Can someone embed the tweet for me?
Source indicated #Michigan center Jack Miller has opted to forego his fifth year. Just confirmed by athletic department official
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) March 12, 2015
March 12th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
It seems like this one is out of left field, not some of the attrition on the OL that had previously been expected.
However, we still haven't heard of those 3 OL - or whatever - that were supposed to be on the way out... is there any chatter on whether or not those previously mentioned/un-named lineman are going to stick around?
This a medical thing?
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I knew that football player / business folks networking event was a terrible idea.
March 12th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
ever since they got rid of their pet pig.
Bring back Dr. Hamlet!!
What business opportunities? He's a political science major.
NO POLITICS!
there's more than a few Poli Sci majors on this blog.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
Very few of our ex-jocks went to the B-school or were econ majors. Many, many of them have business interests including our last 2 ADs
March 12th, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^
that a sarcasm/joke tag is required on this blog for every post.
For future reference, about 75% of the things I say are in jest.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^
And I think I got you beat, I'm up to about 80%.
Was that sarcasm?
March 12th, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
He's obviously starting a rap career, creating the next "In the Big House"
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Hello Jake Rudock? Were the scholorship numbers good even if Miller had stayed?
I thought we were "fine" but Rudock coming aboard would have meant either one of the Glasgows not getting a scholarship, or Kerridge not getting one. Which I guess wouldn't have been the end of the world, although those three deserve a scholarship.
Bummer as it cuts down on line depth. Miller had grown into an OK player. Yes undersized, but he was at least one guy you knew could be counted on last year. Good luck to him, get that degree and a kickass job man!
Jesus christ can we catch a break around here........
Even if Kugler is beating him out right now, there is still a long way to go before the 2015 season starts so Miller would have ample opportunity to win the job back. Plus, having an experienced backup is nothing to sneeze at.
Having an experienced back up is very nice for you and I. Spending another year putting in all the work and time required to be an experienced back up is a totally different thing.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
Jack Miller is not a fan...and this isn't a video game. He's the one putting all the work in to likely be a backup for his last year. It's not like he's a freshman and he's waiting his time. He waited his time, he finally won the job and now another kid who waited his time came in and took his spot. Those are the breaks.
Just be happy for the kid that he's got a degree and he's going to do something with his life.
Your comment is wildly selfish.
Congrats to Jack and thanks for your time at Michigan.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
He's just disputing the idea that this is obviously a good sign for the team. It's not. The team would be better with Jack Miller still on it. That's all, and that's not really debatable. That's not criticizing Miller, it's just stating facts.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
Agree. I don't believe Jack Miller would leave the team if he thought he was a sure thing at starting center. I don't believe Jack Miller would leave the team if he knew that the next guy up couldn't perform as well as him. I also don't believe that he'd spend four years on the team if his heart wasn't in football, as some have alluded to. I think someone else is ready. All the wishes to Mr. Miller and his future pursuits.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:19 AM ^
Maybe it's just me, but being on the Michigan football team sounds like a pretty good way to market yourself, get the year of school paid for, and create opportunities down the road. Maybe it's the jock in me, but looking back I'd hate to have missed a year of training and practicing with the guys, being in the locker room, having the camaraderie, etc. even if I never played a single minute in a real game. If in fact this is a personal decision, I'd regret it down the road. There is no comparison to anything in later life like being an athlete on this level. I'd never "forgo" that opportunity.
March 12th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
sure, i felt similar when i was 20 yrs old. but you gotta be fully invested. its not just a hobby or simple extracurricular - the requirements & commitments are ridiculous. its a huge balancing act to fulfill team obligations, complete schoolwork, etc, while attempting to still have some fun.
hes already got 4 yrs big ten football on his resume, hes played some big games, he got 4 free years school, and hes already made plenty of the connections / opportunitites you referenced - maybe he wants to move on.
maybe he feels its time to move on. working out every single day and balancing football with college life would be brutal if you wanted to do something else - even if hes just 95% invested. heart must be 100% in it
March 12th, 2015 at 10:47 AM ^
I was responding to a comment which suggested that M will be just as well-off, and possibly even better off, without Miller than with hm. My point was that, had Miller stayed, he would have had a good chance to start and could have contributed as a backup even if he didn't win the starting job. Somehow you interpreted that as a "selfish" criticism of Miller. I don't get it.
