinopal were friends
April 20th, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Sure, sure. It's quite possible Gibson doesn't want CC any more than CC wants Gibson. It's possible he didn't think much of CC and would say "not the kind of guy we need." Who knows.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
What are some of the "additional details"?
Cullen should dig deep and and say "I'm not gonna quit. I'm going to see this to the end." Just like we all did during his press conference when he (eventually) picked UM.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^
I miss the days when frosh/sophs didn't transfer just because they weren't number one or two on the depth chart.
Was there ever a time like that or is that just me remembering the past too fondly?
April 20th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
should have to redshirt if it were up to me. A lot of these kids think just because they were stars in HS that it automatically translates to college. Big reality/ego check for a lot of them.If they all had to redshirt it might humble them a bit.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
Back in th day, they had to play JV their freshmen year. At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing those days come again. Maybe it's the times...with so many FBS schools, every one wnats to be a star from day one, without having to work for it. So if they can't...they transfer, because someone always needs them. I'd almost like to see the JV rule come back. Never thought I'd say that...
April 20th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
Guys today have to work harder than they ever did. Back in the day, no one had to lift and the systems were a lot simpler. Football used to be a game you practiced after school. Now it's a full-time job.
Also, with 85 players, Freshman have to contribute--at least in practice. I read somewhere that coaches hope for about eight players per class to actually develop into good players. The increased size and speed doesn't work well for everyone.
Last thing I'll say is this. The recruiting culture today contributes heavily to the attitude of entitlement in some kids. I'm not into recruiting, but the folks who breathlessly follow the updates and pray that player X comes to their school can't complain when an 18 year-old actually thinks he's hot shit after everyone tells them they are.
I'm not saying it's you, it's just a general feeling I have.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
...me?...
= (
April 20th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
I think it's a combination of both. It's surprising to look back at classes from the '80's and '90's and see how many kids didn't stick around for their entire careers.
Currently we have 9 redshirt seniors and 6 true seniors, and only five of them (Molk, Odoms, Shaw, Koger, Martin) were big contributors in their first couple years. It's frustrating to watch kids transfer, but there are also 9 seniors* who had to grind it out.
*I didn't count Evans, since he transferred away and then came back. He didn't transfer for playing reasons, but nonetheless...
April 20th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
I think that if he leaves our odds of adding a player better than him Is pretty good. We did pick up alot of DBs in last year's class, so I don't think depth will be a problem. Now would it be better to have CC or pick up either Richardson, Morgan, Reeves or Cooper? I think that we'll be ok if he does decide to leave.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
It would be better to have players who actually stick with the program. I don't really care who it is, but freshmen aren't going to play much unless they're super awesome. So if they keep leaving, they're going to leave opportunities for guys like James Rogers to win starting jobs by default.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
People wonder how Wisconsin and their army of 2-3* players outplays teams that regularly out-recruit them. I'm sure it has a lot to do with having more experienced players that have come up in the same system for several years and have more than 1 year of college S&C.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
I must be one of the few people on here that believes that upperclass leadership/numbers is important over almost anything. You want people to stick with the program, as Magnus has stated. It also looks bad to recruits who perceive it as the coaches who aren't competent enough to get a blue chip player on the field.
Upperclassmen know how to win and are able to dig deep when times get tough. We haven't had that for four years and it has shown on the field. I hate tSIO, but they have an uncanny knack for developing players for two years before they ever step foot on the field. You don't see too many of them complain and leave for lack of playing time. Nothing kills me more than hearing a coach tell a player that they will see early playing time because of their current skill set.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
DOOM?
April 20th, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
Hoke/Mattison/Mallory meetings if HE16 is on the level and CC does request a transfer?
It doesn't sound like he gets the TEAM concept or understand competition at his position will only make him a better player and person. I'm hoping this staff is better at handling bruised egos than RR and Co. A definite loss if this does not work out with him staying.
Get down, make love.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
And another one bites the dust, between him and Turner I am just going to stop looking forward to kids becoming beasts on the field.
Said it before and will say it again; kids just dont want to wait, they would rather go to a shitty ass college and be BMOC (big man on campus) rather than 1-2 years of playing time @ a high profile school.
I might be completely mistaken or getting my players mixed up, but wasn't it rumored that he was gonna transfer a couple of months ago too?
your thinking about tallbot....
it would suck but not a huge loss
Yes, there were vague rumors around the beginning of spring practice.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Thanks Magnus. I knew I heard something, albiet very vague like you stated.
One more scholarship as others have stated, good luck CC if you choose to leave.I would also state that transferring has not help any other on of the DB's that have left since Mundy.
On the surface, I guess that's true...although most of those guys who have transferred haven't really had an opportunity to play elsewhere yet. Turner, Emilien, and Brandon Smith have been sitting out waiting for their chance to play, and Vinopal will be sitting out the 2011 season.
I had expected more players to transfer by now. Its always happens with a regime change, maybe this summer...
With that said, I do hope Cullen stays. Contrary to a previous posting, cornerback is not an easy position to play. Yes, we can point to people like Woodson as an example, but the reality is that your strong side corner takes away half of the field, and in most defenses the strong corner is the 2nd most important player for a defense behind your Mike linebacker (note: some may argue noste tackle is 2nd). Weakside corner is similarly valuable.
So having players with as much "raw cover ability" as CC is something we don't want to lose. I am confident CC could play free with some coaching (pursuit angles, hitting, etc). And of course nickle & dime packages.
Now it is true that he is way down on the depth chart, and it does seem obvious that Avery (at this stage of their careers) is developing into a better corner. Nevertheless, we can never have enough coverage defensive backs, and losing as 4-star will inevitably be a bad thing (ie Justin Turner).
Has lots of upside. Those who stay will be champions
April 21st, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
I really enjoyed having Cullen and Colton Christian in maize. I referred to them both as Culten. I live out of state and told my friends, who know close to nothing about M athletics, that they were the same person. Hopefully, they weren't paying attention.
April 21st, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
football position. And while some (kicker) are easier than others (quarterback), for instance, a kid attending school full time and learning to play Division 1 defense with a new and former college/and/professional coach (Mattison) has his hands full. It takes a hell of a lot of gumption (credit-Magnus) to excel at Michigan as a student athlete. Certainly harder for some than others, but I'm hoping that the athletes who stay understand that becoming a Champion applies to both football and academics, and excelling at both concurrently is a difficult task. Spare me the 'playing cornerback or safety is easy' nonsense. Go Blue
April 21st, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
The Big House Blog is reporting that theres rumors swirling that DJ Williamson is also looking to tranfer his way out of Michigan too. First time I"ve heard rumors about him, but I guess I can see it since he might not be the best fit in a Pro Style offense I guess?