TomVH: Dee Hart Update
Chris Hays from the Orlando Sentinel posted this article after talking to Demetrius Hart. The article says that Demetrius plans on staying committed to Michigan as long as Rich Rodriguez is the head coach. The shocker is this. If Rich Rodriguez is fired, Demetrius says he will end up at Florida, not Alabama.
I spoke with Chris about the article, and he felt that Demetrius was being genuine. He, along with everyone else, isn't sure what Demetrius will do but said Demetrius told him he will stay if Rich Rodriguez does too. He told Chris Hays tonight that Alabama is out, and it's all about the spread offense for him. Demetrius is also no longer enrolling early, according to Chris and the article.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:24 AM ^
Not likely...he won't be swayed by the statements of one player who is still in high school.
Besides, if he brings in a coach like Harbaugh a back like Hart is not as critical, so this really has no impact on the decision.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^
Thanks Tom for the ongoing coverage. I'd hate to see Mr. Snake-oil himself getting snake-oiled by Saban :-) Now all we can do is wait for January 1.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^
I will add that while I think he's being genuine right now, I think this might change from now until the Army game.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
the fact that you can't seem to get in contact with him yourself, which we all know you were readily able to do prior to this past week? Is that a signal to you that he really isn't leaning towards staying with RRod and Michigan?
December 7th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
Tom - Couldn't you see him just having fun with the process and very well be throwing things out there since he can see the repercussions of his every mood change throughout recruiting Blogs/Papers/Sites, etc?
I understand that there's a logjam with Bama at RB. But with Saban on his field for a week I don't count that guy out, it was obviously a calculated move...
December 7th, 2010 at 1:11 AM ^
......this is good news....i think.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:53 AM ^
That's terrifying yet I can't stop watching.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:17 AM ^
Dee is just trying to do what's in his best interest. He understands that his skills are best suited for a spread offense. If RR gets fired, then he'll go play for another great spread coach in Urban Meyer. You can't blame the kid for trying to put himself in the best situation to succeed.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:19 AM ^
Steve Addazio just read this comment, then walked to the bank to cash some checks.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^
Tom's the man. that is all.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:30 AM ^
Let's not get too excited, but thanks for the update Tom VH.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:39 AM ^
I guess like the obvious pressing issue- we'll just wait and see. It's too bad that he won't be enrolling early but DH has to do what is in his best interest.
December 7th, 2010 at 1:54 AM ^
Am I the only person who now feels really concerned about the report a week ago that Calvin Magee had dropped by for a visit with Urban Meyer?
December 7th, 2010 at 2:01 AM ^
Yes. Most rumors/leaks are pointing that Steve Addazio will be back next year.
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/12/6/1858771/greg-davis-ou…
December 7th, 2010 at 2:19 AM ^
I knew I should have checked most rumors/leaks before getting myself all worked up.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:55 AM ^
Not trusting EDSBS about Florida football is akin to not trusting MGoBlog about Michigan football. If Orson Swindle thinks Addazio is going to be back, it's solid enough for me. The cite above has a quote from Urban Meyer about bringing Addazio back. What more do you want?
December 7th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^
I was going to write something snarky, but I stopped. The simple fact is that you have been around MGoBlog way too long to trust everything you read on here. And EDSBS is no different.
I have no idea whether Adazio will be back (I hope he is because I don't even want to think of RR losing assistant coaches right now), but I'm pretty sure Urban Meyer doesn't confide heavily in the guys at EDSBS. When and if Urbie makes a change, he will let everyone know on his own timetable.
December 7th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
Your calling the EDSBS stuff rumor, but you're calling the single, random, anonymous poster on a free board's post a "report"?
O.K.
Or is there some other "report" that you are referring to?
December 7th, 2010 at 1:56 AM ^
that's a great kid to change his life plans like that. maybe there was something else to it, but it's a big change to not enroll early.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
If anything, this makes me like Hart even more. He's probably done a lot of work to get himself prepared to graduate early and enroll at any of the hundreds of schools that are recruiting him. Going early lets him adjust academically while possibly making the difference between redshirting, getting some playing time or starting.
If his decision was just about football, he could probably just say good-bye to the ambiguity in AA and say hello to Alabama, Florida, Auburn or wherever. Instead, he's going to take his time, wait and see what happens when he's got all of the information he needs and make an informed decision.
It may have been a while since I was 18, but that seems like a fair amount of patience and maturity for someone at that age.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:28 AM ^
Just goes to show Hart is a smart mature guy. I love when we go after these players. I would do the same exact thing in his situation. Whether its here or with the Gators, he will succeed. I wish him the best, and I hope for stability for our program and a big bowl win :) Gotta love recruiting tho!
December 7th, 2010 at 2:31 AM ^
This can't be correct. We have had a couple different threads with well over 100 posts stating that DB dragging this out is what caused Dee to think about decommitting. Uninformed masses can't be wrong, can they? Impossible. Now we find out that it doesn't matter the time frame but the outcome of the decision? Somehow this still has to be Brandon's fault. I don't know how, but the popular thing to do is blame him for anything recruiting related, so I am blaming him. Who's with me?!?!?!?
