Reon Dawson clears the air.

Submitted by drewro02 on February 8th, 2013 at 4:41 PM

I know this was discussed again yesterday as Mike McCray gave some comments on what Dawson said on signing day, but here are some direct quotes from Reon himself. At some point he has felt like he has let Michigan fans down by saying what he said, so sometimes it's important to realize they are just kids, and maybe he just mis-spoke.

(Free) http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1265370.html

"It was just a comment about being from the state of Ohio, not anything about Ohio State at all," Dawson stated. "Ohio State never even offered me a scholarship at all, so how could I be loyal to the school? What I meant was I'm proud of my state, and my family being from here, and I don't even know why I said that really. I was just happy to be headed to college and my family was so proud, that I never meant any reference to Ohio State."

"I feel terrible that some Michigan fans are mad at me, and I'm so grateful to the school for the opportunity they're giving me," he added. "I'm going to be a Michigan Man for life, and that's the next chapter of my life. I signed with Michigan because I loved everything about it and I switched from Illinois because of Coach (Brady) Hoke and his coaching staff."

"I can't wait to be apart of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, and I'm looking forward to beating them four straight years," he continued. "I talked to Mike McCray today about this, and he knows what I meant. We have been teammates here at Trotwood, and he was a big part of me going to Michigan, so he knows I'm a respectful person that never looks to say anything hurtful to anyone. I feel really bad how this came out, and I just want the Michigan fans to know I love being apart of Wolverine Nation and I'm going to do everything I can to make them proud of me."

Welcome aboard Reon, and Go Blue!

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Comments

Butterfield

February 8th, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^

Keep on being blind with your love of all things Michigan, fanboi. Kid said he would be a "Buckeye til he died".  Now he's attempting to lie his way out of it.  That is the simple truth. 

The comment was stupid, but nothing more.  The lying concerns me more.  And Michigan "fans" looking past the lie concerns me MOST. 

Joined: 01/15/2011

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WolvinLA2

February 8th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^

And so what if he lied?  He didn't lie about his SATs or something important.  He said something he regrets, and backtracked on it.  Who cares why, he's a kid.  Maybe he just exaggerated the first time, or maybe he meant being a "buckeye" means being from Ohio, not necessarily being an Ohio State fan.  I don't know, but I don't really care.  

He clearly regrets his comments, and that's all that matters (and even that barely does).  Get over yourself.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 52995

rederik

February 8th, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^

Sanctimony has no place when we're talking about a kid who hasn't yet graduated high school. No trolling intended, but you sir embarrass me as a Michigan fan. The fact that you refuse to understand that these are just the words of a high school kid you're getting all high and mighty about is despicable, and framing it as a "lying" issue to make it relate to his supposed ill-character makes it no better. I only hope the rest of the world understands that you are the minority and that we are ashamed to be associated with you.

Joined: 03/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3423

MJ14

February 9th, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^

After reading through a lot of your comments, you're what's wrong with Michigan fans. Arrogant, know it all, have to be right about everything kind of guy, who really doesn't have a clue what actually happened. Take your arrogant self somewhere else. We don't need this crap here.

Edit: Rederik, I couldn't agree more with you. I surely hope that people realize he's in the minority. Some people are just holier than thou types, who know everything about the world. Most Michigan fans, at least I hope, are not like this guy. I didn't see your post until now Rederik, but you said it best.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 4758

MGoShoe

February 8th, 2013 at 6:27 PM ^

...above you care so much? If you really think we need to break down all of his quotes and statements and obtain the audio of his interview to gauge his voracity, you're an especially giant ass.

Let it go, man. Let it go.

Welcome, Reon. The Michigan fan base is made up of a vast spectrum of psychological types. I'm sorry you were exposed to some of the loonier elements.

Joined: 04/23/2009

MGoPoints: 20715

STW P. Brabbs

February 8th, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^

Maybe you're mostly responding to Butterfield, but if you look at my post I am in no way outraged by what Dawson said, either initially or in his backtracking statements thereafter.

I'm not saying he's a born liar, or that he'll never be able to stand as a true Michigan Man or any of that bulllshit.  I'm just putting the fact that he's making up some bullshit about what his quote meant in the same category as the initial comments - he's just a kid, he talks without thinking, and that's all.

If anything, I just felt like I was taking crazy pills because so many people on the board were acting like this completely cleared things up and he was obviously just misunderstood.  I was never outraged at all by Dawson, just flabbergasted that so many people bought what he was selling in the explanatory comments.

But once again, because people are very, very quick to jump on their high horse on this one: I really don't give a shit about any of his comments, and don't think they reflect on his character in a signficant way at all.

Addendum:  In explaining this fiasco to my wife (she's a patient woman), I re-read the entire apology and was struck by how bad the kid felt.  He probably fibbed about his real meaning in part because so many people were jumping down his throat, and because he felt genuinely sorry about it.  So I should say that, on balance, the whole affair reflects well on his character, rather than not at all. 

