RBCC: Thomas Wilcher
January 16th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
I'd be ecstatic if Harbaugh made this happen.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
He should be able to strengthen the Cass Tech pipeline and he's well known throughout the state since I'm sure he'd be the local recruiter on the staff.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^
I don't think it'd be a bad hire at all. I'm interested to know what those who've seen him coach would think. I would also be interested to know what they thought about Wilcher vs. Hart. I personally love both options.
Hart (don't care about what he said about Harbaugh) brings youth and energy and I actually think he and Harbaugh are cut from a similar cloth. Hart is going to work his ASS off - no question.
WIlcher brings more coaching experience, can relate to HS coaches, obviously knows the position and will be able to recruit Detroit.
I also think he'd be great in Tony Tuioti's old role.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:24 PM ^
He's been a HS coach since 1997 - as a recruiter he would probably do a pretty good job relating to HS kids.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
I agree 100%...wasn't implying anything different. I just only mentioned HS coaches.
He obviously will be able to communicate and relate with HS parents as well.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:57 PM ^
He was considered instrumental in helping Fleck bring in three consecutive no. 1 rated MAC classes to WMU, the first considered the greatest recruiting class in MAC history. He has a natural charisma that is evident upon first meeting him. As Fleck said, "Having a Heisman caliber recruiter on staff played a major role in our recruiting success."
As you stated, as he proved on the football field, he did whatever it took for success, including suiting up vs. MSU while clearly hurt and had a day. Always blocked much larger than he was. Although his professional career wasn't nearly that of Wheatley's, he obviously maximized his ability and his success as a collegian is still remembered by those players who were just taking a seriou interest in the sport when he was running wild for the wolverines. Would definitely, like Wheatley, enjoy the recognition for his on field success. Think the recruits would find it challenging to work for the player holding the records they all want to surpass.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:06 PM ^
Wouldn't be the worst thing if it doesn't happen and that connection with Cass Tech and Detroit stays.
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January 16th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
The thing most guys are missing though is, Harbaugh doesn't promote HS coaches to position coaches right away, he hires them to recruiting jobs and analysts things like that, after proving themselves like Partridge they become an "official" part of the staff
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January 16th, 2017 at 11:11 PM ^
I would say Wilcher's resume is a little stronger than Partridge's though.
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January 17th, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^
Only the Michigan connection...
January 16th, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^
Developing RBs should outweigh a connection to Cass. Michigan is always going to get kids from Cass. Obviously it's more of a lock with Wilcher, but I'd much rather see the progress of guys on the roster like I saw under Wheatley.
Wheatley had De'Veon Smith doing things I never thought I'd see him do in my life. Like teleport.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:39 PM ^
I'm sad to see Wheatley go but I'm confident Harbaugh will hire a coach who will develop RBs.
January 17th, 2017 at 5:15 AM ^
Look how many blocks 67 made
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January 17th, 2017 at 5:37 AM ^
Well, he did block the view of Smith, hence the teleportation visual bonanza.
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January 17th, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^
Likely the only effective blocks he made that season...
January 16th, 2017 at 9:06 PM ^
The Urban Meyer thing clinches it for me.
January 17th, 2017 at 1:53 AM ^
The OP did not indicate the end of the Wilcher-Meyer story. After the Weber incident, those 2 resolved matters. Even Sam Webb was surprised how resolved it was, saying Meyer can "sell sand in the desert." And Wilcher bought it.
http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/urban-meyer-cass-tech-co…
January 16th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^
How good is he at, you know, coaching running backs?
January 16th, 2017 at 9:11 PM ^
Did anyone know how good Partridge was when he was promoted?
January 17th, 2017 at 8:35 AM ^
Promoted after a year on staff, where he could be fully evaluated. For a year. On the staff. There is a huge difference.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:23 PM ^
He did play the position under Bo, so I'd guess qualified enough?
