Harbaugh Recruiting Tactics

Submitted by Blueblood2991 on

Mods feel free to delete since this is hearsay, but I've seen a lot of "disappointment" in Harbaugh's recruiting tactics the past few days on the blog.  So I figured I would post this.

My former teammate's cousin is (probably was at this point) a Michigan commit.  I will leave his name out for privacy reasons.  I talked to my buddy last weekend, and he told me that his cousin would probably be playing at a different school.

However, he had nothing but good things to say about Harbaugh and his staff.  He said the coaches meticulously laid out who his competition would be, and explained to him that they weren't done recruiting the position yet.  Harbaugh also told him that his scholarship to one of the best academic institutes was absolutely still available to him, but he would need to work his ass off to see any playing time.  Said recruit has decided that while academics are important, playing football is his true passion and wants to see the field sooner than later.  He would rather fine tune his game on the field and get better. 

He also said he was ecstatic with the Michigan offer, because not a lot of schools were looking at him before.  Now he has quite a few offers.

Again feel free to delete.  This is only one recruit; I have no idea about any of the others.  I was having a hard time believing that the coaching staff was simply ignoring recruits (nothing about Harbaugh's personality suggests that type of passive-aggressive behavior).  There is always two sides to every story.  A true leader has to make tough decisions.  Not everything can be unicorns and rainbows.

*Queue brother's sister's cousin twice removed comments.

MGoBoard

detrocks

January 20th, 2016 at 8:43 AM ^

If you're trying to show examples of where the staff screwed a kid or where the situatiion ended up badly for the kid, you didn't choose very well.

Pipkins was told in June that the staff thought he should take a Medical Hardship. They gave the option to stay and finish his degree or plenty of time to transfer. Michigan didn't get any advantage by letting him go from a scholarship numbers perspective. 

By various reports, Falcon was asked by the staff to pass on playing his senior year and focus on rehab. He decided to play and got injured. Based on that the staff pulled his offer in October-- four and a half months before signing day. They also offered him the opportunity to go on medical and get a free education at Michigan.  

Colter is an example of the team breaking up with him where it turned out pretty well for the player. He ended up getting a degree from one of the best universities in the country and also ended up one of NU's best offensive players in a long time. 

Not sure what happened with Swenson, but to say that the staff definitely screwed him by pointing at Pipkins or Falcon or saying that it's not going to work out for the kid by pointing at Colter definitely doesn't make sense.

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 936

Scarlatina

January 20th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

OP said, "But seriously, in the Twitter-age a 17 year old could've came out and bashed Harbaugh on his "shady" tactics and it would be national news" So I'm merely providing examples of former recruits or players that did voice their opinions publicly to the media.

Joined: 12/22/2011

MGoPoints: 2379

RobM_24

January 19th, 2016 at 11:56 PM ^

I back Harbaugh 100% as long as everything is within the rules. If pushing away an underperforming recruit is "shady" then it's on the NCAA to make rules prohibiting it. Michigan hired Harbaugh to win football games. I do feel bad for kids getting pushed away, but ultimately it's up to JH to decide who is good enough to earn a scholarship to UM.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63598

rockydude

January 20th, 2016 at 12:07 AM ^

I know what you mean, but the way the OP explains it seems pretty logical and credible. I knew a guy who came to UM for football as a walkon. He didn't see the field that I recall. He was also happy with his decision, because he wanted to be part of a big time program, even though he might have seen the field at a smaller program.

Certainly though, it makes sense to me that a player might prefer to actually get good playing time at a smaller school instead of riding line at Michigan. And I think it is only appropriate that Harbaugh tell a recruit if they are likely to be buried on the bench.

I don't see this as destroying a dream or something, but rather giving someone all of the facts. These facts may make some recruits reconsider their commitment, but I don't see that as unethical on the part of Harbaugh. Sadly, there's a lot of people who want to play, and only one ball. To an extent, we're left to take him at his word that he will do what's right. So far, I see no reason to think otherwise, but I'll certainly change my position if given cause to do so.

