WolvinLA2

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^

I agree with your last sentence, but that shouldn't affect Hoke's recruitment policy.  I would be very upset if my team's HC said to himself, "Gosh, I'd really like that player in my recruiting class, but he's already committed to MSU and if I offer him and he stays with them they might write an article about how he didn't flip and make us look bad so I won't offer him because of that."

Also, keep in mind your headline would end with "but UM still signed the other 8."

Butterfield

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^

It's a rare time when I'll admit this, but you've sold me and I think you are right in regards to what our HC should be doing (rather than worrying about the appearance of failure). 

Regardless, to any objectiveobservers, the domination that Hoke/UM have had of Dantonio/MSU on the recruiting trail is beyond ridiculous.  In the event that 75 percent of our commits de-committed it would still be a better class than MSU's. 

Not that I was on any ledge, but any concerns I had over this have now completely disappeared.  Thanks for the reality check!

WolvinLA2

December 3rd, 2012 at 7:02 PM ^

It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong, and I mean that. 

I see where you're coming from, but it would be a bigger concern if Hoke and Dantonio where neck and neck on the recruitment trail.  They're not.  If Dawson recommits, M has 4 of the top 5 in-state commits, and ND has the 5th.  MSU's top out of state commit is Shane Jones, from Ohio.  Michigan has 6 commits ranked higher than him from Ohio alone

If perception is what you're worried about - we got it.

BigBlue02

December 3rd, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^

And I am pretty sure Shane Jones went on the record to say Michigan told him they weren't taking any other linebackers so they parted ways and his offer was no longer valid. So MSU got their best out of state recruit because Michigan stopped recruiting him.

Nosce Te Ipsum

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^

It may have no effect on the team but perception is reality. With the way the media potrays things in Michigan (oddly favoring State) it just adds to unwanted press and vexatious questions that Hoke has to deal with. I believe it brings about a good question which is what do the coaches want to accomplish with these offers? These players certainly won't flip when you look at their family ties to State and the length of time they've been committed. With the way offers have been coming out it looks as though the coaches have lost their standing with the players they covet most. 

Magnus

December 3rd, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^

If perception is reality, then people should be able to perceive that Michigan is getting the better recruits, that Michigan went 8-4 this year (better than MSU), and the most recent game was won by Michigan.

"Losing" a couple recruits to MSU means less than the above factors I listed.

Nosce Te Ipsum

December 3rd, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^

State has proven that getting the better recruits hasn't meant much in the past. Your average fan doesn't seem to buy into the hype of the recruiting sites and rankings like the true fanatics do.

As for the on field success, it looked as though the programs were on equal footing (with reference to head to head) when they met this year so why would it look as though Michigan is that much better? The two losses that they have that Michigan does not are Iowa and NW. Iowa was clear cut but NW was made possible by divine grace.

Magnus

December 3rd, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

Unfortunately, those "better recruits" were poorly coached by Rich Rodriguez.  If you pair better recruits with good coaching, the Carr + Hoke years have been pretty successful.  They're 6-6 this year and were 11-3 last year, bringing their record during Hoke's tenure to 17-9.  Hoke is 19-6 in that time.  I'm not saying Hoke is dominating the series or anything, but there's really nothing you can look at right now and say "MSU is the superior program."  Recruiting, winning, etc. is all in Michigan's favor at the moment.

UofM-StL

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^

As was pointed out by some other posters when Reschke was first offered, it may have something to do with cultivating relationships with HS coaches and programs. Reschke is a better example of this than Finley, but it could hold true nonetheless.

HS coaches could look at the lack of a scholarship offer to a player they consider deserving as an insult or a snub. If you want to get back in with another of their players in a few years, they might be less than inviting.

Lac55

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^

Coaches also stopped by to see junior wr Asantay Brown from Muskegon. He had 45 catches for 800+ yards and 11 touchdowns. Highlights looked good as they should, but we'll see how he develops.

