More proof from Ray Vinopal

Well if Ray is reading this, just know not everyone thinks that. I, and many others, are excited for you/him to don the winged helmet.

we're on the INTERNET. It's hidden, right?

I mean, if I committed to play college sports, the last place I'd look for information on my school of choice would be the internet. Or the largest sports blog.

It is always good to have someone with that kind of work ethic. So many "star athletes" just don't have the willpower to get out there and work as hard as they can to get a starting spot. I say sign him up if he is willing to prove himself.

he knows what he's rated. he should know how the typical idiot is going to respond to that.

Can't wait to see it.

We. Will. Be. A. Machine.

I'm pumped we got this kid.

As I said in a different post, he is a true safety with great ball skills, good instincts, great quickness, sure tackler and looks like one tough and mean SOB.

He'll be an awesome addition to the team!

There were some people bashing him here, but I did think that the majority of posts were supportive/positive. Unfortunately, he may not have an account and be able to see that the negative posts were mostly getting negged.

But if you are, remember this:

Those who stay (and tolerate the rantings of ridiculous bloggers) will be champions.

am excited about Ray. With the way our program culture is so shaken right now, we need as many proven winners as we can get. I'll take a guy who has that heart and leadership (plus obvious physical gifts).

Always good to hear comments like this from our recruits (Dileo too) but I'm sure the Grimes package, Sean Parker, Hankins and Big Tex would all play just as hard.

No matter how this class ends up I have faith that RR's staff will make it work on both sides of the ball. He did it before and he'll do it again.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but is there indication that MGoBlog members are the people he's referring to? I thought Brian linked to the ESPN scouting report during his commitment post, which wasn't exactly gushing about him as a D1 prospect, so I expect he's not short on detractors.

Either way, looking forward to cheering for this kid for the next few years. And if Ray does happen to read the blog and is looking for more motivation: You suck, Ray.

Is someone I'm glad to have on the team. People who are motivated by being told "you can't" tend to deliver what they "can't do" more often then not.

I love my University more than anything; I have never, nor will I ever, slander my Michigan like that.

That would be blasphemy.

Congratulations on the Michigan scholarship; go get a great degree that will help you significantly in your life after football. Since you happen to be a true safety with nice ball skills, excellent leadership and a championship pedigree feel free to impart the various lessons you have learned (particularly in terms of coverage and pursuit angles) to others on the team with whom you will come in contact.

As far as people bashing an 18 year old recruit because he lacks "a star" on a recruiting site, well, those people are in the minority and not worth too much of your attention. As an aside, also feel free to ignore anyone who brings up comments about chianti and brie on game day...just refer them to clarkie's section since that's where they all sit anyway.

Congratulations on saving your parents about $150 000 so please feel free to pay the school back with 4 Big Ten titles, at least 2 National Championships and maybe a Heisman for yourself...it's not like defensive players haven't done it around here before so expectations of the same are pretty reasonable.

Best of luck Ray Vinopal.

I love this kid's attitude. That alone makes me happy he's on the team. A great work ethic and desire to succeed can be contagious.

Also, where are all of the folks speaking poorly of Ray? I'd like to personally make sure that none of them are able to step foot into Michigan Stadium to cheer on the Maize and Blue as long as Ray is still on the team.

Here's a website with Vinopal's relay team's results. I was curious after he apparently mentioned it in an interview.

Vinopal ran the first leg of the 4x100. Braylon Heard, the WV RB commit (Heard's a 4* on rivals, 3* on scout, listed at 4.4 40 on both), ran second. They won the Ohio state championship with a 42.67 total time.

I'd be curious to hear what people who've run track have to say about what you can tell from where people run in a relay (do you put your fastest last to run anchor, and your second-fastest to start out?) and if there's reason to speculate wildly about Vinopal's running first. My impression is that you want to get a good start, so you don't put your slowest person there, but who knows what their coach did.

I guess the bottom line is that Vinopal is fast enough to run on the state champion 4x100 relay team. And that's pretty good.

http://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?do=view&news_id=5934

Who knows if this is apples to apples, what with possibilities of handtiming and wind and track conditions and such, but Denard Robinson, Adrian Witty, and two others in the 4x100 relay at the 4A championships in Florida ran a 40.64, which, jeebus.

http://www.athletic.net/trackandfield/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=64099

Who said he could be a recruit that might fall off BRING THAT SPEED TO AA

Can we start a concerted effort to try to seriously creep out a recruit? Like a "He's so dreamy, I heard he ____" meme? It would be fun to try to get a thread like that as the first hit on google for some guy's name.

He's probably faster/better than a lot of the players we've played at safety this season..