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 3371

ChiBlueBoy

February 8th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^

He seems like a sincere kid. I have every hope for him to become an amazing athlete and human. I took another look at his highlights yesterday and was impressed. I think he could far exceed expectations.

Joined: 10/11/2011

MGoPoints: 6012

LSAClassOf2000

February 8th, 2013 at 5:56 PM ^

That was a very well-spoken apology,and as others have mentioned, it is unfortunate that it has come to this point. He seems like he has a great kid and very well on his way to being a Michigan Man, I would say, as he plainly wants to be a Wolverine. I wish him nothing but success on and off the field during his time in Ann Arbor. Welcome  to Michigan, Reon, and Go Blue. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 86975

Monte

February 8th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^

What happened to you? You're just spewing the company line. He said Ohio State specifically. He should get some flack for saying what he said. I'm sure someone had to take it too far but someone always does. High schoolers make dumb mistakes and rarely think about consequences. 

 

When I was in high school I went off roading in my dad's suv and brought it back home with mud caked all over it thinking I could just talk my way out of it and lie. It didn't work. I was punished severely. Sure when all was said and done I apologized because I had learned my lesson but it doesn't mean that what I did wasn't idiotic. What is wrong with paying for your mistakes? It's how we learn not to make the same ones in the future.

Joined: 01/31/2013

MGoPoints: 18

Monte

February 8th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^

I ended up being ridiculed by his friends as well. Does that make a big difference to you? He can easily block his twitter and facebook accounts. Why do people need to have thousands of followers they've never met? Anyway, he is lying about what he said. I couldn't care less about his love for Ohio State. He plays for Michigan. Like Brabs has posted above, he'll end up changing his tune after being in the program for a while but to hear everyone patting him on the back while he lies is pretty disgusting.

Joined: 01/31/2013

MGoPoints: 18

eamus_caeruli (not verified)

February 9th, 2013 at 12:13 AM ^

I agree 100%. I vocalized a similar sentiment and people laughed at me. It's curious, since I taught MS and HS kids for six years, four years as a varsity coach, and that my perspective means nothing. Kids in this day and age think they and do and say anything with no consequence. You ask for complicit behavior, they scoff. "Gve me my wine", they say.

Facebook it, tweet it and it is a distant memory in five minutes. How about some damn accountability and learning from being a dumb ass teenager? Hold them to it. I even challenge all you how clearly are the same parents who defend their kids blindly to shut your traps, and actually look at the situation for what it is: disrespectful. I actually find it ironic that this morning on one of the most apologetic Michigan radio programs of all time, both Sam and Ira (biggest idiot of them all) had choice words about this situation. Even fing Ira wondered why McCray Jr was speaking for him. Reon can back track, maybe he was misquoted, doesn't matter now because he said it. He had people around him advising him and he still ignored how big words are in this day and age.

All this clarifying strengthens this point: he is gonna pay dearly for this; by the coaches, players and fans for a long time. The microscope got powered up and eye balls are a ready.

And as stated above, time will work it out. People will forgive and forget, or he will be another washout. I frankly don't care. I am too jaded by this idiot generation to take any more crap. I truly want him to prove me wrong, gut says he won't.

And for all those who will continue criticizing this thought, simple question: have you ever heard or seen a situation like this from another Ohio commit? This year? Last year? In the last twenty? That's right, because you haven't!

Joined: 12/12/2017

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TheLastHarbaugh

February 9th, 2013 at 4:22 AM ^

Except there is a major flaw in your rambling, incoherent "argument." That flaw being that there is absolutely nothing wrong with what the kid originally stated.

Who gives a shit if he is a Buckeye fan?

There have probably been thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands of kids who have committed to play for schools they weren't fans of growing up. If you look at the previous incarnation of this thread there was an MGoBlog member who is a Michigan fan, but ended up playing football at Bowling Green because he didn't get a scholarship offer to play for Michigan. Look at all of MSU players who have over the years stated that they wanted to play for Michigan, but never received an offer, so they became die hard Spartans as a result.

The story of Chris Spielman has been told countless times. He wanted to attend Michigan, but his father wouldn't let him, so he ended up at Ohio State.  

This shouldn't be a blip on anyone's radar, but it has blown up into a ridiculous faux controversy, thanks to a few jackasses on twitter and other social media websites who have felt the need to attack a 17 year old over a few innocuous comments.

Those of you now trying to say that he "lied," keeping this story alive in a continued effort to besmirch this kid's reputation are even bigger jackasses.

Here's the bottom line for what happened:

A 17 year old kid made a totally innocuous statement about his football fandom.

A bunch of grown men were OUTRAGED by these "UNACCEPTABLE" comments and collectively proceeded to throw a ridiculous temper tantrum, vomiting a bunch of horrible, brainless, drivel in the direction of this kid via social media.

This 17 year old kid, obviously upset, and a bit stunned by the level of vitriol being thrown his way by people whose respect he wants to earn, immediately reverts to damage control mode. Desperately trying to win the approval of a bunch of overbearing man children with nothing better to do than shit on a 17 year old for not sharing the exact same opinions they hold.

