M-Dog

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^

I dunno, I don't like being on the short end of these, but it kinda reaffirms my faith in humanity a little bit when most of these kids, who are teenagers, are actually honoring their commitments.

It's different if it is a coaching change, or the team you committed to changes their plans for you.  But for the rest of them, you really should honor your commitment.

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JT4104

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:06 PM ^

Even though these kids visited, it really feels like they all want to say they said "No" to Jim Harbaugh.  

I hope for a solid season in 2015 to curb all this stuff. 

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mailmanmike209

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:24 PM ^

I agree. We have ALOT of talented kids on this team. Hoke went out and recruited a bunch of 4/5 stars but just didnt coach them up. Harbaugh is not coming into a bare cupboard. He is going to make these kids so much better and with that comes wins and with wins, we;ll get a boat load of studs next year!!!

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Toad

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:08 PM ^

Ugh. Harbaugh and all that, be he deserves some criticism for this recruiting performance.  Hoke did much better than this in roughly the same time period.

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WolverineJet

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:17 PM ^

Do you remeber who Hoke Pulled in after he was hired?  Were not worldbeaters.

 

Tamani Carter-Left School

Matt Wile-Good pickup

Keith Heitzman-No real impact

Ray Taylor-Good Pickup

Antonio Poole-Never played

Russell Bellomy-Transferred

Chris Bryant-Injured

Thomas Rawls-Transferred

Frank ClarkGood Pickup

Chris Barnett-Never made it to school

 

So that late period was not a good as you may have that it was.

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Maize and Blue…

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^

Russell Bellomy, Tamani Carter, Keith Heitzman, Chris Barnett, Thomas Rawls, Antonio Poole, Ray Taylor, Matt Wile, and Frank Clark.  Stealing guys from football powerhouses like Vandy and Purdue isn't exactly doing better.  Wile was serviceable while Clark and Taylor had decent careers, but we haven't even got to signing day yet so how can you possibly say Hoke did better

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93Grad

February 2nd, 2015 at 11:22 PM ^

I will say this again Poole and Taylor were 4 stars to at least one service. Barnett was a consensus 4 star. Clark had an offer from Sparty. Bellomy, Carter and Heitzman all had multiple power 5 offers. They were not world betters but I would take that level of finish from Harbaugh right now.



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JonnyHintz

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^

Hoke had one clear and major advantage that Harbaugh doesn't have. That advantage becomes magnified when you consider the fact that Harbaugh has had a month to do his recruiting. That advantage, would be relationships.

 

Hoke coached college ball before being hired at Michigan. That means he was recruiting players. That mean he had developed contact and relationships with recruits throughout the country prior to being hired at Michigan. In addition to himself, his entire coaching staff, save for Mattison, spent the preceding season coaching college football and recruiting. Those relationships and familiarity Hoke's staff had with players made it easier to convince them to come to Michigan. 

 

Harbaugh faces a problem, at least short term. He, and the majority of his staff, were coaching in the NFL this past season. They don't have any relationships with these recruits or their coaches or families. They have had a month to do what most schools have been doing for a year or more. We have Drevno, Mattison, and Durkin as coaches who were coaching college football this season. That is it. That is what we are bringing to the table when it comes to prior relationships with recruits. Long term, that NFL coaching experience will bring in highly ranked guys. But with a month to recruit, it is a disadvantage. 

 

You've seen what having a previous relationship can do as far as recruit interest. The only reason Roquan Smith was even interested in Michigan to begin with was the hiring of Durkin as DC, who recruited him while at Florida. We dont make the Durkin hire, Smith isn't even interested and never visits. 

 

To put blame on Harbaugh for trying to do something in 1 month that other coaches have spent a year or more working on, is absolutely assinine. 

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Alumnus93

February 2nd, 2015 at 11:33 PM ^

And what about the great success he had at Stanford and SF? What about all the pros who hold him in the highest regard? That trickles down, believe it. pros have cousins, brothers, colleagues, family friends, and will totally push them to Jim knowing what a great coach he is.

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JonnyHintz

February 3rd, 2015 at 12:40 AM ^

Name me all the recruits who fit that category then. Believe it or not, not everyone pushes their friends and family to commit to a certain school. Mother actually let you feel out the process and make their own decisions. Facts are facts. HARBAUGH is trying to do something in a month that other coaches have been doing for months/years. He has no relationship with these kids. Like I said, his success in the NFL and his assistants experience will be a valuable asset long term. Given a full recruiting cycle, there will be much more recruiting success. But with only a month and only 3/10 coaches having been in the college coaching ranks last year, it is just too little too late with this years class. It is incredibly difficult to convince a kid to commit to you for 4-5 years given only a month. Especially kids as highly ranked as Michigan fans expect. We have to just buckle down, take what we can get in this class, and focus on 2016. Given a full class, I have full confidence in Harbaugh's abilities to recruit. Given a month compared to months/years, I'd give the edge to schools like Nebraska, USC, UCLA, Georgia, Florida, and OSU who we have been competing with for recruits.

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Franz Schubert

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^

Report or tweet or whatever else, is it necessary? People need to get a life and quit investing so much into rumors. Just wait till Wed and cheer for Michigan kids.

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Blau

February 2nd, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^

I really think it's a mix of people wanting to be the first one to report breaking news along with the need to always think of the future potential of 17-18 year old kids. I'm as guilty as anyone this time of year but I restrict it to checking MGoBlog like 20 times a day.

 

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