Swenson decommit: more info ...

Submitted by Blue Crab on

OK, don't shoot the messenger ... just 1-side of the story and just reporting ... doesn't look great tho

“Coach Drevno just said they’re trying to put the best recruiting class they can together,” Molinari said. “They’ve gained a ton of interest from a lot of recruits they never thought they’d have interest from. It wasn’t just a coach Drevno thing. They sat down and thought there wasn’t going to be one for Erik at this point — not a full scholarship, a preferred walk-on.”

From freep (snyder): 

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverine…

VTMichDadx2

January 21st, 2016 at 1:22 AM ^

I think Duncan Robinson might like a few words with you regarding the talent level at a D3 school and the ability to transition.

At least for me, it sounds like you are referring to a D2 or D3 option as low grade or beneath him.

rob f

January 20th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^

most schools won't have a spot left after signing day unless something unforeseen happens, such a a commit suddenly being non-qualified. Bottom line: Swenson won't likely have too many good choices available after signing day. As in so many things in life, timing is everything; in Swenson's case, it APPEARS the timing of this is potentially quite poor. Best of luck to a kid who certainly seems to deserve it!

Witz57

January 20th, 2016 at 11:22 PM ^

From Brian's blog: 

"Setting someone adrift approximately three weeks before Signing Day—the news took a week or two to get out—isn't enough time for them to find the best landing spot."

Most slots are going to be taken long before April 1. Hell, his slot is taken now. Signing day is a much more reasonable date. But thanks for screaming me down instead of adding to the discussion.

 

pearlw

January 20th, 2016 at 9:31 PM ^

My reply was less about being disappointed and more about the laughable logic in the post i replied to. The guy is trying to excuse it by saying they still offered him a preferred walkon spot so he still could have played at Michigan.



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maxwage

January 20th, 2016 at 10:54 PM ^

This to me falls along the lines of the modern participation award.  He was offered early for his level of play.  A lot can happen in that span of time for the level to under perform.  Competition must go on. 

I was cut from middle school and high school basketball, and I was crushed.  That feeling of failure made me work harder.  I learned from that experience.  Instead of being coddled, (not being cut) and riding the bench, being a equipment manager, etc, I could pursue other opportunties.

More from the heart, not the best analogy.  It's sport's, competition, pride, excellence...

Could it have been handled better?  Sure.  But this young man will learn from this experience and will likely have a good college atheletic experience wherever he lands.  Best of luck to

 

wildbackdunesman

January 20th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^

You put Notre Dame on the integrity side.

Someone should tweet back at the Notre Dame official blasting us on Twitter with a comment about the girl who claimed that she was sexually assaulted and then intimidated byfootball players before committing suicide.  Or the other girl that claimed that she was raped and then went silent, because her RA said she was being intimidated.  Or the ND employee having sex with players and giving them $.  Or the kid who fell off a scissor lift and died when everyone knew for days that there would be extremely high winds.  Etc...

Albatross

January 20th, 2016 at 10:18 PM ^

I believe you don't have to trade an ounce of integrity to win. Carr's recruits were litering the NFL, he won a National Championship and probably would have had a couple more if he didn't reign in his team through his own conservatism. And he never had to resort to questionable recruiting tactics. We just went 10-3 and are a favorite to make the playoffs next year with a lineup made up of Hoke recruits. Hoke had no problem bringing in talent and it would have been even better if he didn't shoot himself in the foot by not being able to coach. And Hoke wouldnt stoop to stunts like that. We finally have a coach that can actually coach, can make a difference on the field, he doesnt need to resort to base recruiting tactics. He should be better than that.

The Barwis Effect

January 20th, 2016 at 10:46 PM ^

Lloyd Carr's best season was 20 years ago.  Guess what?  Times have changed.  Talking about integrity when you lose 14 out of 18 to your chief rival comes off as a loser's lament to outsiders.  Nobody cares.  Set against the backdrop of a toothless NCAA, we are so lucky to have a coach that is willing to push the competitive boundaries to their limits; one who is not afraid to go toe to toe with the SEC, Big XII, and Pac 12 for the top recruits, and in their own backyard no less.  Thank god the days of bringing a knife to a gun fight are finally over.

Mich OC

January 20th, 2016 at 8:45 PM ^

"So you know that job offer we gave you last week for your dream job?  The one you accepted, and proceeded to cancel all your other job interviews?  Well, that offer is no longer available.  Sorry.  But you can still work here!  We just aren't going to pay you.  In fact, you have to pay us.  But you can still have your dream job!  If you choose not to work here, well then that's your decision..."

snarling wolverine

January 20th, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^

More like this:

"You know how the previous boss offered you the job two years ago?  And how for months the new staff has been putting job fair brochures in your mailbox and telling you about big leads at other companies?  Well, it seems like you haven't quite gotten the picture, so we're going to have to clue you in a bit..."

