GoPackGo

June 8th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

if he is not admitted, I am gonna be so disappointed, especially after watching this video...Admissions has to let this kid in...he has done everything he has been asked to do, and to pull his chance after initially saying he's acceptable is absolutely wrong...

Litt1e Rhino

June 8th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^

Dave Brandon and rich rod need to get this kid in. This video was very well made. I hope him the absolute best and hope he can get his winged helmet this year.

Braylon1

June 8th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^

I can't tell you how happy I'd be to see this kid earn his degree from Michigan. Like his coach said in the video, prove people wrong.

I know one thing, Rich Rodriguez has his back, and that makes me proud. I just hope nobody stands in the way.

the Bray

June 8th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

This are the types of kids the university should be helping out.  Didn't come from a privleged background ,but has proven he's willing to do the work to succeed.

MGoAndy

June 8th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

How anyone in admissions could look at this and not want to let this kid in is beyond me.  Fuck them if he doesn't get in.  Fuck them.

I will be heartbroken if the door is officially shut on this kid.  If the video taught us anything, it's that he's going to end up on his feet, but it should be at Michigan.

dennisblundon

June 8th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^

This kid was faced with adversity in his life and had the desire to turn his life around before it was too late. Admissions is looking at a file when they need to look at the person. Making something of yourself when the odds are stacked against you is what being a man is all about. Hopefully admissions gives him a chance to be a Michigan man.

SpreadGuru

June 8th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^

on the fence about Demar but come on...this kid is doing everything he can to better his life.  Send this to David Brandon, Mary Sue Coleman and admissions.  He's going to be a winner in life (and I think he can play some ball too).

 

Please God help this kid get out of his current locale.

Magnus

June 8th, 2010 at 10:37 PM ^

Damn, he and his coach look so happy that he's going to Michigan.  I hope Admissions doesn't pull the rug out from under him.

Good luck, Demar.  Michigan fans are pulling for you.

cthate

June 8th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^

unless there is something below the surface that i/we dont know about other than what is out there give the kid a chance if he blows it, he blows it

MGoShoe

June 8th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^

....of why there might be a delay.  He attended an alternative private school called Life Skills Center.  Dylan points us to their website where they make the following pitch:

At LifeSkills, we believe that every student deserves a chance to earn a state-recognized high school diploma and that every parent has the right to select the best program for their child's needs.  LifeSkills is an alternative high school opportunity for at-risk and drop-out youth providing a unique academic model and a proven record of success.  Our comprehensive, mastery-based curriculum is grounded in core courses and supplemented by services unique to LifeSkills.

Our students come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds with numerous obstacles and challenges in their lives.   At LifeSkills, we recognize these challenges.   Each of our students is considered unique.   We provide each student with an individual assessment, a personal academic achievement plan and the individual support needed to succeed and graduate.  We help our students overcome obstacles by providing a caring and secure environment that uses positive motivation and encouragement to foster growth and improve self-esteem.  We require our students to achieve high standards in order to graduate, and with the support of parents, teachers and the community, they do graduate and are prepared to succeed in life.

LifeSkills was founded to assist students whose needs might not be met by traditional public schools.  We offer a second chance to students of high school age who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of the traditional high school setting.  At LifeSkills, we understand our students left the traditional high school setting because they did not feel challenged by a traditional program, believed that they just did not "fit in," or simply did not have time to attend all day classes.  We are ready to meet their individual needs, make a difference in their lives, and help them achieve success and a brighter future.

It looks like the video was produced by a marketing firm called StrategyOne and it's one in a series of videos featuring kids who got their diplomas through this program.

On their website, LifeSkills says that tuition is free to the student.  Clearly they're getting funded by the states in which they operate when they enroll their students.  My school division in Virginia has an alternative education program for at risk students that's run by the public school division.  It appears that Florida or his school district at least outsources that function to LifeSkills.  I can't say this definitively, but I assume they are a for proft venture. 

Wonder what the rules are regarding Dorsey appearing in a video endorsing this for profit alternative diploma program? 

Tim

June 8th, 2010 at 11:42 PM ^

Too many assumptions in your hypothetical for it to be a huge issue.

As long as he wasn't getting paid for his appearance (i.e. gaining from his likeness), I'm not sure it would be an issue, anyway. Could even be part of his curriciulum.

MGoShoe

June 9th, 2010 at 12:48 AM ^

...they're deductions.