Joined: 05/06/2011

MGoPoints: 5862

RobM_24

January 20th, 2016 at 12:33 AM ^

I just think Harbaugh is a competitive guy, and he starts the competition before they even sign their letter of intent. If the kid doesn't work hard enough or have the genetics to meet Harbaugh's expectations, then why should he have to water down the talent pool by accepting a kid he doesn't approve of? He owes it to the team to give them the best opportunity to win. It's not pretty, but it's not against any rules. The other big boys in college football do the same thing.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63598

RobM_24

January 20th, 2016 at 1:29 AM ^

So you think a coach should take a player that he doesn't think can help his team? How is that fair to the other members on the team? Now their opportunity to win a Championship has been watered down. There was no letter of intent signed. A player could back out on a coach just the same.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63598

bighit97

January 20th, 2016 at 4:55 AM ^

Hold on.  The coach should not extend a scholarship to someone he doesnt feel can help the team.  But in this case he did feel that he could help the team because he offered it and it was accepted.  Coach should have to live with that commitment (Barring some injury, or grades or what not).  Coach is an adult. (insert Miike Gundy) Kids can flip because they are kids.  In this case it looks like Jim thinks this way too.  But wants to let the kid know up front that he has not progressed the way they thought he would, and the kid likely will not play a down at UM because of the competition at his position.  Overall I think (If this OP is accurate) Jim is handling it correctly.  All Hail Jim.  GO Blue!

Joined: 02/04/2015

MGoPoints: 125

bluebyyou

January 20th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^

Remember, it is a two way street.  Until national signing day or when a recruit puts his name to the piece of paper, he can change his mind and go elsewhere.

When someone commits two years out, there is a quid pro quo that goes along with the commitment, and that is continued development as a player, good conduct and a minimum level of academic achievement. 

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18566

killerseafood3

January 19th, 2016 at 11:58 PM ^

He narrative around harbaugh is interesting. Guy doesn't discuss recruiting, so we are limited to social media and the words from people that aren't in the program. Sample size says biased.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 12/06/2014

MGoPoints: 32977

Monkey House

January 20th, 2016 at 12:03 AM ^

people complain about losing to Ohio state and not winning a big ten title in over a decade. then they complain about how we are recruiting. you people that dude unicorns and jiggle leprechaun balls need to realize that recruiting isn't a pretty and PC place. what's best for the program comes before hurting a 17 year olds feeling. can you handle some situations better than others? sure, but its nothing to throw a fit over.

Joined: 09/05/2014

MGoPoints: 43809

Danwillhor

January 20th, 2016 at 12:37 AM ^

we don't like it but they're established. The point we have to remember is that we cannot afford to miss right now BECAUSE of the hole we're climbing out of to meet teams like msu, osu, etc. We needed momentum and zero early negative news with the new hire. We have no idea when it was clear the kid wouldn't be coming here and the kids can't be asked if they pull a Harding and call themselves commits when the new staff hasn't so much as texted them in ever. We don't know. Yet, if we told the kid last week it's modern CFB recruiting! Read Meat Market and see if you still feel ok following recruiting and that book was written in 2005. Are we cheating? No? Move along because much worse happens, man. msu isn't the best example of program morals, btw.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Bambi

January 20th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^

Yes, because I am precisely saying that you either need to have a team full of ex-cons or partake in shady recruitment. There are no other alternatives.

I'm not saying that Dantonio is a saint or that I agree with all of his personal decisions. Obviously what he did the Rucker/Winston was increidbly sketchy. But there is no reason to think he's done anything like this to a recruit, which is what the OP was about. The OP said to beat OSU and win the B1G we need to accept sketchy recruiting. Dantonio has proved that's not true.

And it's not like he had any guys walk out of jail onto the field this year. The only guy with major legal issues was Delton Williams, who had 26 carries all year and only 3 touches vs OSU, so he was not a factor in winning the B1G at all.

I also love the mindset you have. "Our coach did something bad, and the coach I don't like didn't. But here's something else completely unrelated that the other coach did bad. So ha, everything's okay again."

 

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 23158