 

NittanyFan

January 20th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^

I personally have no issue with Harbaugh here (recruiting is what it is and what is "normal SOP" in recruiting is "evolving" over time into more stuff like this) .......... but God, if I had a boss who "put job fair brochures in my mailbox" I'd punch him.

The boss (JH) should simply say "the old boss is gone, I'm the new boss, no more offer.  The end."  

Don't "hint around", just SAY it.  Be direct.

NittanyFan

January 20th, 2016 at 9:33 PM ^

a negative performance review (or even firing him).  Not a pleasant conversation, I've done it a few times.  It sucks.

I feel I owe it to my employee to (a) deliver this message sooner rather than later and (b) focus more on "being direct" versus "being kind."  I, of course, am not going to be rude.  But it's a MUST that my message comes across clearly without any room for ambiguity on the other side of the table.

NittanyFan

January 20th, 2016 at 9:43 PM ^

all I know is (1) that my boss thinks I should consider interviewing elsewhere, and (2) that my current boss is a bit hesitant to tell me this in a more direct fashion.

(this presumes I'm not a psycho: that may be a valid reason for #2)

Sure, I maybe can find a similar job, maybe one for even more money!  But I don't know that..  I might also be unemployed for 6 months and go delinquent on my mortgage.  Based on the job fair circulars in my mailbox, all I only know (1) and (2).

raleighwood

January 20th, 2016 at 9:27 PM ^

The prospective employer should tell you directly that your offer is no longer valid so that you can make an informed decision.  Michigan (which is bigger than Harbaugh) made an offer.  The player accepted the offer.  Michigan acknowledged acceptance of that offer for 26 months (including 12 months under Harbaugh) before rescinding it.  The kid had an OV scheduled for 01/15 and Michigan didn't even address it directly with him at that time.  This looks bad.

BigBlue02

January 20th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^

The employer isn't the same. If we are are going to relate this to real life jobs, it is more like you have an internship as a sophomore. They say they really like you and you should come back after you graduate. Then the entire management staff is fired for incompetence and replaced. Then the new management doesn't know if they can find anything better so they tell you they like you but you might want to look around because there are a lot of great candidates. Then they tell you they don't want to hire you and you get the same job with another company paying the same amount and you don't have to play somewhere you aren't wanted.

Mich OC

January 20th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^

I actually kind of like this metaphor.  However, the difference I see is that the new staff didn't simply say "we like you".  They said, "we like you, and you still have a position with us when you graduate".  So when he heard this, he didn't attend any career fairs, stopped applying for other jobs, etc, and then got burned for it.  

wahooverine

January 20th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^

yeah, no.  You should think through this metaphor more intelligently.  Accepted a job offer means signing an employment agreement or a contract. A verbal committment isn't that, nor is a verbal scholarship offer (especially one given by a now fired coach) is not an offer of employment.  "Cancel all your other job interviews"?  Come on, he is a 4 star tackle, by default he has tacit offers from half of DI and no "interviewing" needed.  How has tons of good offers.  The kids life isn't ruined by any stretch.  I get that he really really really liked Michigan but this staff doesn't think he's good enough to merit a scholarship (the previous staff did), end of story.

Mich OC

January 20th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^

The new staff reaffirmed his committment.  Your scenario makes sense if Harbaugh and staff get hired in January and have this conversation sometime in the Spring. Most people would be fine with that. Instead, they confirmed the offer, and then pulled it at the last minute.  

I'm not sure how to embed tweets, but there is a since deleted tweet of an offer letter from Jim Harbaugh sent in August, 2015.

I understand the offer is just verbal and nothing was signed yet, but if my prosective employer said they were sending an offer in the mail and I waited and waited and nothing came, and they hired someone else insteady, that would be pretty shitty of them.  Its not illegal, but it is shady as hell.  

And back to the job metaphor, the job inteview is not just to see if the employer likes you, but if you like the employer.  Yeah he has other offers, but he hasn't had time to bond with other staffs and see where he best fits.  Not he basically has time to visit 2 schools and pick between them.  

 

 

gopoohgo

January 20th, 2016 at 8:36 PM ^

One has to wonder what the heck Patridge was doing.  Isn't this his job, coordinating our recruiting?

Sorry, but a scholly crunch because higher rated recruits show interest late in the game, and thus we ditch long standing recruits sucks.  Especially for a kid like Swenson who stayed committed through a coaching regime change.