Satellite tour 2017 began today in GA

Submitted by Ahriman on

Coach Harbaugh kicked off this year's satellite tour in Georgia today participating with Coach Brown and staff at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia (about an 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta). There was more detail in the Freep article, but I didn't link that below because a lot of people are still not happy with them (understandably).

Since the NCAA limited the number of days you can participate in camps, Coach Harbaugh has UM participating in at least 2 camps a day for a majority of the tour.

Coach Wilson (friend of Coach Hamilton) is the head coach of Bowie State and said the following:

“I think it’s great exposure because a kid may not have the opportunity to get a chance to visit the campus for a tour,” Wilson said of the camp exposure. “They get an opportunity to display their skill set before the Michigan staff and other schools.”

Brian and Ace have mentioned that Georgia is a big focus of the staff and 3 commits are from there (Sims, Reese & Turner).

Here's the link:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2017/06/01/harbaugh-staff-plan-summer-camp-blitz/102411830/

The other camps take place through Monday and start back up again next Friday, June 9th.

MGoGoGo

June 2nd, 2017 at 7:21 PM ^

Anyone want to guess who is the first SEC coach to complain about UM participating in 2 camps per day and how long before the complaints start?

Footdog

June 2nd, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^

OHIO STATE continues to roll in all the top recruits. Mitchell just commuted and Parsons is likely next. I feel like Michigan's fan base is getting excited about non elite recruits. Look, Meyer is an amazing coach, Harbaugh is an amazing coach. But the way Meyer is pulling these top kids in. If Harbaugh doesn't beat OHIO STATE this year. Gonna be some tough sleddin in the future \○/

reddogrjw

June 2nd, 2017 at 8:28 PM ^

has finished ahead of us in the 247 composite rankings every year since 2010

I don't think we looked overmatched on the field with them last year

Ohio State will continue to finish with top 5-10 classes every year - as long as we do the same we'll be fine

personally, I think defenses are catching up with the running QB schemes - we'll see how they do going forward

 

but it is an arms race - Michigan, Ohio State and now possible Penn State may all get elite recruiting classes year after year - the rest of the division is in for a long dry spell

A2toGVSU

June 3rd, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^

OSU is finishing with top 2-3 classes every year. It's not a huge talent gap, but lets not pretend its a negligible gap. OSU pulls in several more blue chip recruits each season. If Harbaugh wins us a NC in the next few years, the playing field will level in recruiting. Recruits don't even remember '06, let alone '97

reddogrjw

June 3rd, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^

2017 - OSU was 2nd, we were 5th - 7 teams finished above 285 in the 247 composite - combines depth and talent

 

2016 was 4th vs. 6th - very close

 

so in the 2  seasons of full Harbaugh recruiting there isn't as huge of a difference as people seem to think

 

all you need to be is a solid top 10 recruiting class every year and then coaching takes over, along with having a stud QB (see how much of a difference in QB matters from last year's title game)

 

the playing field is more level than you realize

rainingmaize

June 3rd, 2017 at 9:18 AM ^

I think we are getting guys who are the types that will for the most part stay for all 4-5 years. Ohio State is getting guys that leave the moment they get a sniff of the NFL (see Noah Brown). I also think our QB commits blow OSU's commits out of the water.

SeattleWolverine

June 2nd, 2017 at 8:47 PM ^

Eh. Why does it have to be this year and now or never? Still think this is a rebuilding year.

There's a lot of pressure and yeah, there's a point at which 10-3 will no longer be considered a successful year. But I'd say he gets maybe 3 years. Sometime in that span though we will need to both beat OSU and have a legitimately successful season or two (B1G champs and/or CFP) or the momentum will fade further. 

It is certainly true that Meyer is outrecruiting us and while they have some advantages and a better recent history, his staff is killing recuiting. Our recruiting is good, but at best average compared to historical Michigan standards of the last 50 years. Unfortunately, their recruiting is superior right now. :(

Lil boy blue

June 2nd, 2017 at 9:10 PM ^

Didn't we just have the best recruiting class since they started ranking recruits? Thought I read that somewhere. Urban Meyer hit the scene before Harbaugh, had tremendous success due to the brand, his staff and he can all recruit anyway and he's a good damn coach. Had timelines been reversed fuckeye fans would be spewing the same rhetoric I believe in Harbaugh

Stringer Bell

June 2nd, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

Yes, Harbaugh has pulled in two of the best recruiting classes in Michigan history.  This year will likely be a step back, but 2019 looks like it'll be another monster class.  Michigan's recruiting is just fine, Harbaugh's talent identification and development is up there with anyone in the country and that will bear itself out on the field this year.

SeattleWolverine

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:30 PM ^

Agree that recruiting is fine. Best class or two since the 2004 which was the last good Carr class.With that said, based on recruiting rankings these were good classes but not two of the best in M history.  We had classes like this for a long time before things went downhill. Is it comparable to say 2001, 1998, 1995, 1992, 2003, 2004, 1988 etc? I'd say no but everyone is entitled to an opinion. 

Stringer Bell

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:46 PM ^

We won't know for sure until they take the field.  But it's hard to compare classes now to classes 20-25 years ago because the recruiting service business has expanded greatly since then, and recruiting is followed much more closely now.  But last year's freshman class made impressive contributions on a senior laden team, and this year's freshman class is even more highly regarded.

DMack

June 3rd, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^

OSU is winning the recruiting game because of 1. Their recent success at winning games. 2. Their recruiting system has been in place longer so it runs like a well oiled machine. 3. They have elite recruiters (Larry Johnson) that theses kids identify with and can't say no to. We will beat them by 1. Winning, particularly against them. 2. Assembling a better recruiting machine with better, more charismatic recruiters than they have. A staff that calls and text recruits all day and spells their names correctly is important to them, so we give them that. We can't have recruits saying we don't keep in touch. We need recruiters that these kids want to play for and they just can't say no to. Harb has done a great job turning this program around in a short time frame. . We are almost there and when we win in Ann Arbor this year, that will turn the tide In our favor, even more. Short of actually beating them, we have to build a better mouse trap. With smooth talking, good looking salesmen extraordinaire types, to market this program to recruits and their families.

BIGBLUEWORLD

June 2nd, 2017 at 8:28 PM ^

John Kennedy once famously said: "We choose to go to the moon, not because it it easy, but because it is hard."

Harbaugh actually wrote that line for him. No worries.

M-Dog

June 3rd, 2017 at 11:07 AM ^

The staff will camp three times in Georgia and will make stops in Florida, Ohio, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, Connecticut and California. 

Gives some insight into priorities.  I'm surprised to not see anything in NJ, but that pipeline may be solid enough by now.  

GA however, is being worked NJ-style.

 

lhglrkwg

June 3rd, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^

They'll probably make another rule from their recliners to try to make their lives easier again. Possibly push for legislation that would prevent anyone from former CSA states from attending college north of the Mason Dixon line just to make sure their homes are safe from Harbaugh