ESPN Article "Michigan recruiting has a perception problem"

Submitted by IvyLeague on

Title says it all. I'm in this camp about perception. I have no idea what is said to these kids, but the perception is turning very negative towards Michigan's recruiting practices and have the potential to be damanging in the future. Also, while everything Jim is doing is legal the lack of communication with recruits doesn't sit well with me, especially Weaver because Weaver showed much improvement over his senior year.

Link

MGoBoard

J.Madrox

January 26th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

Have to take the good with the bad when it comes to Harbaugh. He is always drawing huge amounts of attention to himself and the Michigan football program. This means tons of talk about the summer swarm tour and his recruiting sleep overs and a lot of talk when he does something potentially "bad".

People are tired of talking about the SEC doing this because it has been going on for years and is not going to change, this is seemingly new to Michigan. Michigan has always, and presumably will always draw a lot of attention, so naturally there is going to be a lot of talk when Michigan starts recruiting like SEC teams.

I am not trying to pick on you directly, but fans need to accept the negative attention that comes along with all the positive attention. Michigan is a target, which comes with being a historically great university and football program. I would much rather all this attention then the constant whining and complaining that comes with being an MSU fan about how no one ever pays any attention to you.

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

GoBru

January 26th, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^

Anybody else think this really may be not the norm going forward? Tons of success year one means it opens door to actually get who he wants rather than who they could get based on recent performance. Going forward he will not have to do what he is doing now. It looks bad but I like that he is impatient and wants to get where he wants to go now and not 3-4 years from now.

Joined: 08/25/2014

MGoPoints: 10

Ryno2317

January 26th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^

Seems like these guys were being warned about what could happen.  Need more information, however, that is a pretty relevant point.  I am waiting and seeing, however, I strongly suspect none of this happens again and is mostly a result of:  (1) guys committed before Harbaugh was here; and (2) lots of top-notch giuys want to come here in light of Harbaugh and he might of gotten ahead of himself in extending offeres last summer.  This will be fixed to the extent there is a problem in the first place.

Joined: 10/14/2013

MGoPoints: 12486

charblue.

January 26th, 2016 at 1:34 PM ^

about a coach and his program at the top of its game and the question is well, the program didn't hold the hand of the recruit that it offered, and we are nearing the end of the process, and these stories inevitably crop up, because of the program and the coach.

As for rivals or competitors mentioning this to their kids, really? Like they're going to remember? If you are honest about what you do, the way your system works, and what you expect whether you are in constant contact or not, then you might be a candidate to be a Michigan man. Until the dust settles on this year's process, judging what's being done now to fill a class and make this program the best it can be, is premature ejaculation.

Rival coaches will use whaatever they can to recruit against a guy like Harbaugh and Michigan. Why do these stories pop up like weeds in a newly seeded lawn? Because it's such an easy story to write in this climate.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11420

RoadKill

January 26th, 2016 at 6:27 PM ^

seem to be doing fine on their own (at least in Meyer's case) without having to go on a smear campaign against Michigan. I would think that if Urbz were under as much scrutiny, Jim would use it to his own advantage (as would any coach).

Joined: 07/19/2015

MGoPoints: -44

jsquigg

January 26th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^

This is going to be a problem until Jimmy wins a conference title and then national title.  Then he's brilliant and can do whatever he wants.  Just finding it funny the mgobloggers who live in glass houses.............

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621

Lie-Cheat-Steal

January 26th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^

Michigan football until these atrocities end.  Oh, the humanity!  How will the reputation of the insititution ever recover?  Jim Harbaugh will single-handedly bring down the University's academic standing.

 

Joined: 10/14/2015

MGoPoints: -97075

Mabel Pines

January 26th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^

How do you know this??  Do you know how many times Michigan contacted these recruits re: their status??  other than what the angry (with reason) recruits say?  I'm genuinely asking, because while it LOOKS like a communication problem, is there actual evidence of this? 

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 27568

Perkis-Size Me

January 26th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^

While none of us know what was said to these kids, I do hope Hackett has a conversation or two with Harbaugh about how to approach these situations in the future.

