Dorsey Letter

Submitted by Buzz Your Girlfriend on

I just read the interview and watched the video. I produce videos as a career and know all of the tricks to get "emotional responses" out of the audience, but I couldn't help my heart from breaking for this kid if he doesn't get in.

I want to write a letter to him, regardless of whether or not he gets in to show how much we wanted him here, how hard we fought for him, and wish him all of the luck in the world. Have it signed by as many people at MGoBlog as possible, and then sent to Demar. (Maybe via TomVH?)

Let me know what you think, because as soon as he said (paraphrase): "On February 4th I committed to the University of Michigan in this auditorium, this auditorium will forever hold a special place in my heart," I felt like we have to do something.

jaggs

June 9th, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^

What would sending Demar a letter from the MGoCommunity accomplish? He's a big boy, it appears as though he's working towards getting his feet underneath him, and whether he develops as a person at M, JC, or FSU, this letter to him is not going to do anything. It would suck for us to lose him on the football field, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. He will land on his feet somewhere.

jaggs

June 9th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^

I want to write a letter to him....to show how much we wanted him here, how hard we fought for him

Really? How hard did we fight for him? We started at least 25 threads a day complaining about it! What did 'we' do? Unless by 'we' you are referring to possibly the coaching staff (though how could you know how much they have done?) or people in the AD, this sentiment rings shallow with me.

I don't mind wishing the kid luck, as he will likely end up worst case with a free education at a fine institution. Maybe I'm emotionally shallow but there are worse things in the world than this. Where were the letters for Adrian Witty? Not a 5* so not quite so upset? JG2112 does a great job below summarizing my feelings:

 

You do realize that the people on this board who spout off about Michigan tradition and academic excellence, and constantly rip on Michigan State and Ohio State academic "failings," are now butt-hurt because Demar Dorsey might be (NOT HAS BEEN, MIGHT BE) denied admission, either for legitimate academic reasons, or because of his well-documented past?

You don't see the hypocrisy there?

Let's all remember this the next time someone on the board wants to criticize Jamaal Berry or someone who makes it into college through a diploma mill.

You all have a problem with it until you want that system to benefit the football team you root for.

There's nothing wrong with that, just be honest about it.

Good luck Demar, you seem to be putting it together. 

lhglrkwg

June 9th, 2010 at 1:41 AM ^

despite him being a 'big boy' and more than likely a legal adult, i doubt there are many 18 year olds that could take national media breathing down their neck about their past and their academics and not be hurt in some way. i'm sure he could use all the encouragement he can get

FGB

June 9th, 2010 at 1:41 AM ^

is that it wouldn't have anything to do with UM's football team and us wanting him here because he's a 5 star football player.  The point is to acknowledge the work and effort he's put in as a person in spite of the fact that he may never wear a Michigan uniform.

It trivializes what he's been trying to do for a few years to couch it in terms of how our secondary would be better with him on the squad.

NomadicBlue

June 9th, 2010 at 7:39 AM ^

Put down your cynicism pipe for a moment.  Even if you don't want to participate in such a gesture, you don't have to dawg it.  Get on board or quietly step aside. 

MGoJen

June 9th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^

I think you're underestimating a number of factors. Dorsey is going to be a beast wherever he plays. He was obviously heavily recruited but picked Michigan. If you've heard him speak about our school and program, you know he had his heart set on playing here.

If you've ever had your heart set on something that you've had to fight for and faced adversity anywhere near what he and his family endured with the media blow-up after NSD and ultimately not have that situation work out, maybe you'd feel differently. Magnify that 100-fold because he's only a kid, and when I was 18, everything appeared much more earth-shattering than it really was.

Count me in for the letter; I will follow his career wherever he plays and will always be proud of him and how maturely he has handled this entire situation.

Les Miles

June 9th, 2010 at 1:43 AM ^

Any letters about  Mr. Dorsey should be written to

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

University of Michigan

1220 Student Activities Building

515 E. Jefferson

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316

Let them know how you feel. Don't be an ass.

jg2112

June 9th, 2010 at 7:31 AM ^

Come on.

