OT: Sam Webb vs EJ Holland
Sam Webb has been going off on EJ Holland on the Michigan Insider show the last couple of days. He's saying that EJ is reporting false information about recruits and angering their parents. It's specifically about Jadyn Davis and reporting related to the timing of his decision. Jadyn's dad says EJ has no access to their information and his reporting isn't correct. I haven't paid for recruiting information in over a decade, so I don't have EJ's side, but it doesn't sound good for EJ.
Sam's not always right but he seems to be principled when dealing with recruits and their families.
Today's podcast is here in segment 9:
March 24th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
Sam and EJ should rap battle each other.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
Nah. Breakdance fight.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Walk-off!
March 24th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Tractor chicken!
March 24th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Or any other cliches we've got handy about Black people? Not quite getting the motivation for the remark.
EJ is Latino.
For the recreationally offended, beakdance fighting was between two white people.
My cousin was a breakdance fighter and we are Sicilians
"recreationally offended" is an absolute banger of a way to describe the perpetually woke. It will be added to my vocabulary.
As if the anti-woke don't engage in it constantly themselves.
That word is used so much it’s lot all meaning.
It’s a lazy “low hanging fruit” buzzword used to grab attention and describe or affiliate something to anything else that a particular set of people don’t like or aren’t comfortable with. That’s all it is.
or "selective outrage" as Chris Rock puts in in his latest special
March 24th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
His real name’s Clarence
March 24th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
ChatGPT to the rescue:
Here is a rap battle I created based on your request. I hope you enjoy it. 😎
Sam Webb: Yo yo yo, it's Sam Webb on the mic The real deal, the one who knows how to write About Michigan football and the recruits they get Unlike EJ Holland, who's full of regret He thinks he's got the scoop, but he's really clueless He spreads false rumors and makes a big mess He's always wrong about the prospects he covers He should stick to his hobby of collecting rubber duckies
EJ Holland: Oh please, Sam Webb, you're so lame and boring You're always behind the news, you're always snoring You don't have any sources, you just copy and paste From other sites that have more taste You're a wannabe insider, but you're really a faker You're a Michigan homer, but you're really a traitor You're always hyping up the players that flop You should quit your job and go work at a shop
Sam Webb: Nice try, EJ Holland, but you're not fooling anyone You're a joke, a clown, a fraud, you're done You don't have any credibility, you don't have any skill You don't have any integrity, you don't have any chill You're always lying to your readers, you're always making stuff up You're always stealing from your peers, you're always sucking up You're a disgrace to the profession, you're a stain on the game You should apologize to everyone and go hide in shame
EJ Holland: Ha ha ha, Sam Webb, you're so pathetic and weak You're so old and outdated, you're so obsolete You don't have any style, you don't have any flair You don't have any substance, you don't have any care You're always boring your audience, you're always repeating yourself You're always missing the point, you're always out of touch You're a relic of the past, you're a dinosaur of the sport You should retire already and go play some golf
Sam Webb: That's it, EJ Holland, you've crossed the line You've gone too far this time, you've committed a crime You've insulted me and my work, you've disrespected my name You've challenged me to a rap battle, well guess what? You just lost the game!
March 24th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Its scary how good that is.
Don’t give Nashville too much credit. That’s got ChatGPT written all over it.
Did my opening line of “chatGPT to the rescue” give it away?
March 24th, 2023 at 12:50 PM ^
This is a wonderful, wonderful example of how Chat GPT may end up reinforcing all of the worst in us. Thanks for posting, will use with my students and share.
...or you could promote effective use of technology to further lifelong learning like a real educator, rather than pushing your own negative views of the future onto today's youth...
Riiiight. Rap. Naturally 🙄
March 24th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
Not a good look for Sam.
Hi Ms. Holland, how's EJ doing these days?
