Possibility of recruiting against OSU backfiring?
If Michigan can't recruit on its own merits, it's a sad day for Michigan football. Assuming Hoke gets Michigan back to its winning form, we shouldn't need to play on other schools' weaknesses.
Negatively recruiting against OSU doesn't give recruits reasons to come to Michigan; it gives recruits reasons to not commit to OSU despite their historically great program. The other half of the coin is to convince them that 'the alternate school to choose is Michigan because...' Fortunately, Hoke would not have the success he is having against OSU head-to-head unless he already knew this.
The whole "playing hard" thing sounds like a nonissue to me. I'd like to think that if a kid wasn't playing hard Hoke would bench his ass, regardless of how highly touted of a recruit he were.
Ohio is still facing serious NCAA sanctions because:
a) it is on record that their coach lied to the NCAA, to compliance (or was in compliance with compliance to look the other way...allegedly), to his superiors (or was in compliance with them...allegedly)
b) the Tat5/6 are on record for taking improper benefits and the details around this are well known.
Ohio also, if you recall, screwed over the NCAA in December, lied on compliance forms in September and was disingenuous about their "response" in March (remember the two games and stern lecture Gee was going to give St. Tressel?)
Ohio is going to face some sanctions and they will have to reflect the seriousness of these violations. They have also acknowledged that they are repeat violators. Finally, the NCAA will have to deal with the NCAA representation from the SEC and PAC Dozen (see angry USC mob) if the sanctions are not in line with the seriousness of the violations.
I see 5 scholarships a year for 3 years, a one year bowl ban and 'double secret probation' until the ESPN/Ohio Supreme Court Case is settled and ESPN and their boatload of lawyers gain access to the totality of the documentation.
At that point the NCAA will have to 'unleash hell' but that's likely a year or two out with the machinations of the courts, Ohio obfuscating and the World Leader hitting with the 'death by a thousand cuts' approach. Ohio opened the Pandora's box with how they handled this situation in December and March and the media won't stop circling. Raback that.,
He was asked about this very issue, and addressed it directly. He said the Michigan coaches don't even talk about Ohio State's problems, they talk about what Michigan has to offer. This whole paranoia that Michigan's success in recruiting Ohio players depends on what happens to the Buckeyes is ridiculous. The fact is Michigan always did great in Ohio, but when Tressel came along and turned his head to all of the shenangigans, and let the players tell the recruits all the extra stuff they'll get when they get there, that is what changed things. RichRod then de-emphasized Ohio, and that made it worse.
Hoke will do great in Ohio because he is a great recruiter. There's no need to negative recruit. He's a positive guy and he is a positive recruiter. What is really going on is captured in the comments of Tom Strobel: Kids are raised in Ohio to hate Michigan, but once he got up to Ann Arbor to see the place he realized how silly that is, and how Michigan is just a much better degree to hold than one from Ohio State. Hoke's strategy is to get Ohio kids to make the drive north and see what Michigan has to offer. Once that happens, we'll be fine going head-to-head with Ohio State on recruits, no matter who their coach is. And they won't be able to cheat anymore, or throw tattoo and bong parties, and Michigan will be back to attracting great Ohio players every year, as we always have -- because it's a better school with much more to offer, not because of the NCAA.
I have seen a couple interviews where Hoke has said they dont bring up Liar States issues to recruits. I tend to believe because to say that to the public and then go into a kids living room and lie would be something that would only hurt.
Recruiting will be affected by the NCAA decision no doubt about it but it wont change how Hoke is doing things. Hoke has recruited Ohio before and was succesful and he will do it again.
I dont think we will lose any current commits because of it though.
I also dont believe we will lose any because of a less than stellar season either. I am sure Hoke isnt sitting in living rooms telling kids all is well and we are going to win a NC this year. I am sure he is telling them we are building right now and you can help make something special. And you know what he would be right.
I'm sure there will be a couple of kids who will go back to OSU if it looks like they'll skate my on the worst offenses, but let's not act like OSU is going to get off without punishment for what happened with Pryor. Yes, they won't be nuked back to the stoneage (which was an idea I always thought was ludicrous), but Pryor+Tressel screwing up, along with whatever else the NCAA finds while investigating those accusations, is definitely going to lead to some significant sanctions. I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least a few scholarship reductions along with a year bowl ban, plus they'll have to go through this year with a new HC, a new QB, and some questions at other key positions like RB. Yes, OSU will probably survive to see another day, and recruiting against them will be more difficult than (some) assume it has been recently, but I still see the next coupld of years being quite neck-and-neck when it comes to recruiting in Ohio and the greater midwest, regardless of whether or not teams can point to upcoming/current OSU sanctions.
Regardless of the sanctions, anyone with half a clue can connect the dots, OSU is dirty, has been dirty and it will take years to wash it away. I have a little concern regarding Dunn, but either way this class could potentially be one for the ages. I believe Hoke and staff are recruiting in the positive, like true Michigan Men, judging from recruits comments. Go Blue!!