Reon Dawson clears the air.
I know this was discussed again yesterday as Mike McCray gave some comments on what Dawson said on signing day, but here are some direct quotes from Reon himself. At some point he has felt like he has let Michigan fans down by saying what he said, so sometimes it's important to realize they are just kids, and maybe he just mis-spoke.
(Free) http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1265370.html
"It was just a comment about being from the state of Ohio, not anything about Ohio State at all," Dawson stated. "Ohio State never even offered me a scholarship at all, so how could I be loyal to the school? What I meant was I'm proud of my state, and my family being from here, and I don't even know why I said that really. I was just happy to be headed to college and my family was so proud, that I never meant any reference to Ohio State."
"I feel terrible that some Michigan fans are mad at me, and I'm so grateful to the school for the opportunity they're giving me," he added. "I'm going to be a Michigan Man for life, and that's the next chapter of my life. I signed with Michigan because I loved everything about it and I switched from Illinois because of Coach (Brady) Hoke and his coaching staff."
"I can't wait to be apart of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, and I'm looking forward to beating them four straight years," he continued. "I talked to Mike McCray today about this, and he knows what I meant. We have been teammates here at Trotwood, and he was a big part of me going to Michigan, so he knows I'm a respectful person that never looks to say anything hurtful to anyone. I feel really bad how this came out, and I just want the Michigan fans to know I love being apart of Wolverine Nation and I'm going to do everything I can to make them proud of me."
Welcome aboard Reon, and Go Blue!
February 8th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
You are a gentleman and a scholar...I wasn't upset with him in the first place; I mean it's not like the kid has been trained in PR skills. Just beat ohio and nothing else matters.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
Reon: I'm sorry if you went through any grief over this misunderstanding.
Welcome to the Wolverine Nation - GO BLUE!
February 9th, 2013 at 1:05 AM ^
AFAIC, he has every right to still have feelings for the school he grew up cheering for. Besides, it's quite likely that his feelings will change a lot after one game against Ohio.
February 9th, 2013 at 2:21 AM ^
He said he felt terrible that some Michigan fans were upset with him. I do not recall anyone on here dogging him out. There are Michigan Fans that do not read this blog? Blasphamy, I say.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:47 PM ^
It's really too bad he even has to do this, because obviously he's taken a lot of flack from fans, which sucks.
If I were him, I would have said, "Hey all you adults giving me shit - cut me some slack I'm 17 years old. Chill out." But it sounds like he's more respectful than I am.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
I agree, people need to cool it. If he really felt that way about Ohio State, why would he come here? And if he did that, he'd either grow out of it, or eventually realize he's not a cultural fit and probably leave. I don't take issue with what he "said." He just learned a valuable lesson though, about how he's got a larger megaphone these days.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
Before this year i naively thought that our fanbase was above the juvenille responses that we mocked so vigerously when they were coming from ohio fans and were directed at Kalis.
Unfortunately I have been embarassed by some of the crazies in our fanbase and by sportsfans in general this year. Between the backlash from this and even worse what was directed at Dawson after his decomitment I really have come to hate twitter.
He should absolutely not have needed to respond or apologize for saying that he liked ohio. Obviously even if he meant OSU he still likes Michigan better considering he committed here. My god people need to get some perspective on life and stop this crazyness.
February 8th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^
I don't think he received an offer from OSU. He might love OSU more than Michigan even though he decided to play at Michigan. Michigan was probably his biggest offer. He might not even like Michigan, but if your next best offer is Illinois, you suck it up and head to Ann Arbor, right?
If he were a big-time recruit, I'd have much less of a problem with this. But here's a guy Michigan saved from the jaws of mediocrity or worse, and he repays the offer by going off about how he he'll be a fan of our biggest rival until he dies. (I'm assuming the reports of his initial comments are accurate)
He's 17 or 18, not 7 or 8. Most of us had filled out college applications at that point in our lives, and we were clever enough not to write an essay about how much we wanted to attend State. Point is, you don't have to be all grownz up to know (before you blurt it out, not after) that professing one's undying love for Ohio State is not the way to endear yourself to Michigan fans.
I don't care about loyalty or Michigan Man-ness or whatever... just makes me question his smartz.
BUT bottom line: if he can cover and tackle, I DON'T CARE how clever or loyal he is. Go get 'em, Reon!
February 8th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
he didn't recieve an offer from OSU but that wasn't really the point. I am not condoning what he said or that it is the right thing to do. I am not even saying that everyone from Michigan should like the kid or even not be upset by his comments. My only problem has been the increasing trend for fans to publicly insult, berate, or otherwise make comments on twitter that aren't necessary or warrented.
I still care about michigan-manness (i like that term) but even if someone doesn't live up to my expectations, or hopes it is not my place to scold him. He has coaches and parents and if something is severe enough even cops.
February 8th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^
understand people directly contacting any athlete (twitter, FB..etc) .... So stupid.
February 9th, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^
Agree totally. The fact that he even felt like he had to apologize to fans... ugh. He doesn't owe any of us anything.
RR's comments about fans on the internet/blogs needing to get a life apply in this situation.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
towards the young man...good comments by him. Welcome to the good side.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
Can't wait to watch this young man pound the Buckeyes for 4 years!
February 8th, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
In any event, actions speak louder than words, and regardless of what he said, he signed a letter of intent to play with Michigan... GO BLUE!
