RichRod Addresses Several Topical Issues

RichRod and the rest of the football coaching staff attended the Sound Body Sound Mind camp in Detroit on Thursday and he made several statements to the media. 

Topics covered included Demar Dorsey, the 2010 recruiting class, interest or non-interest in USC players, Michigan's upcoming camps, conference expansion, Nebraska, and divisional alignment.

RichRod on Demar Dorsey and recruiting marginal qualifiers:

• Recruiting marginal qualifiers:  “I think all coaches and not just us have to look at everything involved as far as recruiting, not only who can get in, but who can graduate and get out.  We have that in mind anyway. But you particularly have to (be) mindful of that in the future. I think all schools are doing that.  It’s hard to project some guys (more than) others.  There’s some guys that may have struggled to get in and they’re doing very well. Some guys that got in very easily are struggling. I don’t think there’s an exact science to it, but at the same time we’re moving forward with what we got and not looking back."
• Michigan's non-admission of Dorsey:  “I don’t know if it’s important to get into all that right now.  I think what’s important is make sure that the guys that are here for summer school are doing the right things. I think there’s, if you look at it, there’s probably a lot of people that sign throughout the country and there’s not as much attention if they matriculate there or not. But this one’s got a lot more attention and I understand that.”
• How he feels about the Dorsey decision:  “I worry about the guys that play for Michigan."

The article indicates that Antonio Kinard's status continues to be up in the air and that RichRod and his staff have not reached out to any USC seniors or juniors.

• Interest in USC players and when his new class will fully report:  “You got to have scholarships first to give out, and there’s got to be mutual interest and all that.  So we’ve been concentrating on our guys. And guys that have been on campus and taking summer classes and the freshmen that we expect to come on the 26th, that’s had most of our attention.”

Regarding Michigan football camps, RichRod talked about the value of shorter, focused camps to attact prospects who are pressed for time to make it to multiple campuses. 

• So far this year, Michigan has held a one day camp for top prospects and a kicking camp and is set to host its four-day summer camp June 19 - 22, a 7-on-7 camp June 24 - 25, and a youth football camp for middle schoolers June 26 - 28.
• Michigan is expecting 700 athletes and 100 college coaches for this weekend's camp and 400 campers for the youth camp.

• The importance of establishing relationships with recruits: "That’s a big reason why we’re here.  Not only from the evaluation standpoint of seeing the guys do football drills in camp, but also for them to evaluate us. Again, they get to know us as people and teachers. I think that’s absolutely critical when you can establish relationships.  Everybody talks in recruiting about relationships and it is true. You establish relationships and the easiest way to do that is to be around them. 
• Outreach to younger players: We’re even reaching into the junior-high level and at least get them indoctrinated to Michigan, get a chance to see everything we’re about.  We started that last year and it was a big hit, and there’s going to be even more this year for that.”

RichRod also talked about several issues surrounding expansion.

• Expansion and Nebraska: “I did think [the league would grow to 14 or 16 teams], but now maybe not.  But I also thought at the time, if the Big 12 imploded I think there would have been more of a domino effect. I think this probably just slowed everybody down.  [Nebraska is a] great program, a great tradition, and it’ll be exciting.
• Conference championship game: “I know the players have [wanted one].  For the coaches, I think it’s pretty exciting if you’re going to have something at the end there to play for.  But I guess it’s going to happen sooner than anticipated, too. I think that probably is the most surprising part, that it’s going to happen so quick.”
• The makeup of Big Ten divisions:  “But I think there’s a lot to think about geographically and there’s a lot to think about competitively.”
• Does he have a preference for Michigan and Ohio State in the same division?:  “Either way, the way it works we’re going to play them every year, we’re going to play Michigan State every year.  I’m sure every school will have maybe two rivalries that they say we have to have those no matter how it works out. We have our two there.”