umchicago

February 2nd, 2014 at 5:03 AM ^

is full of shit in what you are referencing.  iirc, he wanted to be a history major.  and the counselors told him that there is hell of a lot of reading in that major and he should consider something else in order to balance out his football time commitments.  that said, he still could have been a history major if he wanted.  just like there are some engineering students, pre-med etc.  it was HARBAUGH'S choice of major and no one elses.

Danwillhor

February 2nd, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^

that played at Stanford and under Harbaugh for one year, I can assure you that even Stanford mashes exceptions for athletes. Kid was smoking blunts as an 11yr old (not one bit joking or exaggerating).
ESPN had a doc about Ivy schools lowering standards for athletes. Jim just has a monster sized chip on his shoulder regarding UM. Maybe rightfully so based on things I've heard?
Fact: Rarely (and I mean RARELY) does a major sport athlete actually take advantage of a school's academics. The vast majority if the time when a kid says he likes academics they simply mean "what university name would be best to go across my degree should I get hurt or not go pro". They rarely mean they want a school that will give them a crazy workload and bust their brains. Major sport athletes go to a school to play that sport or for the environment. So, Jim was telling the truth but just as guilty of it. Hand choose Bama because when he saw the team, met the "fans", went into Saban's office with the cool door closing button covered in rich mahogany and BCS crystal balls......c'mon. Did it help that the engineering dean was a FB guy (wink wink)? MaYESbe? Did it help that we looked like a defeated team across all facets by game 8? No. IF he majors in engineering, it well be SEC class engineering where he can more then likely get up, walk out and not have an issue if he goes to the weight room. That's the "academics" he chose along with 99% of every major top 500 recruit. ALL schools make exceptions as most? "they ain't go there to play school"

93Grad

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^

To paraphrase Pete Carroll: What is Harbaugh's deal with Michigan?

Was it that Lloyd refused to hire him to his staff? I've heard that Harbaugh wanted to come back as QB coach and Lloyd refused for whatever reason (one of Lloyd's many boners).

Or was it something else?

Mr Miggle

February 2nd, 2014 at 8:33 AM ^

It's not about what the majority of players do academically. The UM education is a big deal to McDowell's parents. They're interested in having their son do more than just enough to get by. I'm sure they can also tell differences between programs and their players in how seriously they take academics. It makes sense that there would be specific places they don't want him to attend for that reason.

ThadMattasagoblin

February 2nd, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^

On average, people with Michigan degrees do better than people with MSU degrees. The same thing is with recruiting. Just because a few 3 stars turn out better than 5 stars doesn't disprove the fact that 5 stars usually end up better.

BlueTimesTwo

February 2nd, 2014 at 1:11 AM ^

Thinking long-term could also mean considering the fact that everybody knows that Narduzzi has one foot out the door. Most of Malik's career at MSU would be under some other DC, whose identity is not yet known. Since MSU has prided themselves on defensive team chemistry, losing such a key piece of their coaching staff could really hurt their defense.

Danwillhor

February 2nd, 2014 at 1:37 AM ^

As this will be my last year of actively seeking recruiting info (best as possible without paying), I stand by my predictions from back around week 5 (look them up if you can abd think I'm lying) of Hand to Bama, UF or Southern East coast ACC school. We know how that went. MM to anyone but UM on the basis that if his family loved it so much and he supposedly liked it and visited so many times with no commit, kid likely goes elsewhere. When all signs point to one place for so long and then that place has a terrible year (I mean, we were awful as our 7 wins maker it sound better than it was) and the other in-state school has a very good year and unit at the side of the ball you want to play? Then the former school's biggest rival gets legit interest? Then the National Champs get legit interest? Just doesn't seem like a catching recipe for the 1st former mentioned school. I'll be shocked if this class adds anyone else. Sadly (and why I'm going to try SO HARD after nsd to not follow recruiting), we seemingly have limited ships for the next class, as of now had then lost 2 top ten kids in said class and recruiting momentum has screeched to a halt. Winning in 14 is a must. Tougher schedule but no November gauntlet so we'll see. Hoke's players are now no longer pups. No reason for the OL to be as bad, the defense to not be attacking and physical. If not this year and we get another 7 win year? New HC. I'd bet the farm. But, yeah, never thought he was coming here. Well, not since about early September when everyone "in the know" said it was a lock. His decision will be, to the best of my ability, the last watch our care about even a bit. I'm fine with recruiting if it's possible in today's world for a major CFB fan.

Danwillhor

February 2nd, 2014 at 2:34 AM ^

sorry. bored, been drinking, using phone and Swype (the worst/best typing program ever). it's fast but at the expense of guessing wrong a lot on silly things. "Don't is always "doit", or is always "our", etc. kills me ha

MGoblu8

February 2nd, 2014 at 7:27 AM ^

I trust Sam above any other "Insiders," but I just don't have a great feeling about this. I just think he has his mind made up already, and I don't think it's UM. I seriously hope I'm wrong.

jblaze

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

Thinking. The chicks must have been lined up for that visit!



I never really partied in Lansing myself, but always heard how much better it was compared to AA.



However, how much time of football players have to party anyway, if they care about grades?

Raoul

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^

One thing I've found interesting about this recruitment is how fans have been so quick to declare one school or another as in the lead or out of the running based on a single thing—a school's social scene, a school's academic reputation, distance, etc. But Sam Webb, who has talked to McDowell's parents on numerous occasions, has said that the decision process will involve multiple criteria. So I don't see how anyone can predict which school will emerge out of that process.

Along those lines, here's one of the comments that McDowell's mother posted on that DetNews article:

research African American students college party schools, research the defense coaches and tell me how many NFL players each have sent to the league in the position my son plays. If athletes are only taking General Business at any school, blame the parents for allowing their child to be used. This is not a decision for the MSU or UofM fans to make... It's sad how you all bash one another. You all need to grow-up... Just because you read it on the internet doesn't mean it's true... #SickofthestateofMichigan....

Note that she mentions several things there—the social scene, the quality of the defensive coaches, academics.

Of course, if you want to jump to a conclusion, then that hash tag must mean it's FSU. But then again, maybe she's just really sick of this weather.

Bodogblog

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^

she's sick of this process I'm sure. In calmer moments I'm sure she realizes that FSU, Florida, and Miami bash each other just as much.  And it's deeply personal, given every comment is about her son, either directly or through inference.  Wish them the best, they'll make the right choice for their family.  They've been very thorough. 

MGoBrewMom

February 2nd, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^

I totally get this comment and her feeling. Although she has to know it is people in general, she is seeing it from M vs. MSU. This recruiting thing is nuts, and I can't imagine how it is for a 17 year old, high profile kid or the parents. It would be easier on them to not read everything that is out there. Social media brings out some fugly people and meanness...and if it is about your kid, well then....I get where she is coming from.

NateVolk

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^

Seems sort of cruise speed motor and has poor technique. Great if he comes, cool if he doesn't.

He's far from a can't miss impact player at this point.

I'd rather have a guy in the Marcus Rush mode who plays with abandon and fire. Outside of Jake, there is nobody on the defense currently that appears to play that way.

Marshall looks like the better player at this point.

Michigania

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^

I thought the same thing of both jake and rush until i saw rush disappear this year and saw beyer play just as well as jake when jake was out. Its the position in the defensive scheme as much as the player

Charlie Chunk

February 2nd, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

C'mon man.  We're talking about Ann Arbor here.  East Lansing’s night life is average at best.  They don't even get a full crowd for home games at Staee.

Besides, whatever happened to bringing the party with you?  Come party with 112,000 of your closest friends at the Big House!

Open doors for the rest of your life at Michigan!