Dennis Finley and (Edit) Reon Dawson Offered
http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Board/93/Dennis-Finley-offered-by-Mi…
Interesting offer and Spartans are crying again.......
Updated, confirmed by Tom.....
RT @JermainCrowell: Congrats to Dennis Finley on his Michigan offer!
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."
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!
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.
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on the record to say Michigan told him they weren't taking any other linebackers so they parted ways and his offer was no longer valid.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^
Playing devil's advocate is a tall order when it comes to State so I think I'll stop and go for my evening run. Toodles!
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
I agree with the premise but if that is the case then why wait to offer so late in the process? National recruits are one thing but players with such close proximity is another.
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
Best in at least a decade? Maybe one of the best, but I'd certainly argue Burbridge is better and mayb DeAnthony Arnett as well.
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^
I believe Izzo was recruiting Harris before Dantonio.
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:59 PM ^
Beilein never offered Harris. Only Hoke.
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
I also forgot RoJo. He's certainly the best WR to come out of Michigan in the last decade, and I don't think Drake Harris is at his level.
December 4th, 2012 at 12:56 AM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^
Going from 10-2 in 2011 to 6-6 in 2012—including a loss to Michigan—is "rising."
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
We should offer Delano Hill while we're at it.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:47 PM ^
I'd bet they do if they miss on McQuay, I am kinda surprised they haven't. Of course they could see him as a lesser Dymonte in the big safety mold.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^
I've heard some not-so-glowing reports on Hill. I don't know that Michigan should go that direction...
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
With that amount of vagueness it must have to do with character. I won't expect you to elaborate.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
the appearance of beating us? who cares, we'll offer - let them decide.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:46 PM ^
Well, now I'm rambling … but wow.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:50 PM ^
How did you read the OP? It's VIP content
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^
"I just read the thread the OP included" means he read the thread that was linked by the OP of this thread.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:04 PM ^
ah, for some reason i read it as "I just read the thread and, the OP included, it was the most illogical.."
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
The scary thing is this Spartan genius has the right to vote and operate motor vehicles on the public roadways.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
To paraphrase Churchill, "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average Sparty."
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
explains it
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:04 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^
The VIP content from the linked thread has a quote from Crowell (Cass Tech Assistant Coach) that says he won't decommit. I believe the quote was "He's State all the way"
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
Got you guys sweatin' a bit though, didn't we?
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^
December 3rd, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^
Finley's Cass Tech though, It's hard to think that there's anything more the coaches can do to solidify relationships there.
December 3rd, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^
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.
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:02 PM ^
Hoke should offer Dantonio a spot on the staff
December 3rd, 2012 at 7:10 PM ^
If by "Hoke" you mean "Chuck Norris and by "offer" you mean "roundhouse" and by "on the staff" you mean "in the nuts", I totally agree.
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?