January 16th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^
RB coaches in college are mostly recruiters, so this isn't super important. He's probably fine at it.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:15 PM ^
Looking for a gig now I think. Highly regarded while a RB coach at Cal
January 16th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^
Start the post....we need this to get out of hand and test the new improved MGOBLOG!!!!!!
January 16th, 2017 at 9:21 PM ^
You have the points...
January 16th, 2017 at 11:23 PM ^
During his time at Cal, he coached up Marshawn Lynch, CJ Anderson, Justin Forsett, Shane Vereen, Jahvid Best. That is a damn impressive list of success stories to tell to future recruits.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
He would know high school football in the state and have many recruiting connections. If he can coach football and track, he can coach college running backs. Honestly all he needs is Harbaughs approval and I'm sold.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:23 PM ^
Again go bigger!! No ready to be a position coach but he can be on staff.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:29 PM ^
Jay Graham or bust
January 17th, 2017 at 3:50 AM ^
Shut the fuck up.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:44 PM ^
...I was on his first track team at CT and as fellow UM alums, we are very close.
He LOOOOOVES Michigan, but there has been no contact.
He feels it will be a much younger coach to get this job.
So, he should be on the sidelines at Cass (whom he told me is getting a new turf field soon) this fall.
January 16th, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^
Wilcher scored what turned out to be the game winning touchdown in Columbus when Harbaugh guaranteed victory in '86.
The more you know, shooting star.
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January 16th, 2017 at 11:17 PM ^
So they must have feelings about each other. Do they talk? Are they friends? That's gotta be a close connection, QB and RB
January 16th, 2017 at 9:57 PM ^
I think they'd give it to someone already on the paid staff like bush or poggi before wilcher.
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January 16th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
Thomas Wilcher kind of reminds me of Perry Watson. For those who are perhaps a little younger or may not remember, Watson was the legendary basketballl coach from Detroit Southwestern High School in the '80s back when I was growing up and was a HS basketball player in Metro Detroit myself. His Detroit SW Prospector teams were unbelievale. Watson churned out dozens of D-1 hoops players including guys like Jalen Rose, Antoine Joubert, Leslie Rockymore, Anderson Hunt (UNLV) Howard Eisley (Boston College) and Voshon Leonard (Minnesota). I used to go to Michigan's basketball camp every summer and would be in total awe at all of the Southwestern kids and how good they were.
Michigan also had a really good pipeline estabhlished with Bill Frieder and subsequently Steve Fisher. In fact, when Fisher recruited Jalen as part of the Fab 5, he also hired Perry as one of his assistants (I guess this tactic wasn't invented by Harbaugh). Perry was on the bench for the first two years of the Fab Five ('91-'93) and was then hired by Detroit Mercy where he had a respectable 15 year run as their head coach.
Unfortunately, Detroit Southwestern was never the same after Perry left. They barely produced another D-1 basketball player after '91. In fact, some could make the case that Detroit high school basketball - once one of the greatest talent hot beds anywhere - has never been the same once Watson went to Michigan. Detroit talent played a huge role in M's success in the '80s and '90s.
Wilcher has been so successful at Cass Tech that I wonder if they would experience the same fate if he moved up to Michigan. I have no idea who else is on their staff or would succeed him but coaches can have such a huge impact at the high school level. I'm sure this would be a great opportunity for Thomas and he is a great coach. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
January 16th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
Cass Tech isn't Detroit Southwestern, though. You're talking about the most famous and desirable school in the entire city, they will still get their players.
January 16th, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^
I wouldn't be opposed to this if coach Harbaugh thinks Wilcher is the best available man for the job. I am extremely interested to see who Harbaugh hires. I think Hart is better suited for recruiting, though I confess I don't know much about coach Wilcher or his personality. Next few weeks should be exciting.
January 17th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
Obviously a great coach at CT.. On the recruiting side he probably isn't know at all outside of Michigan. But after a year of coaching Michigans running backs that would change.