TomVH, set us straight on Will
I've been the loudest voice on here thinking Will is blue based on the timing of his uniqname creation, etc. But there's always that possibility that he is headed elsewhere and I admit that his words have me more worried than before.
If/when you hear anything on that front, let us know here.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:38 PM ^
Everyone I've talked to has been shocked, and has no idea what's going on, including people close to him. I have people that are there, trying to figure it out, and one that's not there yet. So, I don't know anything other than what has been reported so far. GBW did post something recently saying now that the dust has settled they are optimistic, but with no source or reasons.
In my personal opinion, with no fact behind it, I think there's too many arguments for this being bogus than real.
I think everyone on here has made valid points both ways, but he definitely did this on purpose, FWIW. I'm going to keep trying to figure out what's going on, but I don't think this is over. I have this week off of work, so I'll be able to throw some feelers out there all day.
Sorry I don't know more, but I think everyone is kind of in sit and wait mode.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:42 PM ^
Another weird situation for you to decipher. I bet this never gets old! Consider this your update thread - everyone is curious to know what you know.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:54 PM ^
he's probably just pissed that it got out that he enrolled and still wants it to be somewhat of a surprise. i say he's still blue.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:59 PM ^
Je'Ron Stokes decommitted from Tennessee. This is per GBW. Sorry, I don't like to recycle their news, but I have limited access, since I'm not at the AA game, and they are.
I contacted them to get media access, and was never contacted back....I'm still bitter.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:06 PM ^
Or are other schools a lot higher on his list?
December 28th, 2008 at 10:10 PM ^
This is definitely good, he's visiting M on Jan. 9th, which is the first visit after all this hoopla. I thought we had a good chance with him ever since the Tajh Boyd incident. I've spoken with him a couple times, and I'm hoping to have an interview done after the AA game and before his visit. I might wait until after the visit though, to see how it went.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:15 PM ^
Sorry if I am making you rehash old news; I must have missed this in all the holiday bustle. Any chance of landing Boyd?
December 28th, 2008 at 10:26 PM ^
Lane Kiffin told Boyd his scholorship won't be acknowledged. Je'Ron said it bothered him, because they don't have a QB now.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:28 PM ^
Let's grab both of those then Will. All positions of need...
December 28th, 2008 at 10:39 PM ^
Full decommitment, Tom? Because the Rivals dudes at the AAA Game said he told them he was "50% committed" (which is basically a decommit, but still different from saying "I'm not committed anymore").
Also, that sucks about them giving you the Heisman when you asked for media access, lol.
I do trust Sam Webb, though. He was supremely confident about Roh, supremely confident about Emilien, he's been increasingly confident about Stokes...and he's been the most confident out of everybody about Big Will. I am firmly in the "huge smokescreen to restore some shock value" camp.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:04 PM ^
I've heard both, but I'm taking it as he's decommitted. I sent him a message, so we'll see if he has time to answer.
Yea, I was pretty mad about the silent treatment. Next time I won't mention "Michigan" anywhere in my request.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:05 PM ^
efforting Tom.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:37 PM ^
1. Will, like any other high school guy, wanted attention and to be in the spotlight.
2. Will received this until he committed to Michigan.
3. Will, like any other high school guy, likely wanted the attention again, so he told people he was considering other options.
4. A Detroit news outlet leaked the enrollment information (thus stealing his thunder of an Army All American live television commitment).
5. Will, like any other high school guy, wanted attention, and purposely told a reporter something ambiguous to put him in the spotlight again.
6. Will will get what he wants with a live television commitment with reporters and a table with hats and pomp and circumstance - and i think he will still pick michigan. the man just wants attention.
just my opinion.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:50 PM ^
while you're around whats the latest with Lalota? Are the rumors of him wavering true?
December 28th, 2008 at 10:55 PM ^
Fuck man please tell me your joking? Where have you heard these rumors?
