Great Sam Webb article on Rashan Gary's decision

Submitted by MC5-95 on

Sam has a new (free) post up in which he interviews Rashan's mom about the decision. It was closer than we (maybe) thought. But he chose the good guys. 

http://www.scout.com/college/michigan/story/1641564-so-how-close-was-it-rashan-gary

My favorite quote: "He picked Michigan so we will pack up all the gear,” said Coney.  “And I did. I packed up all of his Alabama, USC and all of his gear that he's collected over the last four years, I put it in a box, and took it to the Salvation Army. You chose Michigan and that's where you're going to be."

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True Blue Grit

February 10th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^

belief that MIchigan could never do well on NSD.  Time and time again in the past years we'd see really good players drift away from Michigan late in the process.  I've attributed a lot of this to players being made offers "they couldn't refuse" or simply coaches making outrageous promises just to secure signatures on LOI's.  But, this year has given me hope that it doesn't have to be that way in the future.  There are really good players out there like Rashan Gary, Quin Nordin, Devin Asiasi, and LaVert Hill who we can persuade to come here late in the game going forward.  

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EastCoast Esq.

February 10th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^

I suspect that many of us thought it was a true battle, but you couldn't post that on here without being negged.
 

Not that I blame people for the sensitivity....it would have been a major emotional letdown if he had chosen Clemson.

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BayWolves

February 10th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

Nice article and interview with Ms. Coney. Sounds like other schools have gone fully negative in the wake of Harbaugh's success. Shocker.



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Blueroller

February 10th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^

Interesting that Hackett said he believed Gary was offered "incentives". Could he have been referring to Clemson? After a wow visit like that the natural tendency is to think it's another Treadwell to Ole Miss. But Gary and especially his mom don't seem like the kind of people who would succumb to the bagman. I really hope one day the whistle gets blown on all this stuff.

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gord

February 10th, 2016 at 1:57 PM ^

"Nobody likes Michigan. Nooobody likes Michigan."

What does a coach mean when they say this?  Are Malzahn, Saban, Dabo and Freeze sitting around talking about how they don't like Michigan?  They all hate each other.  Who specifically doesn't like Michigan?  I'm guessing everyone hates every school they aren't a fan of for the most part.  Weird recruiting tactic.

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abcd123

February 10th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

Michigan is a juggernaut, the winningest program of all time. Michigan is able to offer a combination of education, alumni network, tradition, fanbase, exposure, and the opportunity to be coached by the greatest minds in college football, many of which are successful coaches straight from the NFL. It is the entire package, and historically has made just about every program taste the dirt of defeat many times.

They offer a combination that no other school can top, and very few can come close to matching. In addition, Harbaugh will never back down from a challenge, and isn't afraid of ruffling feathers. It's all a combination where Michigan is absolutely on everybody's radar, and all that they can do instead of offering their own pitch is to try to tear down what Michigan offers.

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gord

February 10th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^

Ok, so Dabo is talking to Rashan going on and on about how no one likes Michigan.  Rashan asks about Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn and USC and Dabo goes on and on about how everyone love those schools?  I just don't get the point of saying something like that or where it is coming from.

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BursleyBaitsBus

February 10th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

When you have recruits that actually care about their academic credentials, Dabo and the southern schools, exception Vandy, can't say shit. Rashan's mom even admitted that Clemson's academics were inferior in this interview. 

Stanford built a successful niche on the recruiting trail perennially recruiting top 12-15 classes this way b/c they go after high rated recruits that kill it in the classroom and know that SEC schools don't offer them shit academically. Doesn't hurt that their coach has improved upon what Harbaugh did there. 

 

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UMpak

February 10th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^

All I've heard is what a quality person Gary is on and off the field. And the more I hear about his mom the more it confirms that she deserves a great deal of credit for it.

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Wood_Chuckson

February 10th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^

This right here is what nobody is really saying. I've heard complaints about how deeply involved she was in his recruiting process but as a parent, it only tells me that she's an awesome parent herself and she's concerned about her child's future. Rashan excels the way he does because it started at home. It's not something (I believe) he has to work hard at because he needs to, but it's how he was raised and he puts in the work to be the kind of person, student, and athlete he is because he has a genuine desire to do so. And from my distant observation, it seems to me that his mom is wired the same way. The apple doesn't fall too far... We landed a gem in Gary and I'm excited to seeing him become a legend at The University of Michigan over the next few years!! GO BLUE!!!

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NRK

February 10th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^

Can't wait to cheer as loud as possible for this guy at the spring game and opening game. And every other regular season game.

And the national championship game.