Personally, I happen to agree with Don's comment that Miller has already succeeded as a student-athlete, probably has good reasons for walking away, and ought to be commended and congratulated. But that doesn't mean the football team wouldn't be better off with him on the roster.
At this point in the season no one "took his spot". But, based on his interview, he has determined that he no longer has the passion required to live and breathe football. He's wise enough to know what is required to excel on the field and to understand that, for him, that ship has sailed. If you read the interview you can see his regret.You can also see the wisdom gained by self knowledge. No "kid" took his spot, he decided that it was time to move on, and I can assure you that he'll reflect on that decision for some time to come.
This MAN looked at his life and his choices and made what I suspect is the hardest decision he's had to make up to this point in his life. We should all respect that. For four years this man gave everything to the program. If he's decided he's done we should respect him and his decision, and simply thank his for what he's brought to the program
March 12th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
aren't we like 5 practices in? Seems early to determine who is beating who.
I would tend to interpret this more as a lack of enthusiasm + not wanting to deal with a new regime that will work your ass off. Didn't we lose several Carr era OL like that at the beginning of the Richrod regime?
Arizona this could be addition by subtraction. Jack Miller was a great kid but he was our weakest link on the OL. Kugler and Glasgow are more than ready to take over.
"Jack Miller was a great kid but he was our weakest link on the OL."
That's simply not true. The right side of our line was probably the weakest link, with Braden probably the biggest culprit. Miller was pretty solid last year, although not great.
I got the sense that he was serviceable and made some plays, but was basically maxed out with his potential. He wasn't ever going to be a 'good' B1G player, but he filled in a gaping need the last 2 years. Thoughts?
I thought he improved from 2013 to 2014. I don't think he ever would have been dominant, but sometimes Big Ten awards and such are given because of longevity. Being a second-year starter on a decent offensive line might have garnered him some notoriety.
March 12th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
This is a meritocracy, remember.
I am with magnus...there is no way you can sell me on addition by subtraction. Miller was a starter and at the very least he would have been great depth. There is zero evidence out there that he had been passed on the depth chart (its been 4 practices for god sakes)
Wasn't he awarded the Best (Michigan) Offensive Lineman Award for this past season?
No, he was not.
And was vote best lineman, what does that say about the rest of the line? Please don't make blanket statements that are factually incorrect.
March 12th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^
The line was serviceable with him as a starter in 2013. Usual caveats apply about strength of opposition, but the numbers were good initially. Things went to hell when they pulled him and started the musical chairs at LG. They never recovered after that. He was not responsible for back to back negative rushing yard games or the 27 for 27 debacle. Sure, a few times a game he'd be pushed back 5 yards from the LOS by some behemoth nose guard, but he was usually pretty good at leverage and getting the defender to go where Jack wanted him to go, and not the other way around. I'm really surprised by this news. Best of luck to him. I can't wait until we have more than a few 5th year seniors in the starting lineup. Last year was particularly bad.
I disliked Jack and am not afraid to admit that he was not our weakest link on the line, not by far. That would be big BB, kid had a rought year last year. Jack was a clown and not someone who stands out on film, but as a center that means he was fine (not a liability).
So, you think he wasn't a weak link and was fine, but you dislike him and called him a clown. Wait.....what?
March 12th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
Wow, an anonymous internet poster hiding behind an avatar is not afraid to admit that a guy who would be able to rip your arms off and stuff them up your ass without breaking a sweat "was a clown."
I'm really fucking impressed. Tell us more about your internet bravery.
Clown as in goofball. Calm down sir, I assure you I wouldn't make personality statements had I not known the man personally, however I played with him. He was a center with a low-ceiling who played to that ceiling. He was a fine offensive lineman, but I feel the potential of those playing behind him is higher. I do not think he took winning as seriously as the new staff will demand. That is all I meant by my comments.
Thanks for clarifying.