Bando Calrissian

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^

It matters to coaches, players, and recruits (and their families).

To the average adult-aged Michigan "fan" who lives and dies with the decision-making process of a 17-year-old, who pays money to get "inside information" about these kids' lives, who try to Facebook friend or Twitter-follow these kids, and who then trash the fuck out of them once they decide to go somewhere else... It's not your lifeblood--it's your creepy obsession.

If it were up to me, the entire industry surrounding recruiting would be stripped away in favor of this being a personal decision for a student-athlete. No one would be doing a hat ceremony if there weren't a fleet of cameras and a million mouthbreathing recruitniks watching with baited breath on ESPNU. The whole thing has become sick.

PizzaHaus

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^

I agree, but let's not pretend like it's just people victimizing the poor kiddies. They're the ones who schedule the hat ceremonies, pull all sort of stunts, what have you.

The people who give them tons of attention are extremely weird, but for the most part, the kids themselves enjoy being celebrities. 

I Like Burgers

January 24th, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^

If the recruits don't want the attention, all they have to do is say no.  Want to do this interview?  No.  Want to announce live on our air?  No.  Want to go to this camp where there's going to be media?  No.

Its that simple.

alum96

January 24th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^

Well sorry to burst your bubble but this program is trying to get back to good.  You can't talk about being the best untl you are at least good and the last 2 seasons have been "not good".   Missouri is a good example of no top 10 classes and they were a few plays away from a NC appearance.  MSU was a few PI in South Bend away from a NC appearance.   But frankly right now we are not in a category to even make those discussions - I realize these are ultimate goals but realistic people see we need to be good before great.

UMxWolverines

January 23rd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^

And how close did we get to another national title with all those highly ranked recruits we had while Lloyd was here? ONE TIME after 1997 we had a chance to make the national title game but lost The Game and then got pantsed by USC in the Rose Bowl. In fact, we've been pantsed in the Rose Bowl every time since...1997! Why was Sparty able to win it? 

In conclusion, elite coaching matters more than elite recruits. 

reshp1

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^

I would argue the players that were the heart of their team this year were in recruiting classes that at least equaled ours in the same years. Maybe in terms of stars we had a small edge, but in terms of building a complete team and not having gapping holes at multiple positions they definitely did a good job.

I take your point that you need to develop the guys you recruit, something they've done well, but recruiting does matter and this narrative that Sparty won with a team of castaway scrubs just isn't the whole truth.

ThadMattasagoblin

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:49 PM ^

Exactly, football recruiting is an ugly business between all colleges. I wish it weren't this way, but it is what it is. We need a team filled with mostly 4 and 5 stars like Alabama and FSU have unless you all are content with never winning a national title. Most of the people in this thread seem to think getting a shit load of 2 star MAC offers that really love Michigan is the way to go.

switch26

January 23rd, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

You are pretty much on with that..  i posted below about how they had more 4 star players on their team from 09-11 than we did..  

 

We clearly have more 4 and 5 star kids now that are either fresh, soph, or RS fresh.. but in terms of Upper classmen from those years they def had the edge the last few years

ThadMattasagoblin

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

If we gave scholarships to those who wanted to play here the most, our team would be terrible. Brady Hoke offers the best. Lloyd Carr offered the best and got a National Championship from getting commitments from bluechip guys like Charles Woodson.

aiglick

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^

The sad part is I can see this actually happening in the SEC. Humor does have an element of truth thanks for the laugh. Unrelated note I miss the old Big Ten TV commercials.

jethro34

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

So....is everyone missing that this is citing the onion? As critical as this site could be, it's surprising that people aren't clowning people that start threads with a link to the onion.

LSAClassOf2000

January 23rd, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

“Still, I can’t shake the feeling that he wants something from me. Maybe it’s the way he’s always complimenting my intangibles, suggesting I’d be great in a pro-style offense, or telling me I’d look really sharp in crimson and white.” Spear, who did not want to rush to judgment, reportedly plans to run his theory past some of his other friends, specifically Louisiana State University football coach Les Miles when the pair meet for lunch next week.

LOL. I think the Onion pretty did a pretty good job summing up recruiting and the nature of it here. I can only imagine some recruit saying to a coach, "It's funny that you mention all that, because the same thing happened just the other day when Nick Saban visited....it's odd..."