Whether these kids lived up to whatever conditions Harbaugh laid out for them or not, leaving these kids wondering about their futures two weeks up until Signing Day is just not right.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105776

LKLIII

January 26th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

I disagree. It's all about clarity. If in the summer or fall the kids knew they were in limbo with Michigan, and that they would likely NOT hear a definitive answer until a week or two prior to NSD, then the kids can factor they into their plans. It's like getting wait listed at your first choice college. As long as the kids know they won't get a final answer until the week before classes, they can make other plans and then if they get off the wait list they drop the back up school and enroll at their first choice last minute. This is no different.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/06/2013

MGoPoints: 8927

Ryno2317

January 26th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^

Yup . . . How about we give Harbaugh and company the benefit of the doubt until we are given a solid, verifiable reason not to?  I have faith that Harbaugh as a former recruit and player is treating these kids fairly.  When someone presents me evidence to the contrary I will change my mind.  That is all. 

Joined: 10/14/2013

MGoPoints: 12486

TdK71

January 26th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

not objective. Therefore it is clouded in the prejudices of the perceptor. 

Unless you are walking in someone's shoes one should not speculate on the behavior of someone else.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 2281

Alumnus93

January 26th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

How can they not know that the SEC is chomping at the bit to negative the  satellite camps... and this is it....  so they shouldnt offer anyone at these camps, that barring major catastrophe or dogging it, that they won't take.  

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

bronxblue

January 26th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

Meh, UM still will get a fair number of top-rated kids and if they win, nobody will care.  ESPN needing to drive traffic is as much a reason as this article exists as any terrible behavior by Michigan.  But yeah, the perception in the media is that UM has handled this badly, and sadly that's a reality.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171787

MaizeJacket

January 26th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

It's all karma for this blog ripping other schools for doing the same thing.

If 80% of you saw this exact same story and the name was Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio, or Brian Kelly, there wouldn't be any of this "well we don't know all the facts" nonsense.  80% of you would be gloating about how Michigan is "above this".  Bull.  It's all bull. The programs that win do it, and yes, that includes Bo's programs.

Joined: 09/03/2013

MGoPoints: 1810

NRK

January 26th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

The title was not the best, but the article itself is actually quite good. A few points that others (as esteemed as Teddy Greenstein conciously obscure until it looks unethical to do so):

  • Harbaugh/UM can't comment publicly
  • Although Harbaugh can't comment publicly his tweet was pretty clearly a shot at people reporting one side of the story (Rolling Stone can vouch for this practice)
  • This is a common practice elsewhere too, but Harbaugh has gotten attention on it
  • It's unclear what actually happened and its tough to make a definitive statement
  • In any event it will be used against UM until they can dispell the perception.

The last point is what matters most to me, beause perception can cause that impact even it's completely wrong. 

Reporters like Teddy Greenstein with their faux-moral outrage are part of the problem. Instead of focusing on the forest they are pointing at a particular tree and stating they don't like it. Reminds me very much of one of the best scenes in Casablanca:

https://youtu.be/SjbPi00k_ME?t=9s

Shocked, shocked to find that recruiting is going on here.

Joined: 02/20/2009

MGoPoints: 6411

LSAClassOf2000

January 26th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^

I would agree with this, and what's interesting about what you said - about how the last point matters to you most - is why people should pay extremely close attention to the first one, which is that by rule essentially, we can only hear one party's version of events.

You would hope that this realization - that you are only hearing one version of events - would temper statements in lieu of more information eventually coming out, but it is much easier to take one stance in a dynamic problem and run with it, possibly run with it right over a cliff too. 

Actually, over on Twitter, several people have taken it right to the edge, over the edge, down the side of the ravine and then tried to do it again about an hour later.

 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130637

NRK

January 26th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

I think it's borderline unethical for a jouranlist to NOT make it clear that by NCCA rule UM can't comment when writing a story on this. It might not be on par with Freep deciding not to include the phrase "countable hour" in stretchgate, but it's damn near close. It's deceptive reporting. And unfortunately I think the reason is more to do with the agenda of the reporter than laziness. You can't tell as good of a story blasting Harbaugh if it's made clear that Harbaugh by rule cannot comment. 

