Myles Sims' family upset with Michigan over transfer waiver denial

Submitted by FabFiver5 on August 21st, 2019 at 10:41 AM

This article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution includes quotes from both Myles Sims' parents and representatives from UM about the NCAA denying his immediate request to play this year at Georgia Tech. They allege that the official statement from Warde to the NCAA had misinformation about why Sims was transferring.

They are appealing the decision.

Harbs

August 21st, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^

My God...  This is the most delusional group of people on earth.  

These kids don't want out of Michigan because Harbaugh is a great guy.  The fact that you bought that stupid narrative about Harbaugh not lying is pathetic.  That was Harbaugh and the University trying to switch the attention away from the fact that Harbaugh took a swipe at Hudson in a not so thinly veiled interview.  It's called public relations.

Your hero is a dick, which is why all these kids want out in the first place.  Wake up.

drjaws

August 21st, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^

Do you realize how fucking completely sad it is to have an account on a rivals blog just to troll?  I can’t fathom how terrible the “rock bottom” of my life would have to be for me to spend time trolling on a rivals blog.

You think it’s cool or funny but it isn’t.  It’s just really sad 

Brhino

August 21st, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^

Couple snippets from the article:

NCAA guidelines for waivers require that athletes have “documented extenuating, extraordinary and mitigating circumstances outside of the student-athlete’s control that directly impacts the health, safety or well-being of the student-athlete.”

Sims’ parents said that when Myles informed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in April of his intent to enter the portal, they were both on speakerphone and were a part of the conversation.  They said that they told Harbaugh that they had decided that Myles should transfer and be closer to home for personal reasons and shared nothing more.

So you thought simply stating "personal reasons" would somehow qualify you for "extraordinary and mitigating circumstances"?  Okay then.

EDIT: I see farther down the article they're claiming that they submitted some sort of doctor's information to the NCAA but don't want to talk about it.  So really they're mad that they didn't tell Harbaugh anything, and so when the NCAA asked UM if there were "extraordinary and mitigating circumstances" UM didn't have anything to say.

FirstAmendment

August 21st, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^

If a student-athlete needs to transfer for personal reason there should be no question that he should sit out for a year until he gets his life in order.   Student and academics firsts before football.  After life is figured out and the situation is under control then back to football.   But no way should you jump into athletics if you have to leave one school for another due to personal reasons.  

PackardRoadBlue

August 21st, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^

Do you need to be actively playing football to comfort a sick or dying family member?  It’s not like these kids can’t still go to school or be with their family.  Them having to sit out a year has absolutely zero bearing on the sick family member angle.  If anything it would give the player MORE time to spend with their family or loved ones.  

Blue-Ray

August 21st, 2019 at 5:03 PM ^

Transfer in January or February to be with a close family member who isn't in great shape, fully expecting to sit out a year. Family member passes away in March....?‍♂️ At least you'll have a year of not playing to grieve I guess. 

bacon1431

August 21st, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^

I mean, it depends, right? If it's a sick parent or something like that, just being closer to home can help both parties and doesn't necessarily mean they have to take time off the sport. 

And I would also be more in support for players sitting out til they got things in order if the NCAA didn't have rules about how long you are eligible and if they didn't prevent you from making money in others ways. 

oriental andrew

August 21st, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^

You're making an assumption about what "personal reasons" are and that something is wrong with the kid. It could mean a terminally ill relative, which wouldn't necessarily mean that the student-athlete has anything to get "in order" other than spending more time with said relative. 

This would not preclude one from playing college sports competitively. 

Bodogblog

August 21st, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^

If what they're saying is accurate, I understand the view.  If they told Harbaugh "personal reasons" and said nothing else, then that's all Michigan should have put on the form.  If Warde's response then said playing time and a fresh start, that's needless and speculative reasoning from Michigan. 

Now the Michigan response is saying Warde's response comes from the notes of the meeting, which indicates that playing time and a fresh start was discussed there.  So Michigan's view is likely that in the meeting with the Sims', that was the reason given. 

But to hell with all of this stuff - implement the Harbaugh rule. 

oriental andrew

August 21st, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^

Some dude (u/UsedGuess) with Alabama and GT flair on Reddit actually said it really well:

The NCAA could not be clearer about this and I don't know why it still confuses people. You're allowed to transfer for more playing time and get immediate eligibility, but everyone has to get together and agree to pretend that you're not. 

