Mike Weber - Vols #1 school
Just posted on Rivals message board. Mike Weber (Cass Tech RB) in an interview with InsideTenn blog:
"Up there it's just football, but down here it means so much more. There's a different passion about the sport and I love that."
"All the coaches here make you feel like family," Weber said. "They made sure I felt like I was at home."
"I don't have a decision or time table right now," he said. "I'm just taking my process. Tennessee is the top school right now. Wherever I go I want to come in and help the University the best way I can to win and win bowl games."
"The facility is crazy," the 5-foot-10, 185-pound back said. "It's by far one of the best, if not the best one I've seen so far. I can really see myself here because it would be a good fit for me. The weight room really stuck out to me."
FYI - It could be Mike putting out quotes to see if Michigan comes calling after the Harris commitment per Tim Sullivan
I think it's Weber.
Fixed.
Thanks.
Up there it's "just football?" Seems like that's the only time I've ever heard that. Everyone else raves about Michigan's family first attitude.
I think he meant, playing football in the south is a bigger deal. In SEC schools football is't everything, it's the only thing kind of attitude.
Brian linked to this yesterday . . . Tennessee attendance
Year-Sold // Available for sale // Percent Sold // Season Attendance
2004 // 75,865 // 79,297 // 95.6 // 106,644
2005 // 75,753 // 79,297 // 95.5 // 107,593
2006 // 74,907 // 76,833 // 97.5 // 105,789
2007 // 74,380 // 76,833 // 96.8 // 103,918
2008 // 73,367 // 76,833 // 95.4 // 101,448
2009 // 70,194 // 76,833 // 91.4 // 99,220
2010 // 67,172 // 74,444 // 90.2 // 99,781
2011 // 61,665 // 74,444 // 82.8 // 94,462
2012 // 59,617 // 74,444 // 80.1 // 89,965
I think the answer is that those 89,965 fans are more "crazy" about their team. It's an SEC thing...nobody ever poisoned trees at Iowa or Wisconsin.
Sure... but no one will ever know how may Iowans have snuck over the border to tip Wisconsin cows only to sneak back through the bordering cornfields into the mist of the moonlight.
I was thrown by that comment at first as well. I think what he's saying is in Michigan it's just football, but at Tenn (or perhaps the SEC) it's FOOTBALL!
or FOOTBAW!
"up there" probably refers to the State of Michigan as a whole and not the school per say (e.g. down South football is everything "Friday Night Lights" style).
EDIT: Seems others had the same thought.
I don't think he was referring to the University of Michigan .. I think he was referring to football in the North vs football in the South in general. I believe he is saying up in Michigan football is just football but down South the fans have more of a passion and its much more than just football to them. I don't think that was a knock on our coaches or family atmosphere
but he's from Michigan and familiar with Michigan fans. There aren't as many northern states that take football as seriously as they do in the South, but I don't think there are any Southern schools that take it more seriously than Michigan fans. I'd add Ohio too.
With the exception of the kind of fandom which would make droves of people show up for SEC media days, which is just stupid, M fans don't take a back seat to anyone in terms of passion.
Maybe he watched Damien Harris play and is worried about being "the guy."
But . . . but . . . but . . . he'll only play in front of 89,000.
http://blutarsky.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/lulu-and-junior-are-exploring-their-entertainment-options/
That formatting is incredibly annoying.
Fixed. I agree. I didn't down point you.
I'd love to keep the Cass Tech pipeline going, but RB isn't really a HUGE need for the 2015 class anymore. Plus we haven't been very lucky with RBs from Michigan lately.
Man, Cass really not like UM right now. Wonder if it's because everyone 'expects' them to go to UM.
To be clear we have taken 5 Technicians (Dawson, Lewis, Hill, Jenkins-Stone, Richardson, Hollowell) in the last 3 classes compared to missing out on 1 (Damon Webb).
Taken 5, but ended with 6? I'll take those odds!