I realize you all are upset about this. I am too. BUT:

NONE OF US know what is going on, or whether this situation is resolved.

And, it's somewhat hypocritical. If this were Demar Dorsey, concert clarinet player getting screwed, none of you would care less.

Don't write a letter. Be upset, but also get a little perspective, and have empathy for Jim Harbaugh - this happened to him on about 10 of his 2010 signees.

Les Miles

June 9th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^

If the Director of the band told Demar Dorsey, 12th highest rated concert clarinet player in the United States, that he would get in, and then the UM office of Admissions didn't allow him to come because of a math club incident that happened when he was 16, and one of the reasons I came to Michigan was to watch the band play then YES, I would care. 

03 Blue 07

June 9th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^

As an alumnus, I am ashamed at how this has been handled. This isn't the Michigan I like to think of in my mind, as an institution. You can hardly ever hear me say/think something truly negative about our fine University, but in this instance, I think we have done the wrong thing. This thing was handled very, very poorly, and I want Demar Dorsey to know that there are hundreds if not thousands of Michigan fans and alums who follow recruiting, respect him for the things he's done in his life from a personal standpoint over the past few years to make positive changes, and will be rooting for him wherever he ends up. Even if he does end up at Michigan, which seems unlikely, this has been handled terribly. And for that, as a "Michigan" person, I am truly sorry for the kid and would like to apologize on behalf of my alma mater.

EDIT: To clarify, when I say "handled poorly," I mean the idea that admissions had the information they needed  months ago (and I have seen nothing to support the idea that he bombed his last semester or something has changed) and only now decide to say, "well, thanks, we appreciate the commitment, and I know you thought you were good to go here, but, see, we kinda changed our mind." And to me, from what I've read and heard, it sounds like this has a bit of truth to it. It doesn't seem like there was ever a message of "we don't know; wait-- we'll make our decision in June." At least that message didn't get through to DD and his family, and in most cases, the responsibility for a failure of communication lies with the one conveying the message, not the receiver. This is why I'm upset about the way this was handled- the waffling, stringing along, and ultimate reversal. Not cool.

Buzz Your Girlfriend

June 9th, 2010 at 1:53 AM ^

I think there are two routes we could take (barring positive feedback)

1. One letter is written and signed by all who agree.

2. A thread could be made exclusively for comments intended for Dorsey's eyes. Then "scrap booked" together and signed by the MGoCommunity.

JD_UofM_90

June 9th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^

but I don't know if it would work because most of the student body is gone for the summer.  If there are active students who are on MGoblog, they could use Twitter, Facebook, social networking site, etc. and organize a rally in support of Demar Dorsey out in front of the Administration building sometime this week. 

You want to show how great a school and student body we have to Demar, our current football team and all future recruits?  Visualize a 1,000+ students rallying outside the admissions office for someone who deserves a chance to make amends for his past transgressions.... Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it....

4godkingandwol…

June 9th, 2010 at 1:54 AM ^

... so I'll refrain from laying blame at the feet of UM, but I can say that I hope the kid has a sensational college career, gets a good education, and becomes a successful man in whatever he endeavors to do.  If you write a letter that says that, I'd cosign. 

NFZ

June 9th, 2010 at 1:58 AM ^

I like the idea. It would probably be the first positive piece of writing he has read from the state of Michigan in the last six months. I would sign it for sure. 

uminks

June 9th, 2010 at 3:45 AM ^

I'll sign the letter and wish DD well.

If we find out that the University bungled this then Mary Sue should be getting another kind of letter from all of us!!!

Demar Supporter

June 9th, 2010 at 6:50 AM ^

Another long time lurker, first time poster. And alumnus. Seems like a great kid who is trying to act like a man to allow himself to make the best of his situation. I wish Demar the best. And hope like hell he's rocking a winged helmet this fall!

jblaze

June 9th, 2010 at 7:58 AM ^

Because Michigan offered DD, he accepted & qualified by NCAA standards, and has taken more abuse that any other player by the local media. Throughout all of this, the University cannot get a coordinated answer to him as to whether he is in or out.

