Losher

December 18th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^

This is something else right here, the past couple years michigan has struggled to close out the recruiting cycle. They seem to be coming in second for a lot of these top end guys that they are right there for all season long and then just seems to fizzle out at the end. 

I mean y seemed to be all but coming to michigan before the OSU game, Crouch seemed to alsway be between Clemson and Michigan and now that seems to be gone, there was the whole karlaftis thing but they couldn’t lure him away from Brohm...etc etc. 

there just seems to be something that the coaching staff struggles to do is close out with the players that they have been in on all throughout the process, some of whom have3 been on the radar for years. 

Joined: 06/02/2012

MGoPoints: 827

AMaized

December 18th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^

*tOSU fan so take this with a grain of salt.  Recruits are sold on being the key piece of an upcoming dynasty.  (Existing one in Alabama’s case).  Harbaugh got a big bounce early in the recruiting trail from that type of hype.  Losing the last game of the year, to the same team, for multiple years, takes that selling point away.   “We are on the upswing and need YOU to be the final piece of the puzzle” stops working when the perception of the last game of the years ends badly.  Most forgot about the ND loss as there was time to show UM improved.  Losing the last game of the year is the worst possible time to lose a game.  Just my opinion.   It can’t be hard to sell a recruit that  UM is the same old UM when they took a L the last game of the year, no chance for redemption before the early signing period. 

Joined: 12/10/2018

MGoPoints: 30

iMBlue2

December 18th, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^

Recruiting is a fickle thing...I would have been very surprised if Harrison actually left Columbus...I think had we won the big ten it would have went differently, that did not happen and this is the results.  I’m so unsure about the Hill stuff but he’s much more of a need imo, I don’t think he comes either.  Until Michigan wins the titles then this is what’s going to happened 2nd hat on the table with the top guys

Joined: 11/24/2017

MGoPoints: 15879

Avon Barksdale

December 18th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^

"We certainly keep score, at all times, of those wins [on the recruiting trail]." -Urban Meyer after taking Mike Weber from a Michigan pipeline in Detroit

Wash, rinse, repeat. The rivalry will never be balanced again. There are just better players in Ohio (that we have no shot at) and we have not been able to consistently keep the best players in Michigan, well, in Michigan.

BUT HEY, WE GOT JOEY VELAZQUEZ! GO TO HELL, Cincinnati and Kent State!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

WayOfTheRoad

December 18th, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^

Ok. As posted the other day, I never really thought he was going anywhere but OSU. Even during the flurry of UM ballz and positive vibes I knew it wouldn't happen. Why? OSU is OSU and he basically lives in Columbus. He seems like a nice kid that doesn't want to have everyone he knows questioning him after not going there.

Further, if one game changes a kid's mind he hadn't made it up to begin with. Had NSD been after his official here I'd say we had a 49.99% chance. Basically a coin flip with...but it wasn't and isn't so unless OSU imploded from then out (they didn't) he was going to OSU. The only thing The Game did was harden those that were in the pro-OSU camp. I can't imagine the jokes and comments made after that and at the end of the day he's a kid. It has an effect. Yet, one game didn't turn him from UM to OSU. I'd bet on that. He was always a heavy OSU lean, IMO.

Finally, I have some connections within Ohio HS football. I don't share much with anyone (not nor want to be an insider guy) and what I was told last Summer was Zach didn't like Urban Meyer. He was going to OSU but really didn't care for Meyer. That rumor has since spread so I definitely believe it. I'd then assume the scandal didn't help and provided our only chance at him. So, losing a Hall of Fame HC literally helped their chances with him. Had Urban stayed he'd probably have *some kind* of decision to make. With Day he pleases everyone, plays for a coach he likes (Johnson) and a HC he doesn't dislike.

I'm often called a pessimist but I'm a realist. I've lived in Ohio. I can imagine the pressure a kid feels to go there especially now as it's not the 90s anymore. It's the last 15 years, not a single game.

Here's hoping we somehow get Hill back but I don't see that happening either. 

Joined: 06/26/2017

MGoPoints: 7609

BlueSided

December 18th, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^

I don't want to echo the same sentiments shared multiple times in this thread.  I understand Harrison lives in Columbus, or rather, a suburb.  I'm a little hurt, as he seemed like such a lock for the better part of a month for the Maize and Blue.  I do not want to be "the sky is falling" poster here, but something outside of a 62-39 beat down in Columbus must be happening.  UM can still close this class down on a positive, but this news along with the news about Fields seriously considering OSU - it's a kick in the groin!

Joined: 12/18/2018

MGoPoints: 394

MichiganStan

December 18th, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^

Thank You Don Brown for allowing Michigans defense to be wrecked and in turn completely fucking away our chances at Harrison, Dax, and Crouch

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 7991