(OT) It's National Signing Day! open thread
Today is National Signing Day, and nobody seems to care around here because Michigan isn't expected to sign anyone. Micah Mazzccua flipped to Baylor and Nick Patterson isn't expected to sign with Michigan. Michigan was hoping to land James Pogorelc, but Pogorelc committed to Stanford.
So this is an open thread to talk about guys signing elsewhere and/or what's going on across the country.
There are a bunch of guys Michigan "offered" who are still undecided.
February 5th, 2020 at 8:34 AM ^
Not much going on for Michigan today, but MSU just lost one of its top commits due to Dantonio retiring yesterday. Now their class gets even worse...
February 5th, 2020 at 8:44 AM ^
Who is that? Their top recruit was a 3 star, and most of those guys enrolled early.
https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/Season/2020-Football/Commits/
February 5th, 2020 at 9:02 AM ^
They had a 3-star RB from Georgia, Jordon Simmons committed but he backed out yesterday after the Dantonio news. He's #605 nationally and the #53 RB. So he would have been their #2 best recruit if he stayed committed.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:11 AM ^
According to 247 he was their 5th best recruit in the class, behind White, Snow, Fincher, and Lockett.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
The point is, they lost one of their better commits for this class
February 5th, 2020 at 9:24 AM ^
Yeah, but you said their best recruit, which in the grand scheme of things is far from the truth. Are all 3 stars created equal? If they get Fickell, he may bring a few with him, although that class isn't anything to worry about.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:49 AM ^
I mean factoring in position, you could argue he was their most important.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
No doubt with their history a 3-star running back from Georgia with Georgia competition might have ended up being some explosive player like what we would Hope Christian Turner would be and very deadly! Him not committing is great news! How many times do you see a three-star running back like that become the next big thing? The answer is all the time...
February 5th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
"Well, actually..." derp-de-derp
February 5th, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^
The user did not "say" anything. He wrote: " . . . MSU just lost one of its top commits . . . " Per the link you provided MSU has 7 early enrollees, 12 recruits who have signed a letter of intent, and 3 hard commits. I think it is reasonable to state that a player ranked 5th highest in a 21 player class qualifies as a top recruit.
Is that petty enough for you?
February 5th, 2020 at 2:22 PM ^
...but MSU just lost one of its top commits due to Dantonio retiring yesterday...
Yeah, but you said their best recruit, which in the grand scheme of things is far from the truth
Either you skimmed UMFanatic's post, misread it and proceeded to blast him or you read it correctly and just said what the hell I'll blast him anyway.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
Snow, White, and the 7 Izzos: A spartie fairytale
February 5th, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
The OP was clearly referring to the Composite which lists Simmons as the 606th overall prospect (.8709 Composite Rating). This would have made him the second best recruit in their class per the Composite.
- Darius Snow: .8830 Composite Rating / 434th overall
- Devin Hightower: .8680 Composite Rating / 661st overall
February 5th, 2020 at 10:46 AM ^
It's all relative
February 5th, 2020 at 8:46 AM ^
Wow, I guess he did not have the heart to call each recruit after signing day and tell them that he suddenly changed his mind and is leaving (though I cannot imagine the athletic department did not plead the case to wait a few more days to announce).
February 5th, 2020 at 9:00 AM ^
But like his daddy said, complete the circle!
Considering he got his $4 million I guess he did.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
Completed the circle at the end of his name when he $igned that check.
Not a bad motto to live by if you can live with yourself after.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:00 AM ^
*top RB recruit rated a decent .87 on 247 ratings I believe. Had 20 other good offers including M, VaTech, UK, FL, WVU. 1 of only 2 RBs in this recruiting class. The other RB had only non-P5 offers. Trouble in their backfield after 2 RBs just transferred.
https://twitter.com/_jaythegr8_/status/1224905023567605762?s=21
February 5th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
I can't understand why Fickell would leave Cincinnati. If Ryan Day moves on to the NFL in a few years, I'd have to believe he'd be on the short list of replacements. Plus, who's going to have more success in the next four years, MSU or Cincinnati?