February 8th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
Idiot fans are just complaining and tweeting him just continue to keep this story alive. Stupid ass media probably KNEW what shit storm the kid was in for when he said it OR when they decided to twist his words.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^
Hopefully this puts and end to it. Welcome to Michigan, Reon. Also, not sure if it's been mentioned but welcome to the "All Name" Club!
February 8th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
He does have a cool first name. Once he popped onto our radar, sometimes people would just say "Dawson" in recruiting posts, and I would ask myself which Dawson that was, the Cass Tech one or the Noble Gas one.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:01 PM ^
someone had a tough time in chemistry.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
The fact that I did not have a tough time in chemisty is why I was able to make that joke. I may be the only sociology major ever who took organic chemisty as one of his natural science credits.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
more people should. probably one of my favorite classes ever
February 8th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^
Reon unfortunately put his foot in his mouth—as 17-year olds are wont to do—and now it's open season on him. It's a rude lesson he's in the process of learning, but it's a valuable one nonetheless: the world is full of assholes who never sign their real names.
February 8th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
Why patronize him? Compare him to the other 17-18 yr old recruits in the past. How many said, after signing with Michigan -- "don't worry, Ohio State, I still love ya" or something to that effect? I can't recall one. So he suffers in comparison even to those in his own cohort.
I agree he shouldn't be crucified but let's stop letting 17 yr old kids off the hook for saying stupid sh*t. It's way too easy.
And I agree that no one should ever tweet negatively at a college athlete on Twitter -- it's sad and pathetic.
February 8th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
I'm an asshole but my real name is ChopBlock
Sort of.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^
It was so much more easier to be a kid in the 90's....
February 8th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
Clearly, you were never forced to watch TRL.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^
I am not ashamed to say it, but, TRL was one of the things I looked forward to watching when I got home from school...
February 8th, 2013 at 7:06 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
So true, but not just kids. Do you know how many adults lose their jobs or relationships/mariages because of social media? I mean, I don't either, but I'm more than in the 90's.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
I think adults lose their jobs and relationships due to the fact that TGIF no longer exists and Bob Saget as we knew him in the early 90's was a family man who gave great advice and not the dirtiest comic known to man kind.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^
Equal parts of both, I would imagine.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 5:36 PM ^
I honestly can't tell if you are serious or being sarcastic.
I hope you are being sarcastic a high school kid shouldn't have to defend an innocuous statement such as "I like Ohio" even once let alone twice. Especially when that kid is already committed to Michigan.
February 8th, 2013 at 8:32 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
Hey, Reon, we all say things we regret. Let's move past this and beat Ohio!
February 8th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
If you have nothing nice to say, say it about Ohio.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
My initial reaction to hearing what he said wasn't "I can't believe he said that" so much as "fuck, this kid is going to get so much shit for it." Isn't that sad? I was less worried about a player talking about Ohio State than I was about the reaction he was going to get for saying it.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
We've always dipped into Ohio. I'm pretty sure that we've had kids who have grown up Ohio State fans and had strong feelings towards Ohio before that have committed to Michigan and we will in the future. It's not our job to rip the kid for this feelings, but to help him change his feelings, and grow that love for Michigan.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
Mr. Dawson, welcome to the University of Michigan. Thanks for choosing us.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
This is a great response. He is well on his way to becoming a Michigan Man. Rule #1 we never say we Love that school, and if we do, other Michigan Men are going to let you know about it, regardless of your intent. It's not like anyone took it serious, they were just giving him a hard time for making a comment that wasn't very well thought out. Im pretty sure not one person was mad at him or even took it serious. Everyones has said something that was worded wrong or misunderstood, and if it was around your friends, you deffinetly heard about it.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
First of all, let me express my agreement with the notion that Dawson is 17 years old and it doesn't really matter too much what he says about Ohio State. If he's still talking about being a Buckeye fan in a year or two, I'll be a bit concerned. Kids will be kids, indoctrination runs deep in the Worst State Ever, etc., etc. No big deal.
But is no one else going to say anything about the fact that his explanation is completely full of shit? Did I miss an intermediary clarification that the quote attributed to him was inaccurate? Dawson talks about being a Buckeye fan until he dies, and specifically references playing Ohio State, so there's no chance in hell that what he really meant was that he loves the State of Ohio.
I like the sentiments about Coach Hoke and becoming a Michigan Man. But it's another example of being 17 and not knowing when to stop talking that he tries to completely explain away his comments as a misinterpretation.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
February 8th, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
I'm reasonable and I believe him when he says he doesn't love the Buckeyes football team. Even if his words in the interview convict him, BFD, he just came out and said he was misunderstood/misspoke; people say shit in interviews they don't really mean. I see it all the time.
People are way to legalistic when listening to the blurts of a HS kid. Let's play gotcha with a 17 year old. Real impressive
February 8th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^
Says the guy who purposely tried to generate controversy by implying that Hoke and his staff were oversigning. ....
Nothing "legalistic" about seeing a kid that is lying and not being all that impressed by it.
February 8th, 2013 at 6:41 PM ^
I was having fun with mine, purposely baiting, so to speak.
You seem genuinely upset with this non story regarding Reon (my new favorite player) Dawson. Go Buckeyes!!!
February 8th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^