Harbaugh states Fickell tried to "coach" him about Hudson's transfer
Harbaugh states Fickell tried to "coach" him about Hudson's transfer...
... a/k/a the F**k Luke Fickell posbang.
I searched https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard for "transfer", Hudson", & "Fickell" before posting.
At any rate, according to ESPN late Tuesday night, Harbaugh responded to Luke Fickell stating that Michigan blocked Hudson's transfer waiver:
Harbaugh said Fickell called him in March, trying to coach him what to say about the events leading up to Hudson's transfer.
and
Harbaugh, adding it was the NCAA's decision to deny Hudson's request.
August 14th, 2019 at 3:10 AM ^
Good for Harbaugh to expose that POS Fickell. Shady Lyin' Luke definitely went to the DARK SIDE after all his time with those sleazeballs Tressel and Meyer and Jedi Jim just took a light saber to his nads.
August 14th, 2019 at 3:42 AM ^
I hope Harbaugh told Fickell to shove it when he called ?
That said I wish James Hudson the best. Wanted to see him stick it out at UM.
August 14th, 2019 at 6:26 AM ^
Honestly I don’t wish Hudson the best anymore. He and his mother have been acting in bad faith through out the whole process and slinging mud at Harbaugh and Michigan
August 14th, 2019 at 6:42 AM ^
They haven't been acting in good faith, but I don't think they have said anything bad about Harbaugh, or UM. She made the comment about her son not feeling comfortable about coming forward about his issues, but I didn't see anything disparaging about Harbaugh, or the University.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:00 AM ^
They're accusing Harbaugh of blocking the transfer (which isn't a thing) and all but said Harbaugh is lying about not knowing Hudson has depression while also implying UofM doesn't take mental health seriously.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:29 AM ^
Actually, it looks like they’re claiming Harbaugh CAUSED the depression by “making” Hudson switch from the DL to the OL.
In any case, Hudson and his family can get lost and I don’t care if he ever plays another game of football.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:45 AM ^
It’s just too bad the Michigan staff didn’t see the warning signs in high school on Hudson. Not surprised to see any of this from his family. Plus you guys will see the kid will struggle at Cincy too. He is allergic to work
August 14th, 2019 at 8:33 AM ^
It’s hard for me not to say something nasty about him and his family, so I’ll just say I’m very glad they’re no longer associated with Michigan.
August 14th, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
August 14th, 2019 at 9:55 AM ^
IIRC, she later tweeted something out claiming she spoke to Harbaugh about James's depression.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
She is roasting Michigan and Coach Harbaugh on Twitter.
August 14th, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
Man, after seeing her tweets... smh. I'm starting to change my tune on the Hudson family.
I also do not think Harbaugh was lying. Especially the whole "Fickell called Harbaugh to 'coach' him on what to say about James".
Sounds like Fickell and the Hudson family wanted Harbaugh to go along with their story in the name of immediate eligibility. Still wish the best for James but sheesh his mom seems like a major part of the problem.
August 14th, 2019 at 1:41 PM ^
I believe Harbaugh is telling the truth. It's not a stretch to think that Hudson and his Mom saw the "depression" angle as a way to beat the transfer rule, and that they would go to lengths to convince anyone and everyone that he was depressed at Michigan because that helps his cause. I like it that Harbaugh will not let that shit stand. In fact it goes against every fiber of his being.
August 14th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
It seems there was lies involved and I expect a mother to teach her son good principles and get him help. Football is not that important in life. Don't mean to come across as a douche for criticizing a mom but I truly believe that mom is supporting the son the wrong way. Sometimes the best way to support a kid is to tell the harsh truth. I have to remember that when I deal with my own kid.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
The Depression Center at Michigan is there to help people with depression, athletes included. If you're an athlete at Michigan, please use this resource. Don't let the stigma of depression prevent you from getting help. It takes enormous strength (especially when you're depressed) to ask for help; it's not a weakness.
August 14th, 2019 at 5:21 PM ^
Right why would Harbaugh have anything to do with anything, even though he told a room full of reporters that transfers fabricate mental health issues. Jh didnt do himself any favors when he said that dumb shit.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:53 AM ^
They are acting in a way the NCAA has forced them to act. Blame the NCAA not the Hudson's. The waiver request was denied so the choice either became throw a public fit that included partially disparaging Michigan or lose of on only 4 years you get to pursue your dream. Just fucking let kids transfer.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
Dragging Harbaugh and Michigan through the mud won't reverse the decision, it's just throwing a tantrum and getting retribution at this point. Blame the NCAA, but screw them for their reaction too.