December 28th, 2008 at 10:57 PM ^
Otherwise our DLine could be almost empty in a worst case scenario of:
-Campbell giving M the finger
-Dequinta Jones leaving for better weather
-Pearlie leaving to bolster Oklahoma's name rank
-LaLota leaving because Jesus hates us
-McPhee living a life that's completely free (of M)
December 28th, 2008 at 11:00 PM ^
I talked to Anthony LaLota last week, and his exact words were, "I'm not decommitting."
As far as Pernell McPhee, his life will have an M in it, just not an -ichigan behind it.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:44 AM ^
... redirecting the spotlight his way (a very big IF), then that indicates he has an extremely large need to be the center of attention. That's hardly unknown in elite athletes, but it can be very self-destructive if not channeled the right way.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:52 PM ^
RJW on the leak of his early enrollment. This site had 2 or 3 threds about him early enrolling at UM, stealing his thunder.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:10 PM ^
More from Rivals
Apparently the ledge is a hot spot, so here you go... Reply
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man, some people here really need perspective on life...
This last week was Christmas and with people so involved with the holidays (including myself) I did not have as many phone conversations as I have in regular weeks, but I still had a few and several regarding Big Will. Everything coming out of those conversations was positive regarding Michigan. The academic opportunities were still a big selling point, the closeness to home was still going over well and no one appeared to have wowed Big Will to the point where they overcame Michigan's lead.
I got the call from our guys down in San Antonio right after Big Will told them he was down to three - LSU, Miami and Florida - and immediately called someone very close to Big Will who is currently in San Antonio with him (I may detail who that is later, but it was not one of his teammates FYI). When I told this person that Will said he was down to those three, he said, "really?" In other words, it was a shock, and he said as much later in the conversation.
Now, when our guys down in San Antonio called me to tell me that, my first reaction was that this was Big Will playing to create some drama around his announcement. That's Big Will and I could definitely see him doing that. It really does not make a lot of sense other wise, from an announcement standpoint, because if he was going to pick a school other than Michigan, it would not create the same shock if a Michigan hat is not on the table.
The person I talked to close to Big Will down in San Antonio said he did not know what Will's decision would be and they didn't talk about the schools on the way down, but he also said at one point Will was going to just pull out a Wayne State hat and announce he was going there. He's a fun-loving kid, that's who he is.
So, while Campbell's comments today make for something very interesting, I am going to be surprised if it is the last word before his announcement. I'm not saying he is for sure messing around, but I'm also saying don't be surprised if he is. He's a deliberate kid, and I expect since he made those comments today he sticks with them throughout the week, but.... this whole scenario fits in better if you consider he may be creating some drama around his actual pick.
I will be flying out to San Antonio and will be there from Wednesday on. I'll be able to talk with Will and those around him extensively then, and I will continue to bring further clarity to this situation.
December 29th, 2008 at 2:26 AM ^
I think this might have broken a law or something.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:01 AM ^
Normally message board posts would not be copyrighted and therefore would not be subject to the Fair Use doctrine...but I assume since it's behind a paywall then Scout or whoever owns the copyright on the material posted there and this is illegal. Yup.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:08 AM ^
Copyright prevents you nominally gaining from someone's work. cpt20 could have simply paraphrased it to avoid any problem, as you can't copyright information. However, a direct cut and paste might cause some consternation by people.
The only 'law' he's breaking is probably the Terms of Service at whatever pay site he took that from.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:10 PM ^
Is it me or was the most important question during Big Will's interview: "are you enrolled at Michigan?"
I guess he just forgot or it really is a big set up.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:07 AM ^
More from the making myself feel better department - didn't Darius Winston decommit from Arkansas, make a bunch of statements insinuating that he was going to commit to Ole Miss and that the Ole Miss coaching staff would be really happy with his decision and that Arkansas was totally out of it, and then recommit to Arkansas a few days later? It's happened before...
