Brandon Brown appreciation thread
His indicator of prospect contact has been spot on. He told us Hand wasn't coming. He told us McDowell wasn't coming. IMHO he has done a great job of tempering expectations long before any of us wanted to believe we were out of the running for these guys.
February 5th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
when is he going to tell us that someone is coming?
MORECOMMITTSPLZTHANKU
February 5th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
I think he was one of the firs to say that Micahel Ferns would commit.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
He's been the bearer of bad news. But dammit he's been spot on with that bad news. And that's not easy.
'Preciate ya, BB
February 5th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
Always enjoyed his work pre-MGoBlog. Glad he has more credibility now that he's here, since before a lot of people just brushed aside his updates and predictions.
February 5th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
Not the way I recall it, but regardless, he is doing a fine job here and deserves credit for it.
February 5th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
I recall it being that way. Many of us, myself included, were very skeptical of BB when he first started his website.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^
there was reason for skepticism, and it amounted to more than just brushing it aside. If your recollection is that good, you undoubtedly recall the rest of the story.
February 5th, 2014 at 11:43 PM ^
Oh I guess we agree.
When you said I don't recall it being that way, I thought you were saying that we all accepted him at first.
Yes, it more than brushing aside.
February 5th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
So does Mr. Brown have a knack for this kinda thing or does he just always bring us bad news? :(
Just kidding. Thanks for your hard work and reporting for this class! Bring on 2015.
February 5th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
He also told us Cam Cameron was coming.
February 5th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
thank you.
February 5th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
I'm pretty sure I remember something along the lines of "Not to get you guys too excited, but Hand is totally coming to Michigan."
February 5th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
Well, he definitely was not that emphatic. I think all he said regarding Hand was: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/bbrown-predicting-commitments#comment-2248875
I am very confident in Hand. His coach talks to me all the time, Da'Shawn himself doesn't, but that's just kind of how he is. He's not a spotlight, flashy, talkative kind of person. The times I have talked to him, he was so excited about Michigan it was easy to detect. Now, it's been a while, and he's had his Bama visit and Florida visit approaching so those will factor in, but I think he's Blue.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
If you keep digging, you'll find something much closer to my quote.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
BB totally sucks, obviously. So does Webb. Remember that time TVH was wrong? That guy was a total douche, too.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
Agree 100%. I am totally awesome, though. This blog should be all about MEEEEEEEE.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
That's unfair. Things change. Early this fall, esp after UTLII when Hand was here we had a long post on here with some person who actually took a trip here with Hand and he was very pro Michigan at the time. The team looked great vs ND, the team had a good record and just had a highlight game and great environment. Alabama and UF were sort of afterthoughts and most though Hand was coming here or had a great chance.
Then the rest of UM's season unfolded....
And Hand "cooled" and Brown told us that communication faltered which is usually what happens when a recruit is not coming...because it is pretty hard to fake enthusiasum on the phone for 10 minutes for a place you are mentally moving away from or already decided not go to. Malik likewise said today he wanted to go to MSU for a month already. And he likewise stunted communication with Coach Brown.
So to say Brown "got it wrong" in September when the kid changed his mind is silly.
Frankly if UM had a 10-2 season it is reasonable to believe Hand, McDowell would be signed today and Campbell and Harris would not be decommits. As Chantel Jennings tweeted after Harris - there are cause and effects and we are seeing the effects of very medicore football seasons back to back. And equivalent competitors having far better seasons.
As an aside the "they don't develop kids" meme is growing large and you can be sure it is being said in negative recruiting now. Damon Webb in a story yesterday on SI.com pointed to fellow Cass Tech alum Richardson and RJS and literally said that "they don't develop talent". So you have coaches whispering this and you have the on field results. 2014 is critical to stop this and yes I know 2014 was still a fine class but it could have been suberb and 2015 took 2 major hits. People with maize shades point to 97 or 1942 or whatever, but most 14-17 year olds are looking at the past half decade and on this count we've had 1 very good year, and a lot of medicore otherwise. The glow of 2011 BCS is slowly wearing away so we need 2014 to be a serious upgrade in on field results and to see a number of kids make major steps in their play to refute the comments.
Growing up in Detroit, Damon Webb was a Michigan fan and idolized Wolverines legend Charles Woodson. But on Wednesday, Webb will sign with rival Ohio State, a monumental win for Buckeyes coach Meyer. Webb attends Cass Technical High in Detroit, a traditional pipeline for Michigan players, but the Wolverines’ prowess at the football powerhouse backfired in the case of Webb, who committed to Ohio State last January. Webb is quick to recite the names of former Cass Technical teammates who chose Michigan, such as sophomore cornerback Terry Richardson, who did not play last season, and junior linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone, who has rarely played. “They’re not getting better,” Webb says. “The coaches aren’t developing their talent.”
February 5th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
And Hand "cooled" and Brown told us that communication faltered which is usually what happens when a recruit is not coming...because it is pretty hard to fake enthusiasum on the phone for 10 minutes for a place you are mentally moving away from or already decided not go to. Malik likewise said today he wanted to go to MSU for a month already. And he likewise stunted communication with Coach Brown.
Anyone else think that maybe Brandon Brown's persistence is the reason why heavy-leaning recruits are cooling on us?
JUST KIDDING GUYS!!!
Thanks for all your hard work, Coach Brown.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
Everyone felt that way about Hand. Remember this post about his trip to Ann Arbor? http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/hand-settle-burrell-utl2-trip
After reading that I was 99.9% sure he was coming here. Sadly something went wrong and we lost him...
February 5th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
Tim Farrell said he was very confident Hand would go to UM, as was Steve Lorenz, and many other people during that recruitment.
Your point?
February 5th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
Wow, no idea why I put that. Dammit. :(
Thanks for the clarification, though.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
I believe he sat on his feeling about Hand until after the fact, when he told us not to expect McDowell.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
Always impressed with how many recruits you are able to actually make contact with. Despite recruits' opinions & school choices changing so often, you have given us the best info you have at that time. I appreciate your writing style and weekend / late night content, too!
February 5th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
he called Winovich IIRC
February 5th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
I appreciate your work, Mr. Brown.
Thank you for your efforts.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
He said quite a while back Malik's communications with him had turned for the worse which was the same pattern he saw with Hand. He said after Hand announced he wish he had gone with his gut with Hand rather than heart, and that the stop in communication was a good tell for previous recruits, similar to what Hand did and later McDowell did. So he mentioned quite a while back McDowell was doing the same thing Hand did.
It is only natural that a player is not going to be interested in talking to a "recruiting guru" for a school he is ruling out so I find this a very good indicator and hope Brown continues to tell us these findings in the future.
February 5th, 2014 at 5:46 PM ^
you just articulated it better than I did. . .
February 5th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
I have enjoyed your work since The M Block. Thanks!
February 5th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
Thanks BB
February 5th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
He also got a "Seahawks. Super Bowl Champions" tattoo before the season even started. Excellent work on his part.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
Coach Brown called Napolean's defeat at Waterloo, despite being a major road favorite. Since then, I don't doubt Brown.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
maize pepper yellow. What does that make you?!1?!11
February 5th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
If you're expecting BB to be perfect on every pick, you're just being a dick. Stop that. Even the almighty Mike Farrell thought Hand was going Blue. Recruiting is as unpredictable as a game of Jumanji. BB does a very good job. Thanks!