Malik McDowell Update
He might visit OSU and FSU, also UM is still in the picture.
IMHO They seem to be handling this correctly. It is OK to take the time you need and make the right decision.
OP EDIT: They seem to NOW be handling this correctly. Seems to be an issue inside the family and they are taking their time to figure it out. Obviously they did not handle things well leading up to his announcement.
OP SECOND EDIT: Nevermind. After further review, nothing has been handled correctly.
http://www.mlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/02/report_michigan_state_pledge_m.html
February 10th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
If Marshall's account that McDowell told him he was picking Michigan on the morning of his announcement is true, you have to wonder what was going through the kid's head. Clearly, Michigan had no chance. If they were a close runner up and he changed his mind sometime that morning, you'd think he and his parents would've compromised and selected Michigan by now. It seems Michigan was completely out of the running and has been for some time. Guess we should just chalk it up to kids being kids.
February 10th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
Watching his body language on signing day... it sounds to me that he doesnt want to study, and take it easy... might be afraid of the perceived schoolwork... thats the only thing I can think of if he were truly a lifelong Michigan fan yet chooses msu to party... someone got in his ear about 'comfort'..... to me, that comfort got old after two or three parties..then its the same low-wattage thing there at msu.
February 10th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
The two claims I've seen floating around the interwebs ( so, yeah, who knows their reliability) are that his mother was upset by MSU players telling Malik that he wouldn't have to go to class and that an MSU coach told him to be a man, it was his decision to make, not his mother's.
February 10th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
but the first one is more likely, IMO. Only because if a coach said that to a kid, whether his mom was around or not, shouldn't be recruiting for anyone anymore.
February 10th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
I doubt he comes to UM, but it sounds more and more like he is getting as far away from the state as possible. At this point, I just feel bad for everyone involved. This is a really tough situation in any context, doubly so because it is taking part almost exclusively in the public eye.
February 10th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
Has there been anything to come out about what incident happened during the MSU visit that Ms McDowell hated so much? I know there were rumors she kicked Dantonio out of her house, there was another rumor that she overheard players telling her son how he doesn't have to go to class here if you play football, and then there was a 3rd rumor that the MSU coaches were just farting on purpose the whole time during the visit.
February 10th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
How can you tell? Did they lift their leg and pull the imaginary chain. We need a full investigation.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
"whoever smelt it dealt it"
February 10th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
how old are you people?
February 10th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
that they don't need to update the world every time they take another step. Just shut down the media watch and announce when you are ready. This kid is going to develop grey hair!
February 10th, 2014 at 9:13 PM ^
I think it's great that the schools still in play reached out and wondered how the family situation was going fist and foremost.
February 10th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
If he goes to FSU, it'll remind me a lot of how the RoJo situation turned out where he just wanted to get the hell away from Momma RoJo and go play far far away.
February 10th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
Oh, I know he's not coming here. I'm just following this bizarre story for the entertainment value.
Keep those updates coming.
February 10th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
New DetNews article throws cold water on the idea that McDowell is going anywhere but MSU: McDowell's Southfield coach: It's still MSU, despite dad's talk
Despite published reports that Southfield lineman Malik McDowell is strongly considering taking unofficial visits to Ohio State and Florida State, Southfield coach Tim Conley said McDowell is sticking with Michigan State.
...
“I don’t think the visits are set,” Conley said. “I think it’s something his dad is wishing for, but Malik hasn’t said anything but MSU.”
February 10th, 2014 at 9:13 PM ^
Interesting, the Saga continues...
February 10th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
that would make me want to vomit.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
Not to mention whatever nefarious influence the kid's mom saw in Lansing, exists in Columbus x 10. For the kid's sake it needs to be Michigan or FSU, but frankly if he doesn't want to be Blue, then... what are we talking about again?
February 10th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
When and where did Sam say this ?
February 10th, 2014 at 6:48 PM ^
Sam has a couple of paywalled articles out on McDowell, which is where that might have come from. The DetNews article I linked to/quoted from above was updated after the author talked to Sam and now includes this:
Webb said Crowe remains adamant against her son choosing Michigan State. Malik and both of his parents took the official visit to East Lansing and, apparently, it did not go well for Crowe and Greg McDowell.
At this point Webb believes the out-of-state school have the inside track to sign Malik and that despite the disagreements that have taken place between Malik and his mother, especially after last Wednesday’s events, the two have worked out many of their differences.
I suppose that McDowell and his mom having reconciled might be a bad sign for MSU.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
Look... me and the McDonald's people got this little misunderstanding. See, they're McDonald's... I'm McDowell's. They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs. They got the Big Mac, I got the Big Mick. We both got two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
back in 1988, right?
Also, I've longed maintained that QB Devin Gardner is somehow distantly related to John Amos:
February 10th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^
MacDowell's and Devin Gardner will be forever linked in my mind from this moment forward.
February 10th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
That's great. I definitely see the connection.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Read the OP to see if there was a final destination given the drama, but as to Malik himself, don't care. Pat Narduzzi has taught me it ain't about the recruits, it's about the schemes and the coaching. Michigan will always get above average recruits, McDowell or otherwise, so 1,000 5 star gets won't mean as much to me as watching Nuss try to answer Narduzzi this fall, or Mattison finally coaching up a pass rush and shut down coverage.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
I'll take elite coaching and development skills over elite recruiting any day of the week. Just imagine what Dantonio and Narduzzi could do if they could start grabbing 4-5 star kids on a regular basis.
February 10th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
February 11th, 2014 at 1:24 AM ^
That's not actually true. Most of MSU's defensive starters were at least a high 3-star or a 4-star to one of the sites. They actually signed more 4 and 5 star guys than they did 2 stars. This myth that Narduzzi has no talent to work with is just not true.
February 10th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Discussion #1:
Statement: "Over-involved parents...smh"
Reply: "Nuh-uh"
Discussion #2:
Statement: "Elitism"
Reply: "Nuh-uh"
February 10th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
My money is still on SVSU...
February 10th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
Going to a school with the name recognition of UM is access to the alumni network. It's the same think that seperates a Harvard from UM. Both great schools but Harvard can provide a differnt level of access to the student.
February 10th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
for perpetuating the silly rumor that Malik McDowell wouldn't sign until after NSD.
Mea culpa.
February 10th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
struggling with option teams.
February 10th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^