Get a raise from your current employer, keep winning 10+ games in a talent rich state, and get a nice gig at your alma mater or an ACC/SEC school.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:49 AM ^
There are definite advantages. He can recruit that talent rich state from MSU, just as Dantonio did early. He can try to beat Michigan - no better resume builder for Ohio State. And though he's recruiting fairly well at Cinci this year (he has three 4* players, Sparty has none), he loses on a lot of guys that would have interest in playing in the B1G. He would make more money as well, you'd assume. That's probably enough.
MSU is reboot-able, at least to an Iowa-type level. Their roster is a definite problem, as you mention. But a head coach can convince himself that his ability, transfers, new recruits, etc., would be able to make up for it.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
Yeah but at Cincy he gets friendly treatment from OSU. Going to MSU and being a divisional opponent he won't get the same treatment.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
Speaking of divisional opponents, it's a lot easier to win at Cincinnati than it is in the B1G East. A losing record doesn't usually make for an attractive candidate, although it worked for Brady Hoke.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
It’s a different time.
Dantonio built MSU on Rich Rods weakness. Rich Rod recruited the state of Michigan like he coached defense. No longer an issue with Harbaugh who is killing it in Michigan.
MSU is a wreck. They have zero talent. They have no leadership in administration. They have a spotlight on them with all the slime left from win at all costs Simon, Hollis, and Dantonio.
And good fucking luck winning in the East.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
"Dantonio built MSU on Rich Rods weakness."
A dumbass MGoBlog myth that's going strong after many years ...
February 5th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^
If you don’t think RR going 15-22 and getting pasted by Dantonio coupled with RRs lack of connection with Metro Detroit kids that typically went to Michigan didn’t elevate MSUs program than I’m sure what else to tell you.
Maybe sit back and relax with some Josh Groban.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:44 AM ^
"No longer an issue with Harbaugh who is killing it in Michigan."
The #1 recruit in the state up there just signed...today.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
hi, horse. can you tell me what school has had this happen to it recently?
dean of school - resigned in disgrace and was indicted
dean of medical school - resigned in disgrace and was indicted
gymnastics coach - resigned in disgrace and was indicted
AD - resigned in disgrace and probably should've been indicted
spokesman/fixer - resigned in disgrace and, against all odds, made a horrible situation worse
head football coach - resigned in disgrace, after promising not to do so, but steals $4.3 MM from the school 3 weeks before. is 'outed' for yet more NCAA violations but says, 'not the reason i'm resigning'.
how is your horse doing now?
February 5th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
You left out former president on trial for 4 charges mostly having to do with lying to police during the investigation of what led to most of those resignations.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
Another Michigan school? Definitely not anyone I root for.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:05 PM ^
Harbaugh killing it in Michigan is a joke, it has to be sarcasm. Top player in the state leaving, again. We get the Michigan players that don’t want to play at OSU or the SEC.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:56 AM ^
I’m not sure Fickell improves his lot at sparty. He will virtually never finish higher than 4th in his own division, at least not in the next few years. He will typically lose at least 3 divisional games annually. He’d be better to put up one more 10-win season at Cinci. Then he’ll have a ton of good offers.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
The requirement isn't to win the East. It's to be a better coaching opportunity that Cinci.
It's always a different time. Dantonio came in after MSU had hilariously and nationally imploded under John L. Smith. There were actual articles posted considering Tom Izzo for the head coaching job. In football. Michigan and OSU had just played the 2006 game, which was a de facto playoff game (and they almost played again in the national championship anyway). It doesn't get tougher than that. Wisconsin finished 12-1 that year. PSU won the B1G the year before. MSU hadn't done anything of note since 1987.
Now the administration can say "we were in the playoff just in 2015". They have a Rose Bowl and B1G titles. They still have a reputation for defense, that's been earned over the last decade. They have a couple guys in the NFL, and some All-Americans. There's plenty there to lean on.