BeatOSU52

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^

Speaking of West Michigan Junior WRs, the coaches are apparently still after MSU WR commit, Drake Harris.  He is also being recruited heavily by Saban and somewhat by Kiffin and Stoops.  A lot may depend how well his basketball season goes this winter.

Coldwater

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^

He his the best WR prospect to come out of Michigan in at least a decade. I'm not surprised the top programs are coming after him. He a man among boys as a high school Junior. He just needs to gain some weight and a S & C program once he gets to college

BeatOSU52

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^

Don't forget Harris did set the MHSAA record for most receiving yards in a season, and he did so facing quite a difficult schedule.   Charles Rogers could also be in the discussion for best prospect, but of course he came out of high school more than a decade ago.

My personal opinion is this:  He wants to play for Tom Izzo real bad.  When he committed, he didn't forsee himself having THIS much success in football also.  He has to, in the back of his mind, be wondering what it would be like to play football for national programs like USC, Oklahoma, or Michigan.  I believe he'll see how this season plays out for basketball.  If has a great year, I think he sticks with MSU.  

BeatOSU52

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^

Izzo has been recruiting him since he was a freshmen, and I am sure that is still Drake's no-doubt number 1 coach he wishes to play for.  After he had a breakout season in football his sophomore year (2011 season), coaches around the country started taking notice.  And then after the record -breaking season he had this past fall has confirmed football coaches/scouts' opinions on Drake's amazing talent, he has been getting recruited heavily by the programs I mentioned.  I heard Saban has been slamming him with letter after letter, like he is known to do.

 

The fact that he committed to Michigan this past summer, after his breakout football season, makes me think he still ends up at MSU (duh, he's committed there!), but I just wouldn't be surprised if he is at least considering football at another school.

The Wolf

December 3rd, 2012 at 5:46 PM ^

I do not peruse RCMB, but I read what many posters here have to say about the content of their postings. I just read the thread the OP included, and my brain actually hurts now because of it. That was the most illogical and low-level thinking I've encountered in quite some time. One poster makes a comment on how long till UofM has additional sanctions and Hoke is fired because "something is fishy.". Typically an ill-received remark here on MGo, even when made about schools widely known to have potentially "fishy" activities being reported, this poster just seems to create his own reality. If anything, many MGoBloggers frustration with "slow" ends to recruiting classes and misses on big name targets seem in completely opposition to this idiots ramblings.



Well, now I'm rambling … but wow.

jayman065

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^

Could any of this just be part of the recruiting game...? Based on the MSU guys offered they seem pretty solid, but when you think about it we are recruiting a lot of the same 2014 kids. By offering a couple guys you know you are not Likly to get you may build bridges with coaches and now MSU staff may need to spend more time doubling back on recruiting their own guys which means less focus they can place on the 2014 head to heads...And that may be all achieved by sending out offers you know you won't be taken up on...

Or maybe they really do want these kids, just a thought that there may be some other motivations with some offers.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^

I would expect us to focus on major targets for the next 4 weeks and finish with the local kids if we don't succeed nationally.

Kendall Fuller? Eddie Vanderdoes? Dee Liner? Laremy Tunsil? Sebastian Larue? Montravious Adams? EJ Levenberry? Ty Isaac? Jalen Ramsey? Jordan Wilkins?

Hurdles to land them but we should flip at least one especially with USC, Auburn, Va Tech isses. Any one would upgrade our class.

StephenRKass

December 3rd, 2012 at 6:55 PM ^

Think it is unlikely they'll flip. I also think that Hoke is watching how well someone would be a fit in the culture of the team. You want guys who want to be at Michigan, who have the right character set.

randyfloyd

December 3rd, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^

offer. After reading some of the comments on that MSU board, I find it interesting how they believe that Hoke is breaking the unwritten rule by offering commited prospects. I wonder how many of our prospects have MSU offers?

Kyle Bosch

Ben Gedeon

Patrick Kugler

Shane Morris

Henry Poggi

Wyatt Shallman

Dymonte Thomas

 

MSU commits offered by UM

Dennis Finley

Shane Jones

Jon Reschke

 

So what does that make Dantonio?