Unsurprisingly, these man children don't accept his explanation or his apology, opting instead to shit on the kid relentlessly, while using this one tiny faux "incident" as a platform from which to lament the entire state of our modern day youth. 

This entire debacle has been totally disgusting, and those of you who have aided in it's persistence ought to be ashamed.

You think our youth have lost any semblance of responsibility and decency? Why not have a look in the mirror.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10188

Stvo

February 8th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

It's a shame that a kid had to explain himself after one of the best days of his life.

I don't care what he said or how he meant it...he'll sport the maize and blue and his loyalty will be without question.

Go Blue!

Joined: 01/17/2012

MGoPoints: 3

Nosce Te Ipsum

February 8th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

People tweeting him negative stuff is crap but he said what he said. To try and recant that is stupid. Accept that you said that and meant what you said and move on. I couldn't give two fucks if he still loves osu. He's playing for Michigan and it's not like he's going to tank a play to help them out. People sending him stuff on twitter are idiots and he's an idiot for making that statement. 

Joined: 03/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6396

BleedingBlue

February 8th, 2013 at 5:36 PM ^

How's the kid supposed to know any different?

Once he gets on campus and gets into the culture of the school and the people and Ann Arbor, he'll naturally grow to love it!

I'm wasn't worried and his comments didn't bother me at all.

You don't know what you don't even know at 17!

 

Joined: 07/25/2008

MGoPoints: 2129

not TOM BRADY

February 8th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^

Michigan and Ohio kids get the rivalry. It is going to be interesting to see how all these national recruits OSU is pulling in react to the rivalry. They are talented guys, but the most talented OSU and Michigan teams don't always come out on top in late November.

I ain't scared of them cats. Neither should you. BEAT OHIO.

Joined: 06/02/2012

MGoPoints: 24346

MadMonkey

February 8th, 2013 at 5:52 PM ^

for a couple of years, tell us she died of cancer, and then keep it quiet after you learn that it was all BS just before you are about to win a Heisman and play for the National Championship, well then we may be inclined to hold a grudge.

Joined: 04/08/2010

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TheLastHarbaugh

February 8th, 2013 at 5:57 PM ^

It's terrible that this even needs to be addressed further by Reon. 

The kid is an Ohio State fan. So what? Everyone needs to get over it.

This is one of those stupid complexes that fans have where they think that every person who plays for their team or goes to their school has to show the same undying loyalty, or level of fandom that they have for their program.

This kid grew up in Ohio, most of his friends and family are probably Ohio State fans. He is an Ohio State fan, and it was probably his dream as a kid to be a football player at Ohio State, but he simply didn't receive an offer from the Buckeyes and now he has to settle for going to another school.

Sure, to Michigan fans the school he's "settling" for might be better in every conceivable way, but it wasn't his favorite school.

I'm certain that over the years there have been several die hard Michigan fans who have ended up at Ohio State for various reasons and in various capacities

It happens.

It's no reason to attack to someone, or to make them do a shit ton of verbal gymnastics, to turn the thing they said into the complete opposite of what they said, in order to placate a number of idiotic Michigan fans.

The irony in all of this is that I bet those same douchebag fans tweeting this nonsense at him are probably the same people who mock Michigan State football players as just a bunch of guys who wanted to go to Michigan but couldn't get in, or didn't get an offer. 

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10188

mGrowOld

February 8th, 2013 at 6:04 PM ^

Personally I could care less if he's got a Buckeye snuggie and a Brutus stuff toy collection the kid is coming HERE, not there, to play football which makes him one of us now. And he's all of 17 years old and Lord knows if there's anything you can count on it's 17 year old's saying stupid things.

What I would love to know is did any of the posters who were giving him so much shit yesterday have ever stepped foot on campus much less got a degree from Michigan?  

Edit: TheLastHoke spoke far more elequently than I did but basically said the same thing.  I could not agree more with his thoughts.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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Butterfield

February 8th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^

I think his comments were disrespectful of Michigan and this attempt to lie his way out of it even more insulting. And although I'm not sure why it matters, I graduated with an M. A. in history in 2000. As I'm sure you don't believe that, I lived in West Quad Adams for two years and an apartment on Arch Street my last two. My favorite restaurant was Mr. SPOTS until NYPD first opened sometime during my sophomore year. I played intramural Broomball at Yost. Would you like anything further?

Joined: 01/15/2011

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ChopBlock

February 8th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^

Dude, Butterfield. You're a cool guy and I normally like what you post, but you're acting like Walter waving a pistol around. And I'm the Dude telling you to "take it easy man". Let's suppose you're right and this is a bald-faced lie. So what? "Michigan Men" (I actually hate that term) are made, not born. College is where you grow up and learn that you can't run from your problems. And if you are personally insulted by something a more or less random incoming freshman to your alma mater says, that's on you, not on him. So just step back from the mic for a few minutes and I'm sure this will magically turn into not-a-big-deal.

In summary, The Dude abides.

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