Iowa isn't winning the West or the B1G or going to playoffs. Going 8-4 (sometimes 9-3, sometimes 7-5) at MSU is a better opportunity than Cinci provides, if the goal is OSU or any other blue blood job. If you beat one of Michigan, OSU, or PSU every year, you've done your job.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
MSU isn't a better coaching opportunity right now. Their personnel is horrible and this year's recruiting is done. They are years away from beating M, OSU or PSU. The school's reputation is in tatters after Vassar and all the stories about the off field exploits of their players. They may be facing sanctions after the Blackwell revelations.
A series of 7-5 and 6-6 seasons (or worse) at MSU makes a much less attractive coaching candidate than a series of 10 win seasons at Cincinnati. I doubt Fickell will be as short-sighted as you are.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Rich Rod recruited the state of Michigan like he coached defense. No longer an issue with Harbaugh who is killing it in Michigan.
I don't know that I'd go that far. He missed on a lot of the top 5 in-state players the last several recruiting cycles. Here's who he missed the past 3 years:
2020
- #1 Rogers
- #3 Jennings
- #5 Carr
2019
- #1 Brown
- #2 Dobbs
- #3 Barnett
2018
- #2 Gervin
- #3 McCall
He needs to figure out Oak Park as we are missing out on a lot of talented guys from there.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:10 PM ^
I am not saying there have not been misses. Barnett was a big one.
But I am pretty confident that Harbaugh and staff have a different idea of who should be ranked where. Rogers, Dobbs, Carr, and McCall did not seem to be takes so let’s watch their careers
Payne is the big one I’m watching for.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
The AAC is the best stepping stone conference for young coaches. If you can build a good program there in a couple years, you can land a good Power-5 job. Norvell, Frost, Herman, Rhule, Morris, Taggert, Fuente, etc.
If you are someone like Fickell, you can build a good program and wait for the right job to pop up. There will be better jobs in the near future than MSU.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^
This is 100% correct. He can sit at Cinci for another year or two and walk into a gig at OSU or ND. Not sure why he would even entertain the thought of going to MSU. It’s an obvious backward step and would put the brakes on his career quickly. The next HC they hire is going to be a place holder used to right the ship. They won’t be relevant for 3-4 years, if lucky, and won’t be competitive for probably at least 2 tenures. Would even be a bad move for Narduzzi.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
A. Can earn a couple million more a year at MSU
B. I don't see ND or OSU ever hiring him as HC
February 5th, 2020 at 8:40 AM ^
*sad trombone*
February 5th, 2020 at 8:46 AM ^
mags,
you mention the bunch that michigan offered but who are still undecided. can you give details on some that either might really help out if we did get them, or in the alternative, even if they might not be the most exciting commit you nevertheless think that we might get?
February 5th, 2020 at 9:10 AM ^
Honestly, most of the guys who are left are guys we probably don't want very much.
The three top guys left on the board, IMO, are RB Michael Drennin II from Ohio, DT Denver Warren (who used to be committed to Michigan), and RB/WR Lamareon James. Drennen is a good all-purpose back who's not super explosive, but he's kind of a Chris Evans type of player. Warren could help us at DT, but I think there are other concerns with him. James is just a good athlete along the same lines as Giles Jackson/Mike Sainristil/Eamonn Dennis.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
What’s the deal with McNamara’s brother? There hasn’t been a writeup on your site or this site. Is he non-scholarship or what?
February 5th, 2020 at 9:08 AM ^
What time is Signing of the Stars, and is it being live-streamed?
February 5th, 2020 at 9:16 AM ^
This signing day is hardly a fart in the wind anymore. All about December now.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:19 AM ^
Signing of the stars should be moved to December
February 5th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
Fart in the Wind.... wasn't that a big hit for Kansas back in the late '70s?
February 5th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
classic quote from Warden Norton in Shawshank Redeption.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Hey, Kansas was my favorite band back then for a time. I took my future wife to see them at Hill Auditorium while we were students. Great show.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
FUTURE WIFE ... Made me think of The Room. Tommy Wiseau. LOL.