December 7th, 2010 at 8:06 AM ^
I can't say that I have read EVERY thread about the timeframe and its potential effect on recruiting but the ones I have seem to point to kids decisions hinging on the outcome of DB's decision. The fact that the timeline is what it is exascerbates the issue.
I have said before, if JH takes over after the bowl game this timeline will make perfect sense. The issue is if RR returns this timeline was a blunder. I don't think there is one educated UM fan that doesn't believe this timeline is having an impact on recruiting in some way. If the timeline wasn't impacting things, Dee Hart would be enrolling early. If you can't admit that this timeline is having an impact,I don't know what can be done for you.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^
Author of one of those threads here.
My entire point was that DB needs to make a decision now, one way or the other, or recruiting would suffer because of uncertainty. Dee was an example of the instability, but I said the far greater impact would be in the decisions of those that were uncommitted and trying to decide - Frost, Zettel, Bryant, Walls etc etc. We are on the cusp with a lot of recruits and they will want stability.
It has now been proven that the entire reason Dee wavered was due to coaching instability...like I said. Not because he liked another school more or was somehow scared by Hayes as some said. He wants to play for RR and only RR, understandably. Since he doesn't know who the coach is going to be and he wants to EE, he started creating backup plans.
This caused our coaching staff to have to fly down to FL to reassure Dee that RR will be here. Apparently a deal was struck where Dee stays or goes depending on RR's fate. The entire point of my thread was that all of this could have been avoided if DB would make up his mind with the 3 years of data he has. If it's RR, then obviously he would get a couple years extension to signal stability, the negative recruiting slows dramatically, the whole Dee issue never happens (waste of energy on our part to fly around the country giving assurances) and our coaches are able to focus on filling up the class with first choices instead of 2nd/3rd ones. If it's JH, then he at least has time to try and retain kids like Hart (who didn't have a month to think it over, hear how bad they would be for the new offense from other coaches, and/or already decommit) or at least replace them with quality replacements. It's not easy to throw a class together in 3 weeks, which is what JH would be forced to do, especially when he will have to (apparenty) replace the #1 Rb and likely others.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
result of the bowl game (or Brandon is hedging because of Harbaugh wanting to play out the string in Palo Alto this year), there is no reason why Brandon should not have already made a decision.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:43 AM ^
make's sense,Dee Hart is a perfect fit for the spread.I hope they both stay.GO BLUE!!!
December 7th, 2010 at 3:44 AM ^
And just say these words.
"I play, coach stays. He goes, I go."
We all know how this ends.
December 7th, 2010 at 6:37 AM ^
It all makes sense....GERG is like Shooter, we just need for him to get over his demons, become a better father to his son (Terrance Robinson?) and then he'll be the best assistant ever, right?
December 7th, 2010 at 8:57 AM ^
I can't wait for Gerg to bust out the "picket fence" defense against toMSU
December 7th, 2010 at 5:08 AM ^
Perhaps Dee never really intended to renege. Rather, he is simply using his leverage to keep RR in AA.
December 7th, 2010 at 5:55 AM ^
TomVH:
As always, thanks for your recruiting updates. My guess is that losing a highly-rated recruit for the offense like Demetrius Hart, due to the uncertainty about the Head Coach position for 2011, would hurt, even if the depth at running back may appear to present no urgent needs.
Have you heard any news about how many recruits for the Michigan defense are going elsewhere because of the uncertainty about a Defensive Coordinator for 2011? How many potential recruits for the defense either never considered or have rejected Michigan because of the chance that Michigan’s Defensive Coordinator for 2011 might be Greg Robinson whose last six college defenses have been ranked 57th (using another coach’s recruits), 111th, 107th, 101st, 82nd and 108th among all FBS schools?* And whose most-recent NFL defenses were ranked 24th for the 2000 Denver Broncos, 23rd for the 2001 Kansas City Chiefs, 32nd for the 2002 Kansas City Chiefs, and 29th for the 2003 Kansas City Chiefs.
* I’m aware that the one outlier for Robinson’s most-recent coaching accomplishments came when, as Co-Coordinator for the 2004 defense, he helped Texas rise from 25th in 2003 to 23rd in 2004.
December 7th, 2010 at 6:29 AM ^
This is actually what I anticipated. Dee Hart, as a small running back, is very well suited to Michigan's offensive scheme, and hence, to RR. The depth chart, and those in the depth chart, also affect this. While I would love for Hart to enroll early, I think it is less critical in his particular position.
Sousa, given the depth chart, and the spread vs. pro-set scheme, (inherent in a potential change from RR to some other coach,) seems wise to commit elsewhere now. After all, he could recommit in January. But more than that, should Devin get a red-shirt, Sousa might well not see the field for 4 years. I could see him waiting three years, giving him two years on the field (with a red shirt.) But waiting 4 years? With no guarantees? That's asking a lot.
