Statement from Hackett: believes Gary was offered "incentives"

Submitted by MGoPolo20 on

Jim Hackett was quoted as saying he thinks Gary was offered "incentives" during his recruitment. Very bold statement for someone attached to an athletic department to make and I'm pretty surprised it hasnt gotten any more coverage so far. My bets are on Ole Miss or Auburn as to who it was

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Blue Mike

February 4th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^

Well, if I'm following the breadcrumbs you've left so far, your information is connected to the SEC and ACC through ESPN, so I'd imagine our biggest competitor for DPJ is one of the heavyweights in those two conferences, or someone on the second tier who is looking to push their way into the upper echelon and has played dirty before.  Wouldn't be the first time...

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TheBG

February 4th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^

Thank you for coming to share this weath of knowledge. What would we do without you? I will be sure to make it over to 11w to let you all know who we are a threat for as well. /s I know you are pretty rational on here but I still do not personally feel like sleeping w the enemy. But hey that is just like my opinion man

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MGoHopeless

February 4th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^

Logged in just to say my part on that topic.

I'm glad you posted your info GR3.  I watched the announcement myself and you could just tell something was very wrong with the whole family except the little kids.  Here's the nations #1 recruit announcing on live TV and it seemed like they just found out that someone close in the family died.  It was very.....weird.  

That was supposed to be a day where all the pressure was off his shoulders and you could just tell the kid was shaken.  If you go back to all the interviews that he's done over the last year with all the attention he's garnered, he never showed signs of being easily rattled.  I feel bad for the kid being put in that position in the first place. All makes sense now.

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TheReal_GR3

February 4th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^

I'll attempt to talk around the 2nd thing. You'll have to read through the lines... Does anyone remember how Gary was scheduled to announce at 3pm at one point? Then it was moved to 1? Does anyone know why? I came on the board and said it wasn't his fault and ESPN set the time. I was wrong. It was later explained to me that Gary actually backed out of announcing on ESPN all together because a better situation had presented it's... He changed his mind and came back and we slotted him for 1:10.

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J.

February 4th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^

There is an ACC Network -- it's just a little different. :-)  Wikipedia .  (TL;DR: Raycom Sports entered a partnership with ESPN for the content but they handle the distribution; Detroit viewers would see it on Channel 50).  However, that's a good point -- even if it weren't an ESPN venture, they don't have the ability, as currently built, to broadcast on a national platform.

Anyway, the point is, the announcement would have moved to a non-ESPN property, not necessarily one related to any particular school.

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ijohnb

February 4th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

read through the lines or around them based on that.  I just went back and watched the entire thing including the before and after video.  The limo was kind of odd, and the inexplicable mustached white dude in the back right of his announcement crew was a little out of place, but I didn't notice anything of note. 

I guess you are referring not to something you saw but communications between Gary and ESPN before the announcement.

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TheReal_GR3

February 4th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

Yes, you are correct. Nothing wrong with what he ACTUALLY did. I assumed the time changed due to ESPN moving it. I was wrong. The time changed because he had canceled the announcement on ESPN because... Well in the end the family changed their mind just like in the end Gary picked Michigan. Hackett's words say it best.

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Hail Harbo

February 4th, 2016 at 2:12 PM ^

By chance might the NCAA have advised Gary to move cautiously?  As in, think about your future eligibility before making a decision.

Just seems to me in light of what you have said, what Hackett said, Gary's demenor at his announcement, and that Gary only made his decision moments before he pulled out the Michigan hat suggests that perhaps something would have been made public had he chosen unwisely.

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Heptarch

February 4th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

I didn't realize until reading your post above (to another poster) that you are a journalist who works within the recruiting/college football arena.  As a former journalist myself, I understand not wanting to burn sources and/or salt the ground for a story.

It's just frustrating for those of us NOT in the know to have someone claim to have information, then not share it.  It looks like chest-thumping.

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UMinSF

February 4th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^

I have NO inside information, but, I did read a couple of days ago that Gary switched his announcement time and place to CBS Sports. I was surprised the announcement actually happened on ESPN. 

I don't remember the source, so I can't link - sorry.

My guess is that's what GR3 is talking about here. 

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TheReal_GR3

February 4th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^

Well I'm shocked... I actually didn't know that was public knowledge... Yes Gary did back out of ESPN to announce on CBS Sports but for some reason he came back... Since that cats out the bag... "they are offering a better package" I read that and asked what's a better package. No one knows and I absolutely do not. We don't not offer anything but exposure... Which clearly as the number 1 player in the country he doesn't have an issue getting.

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twohooks

February 4th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

Of the recruit. This isn't shocking news but it is a testimony that the short term dollar signs are just that. There is the wrong way and a right way to make it in this world and it looks as if our staff is knowledgeable in overcoming this objection for the betterment of the recruit. The family also needs to be highly commended in this decision to take high road.

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MoJo Rising

February 4th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^

Is Gary the exception that Michigan was able to land and that Michigan will never be able to get someone of his caliber again because, frankly, most will take the incentives 99 outta 100 times? 

 

Case in point. Rojo. Michigan stuck by the kid through thick and thin and knee injury when no one else would and what does he and his family do? The take off to USC.

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Bosch

February 4th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^

Unless you have something more substantial than a gut feeling, let's not disparage people. Some kids choose schools other than Michigan, for reasons other than getting some sort of impermissible benefit. In Rojo's case, I know he was interested in playing WO. He was also intrigued with getting out of the state. Do you have any back up that it was more than that?

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King Douche Ornery

February 4th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^

wELL, HE JUST STEPPED IN A BIG PILE OF POOP.

Nothing like opening a can of worms, one which he can't verify, and one which will only put the spotlight square on the shoulders of Gsary to add to the story.

Geez, yet another Michigan Graduate who whines like a little girl about OTHER schools, even in the face of UM having a great recruiting season AND landing Gary.

It's as if being a Michigan fan comes with this inate ability and desire to cry and complain about every other school, when the REAL problem is Michigan just isn't hanging with the Big Boyz.

Hackett is now Message Board Guy.

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AZBlue

February 4th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^

I was going to say this to Sean Ornery in another thread this AM....".Sorry your school missed out on that one highly rated recruit because he is a criminal (allegedly)". He is either a MSU fan or one of those spurned, bitter, WLA folks - I can't be sure.

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TheReal_GR3

February 4th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^

To be clear I never once heard Ole Miss was offering anything. Clemson is a different story and it didn't happen until after the visit that Gary found out what was at stake.

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TheReal_GR3

February 4th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^

I do understand most won't believe me. I mean hell that's why I didn't join this blog for years... I mean I get everyone saying he why didn't you say it yesterday when you said you heard things that gave you red flags... Fact is would it have changed anything if I said the same thing Hackett said today? Everyone would still want more detail. If I gave specifics everyone would want to know how I know and who told me... This is no win here but at the same time it's hard to be on the board and act dumb about things I know Maybe I did it wrong and if you feel that way I apologize. I wish I knew more things Michigan related but I'm not plugged into the Big Ten unless it crossover with the SEC and ACC.

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TheBG

February 4th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^

Keep posting what you know. Those who do not believe you and think your comments fall in the whole did you here about Ferris thing will think you are full of it. It is a message board who cares what people believe rite? We all want to be believed and liked/respected but it will never be by all the people all the time.

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