Sandeep: One of the First Michigan Recruiting Bloggers
Tonight I stumbled across what could be one of the very first Michigan recruiting websites. It was created by one Sandeep Vijan--who, according to the umich directory, is now an associate professor at the medical school--to chronicle Michigan's 1996 recruiting class, and it's pure Internet gold. Mr. Vijan seems to have pioneered many of the features of today's sites: he's got a recruiting board, a list and breakdown of commits, visit tracker, and even recruiting news. Perhaps the funniest tidbit is this nugget from the day before national signing day:
A surprise commitment to Michigan: Jason Foster, a fullback from Medina, Ohio, has decommitted from Purdue and will attend Michigan in the fall.
Somewhere, Jim Colletto muttered under his breath something about snake oil.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
Pretty cool, last updated in 1995. He has a link to email him with updated info. I'm not even sure where to start.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
I forgot the Internet existed back in 1996
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
Pure gold.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
Nice find. This is a totally kickin' web page design for 1995.
The list and description of verbal commitments is fantastic. Are those 40 times indicated by each name?! If so, they are definitely 5 fakes out of 5 for every one of them. This brings back golden visions of NFL-caliber QB Jason Kapsner dancing in my head. According to the description, he's a faster version of Elvis Grbac and Todd Collins (which, in hindsight, really isn't saying a lot). Aaron Wright (4.3 speed?!)? Paul Tannous? I vividly remember my internal hype meter pegging most of these guys as can't-miss prospects. Absolutely great stuff.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
This is literally an internet blog relic! You are like Indiana Jones (except the not the stupid aliens one). Also the blog itself is very well done.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
I can confirm that that site is legit. I did not visit it at the time it was up and running, but Sandeep himself used to post on various other sites.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^
Great find! It's amazing how things have progressed in the past 15 years.
I like the analysis of Steve Hutchinson: Will probably play DT
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
OL class appears to be shaping up nicely. Would be nice to steal Edgerrin James away from one of the Florida schools.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:37 AM ^
Jeff Backus was an unbelievable athlete. A great baseball pitcher, and played some outside linebacker on his high school team? That's pretty impressive.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
I wonder if he is a fellow MGoBlogger.
Also, I found this funny.
"The first day for recruits to sign an official letter of intent in February 7, 1996. Coaches are not allowed to comment on potential recruits until a letter has been signed. Please do not contact the recruits directly - it is an NCAA violation to "recruit" for a University (but then again, pretty much everything is an NCAA violation these days)."
I guess things haven't changed much over 15 years.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
Wouldn't think a teacher at the university blogging about a recruit would be squeaky clean these days.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
If they're not an athletic department employee, it's probably okay if they're just talking about him. (They can't contact the recruit, though.)
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
Great find! Here's a fun snippet:
"the coaches are very high on Tom Brady, who is a freshman from California who was redshirted this year. "
Good call, coaches.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:13 AM ^
I don't want to sound naive, but there is a (!) in Jeff Backus' recruiting profile. I always assumed that the (!) was original to MGoBlog
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
Many of the things introduced to the MGoCommunity by Brian ((!), schadenfreude, etc) were internet memes for years. Folks were using (!) that during my freshman year (1994) on IRC. You know, back when we had PINE email.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:25 AM ^
That was awesome Remember the "finger" function that let you see when other people last checked their email?
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:55 AM ^
was by and far the best IM system back in the day. I felt like a sleezeball (sp?) when I downloaded AIM and started using it. Plus I couldn't use my "Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail" soundboard that worked with IRC. Ah, simpler days.
Anyway, you are correct, the "(!)", etc. were in use long before the MGoBlog days.
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
Sorry... Obligatory MGoDroid double post
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:37 AM ^
Speaking of old U-M fan websites, I always enjoyed checking out
THE UNOFFICIAL GUTS 'N GLUE HOMEPAGE |
which was a site dedicated to Rick Leach. I especially liked the section where the site owner examines who is the greatest U-M QB of the modern era. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since Tom Brady wrapped up his career.