August 14th, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
There is an appeal process and the ncaa does what it can to avoid bad press so pitching a public fit is actually a fantastic way to get the decision reversed
August 14th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
So why can't they just pitch a fit by throwing the NCAA under the bus instead of UM and Harbaugh as well?
August 14th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Bitching at the NCAA when you're asking for leniency is probably counterproductive
August 14th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
The waiver is not based on anything Harbaugh did or didn't do for them. If they want to make a stink about this, it's the NCAA they should be making look bad.
August 14th, 2019 at 9:09 AM ^
Harbaugh doesn’t seem to be a vindictive asshole, but he has a lot of friends in coaching. If this kid thinks that throwing Harbaugh under the bus is going to help him and his family get that nfl money, he needs to rethink it.
He should have come up with an excuse that didn’t require Harbaugh to (1) lie and (2) make himself and Michigan look bad.
This reads like a kid who’s getting SHIT life advice from a bunch of losers and it’s predicably turning out poorly for him. Frankly, Hudson should have transferred to MSU. He’s about their speed.
August 14th, 2019 at 10:50 PM ^
Is he losing a year of eligibility, or will his eligibility go one year later than he had hoped?
August 14th, 2019 at 3:45 AM ^
The Fickell Transfer:
Recruit transfer kids and “coach” them to claim depression as their reason and that they will then start right away. Fickell then calls the prior school to try and convince them to “support” the claim. His buddies at OSU go along but Michigan correctly reports that they have no record of the player seeking help for depression. The NCAA has no choice but to deny the transfer eligibility otherwise every kid would try to get a “Fickell Transfer”.
August 14th, 2019 at 5:11 AM ^
So according to Harbaugh, the issue that Fickell wanted Harbaugh to lie about was Hudson's position switch. This is what Harbaugh said at the presser:
"Because he (Fickell) called me in March, and asked me about specifically, he wanted to know about the position switch that James (did), switching from defensive line to offensive line. I told him. I said, yeah, after two weeks of practice watching James at defensive line, I — not other coaches — went up to him and told him ‘James, you’ve got the body type to be a really good offensive tackle.’ We don’t mandate what position players say at the University of Michigan, players can compete at whatever position they want. ‘Do you want to try it out?’ He did, and it turned out he was really good at the offensive line position. And that’s what I told Coach Fickell, exactly the way it happened with James on the field that day.
And then, Coach Fickell coached me on how I could have said it different. I told him, ‘Coach, I believe in telling the truth. Forthright, honest, what I tell James, what I tell you, what I tell compliance is going to be the truth.' "
Harbaugh later goes on to emphasize that the only issue compliance asked him about was the position switch. This is mystifying to me. Why would it matter to Hudson's current eligibility how he switched from defensive to offensive line as a freshman? Was Hudson claiming that the position switch contributed to his depression?
August 14th, 2019 at 6:03 AM ^
'Was Hudson claiming that the position switch contributed to his depression?'
Sure seems that way...and it seems Jim is playing this straight.
The fact that Harbaugh is calling this out with so much detail gives me confidence that he's not the one playing games.
Besides...imagine if the decision on these transfers really came down to whether coaches are able to come to a gentleman's agreement on a reason...then the whole thing would just be like an SEC virus.
August 14th, 2019 at 6:29 AM ^
It’s possible that Fickell thought that Harbaugh “forcing” Hudson into switching positions would be a reason for the NCAA to grant his immediate eligibility?
August 14th, 2019 at 6:45 AM ^
Yep, this is the issue. He wanted Harbaugh to say he forced the switch, possibly causing the emotional issues.
August 14th, 2019 at 9:14 AM ^
And when Harbaugh refused to go along with that story, in Fickell's eyes, he "blocked" the transfer.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:52 AM ^
Wish the OP had had the clarity to lay it out like this.
August 14th, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
Wow. Based on this, it makes more sense why Harbaugh is saying give everyone an one time immediate eligibility. It seems like twisting the truth during the waiver process is acceptable in some circles. If you start with a lie you are soon lying every step of the way. I am disappointed that the core of the issue is Mental Health and not sure who is fighting to help Hudson with that. Instead all these damn lies are being pushed to forefront and it will not help any future student athlete who has Mental Health issues.
August 15th, 2019 at 12:52 AM ^
Jack, that is just a piece of the story. This is the full story as far as we know so far.
https://deadspin.com/jim-harbaugh-and-luke-fickell-bicker-about-the-james-hu-1837245232
August 14th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
Does anyone else find it suspicious that Cincy has multiple transfers claiming depression this off season? At least 3 guys from what I can tell from a brief internet search, and possibly as many as 5!!
