Kicker Ross Martin
On Saturday morning before Illinois game while waiting with my daughter for the team to walk to the stadium I ended up talking with Ross Martin's father for 5-10 minutes. Ross and another teammate (I didn't catch his name but he looked more like a speedy guy than a lineman) came up to the game from the Cleveland area. Both seemed like nice young men.
It sounds like academics and the Michigan business school could be a big factor in his decision. He listed several schools as possibilities including Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and Northwestern.
I asked about the transition from a 1 inch tee in high school to no tee in college and he said that Ross was a great soccer player and had no trouble kicking off the ground.
He asked about Rich Rodriguez's future. I was very enthusiastic about how great his offense is and how lucky Michigan is to have him as our coach. I think he was a little surprised at how supportive I was. I told him I've been coming to Michigan games since 1973 and we have never had an explosive offense like the one he's building now (putting 67 points on Illinois a few hours later was nice validation). And as soon as the young guys on defense get a little experience, he'll have us in position to compete for national titles. Of course, it would help if we had a great kicker.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:32 PM ^
This just illustrates how all the negative stuff about RR have impacted recruiting. What you said was exactly true, and perhaps the first time this father has heard a positive point of view. This is exactly what RR was talking about at his press conference this week. Good work.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:35 PM ^
This is probably the teammate you're talking about. He's also teammate of MSU Commit Connor Cook
November 11th, 2010 at 5:35 PM ^
...the Ross School of Business. A perfect match.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
I'm glad you got a chance to talk to him. Good job recruiting.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
Don't tell Rosenberg, that could be a NCAA violation.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
Is he looking for a scholarship or to walk on? We really could use some stability in the kicking area. Would take a lot of pressure off the O and D.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
Definitely a scholarship kicker, but he's only a junior
November 11th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
that message boards and casual fans hand-wringing had much effect on recruitment, but I think your story gives a great insight into how the parents of recruits aren't plugged into a super-secret network of CFB information; a casual conversation with a fan about the state of hte program can swing them one way or the other, especially since most if not all of the coaches recruitng their son(s) are charismatic and trying to hit all the right notes, and of course will never be totally honest regarding storm clouds on the job security horizon.
In a real sense, it's a casual conversation with a random fan like yourself outside the stadium on Saturday that can stick in their minds as a true read of the pulse of the fanbase.
November 11th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
One of my favorite character actors on '60s-era TV.
November 11th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^
on the Wild Wild West, IIRC.
November 11th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
When I opened this thread I was expecting something along the lines of "there's this great kicker that we should recruit!" And I was going to ask if you were his father. So thank you very much for the change of pace and +1 for you. Also, awesome that you got to help sell him in RR.
November 11th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
good job. Really, parents care and they do look to places like MGB and Rivals, just ask Lewans dad.
November 12th, 2010 at 8:01 AM ^
Craig Roh's dad
November 11th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
Well done with Ross Martin's father! I hope he ends up coming here. As others have already said, the recruits and their parents have their ears to the ground. Here is his highlight video...
November 11th, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^
he clearly looks like a soccer player in his approach to the ball...maybe i should have tried out
Btw, is it just me or does his dead-center kicking make the field goal posts look incredibly wide?
November 11th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
Especially from 55 and 60 yards. Pretty impressive.
Although in a game winning situation with full pads in front of 115,000...
Still seems like a solid kicker.
November 12th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
The high school posts are wider than the college and pro versions, so they are wider compared to what we're used to on Saturdays.
High School - 23 feet, 4 inches
College - 18 feet, 6 inches
I've also been curious how much extra distance one gets by using a tee on FG's like in the video. So, if he can kick a 60 yarder with a tee, does that equate to a 45 or 50 yarder minus the tee? Anyone with a kicking background know a rough estimate?
November 12th, 2010 at 8:54 AM ^
Impressive...can he play linebacker as well.
November 11th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
Great story - slowly but surely it is all coming together
November 11th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
From Brandon Kornblue's website:
Ross is our top 2012 prospect for several reasons. Very impressive kicking FG's off the ground for a high school junior. Booming kickoffs off 2" block, still adjusting to 1". Also a pretty consistent punter. Sound technique with both. Confident, yet humble, respectful, coachable, and hungry to be the best.
November 11th, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^
any news on us getting a kicker for 2011. Sounds like this kid will be hard to land. And I can't take another year of out of bounce kick offs and missing 30 yard field goals.
November 11th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
Yeah, those "out of bounce kick offs" are killers.
The missed field goals are just as bad.
November 11th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
Thanks for representing Kzoo well. The world is just too fast and exciting down here in Bama for me to move back!
November 12th, 2010 at 3:31 AM ^
Fast, exciting ... 'Bama?
November 11th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
Thank you, Kalamazoo Blue! Please keep spreadin' the word!
November 12th, 2010 at 8:21 AM ^
Ross Martin sounds like a kicker's name...
also: What is it with kickers/punters and business school?