March 24th, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^
I know very little about this drama - I faintly remember Webb getting into it with Holland last year for some other reporting issues around recruiting - but my guess is the truth is somewhere in the middle. Webb does seem like a guy who maintains solid connections and is thoughtful about maintaining relationships with recruits so if he questions someone else's intel I do give those concerns credence.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
Lol Sam. EJ is far more accurate and less of a homer than Sam
March 24th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
Based on what? Holland has been saying Michigan would never get Jordan Marshall and that we should move on from Jadyn Davis
March 24th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
When did Holland say we should move on from Davis? He said a while ago that Michigan should expand their QB board. I remember Harbaugh visited Dylan Raiola right after that.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
No, that is not what EJ said. Regarding Davis, he has said M can't afford to put all its eggs in one basket and should open up its recruiting to other QBs because the saga is dragging on so long. That is not the same as moving on from Davis.
March 24th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
We've buried the lede here. Sam specifically stated his "gut feeling" that Davis is blue right on the Round Table podcast yesterday. Seth was sitting right there. This has always meant that Sam knows but can't say yet. Seems the only issue is that Davis wants to get to know his new position coach a little bit before committing, but the guy has been recruiting other players to the class for months.
EJ has never said that we would never get Jordan Marshall. He said that we SHOULD be able to get top flight running backs as Michigan should be a destination school for RBs but that Mike Hart was not putting in enough effort to land top RBs in past cycles.
He said that there was a marked change in recruiting this cycle for the staff in general, and specifically with Mike Hart, and that he thought we did have a chance with Jordan Marshall and Taylor Tatum.
I like both Sam and EJ. They don't always get it right but we are talking about the decisions of 16-17 year old kids. It is almost impossible to get information right all the time because the information is always changing and the people around these kids often have their own agendas.
Idk follow EJ and i don't follow recruiting daily. What I can say is, as an insider that contacts recruits and their families you don't cross certain lines. If he has angered Davis's family that's not a good look for someone that contacts recruits and athletes for a living. So, no matter what, EJ holland can keep his mouth shut about what ever he thinks and has to say and save it for a book when he retires.
The fact is, recruits have been lost by supposed insiders before. here and elsewhere. There is no excuse for drama or to participate in Drama by an insider. That is so damn childish and unprofessional. That will lose access and should. Dear god what is he on Osu's payout list to screw up ....
Well there's that but... yeah, ok.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
Sam is a grown man and I've always considered him to be honest. I don't know anything about EJ Holland, so if he's just offering his opinion I can't fault him as long as he makes that clear.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^
Is he at least 40 yrs old?
March 24th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
His Twitter handle includes the number 77. So, he was probably born in 1977. So, yes.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
I believe the criterion is exactly 40, not “at least 40.”
March 24th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
I'M A MAN! I'M AT LEAST 40!
yeah, doesn't have the same ring to it
Confirmed.
When it happened, 40 seemed so old! And now ....
How ironic. When I heard it I thought how young of a coach he was being only 40.
Perspective is everything.
Touche! :D
March 24th, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^
Sam is a staunch homer but that's why he so plugged in. He may be overly optimistic and try to tell people what they want to hear, but he rarely just blatantly lies. And due to his insider-y connections, he takes information about recruiting very seriously, as he can see in real time how it affects our chances with actual kids.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
I'm not sure I've agreed with a single post on here this much before. Every single word.
Near perfect description of Sam IMHO.
March 24th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Ahh. Adorable you two!
March 24th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
He also doesn't just get so optimistic as to guarantee things that aren't almost sure to happen. His crystal ball accuracy rate is 92% on 247. Many others are much lower
If you know how to translate Sam's terminology, he is actually very honest. He will very rarely say "Michigan is out" for a kid but if he stops mentioning someone, we are probably out of the mix (either Michigan's choice or the player's choice).
He won't say "Michigan is trying but has no chance" but he will say "It is going to be a steep mountain to climb" which is pretty much the same thing. He will sometimes also say that "Michigan has a puncher's chance if they can get him on a visit.
He does say "x school is in the lead for this player" and then whether other schools are still in it.
Basically, he tells you the truth but uses coded language so as not to upset the school or the kid's family.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
Idea to settle this: EJ vs Sam mudwrestling match. Two Men enter, many more men leave uncomfortably aroused.
March 24th, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^
Make it an annual event. It can be the opening act for the Mud Bowl…
March 24th, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
Whatever you’re into, Scruffy 😳
March 24th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
Why not just opt for a wet t-shirt contest?
March 24th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^