Greenstein did not do that when he wrote his first article, and only after UM fanbase went after him and Spath pointed it out did he attempt to paper over that. The first piece came out Thursday and it didn't include any statement on the fact that UM by rule can't comment (nor did it mention if Greenstein even attempted to contact UM). But it's not until Friday (after receiving pot shots all day from people who probably follow this a lot closer than he does) that he received a comment from UM. And there's not even an extrapolation on the fact that UM can't comment it's just left there.

The fact that Greenstein took the Harabugh tweet right after his article and essentially through his hands up saying "whatever that means" is sloppy. Taken everything above it should be a moment to reflect on the fact of what you've just done. Steve Coll's post-mortem on the Rolling Stone rape allegation piece is a great read on the concept of ethical sourcing and fact checking. Certainly the impact isn't the same here, but the lessons there to bear some repeating.

Personally, I've never had a big issue with "commits" because they simply aren't binding, and schools have been treating them that way for a long time, and so have the recruits.

Greenstein is getting a ton of play on Twitter and sports radio right now. I don't know that this is was necessarily his intent, but I abhor the "I just happened to pick out this one coach, I am otherwise outraged by the entire thing!" response he gives. YOU are the journalist. YOU chose to write the article. YOU have the platform. If you really want to discuss this issue on the proper level YOU could do so. You're really telling me that if you said to your editors "hey I'm going to write a piece on the shadiness of recruiting and we'll use Harbaugh's stuff as the local tie in" they'd so NO! YOU ARE BIG TEN ONLY! GO BACK TO YOUR CAGE! No, so stop hiding behind some self-made regionalism. Besides it's a lie. Recent articles since Jan 1 by Greenstein covering college football include the following headlines:

 

Don't get me wrong, he's Big Ten focused. But there's clearly nothing that prevents him from exploring larger issues. Instead HE CHOSE to tell a one-sided story and (perhaps intentionally) obscure the fact that the other side cannot by NCAA rule comment.

Welcome to 21st century journalism I guess. Where it's better to form your opinion, get clicks, get in twitter wars, and get radio appearances. I've accepted what a "commitment" truly is. Has Teddy accepted what he really is?

Joined: 02/20/2009

MGoPoints: 6411

Ali G Bomaye

January 26th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

Alabama has gotten shit on for years, and rightly so, for their oversigning and cutting practices.  It hasn't hurt them one bit in recruiting, obviously.  The best recruits want to go where they will have a chance to win, get an education, and be developed for the NFL, and few schools currently offer a better combination of football and academics than Michigan. The only players who should be concerned are "bubble" recruits, and we shouldn't ever have a problem finding those.

Don't take this utilitarian perspective the wrong way. I want us to treat recruits honestly and forthrightly. I'm just saying that the idea that Michigan will suffer in recruiting due to some "perception problem" is a load of bunk.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 17672

BigCat14

January 26th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

There will be very SMALL amounts of middle ground opinions regarding Michigan football/Harbuagh recruiting.  We have to take the good with the bad.  Summer swarm, throwing out first pitches, shirtless photos, saving people on the highways, etc.  are obvious examples of positive momentum.  Perception is reality amoung those that are not 'fans' of Harbaugh's Michigan.  

Although Mgo appears to have some influence in certain sports spheres, I would doubt that our opinions one way or the other will alter anything that Harbaugh does?  With that said feeling comfortable or uncomfortable with Harbaugh's current recruiting tactics leave open for debate our perceptions.  Just like a 'set' of waves there will be exhilirating momentum, danger that lurks from a second of lost concentration and lulls that may leave us waiting for the next big wave!  

Hopefully this set takes Michigan football, it's family and it's fans to a Kelly Slater type of championship path and not a local yocal type path!  

 

Go Blue!

 

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 1141

ColsBlue

January 26th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

"ESPN is a dying dying paper,  It's circulation is way down. Not very many people read him anymore. People don't even think about ESPN. I guess they want to get a little publicity. But that's a dying paper. I got to tell you, it's pretty much a dead paper."

Joined: 11/09/2008

MGoPoints: 862