Harbaugh's not a fan of make-believe. 

CriticalFan

August 21st, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^

"but everyone has to get together and agree to pretend that you're not" describes the NCAA so well, no matter what you put in front of it.

"Kid, you're an employee, 'but everyone has to get together and agree to pretend that you're not.' "

"You're making us administrative parasites billions, 'but everyone has to get together and agree to pretend that you're not.'

1VaBlue1

August 21st, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^

This is not entirely true.  What the Sims' are complaining about is the fact that Michigan (the Compliance Dept), in it's response to the NCAA, included that he was also looking for additional playing time.  The Sims' say this was not part of his reasoning to transfer, and that it's the reason the NCAA denied the waiver.

oriental andrew

August 21st, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^

This is the part that doesn't jive for me and leaves open to question Michigan's motives. It is entirely possible that Myles Sims let something slip at some point about playing time. 

I honestly don't know enough the process (who submits what, who has input, etc.) to say that this is or is not legitimate. This is where the questions are for me, though. 

ijohnb

August 21st, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^

It also leaves open the question as to whether the "reasons for transferring" question that is being asked is objective in terms of what the player told the school, or subjective based on what the coach or AD observed.  It seems that it is a question that should not be asked of the school being departed.  Obviously if a player is transferring things are not awesome between him and the school he is leaving.  Perhaps the program he is leaving is not the best source to ask to opine about the motivations. 

I have to be honest though, I think in these cases there is probably some grey area between UM "lying" about the reasons for a transfer and telling "the whole truth and nothing but the truth" to essentially become another impediment for the kid.  Let's be honest about our coach.  He does not appear to be a "take the high road" kind of guy and it is not surprising to me that this is becoming a bit of an issue.

DelhiWolverine

August 21st, 2019 at 12:58 PM ^

Let's be honest about our coach.  He does not appear to be a "take the high road" kind of guy and it is not surprising to me that this is becoming a bit of an issue.

Wait -- What? Please share some examples here. My impression is exactly the opposite. JH has integrity and is very very proud of that character trait. 

ijohnb

August 21st, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^

Come on man.  Harbaugh is a red-ass.  He shit talks after the fact constantly.  This year he did so to 1) Mark Dantonio after the MSU game, 2) Urban Meyer after Meyer left OSU, 3) Michigan players who sat out the bowl game.  We are talking about a coach who has almost been in two fights with other coaches on the field of play after games. 

Is it that much of a stretch to suggest that he may have a choice word or two for players who transfer out?

I am not calling him the anti-Christ here.  I am not calling him a bad guy.  I am not even saying I want him to or think he should change.  I just understood who he was when we hired him. 

grumbler

August 21st, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^

Wait, " a coach who has almost been in two fights with other coaches on the field of play after games"?  You've got a weird standard for character, in that something that "almost" (in your own opinion" happens defines him.

And if you really think that what Harbaugh said after the Michigan State kerfufle, or after Urban Meyer left, is "shit talk ," you must be the most naive person alive.

BG Wolverine

August 21st, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^

Same thing Hudson did.  Entered the portal and suddenly has a mental health issue he never discussed with anyone at Michigan, and it appears he is upset UM won't support the waiver on those grounds.  Hey but somebody yelled a slur at Justin Fields so he had to leave Georgia for his safety, so he was granted the waiver.

maize-blue

August 21st, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^

UM doesn't stand in the way of transfers but it will tell the reasoning from it's side. A kid gets passed on the depth chart then leaves.

NCAA probably needs to either allow a one time transfer or none at all (everyone sits out a season).

These little back and forth bickering fights are annoying.

ak47

August 21st, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^

Once again, any response is unusual from schools in these situations and submitting a response is an affirmative action that adds a barrier to the transfer process. You can say its not fighting the transfer, but its taking an action most schools don't that makes the transfer process process out of Michigan more difficult than out of other schools.

OwenGoBlue

August 21st, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^

Leave it to the NCAA to create a system where stating you ran a kid off gets you press as being player friendly while this kerfluffle comes from being compliant.