  • Fact 1: Dorsey attended LifeSkills
  • Fact 2: LifeSkills is not a public school entity
  • Fact 3: Public school districts offer alternative programs for at risk students to separate these kids from the general school populace with the goal of decreasing the drop out rate and increasing the graduation rate.
  • Fact 4: LifeSkills claims they offer an alternative program for at risk kids to earn a diploma
  • Fact 5: Tuition is free to the student
  • Fact 6: The website does not indicate anywhere that it's a non-profit.  Non-profits always indicate their status and provide an avenue for people to make donations. 
  • Fact 7: Demar Dorsey appeared in a promotional video for LifeSkills.
  • Fact 8: The video was produced by a marketing firm.
  • Deduction 1: LifeSkills is contracted and funded by the local school district to provide its alternative school program.
  • Deduction 2: The absence of any information about LifeSkills as a non-profit indicates it is a for profit venture.
  • Deduction 3: Demar Dorsey appeared in a video promoting a for profit entity.
  • Fact 9: NCAA Div-I Manual Rule 12.5 does not appear to preclude an "individual" (i.e., a recruit) from certain remunerated promotional activities but does preclude them from continuing that remunerated promotional activity once the "individual" becomes a "student-athlete." 

Bottom line: my deductions were reasonable.  My question about whether or not it was a potential problem was simply that, a question.  I guess I should have looked at the manual first because I had the tools to answer the question for myself.  One thing that is not known is if Dorsey was remunerated for this appearance.  If he was, it's probably ok, but it couldn't continue once he enrolls and becomes a "student-athlete." 

johnvand

June 8th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^

Unfortunately I think this "lifeskills" school is what is going to make him "qualified" instead of qualified...

 

Hopefully the university does it's due diligence on the issue, I'm sure they will.  I hope it works out for him, wherever he goes.  Seems to genuinely want to turn his life around.

michigandarcyhenry

June 8th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^

Loved so much already by us Michigan fans.  We love his personality and his skills on the football field.  I hope as much as the rest of the mgobloggers that he gets into school

And it just makes me sick to my stomach how fans of other teams and most of the media just hate this kid.

I'd rather be hated for what we are, then to be loved for what we are not.

Remember as Michigan fans that we are not arrogant, we are just better!

OMG the QB is toast

June 8th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^

What freshman doesn't want to impress and win over the seniors on a team? If those seniors were up to no good, I can easily see how someone might make some bad decisions trying to earn some respect. I think the key is that Demar has turned things around and found a way to make better life decisions. I also agree with the sentiments above: This is exactly the type of player I'd like to see Michigan admit. The opportunities available at Michigan are endless and I just have a feeling that someone like Demar would flourish in that environment.

tenerson

June 8th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^

"That was my life."

 

The most importnat quote from that video. When he made the decision to go to Michigan, that was the biggest choice he had ever made. He made said choice with the expectation that the University would hold up its end of the bargain. If they do not let him in, this will look bad to all future borderline recruits and they will not select Michigan. I absolutely cannot blame him. If he is qualified academically and there have been no behavioral incidents outside of what they already knew, he needs to be admitted. Anything else is unacceptable.

NFZ

June 8th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^

Fuck you admissions. Let the kid in. He has proved that he can turn his life around and stay out of trouble and has shown a willingness to work in order to get shit done. This kid is more deserving of being at Michigan than some cheesedick  who has parents that are rich alumni and donate to the school. Give the kid a shot, he has earned it. Damn.

jg2112

June 8th, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^

Again, remember, no one whose word matters has said Demar Dorsey is out at this point. Only insiders willing to smear a guy and anonymously leak his grade history.

Either way, by leaking now that Dorsey is not being allowed in, the pay sites are creating a story that can either fit their "admissions is screwing over Rich Rod," or " David Brandon is helping RR win and is fighting Old U" stories right now.

Let this story play out, like Devin Gardner's early enrollment. There's no need to be pessimistic.

dakotapalm

June 8th, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^

According to twitter:

@TomVH:

I was granted an exclusive interview with Demar Dorsey. I'm on the phone with him right now.

 

Okay, this should be interesting.

MGoAndy

June 9th, 2010 at 12:08 AM ^

Howya figure?  If it in any tiny, tiny way helps Demar get in, it's 100% worth it.  I'm not delusional that it will, but flooding the guy's inbox is as good a way as any to make sure admissions knows the will of the people and that Demar deserves a shot.

In reply to by MGoAndy

Bando Calrissian

June 9th, 2010 at 12:16 AM ^

As I said in the thread attached to Tom's interview, we're fans.  We have absolutely no business whatsoever meddling in the decision process of admissions for incoming athletes.  I'm sorry, that's a line that should not be crossed. 

Chris-sirhC

June 8th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^

I pray this kid makes it to AA. If he thought deciding to come here was a huge moment in his life, he hasn't contemplated the pick six against OSU in the big house yet.