I knew I should never have taken Differential Equations!
Players from two classes ago do not represent "right now". Right now, there are 3 Technicians with offers: Webb, Alabi, and Weber. One is committed to OSU, the others do not have UM on top.
Easy Freddie...
My point is, I don't think the pipeline is closing any time soon, you know, since we have like 9 Cass boys on the active roster.
Yes out does.. And the last class had Dawson
This seems appropriate: Lulu and Junior are exploring their entertainment options.
Oh well, not really sure what to think of this. We landed my top pick so I'm happy. Hate to see him not in blue but at least he didn't say Ohio was #1.
Was there more than 1 RB planned to be taken in the 2015 class?
assuming we don't get any RB's in 2014. Weber has always been mentioned at the other guy we had an "inside track" on. After this post, we may need a more definite plan B.
Our Plan B is Jacques Patrick.
Hoke has said we'll take multiple running backs each year. If we don't take one in 2014, it would be odd just to take one in 2015.
Any thoughts on the staff potentially skipping RB in 2014?
I know you've been very vocal about taking one QB in every class. Just curious if that sentiment extends to other positions.
Here's my thought:
Hoke has said he likes taking a RB in every class, maybe multiple RBs. That said, every year is a little different, and since we took 3 RBs in 2013, our 2014 class is small and we haven't see any attrition at RB lately like we have at other spots, it makes sense for 2014 to be a year to skip for RB.
Having Damien Harris in the fold doesn't hurt either.
It's possible (even likely) that one or two of the 2013 RB's will redshirt this year. That essentially puts them into the 2014 class in terms of remaining eligibility.
I agree that it wouldn't be a bad thing if Michigan had to skip a class at RB, especially with the pipeline of talent that is currently coming into the program. You don't ever want to get caught short but that doesn't appear to be an issue right now.
I did not expect this.
I don't see Webber being more than a depth guy who gets some mop up duty, similar to Rawls. With the top line guys we are bringing in right now I can't really fault the kid for looking around.
It seems to me that Michigan says to its players, "there's more to life than football," while the SEC says, "football is life." I can see the appeal to both if you're a football player.
Not to go all bucknuts but I have a very hard time believing this isn't about competition and feeling slighted by all the attention going to our 5 star pickups. There's nothing wrong with that either because you've got to get PT in college to get to the pros, but Weber was loving michigan last week for the very reasons he listed for UT. I was wondering how he'd feel about all our commits giving Patrick so much love and not him. I really think that's contributing here.
Bring on Jacques Patrick
has a chance to get onto the field in knoxville and good for him. Im no expert by any means, but his chances at Michigan are much less with some decent backs on scholarship.
Is Brady slipping on our connection with Cass Tech?
I hope not
Hoke is really a slacker.
Agreed. Especially between last Saturday and Monday!!
today. He is getting nothing done around here! We can't be sitting on our laurels!!!
Our Cass Tech guys. Seems like we are missing on more and more of these guys every year! We have not even offered him or the QB Campbell yet. Kinda interesting don't u guys think
I thought weber did get an offer? As far as Campbell I think people are just infatuated with him because he's from Cass Tech. I really don't think he's that spectacular.
not so much.
edit. wrong placement..nevermind
He doesn't fit. His big and athletic but his mechanics are all over the place.
If he decides to go to either of these schools. Either way he'll have to compete with Damien Harris or Jalen Hurd, both of whom are elite talents.
Will be interesting to monitor but its not like Hoke is recruiting scrubs.
If you're a top flight RB coming out of high school, I get avoiding a school with an entrenched superstar RB. But none of our guys he would be competing against has proven himself to be that as yet. If you have confidence in your ability, you go where you want to play and decide to compete. Tyron Wheatley didn't shy away from Michigan because Ricky Powers was already there, and he took his job away. If Weber has confidence in himself and wants to be at Michigan, he should go for it and compete for the top spot.