 

 

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CorkyCole

February 10th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^

It's a good thing when you hear about other school's having to negative recruit your school to the extent that has been going on with Michigan; it means you're doing something right. It may detract a few recruits here and there, but Michigan sells its program like it should.

I love that Harbaugh has created such a stir. People who normally don't give a crap about Michigan down South are all talking about him and the program now. Michigan getting Rashan Gary's commitment has given them even more National attention. Kids are going to start growing up hearing about Michigan again.

I'm pumped about Rashan Gary and the rest of the class, but I'm even more pumped about the future. Until then, let's enjoy all the weekly headlines that are sure to keep this offseason lively and entertaining.

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ElBictors

February 10th, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^

I appreciate that it would seem as if Coach Harbaugh is taking the high road and speaking positively about MICHIGAN rather than negatively about other schools.

If the Gary family is like others, maybe that form of recruiting will begin to fade ...I know Urb employs many negative tactics like playing time and/or future NFL success but I think Harbaugh can answer all that, and then some.

And those "Noooobodys" who all hate MICHIGAN - what they really hate is the fact that the football program can sell the school and the education and be sincere about it.

The MICHIGAN Difference!  Love it!

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ElBictors

February 10th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^

I had Ricky Powers and Trent Zenkewicz in an English class and the two of them did a Point/Counterpoint on paying college athletes (this would have been Spring 93?) ..

One of the main points in favor of paying to some extent was that players from Louisiana, California and other far reaching locations could never afford to go home and often, the families could not afford to come to Michigan.

So in the example of USC being too far and too expensive, I'd presume the brother living "down the road" from Clemson resolved a lot of that -- shorter distance and drivable (about 12hours) from NJ like A2 is, but with a free place to stay that would not be an issue for the NCAA.

I said it before NSD and still believe that the whole package of Partridge, Walker, Dwumfour and Bush ...and all the trips sealed the deal.

Might have come down to the last minute but I think Gary was a heavy lean until the shiny disctractions at the 11th hour of Clemson and it's run this year.

 

Love the rationale discussed about being "part of something."

 

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gwkrlghl

February 10th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^

Because I gotta think it's about as easy and cheap to get to NYC to LA as it is to get to Clemson which is a small city in rural South Carolina. He wouldn't be heading back to NJ very often from there either

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chatster

February 10th, 2016 at 4:06 PM ^

I’ve been following northern New Jersey high school sports for many years through friends and family who’ve had contacts there and I knew about the long-time friendship between Rashan Gary and Michael Dwumfour.  I didn’t want to post this before I’d seen that Rashan Gary had committed to Michigan, but . . . 
 
Before National Signing Day, I met an athletic director from one of Paramus Catholic’s rival high schools. In discussing whether he had inklings about where Rashan Gary would commit, he said, “If Chris Partridge could get Gary to Paramus Catholic, he can get Gary to Michigan.” His implication was that, for Rashan Gary and his mother, Chris Partridge is family.
 
Credit to Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan coaching staff for moving quickly to hire Partridge in 2015 after former Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood rescinded the offer he’d made to hire Partridge for his staff. There’s apparently some jealousy and animosity that some northern New Jersey high school coaches have for Partridge and the recruiting tactics he used while he was head coach at Paramus Catholic for five seasons. LINK But it’s probably good for Michigan that he’s on the Wolverines’ coaching staff.

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ElBictors

February 10th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^

A client of mine in LA is best friends with Partridge from their collegiate days together as athletes at Lafayette and mentioned the strong ties with Gary and family and said he felt it would all work out, based on the incredible loyalty.

 

He also said Chris turned down a "better role" with Durkin at Maryland in order to stay with Harbaugh ..made me wonder how much this year's incoming class from the NJ area was part of that.

To stay and be part of something like Gary's mom said or go to be on staff with Durkin and part of a much bigger rehabilitation job there.

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readyourguard

February 10th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

Am I the only one who doesn't believe Clemson made the decision difficult by throwing money at Jennifer and Rashan?  I mean, if it really did happen, do you think they'd be talking about it how tough the decision was to Sam?

Money is exchanged every year but the ones who take it never, ever talk about it (not for year later, anyway).

"Yea, it was a tough decision.  We really liked Michigan, but Clemson has a beautiful campus, my brother is close, they just played in the title game, and oh yea, they offered me $200,000 and a house."

I don't know man.  I'm just old and naive, I guess.

 

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superstringer

February 10th, 2016 at 7:27 PM ^

Too funny. Thats the company's plausible deniability. You obviously dont understand the bag men. They are boosters who self- organize and operate outside the program. Of course the coach and staff are holier than the pope. But if you think ClemPson doesnt have bag men then you are on some mighty fine drugs.



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