I find it despicable that Fickell is making a mockery of mental health. Seriously fuck that guy. And yet Harbaugh is under attack from writers at the athletic, 247, and (no surprise) 11 warriors.
Edit: by the way, the distinction that OSU/UC fans seem to be missing is that OSU provided medical records of depression treatment for Blue Smith. Those records don't exist for Hudson. Not sure how Harbaugh/UM hospital is supposed to produce/fabricate medical records.
August 14th, 2019 at 5:18 PM ^
I find it funny that the way you combat depression is to move to the nasty Natti, but seriously if those kids have issues I hope they get the help, and Im sure Jim would do anything to help but to outright lie and expose himself is stupid hustling backwards
August 15th, 2019 at 12:46 AM ^
Yes, depression is a serious matter. And therefore it is ABSOLUTELY not something Fickell should use for his own personal gain.
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August 14th, 2019 at 3:54 AM ^
So, basically Fickell says just lie to help the kid...it's in the best interest of the kid. Isn't that more important than you doing what you think is right? I mean c'mon Luke. Isn't it convenient that what's supposedly best for Hudson is also best for Fickell?
August 14th, 2019 at 3:56 AM ^
This video breaks it down from Harbaugh's perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuUSKxhslZA
August 14th, 2019 at 5:44 AM ^
It’s hard to imagine Luke Fickell’s frame of mind when he decided it was a good idea to call our coach with the intention of convincing Harbaugh to support his manipulation of the NCAA. Asking Jim Harbaugh to, in essence, lie to the governing body of his profession has a low probability of success.
August 14th, 2019 at 7:54 AM ^
In fairness, Fickell grew up coaching with Jim Tressle and Urbane Meyer, those icons of good deeds, in Columbus. He was just doing what he learned to do from national championship winning coaches. Can he be blamed for thinking Harbaugh acts the same way?
LOL!!! I can't even keep a straight face saying this! What a cess pool he grew up in...
August 14th, 2019 at 8:07 AM ^
Correct, except that Fickell knows that there are a certain number of Harbaugh haters in the media that will just print the accusation and infer Harbaugh is in the wrong.
August 14th, 2019 at 8:40 AM ^
I expect every Michigan coach to respond to the Fickell request the way Harbaugh did. But the fact that he actually told the story to the media is why I love him.
I genuinely believe JH is the prefect fit for Michigan in every way. He’s one spot of a football and a fumbled snap away from a drastically different impression by a large portion of our fan base. If he goes 0-5 against OSU, the takes are going to be oh so hot that he might leave before getting fired. Since his arrival, we are 6th in the nation in games won.
(Looks at FSU) I hope our fan base keeps every aspect of our football program in perspective.
August 14th, 2019 at 9:21 AM ^
Preach it, BW. In fairness to the rest of the coaching profession, I’m sure there’s other coaches which would have bridled at participating in Luke’s scam. Ultimately, this type of skullduggery reinforces the notion that the young men in the program are chattel.
August 14th, 2019 at 5:56 AM ^
Did Fickell suggest that Harbaugh should have just turned his back on Hudson?
August 14th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
Nope. He 'suggested' that Harbaugh should creatively describe that he forced Hudson to switch positions, thereby causing him emotional distress.
August 14th, 2019 at 5:58 AM ^
This is all a trap to keep dragging Coach though the mud. Gives us an insight into some of the negative recruiting tactics out there.
Now, if any of these journalists, and their employers, cared about more than just headlines and clicks, there would be some other interviews and digging into what the process actually is. Has anyone asked other recent Michigan transfers if Michigan “blocked them”? What about the kids that receive immediate eligibility for apparently being able to impact a top tier program? (Not you Tate...)
if UM/Harbaugh are playing a role in blocking or preventing immediate eligibility, which doesn’t appear to be the case, then shame on them. But if that’s not the case, the media needs to call Like Fickel out.
August 14th, 2019 at 6:32 AM ^
I mean Mars came out and said that Michigan didn’t block Hudson so idk what else they want
August 14th, 2019 at 8:00 AM ^
"(Not you Tate...)"
LMAO!! Plus one, sir!
August 14th, 2019 at 6:10 AM ^
Wow. Just watched the video. Sometimes it’s hard to believe what/where college football has become.
There’s a lot of people who aren’t wild about Harbaugh but I’m grateful for a HC that in this day & age, still has some integrity & decency.