Lucien, on the other hand, is at a position (WR) where Michigan has been strong both in a pro-style offense, and running the spread. Who is the coach is less important.
For yet other reasons, i suspect that Walls & Lyons want to play for RR, and will wait until the coaching situation sorts itself out. I believe several other potential 4 star recruits are in this camp.
I think that DB is in the right place to light the fire under RR. Support him, yes, but not blindly. And whatever happens, RR has to commit the resources, in recruiting and coaching, for the defense to improve.
December 7th, 2010 at 6:32 AM ^
makes sense, i thought he'd end up at florida from the beginning based on proximity to home and what not.. i sincerely hopes he ends up at michigan though, he's an amazing person, a gifted athlete, and he has his heart in the right place... No wonder he wants to play for RR!
thanks tom once again,
December 7th, 2010 at 6:41 AM ^
show this shit to DB right away
December 7th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
I certainly hope there is next to no importance associated with whether 1 4* recruit would come. While I hope Dee comes, and has a great career, his coaching decision is about the program - not one kid.
We need better player development. The hope when RR came in centered on his ability to compete at WVU with 3* players , and out wishful thinking of what he could do with higher caliber players. The problem is that he hasn't been able to get many of these.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:35 AM ^
take a look at dee's highlights and say that again.
true, one person doesn't make a program, but a good complimentary back to Denard would be like giving popeye his spinach..
December 7th, 2010 at 8:48 AM ^
Denard doesn't need spinach, he needs a defense.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:54 AM ^
...compliments to last him a lifetime. Now a complementary RB would be another thing altogether.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:02 AM ^
At the margin, a great player like Dee does make a difference. Sure, he's not going to single-handedly win a NC for us, but with him, and the rest of the team, we have a good shot at getting there. Without him, it would be a lot tougher.
At least now, we have some clarity. Would have been sweet if he enrolled early though.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
Will, I'm sorry, but I can't take this shit any more. Denard setting the NCAA record and a bajillion Big Ten and Michigan records AS A SOPHMORE isn't evidence of player development?! A team made up of mostly underclassmen that had a 7-5 season and is going to a New Year's Day bowl isn't evidence of player development? Can we please wait until we have some upperclassmen to make this criticism?
Someone get this man a white cane with a red tip and some dark glasses.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^
I agree that the decision is about the program. But potentially losing a 4* recruit if you already know the coach is staying and not announcing it....well that's just bad. Which can only mean one things, right?
December 7th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
This makes me happy although i know if richrod leaves at least we know what is going to happen and it wont be a surprise.
BUT....... besides all that this has just made m day at 7:45 am. Today will be a good day now. Thank you Dee Hart
December 7th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
TOM will you go to prom with meeeeeee(:
(preferably DP's prom)
December 7th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Too many alums don't support RR. DB knows he either needs to fire him or extend him so he is not a lame duck. He can't extend him without an emotional victory because of the alums and he won't fire him without a commitment from Harbaugh which is obvious has not happened or Les Miles which again has not happened.
DB needs RR to have that victory to shut up the alums. After the victory RR gets his 2 year extension which gives the recruits the warm and fuzzy to commit. No victory and RR gets the ziggy and we lose half a recruting class but DB gets to make a slow deliberate coaching change.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
Basing his decision on 1 game is a huge mistake, IMO.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
Well, this is exactly why people should not lose their minds when news like this comes out. Rivals was clearly not correct about him committing to Bama. And frankly, with all the coaching news, I am sure every to recruit has been thinking twice, and that won't end until the coaching situation quiets down.
I think RR is back, and I think Hart, after all this, is Blue.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^
December 7th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
spread offense coach in RR's mold? Everyone has automatically assumed Harbaugh would be the choice but what if DB has someone else in mind? Hiring another spread guy could minimize the damage with recruiting and transfers...thoughts?
P.S. I am in favor of giving RR the opportunity to see out the remainder of his contract. I have a good feeling about our bowl game and next season!
GO BLUE!
December 7th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
not help but notice that someone dropped a neg on your fair post. I wondered as to the nature of this negativity. It was only after reaching the bottom of your post that I realized you were not being negged for your opinion so much as for your exuberance. By that I mean the use of the phrase: GO BLUE!
Imagine MgoBlog as the Heritage Club, with the majority of the members sitting around in overstuffed high backed chairs, reading the daily news and conversing with their neighbors over cigars and a glass of perfectly aged Armagnac. Everyone is clucking their tounges and nodding approvingly to one another when you come bustling in to the room. You make your statement to the entire room and then yell GO BLUE! One of the patrons being a Michigan man himself puts down his cup of Earl Grey and condescends by replying quite dryly "go blue, indeed." To which you respond "GO BLUE!" I would suggest tempering your enthusiasm just the tiniest bit. Drop at least one of the GO BLUEs at the end of your posts. And save some it for game days.
Keep a stiff upper lip and don't let the bastards drag you down.
p.s. +1 for being a Michigan fan.