December 29th, 2008 at 12:12 AM ^
Not only that, but on August 2nd, Plantation DB Brandon McGee said "I will not be picking Miami. It's down to Tennessee, FSU and Ole Miss." Three days later, Miami was back on the list, and five days after that, McGee was a Hurricane.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:20 AM ^
Does anyone remember when all this started, and Russell Shepard said Michigan was his leader? He then proceeded to commit to LSU.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:30 AM ^
Big Will is coming to Michigan, but this was the only way to get the "thunder" back for his announcement.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:11 AM ^
TT was a big jokester and so is Will. I think will is just yanking a lot of people's chain and making a mockery of the recruiting sites. My belief is he is a Wolverine. If I am wrong, I will give up all my girlfriends and just stick to 3. Besides, it's hard keeping the names of 20 women straight.
December 29th, 2008 at 1:21 AM ^
following recruiting is going to give me an ulcer. i'm just going to revert to my previous oblivious state where i assumed we had all the best athletes. ignorance is bliss
December 29th, 2008 at 3:29 AM ^
Yes, I delved into recruiting this year for the first time since we were going after Antonio Bass... and I'm regretting it big time.
December 30th, 2008 at 4:21 AM ^
I'd love for Big Will to end up here, but joking about something like this seems like something that would ultimately piss off the coaches (and thus, unlikely), so I'm going to err on the side of caution and try to accept that he's not coming here. Worst case scenario is that when he announces, if we find out he's not coming here, I'm prepared. If he does announce he's coming here, great news.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:31 AM ^
That sounds like a voice of reason...I feel the same way...although something just tells me that he is going to end up in maize and blue...I think he has shown too much interest in the wolverines not to end up here...he's been up for so many games and was caught up in the hysteria when we beat Duke singing how great it was to be a Wolverine...I really do think that he has forged relationships with the coaches over the duration of the time that we have been corting the dude. I think that it will prove invaluable in the end... I just see the guy coming to Ann Arbor...there are a variety of reasons he could have said what he said...and the obvious one being that it is how he felt...which, if it is true then so be it...but I have to believe that when he was singing how great it was to be a Wolverine it was because he was going to become one...and for the record...when the dust settles and it is all said and done...that block M is still gonna be DA BLOCK M....Michigan will still be Michigan...and yes, we will be back on top...there is not a program with richer tradition...nor, a program that offers a hellavu football program with so great a degree than that school up north...so Will or no Will...or Newsome...or Beaver...or Mcneal...or Barnes...or whomever has decided to take their business elsewhere...I wish 'em well...it is more their loss than ours...because with or without them it's still gonna be the big house...we're still gonna have the most winningest program in the history of the NCAA division one football... we're still gonna have the number one winning percentage...
3 and 9 doesn't change that...Les Miles staying at LSU doesn't change that...ROJO and Nick Perry going to USC doesn't change that...and a group of kids decommiting from one class doesn't change the fact that those that stay STILL will be champions! GO BLUE!!!!
December 30th, 2008 at 8:11 AM ^
Is that you?
December 30th, 2008 at 8:57 AM ^
it's gotta be, same rambling style with no sentence structure.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:14 AM ^
his names rhyme. Like it was some kind of hint to his true identity.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:38 AM ^
Was e-man the one who always wrote "loose" instead of "lose" or was that someone else? If we get a "loose" out of this dude we'll know for sure.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:53 AM ^
if you look at the track of his posts, they are all (about 10 posts) just like above except shorter. After I checked a few of what he wrote, there was no question. Kind of like a fingerprint, they match exactly.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:53 AM ^
That Darn Wolverine
December 30th, 2008 at 8:55 AM ^
Oh how I've missed you and your rants
December 30th, 2008 at 7:38 AM ^
...I would not be surprised if the coaches know Campbell's answer already. They probably know whether he's enrolled or not and have thus determined what his answer is. So if he HAS eliminated Michigan, it shouldn't piss them off (although it does probably disappoint them). And if Michigan has been his choice, the coaches are probably laughing on the inside at how he's playing with people's minds.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:02 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing. If he's enrolled, the coaches know it, and probably also think it's funny that he's telling the recruiting sites that M is eliminated. I doubt the coaches are concerned, for all we know it could have been one of their ideas.