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:44 AM ^
I'm old enough to actually remember Sandeep's board
August 22nd, 2011 at 6:56 AM ^
"Michigan's defensive backfield improved vastly this year with the addition of Charles Woodson."
I AGREE!
Wait....oh....last updated 2/14/96. Damn.
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:31 AM ^
how close Champ Bailey was to going blue. Would have been hands down the best CB duo of all time in college football.
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:33 AM ^
I like how he talks about Steve Hutchinson and he will quote " probably play DT at Michigan". This is great stuff, nice find!
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:09 AM ^
...I remember him in high school. Kid was a beast. Can't believe he was battling a certain "Ron Dayne" for the #1 HS FB. Funny how different their paths went.
Came in an played as a true freshman and did pretty well for Carr. Had some mental health issues and left the team. Ended up at GVSU where his brother was a star. Dayne, well, you know what he ended up doing.
Lot's of productive NFL talent in this class. Gold, Brandt, Hutchinson, Backus, Knight, & Jones just off the top of my head. Nice first class haul for LC.
Thank's for sharing the link.
*Or is this LC's second class? Either way.....nice haul!
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:11 AM ^
I think MGoBlog should feature an interview with Sandeep. Heck, maybe Brian found his Tim/TomVH replacement...!
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
An interview with Sandeep would be great. I'd love to hear where he got his information, which recruits were generating the most buzz, whether he expected the recruiting world to explode, etc.
This was a wonderful find.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
Looks like Michigan signed the #23 defensive lineman in the country... Steve Hutchinson.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
I've linked to that site a few times in the past. I'm pretty sure that guy's still around, and reads MGoBlog. Sandeep, come out and take a bow.
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
He was blogging up through the 1998 recruiting cycle. I actually blame him for my love of following recruiting. As a college Junior, I stumbled across his site and was hooked. Those were the days of practically free recruiting info. I still won't pay for it, but it was much more prevelant back then.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
was recruited as a possible RB. That would have been fun to see!
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
He started off here as a RB, then was "moved" to LB. And the rest is history. And is another example that a player moving positions isn't always the end of the world. Sometimes coaches see stuff players don't. "I want to be a RB!" "Well, ok, we think your skills might better be served at LB, but you can give it a shot". "Dang, these are some good RBs...coach, can I still play LB?" Part of the game of recruiting.
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
That was a great read. Wish I could go back and give tips to the staff: "this guy will be an all-american"..."this guy will warm the bench." "Play Brady more. "
Anybody got an address for Dr. Emmett Brown?
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Wow.
One bit caught my eye: Plaxico Burress considering UM. I never knew that. UM could have been the beneficiary of his 200 yard receiving game in 1999 instead of the victim.
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:10 PM ^
Grade issues are what brought him to Sparty. He was a partial-qualifier and MSU was still accepting those. Otherwise he'd have been a Gator.
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
I mean, I realize that this was a huge building block for the NC team, but it's just crazy how much talent was in that class. Five excellent NFL players in one class. Pretty cool.
Rob
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Gary Berry would have resulted in an assault on the F5 key!
August 22nd, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
The site has been posted in the past. Always great to read again though. I thought this was pretty funny -
This class has class. Several members were interviewed on the radio yesterday, and all seemed down to earth and intelligent. The Ann Arbor news reporter who covers Michigan football wrote his column today on the "quality people" in this class. By the way, I like the columnist, except that he blames "the internet" for spawning all of the rumors that have popped up in recruiting this year (he claims most of the info on the internet is wrong). My guess: he's never even seen "the internet". It's just a vague computer thing to him. Since he covers Michigan sports, and this is the only Michigan recruiting page that I know of, I invite him to check it out and look at all of the "false" info I'm supposedly spreading.
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
We had a Vijan AND a Vijay (I blog for cookies)? I remember Vijay from his Usenet days, but Vijan is new to me. Great find. And yes, that's what the internet looked like back then.
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
"Much will depend on the development of David Bowens". How scary would the 97' Defense have been with him rushing the passer?
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
The '97 D-line also lost Ben Huff to a season-ending injury in fall camp. Amazing to think how could they could have been with those two.
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
If that is the fomratting from back in 95, when did scout come out?