Think about how hard this is for Dorsey (personally)if it pisses off so many MGoBlog readers (who truthfully have no skin in this game).

Also, think about how other recruits will see Michigan, because of this.

jg2112

June 9th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^

You do realize that the people on this board who spout off about Michigan tradition and academic excellence, and constantly rip on Michigan State and Ohio State academic "failings," are now butt-hurt because Demar Dorsey might be (NOT HAS BEEN, MIGHT BE) denied admission, either for legitimate academic reasons, or because of his well-documented past?

You don't see the hypocrisy there?

Let's all remember this the next time someone on the board wants to criticize Jamaal Berry or someone who makes it into college through a diploma mill.

You all have a problem with it until you want that system to benefit the football team you root for.

There's nothing wrong with that, just be honest about it.

Carcajous

June 9th, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^

All due respect, you've conveniently left out what most are actually disturbed about.  

Once UM gave approval to send the kid a LOI, once they laid out criteria for him, they need to stick by that.  It has been reported (a lot) that there was a meeting BEFORE NLOI day about whether or not we could take Dorsey.  The answer was "Yes" and he was invited to sign a LOI with us.  It has become clear that they've shifted the goal posts after the fact.  That is plain wrong whether or not you believe he should have been green-lighted at all in the first place.  I'm ambivalent on that issue, but absolutely against the way this has been handled after that point.

Feat of Clay

June 9th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^

Once UM gave approval to send the kid a LOI, once they laid out criteria for him, they need to stick by that.

 

And maybe he didn't meet the criteria.  Do you know what they are?  What do we have, a statement from his coach that he made the grades that the NCAA deems admissable?  How do you know what U-M said had to happen on Dorsey's part?  How do you know who communicated that to him, and how clearly"  How do you know whether those things did happen? 

I don't think we know. 

Gone_Fishin

June 9th, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^

While I appreciate your attempt to give us perspective on this, you seem to be missing the main point.

The frustration/disappointment/other negative feeling many of us have for our university right now almost entirely is based on how this situation has been handled.  We made him an offer, he accepted and qualified, and now we might not be letting him in.  Not only that, but we are keeping him in the dark about what his current status is.

Sure we want to see him on the football field this fall, but if this were any other student, and not an athlete, I would feel just as bad for him/her.  I just haven't learned of the University handling any other student's enrollment like this.

I find no hypocrisy in a position that wants the University to fulfill its end of the bargain, after Dorsey fulfilled his.  If we allow Dorsey in, we will still be a strong academic institution.  One student-athlete, deserving of a second chance, does not change that.

Aequitas

June 9th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^

You can't take what some posters say and judge every dissenting opinion as being hypocritical.  That doesn't even make sense.  How is it hypocritical unless the same people are saying it?  I happen to agree with Jblaze on the issue of how Michigan's handling it.

And regarding Dorsey not being admitted "because of his well-documented past"...don't waste everyone's time by recruiting him if you're not going to accept him based on events you already know about.  Why waste Dorsey's time or the coaching staff's time?  Why put Dorsey, his family, or Michigan through the whole painful media blitz if you're not going to admit him, again, over matters already on public record?

ldoublee

June 9th, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^

have showed a complete lack of integrity and pulled the rug out from a young man who earned a second chance is downright appalling.   How anyone involved in this debacle can consider themselves "leaders and best" is a mystery to me.  Count me in with the letter.  I'm down for whatever way the group chooses.

amphibious1

June 9th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^

Lets get it coordinated and do it. He will always be remembered for his "O let do it" and "No fly zone." All of that without even touching campus! Hopefully, something wiill work out for him.

D.C. Wolverine

June 9th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^

There might be things going on behind the scenes that we don't know about, but I don't really think it has much to do with this. From what I've read this leader is mainly just about letting Dorsey know that he has fans out there and that we support what he is doing to try and change his life. That is definitely something that I can support

2 Walter Smith

June 9th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^

communication and coordination in the Athletic Dept. involving first the practice time violations and now the recruitment of Demar Dorsey is very disappointing, certainly not exemplary of the Leaders and Best.  I would definitely sign a letter.