Extended McDowell Signing Day Drama

Submitted by JeepinBen on

According to TomVH on twitter Malik McDowell has yet to sign and send in his LOI. It's been publicized that Malik wants to attend to MSU (and announced State during a ceremony this morning) but his parents (specifically his mother) don't think that MSU is the best place for him. Tom's latest tweet (@TomVH)

"There is definite drama with the Malik McDowell situation. HS coach doesn't know ehn he'll send it (sic) in letter of intent"

I'm a bit torn here. There's obviously something going on with this young man and his family that involves a huge life choice. However, possible SPARTY NO on NSD just after star rankings started to matter?

pfholland

February 5th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^

Umm, no.  

What she's been saying repeatedly is, "anywhere but MSU."  She seems to have a real problem with either the school or the football program.  I just hope that whatever she ends up doing works out best for her son in the long run.

The Denarding

February 5th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^

For those mogobloggers who are parents doesn't this seem really odd? I mean to the point that:

A). An unsavory element in relation to his friends is going there

B). A girl they think is bad for him is going there

C). They feel he is a kid who is easily influenced by others and are afraid of the environment at MSU

I find number three hard to believe - you can find trouble in Ann Arbor as much as east lansing. But to be so vehemently opposed to MSU to the point of going "anywhere but" strikes me as parents deathly afraid of some bad influence or danger at MSU they are truly worried about.

I originally thought his transfer to Southfield was purely about football. Now I'm not so sure. They weren't so over protective that they didn't want him to go to Southfield but they seem genuinely concerned about MSU. It makes me think it's not just MSU that's the problem.

Wendyk5

February 5th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

As a mother, I'm trying to put myself in her place. My two cents is that it's one of two things. One, she definitely has a beef with MSU, but the real reason she's digging her heels in is because she feels like no one is listening to her concerns. So the more they don't listen (Malik and whoever else is championing MSU), the more she digs her heels in. Her anxiety over whatever is bugging her about MSU gets bigger and bigger because everyone keeps ignoring or dismissing her. 

Or two, there is some big bad issue that we're not privy to. It would be hard to imagine her just acting like this if she just had some minor issue, or didn't prefer MSU. 

allintime23

February 5th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^

I heard he was told by players that if you attend MSU and play on the football team you don't have to go to class and shared this for whatever reason with his mother. She didn't like state in the first place and this took her to where she is now. I don't agree with the way she's acting but I'd be upset too if my son had chances to attend some of the schools he has been offered and chose to go to state. Nobody wishes injury but think of his future without football and the a choice isn't hard.

Leonhall

February 5th, 2014 at 8:44 PM ^

Below says MM was leaning Michigan this morning? If that is true, I wouldn't be shocked if he somehow ends up here. Hoke can smooth talk him I'm sure and his pal Marshall is already here...signed.

Wiseguy

February 5th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^

Personally I could care less if he plays football here at Michigan or not. But I do love the stress he is causing MSU.

 

EDIT: I should say the stress that the situation is causing MSU.

Raoul

February 5th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^

Fresh DetNews article says he still hasn't signed with MSU, but it appears he eventually will, once he gets his mother to sign off on it.

When asked if he had signed the letter, McDowell replied: “No.”

How come? “Just didn’t.”

Do you plan on signing it later Wednesday night? “I don’t know.”

Do you still plan on going to Michigan State? “Yes.”

Was Michigan State always your first choice? “No.”

When did you decide and why Michigan State? “Last two or three weeks. There was no major reason.”

Props to Sam Webb, who called it this morning, saying that if McDowell picked MSU there was a good chance there'd be no signed NLI today.

Wiseguy

February 5th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^

Not sure why people are so upset at his mom. Clearly something turned her off from MSU. And I am talking about much more than not liking the football team. This is a decision much larger than the football field.

 

To you people on this board that think it should always be up to the kid...

If your kid wanted to bully kids would you let him?

If your kid wanted to try drugs would you "sign off and let go"?

If your kid wanted to drive drunk would you let him "make the choice"?

Raoul

February 5th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

Actually, I think this is part of her problem—she thinks her son's decision isn't well thought out. If he made a case based on solid reasons to pick MSU, then she'd probably be fine with it. She thinks he wants to go to MSU for superficial reasons, which an answer like "no major reason" bears out.

Flocka

February 5th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^

It's not to late Malik ! Come to Michigan ! In all honestly though how do you pick MSU with his offers ? Even if its not Michigan I'd be disappointed but I'd understand Bama, fsu, fla,osu, but why go to a second tier school and football program ?

Sllepy81

February 6th, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^

just because mom doesn't want him to, you know mom says no so you do it childish thing, not saying he's childish but maybe he feels he should decide and since its his decision and mom says no he's going against her. I bet its over a girl in the end who they had flirt with him, dlinemen and olinemen are easier to fall for that.

Mr. Yost

February 6th, 2014 at 7:51 AM ^

If you ask Michigan fans...he went to a strip club on his visit, his mom found out, and she doesn't want him going to MSU.

If you ask MSU fans...he met a respectable young lady and feels he's in love and his mom only thinks he wants to go to MSU to be with her.

Drama. Drama. Drama.

 

Currently this is his perception of both schools.

^^^^^ Michigan State

 

^^^^^ Michigan

Der Alte

February 6th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^

That's the Greek chorus --- other Greek drama elements are present: the oedipal mother-son conflict, whether family loyalty trumps other allegiances (to MSU), and so on and on.

Did I not read somewhere that both mom and dad --- especially dad --- wanted MM out of the State of Michigan because dad was afraid MM's (apparently somewhat disreputable) Southfield pals would motor up to EL and hang with him, thus exerting a "bad influence"?

I suspect MM will end up at MSU, but MM and his family feud is one more drama that Michigan does not need at this particular time. Anyway, I did like Lawrence Marshall's comment: "I can't wait to meet him [MM] on the field." Go Blue.

Raoul

February 6th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^

Sam Webb said on WTKA this morning that he thinks McDowell will still end up at MSU but that he may simply go there with ever having signed an NLI. His mom is at serious odds with the MSU coaches, and that dispute may be unresolvable.

As Sam said, hopefully McDowell and his mom can get past this difficult point in their relationship.

Mr. Yost

February 6th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

Good luck to the kid, I hope he's able to focus on whats important and make the most of his opporunity to play football and receive a free education.

That said, and I've said this since October...I think Michigan is better off without him. Not sour grapes, I don't think that about Webb or Hand...even Wiegars or Johnny Williams to some extent.

Michigan just doesn't need anyone with maturity issues or questions marks right now. We don't need anyone who has focus and interests that aren't aligned with that of the team.

It sounds righteous, but I'm just talking about the current state of Michigan. I wanted Demar Dorsey, I won't like...but I felt those teams had much better leadership and direction. Right now we the number of young guys on our team, we need a solid foundation. These next 2 years may be the most important for Michigan Football for a loooong time. If Michigan is going to build a foundation like Bama or Stanford, it literally HAS to happen over the next two years.

One guy isn't going to mess that up, but you add enough question marks, and you can quickly mess up that foundation when those question marks are juniors and seniors and considered "leaders." See the Florida Gators.