Trying to Put Transfers in Perspective
With all the freakout about the transfers, my self included, I found this article interesting.
It lists all 54 players that have left the program early and what they have done since.
You will notice that only a handful actually did much post Michigan.
December 18th, 2018 at 10:22 PM ^
Flat out just couldn’t catch the ball. Was a terrific blocker and seemed to be a good athlete. Who’s to say where he would be if he was here this year with consistent QB play. I think he’ll do alright Cal.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
most of these players saw where they were on the depth chart and left
this is want you want to happen for both the player and the program
player gets another shot, program gets a shot at more players
while more stars = better chance of success, like in the NFL more draft picks (recruits) = more chances at success
almost none of these players left while they were starting or in line to be a starter
possible exceptions
Asiasi = homesick - that happens, wish him well
Aubrey Solomon = MAY have contributed, but has been banged up, so may have not
almost every other player left due to injury, early draft entry, passed on the depth chart or off the field issue
people seeing an issue with what is happening just like to complain
December 18th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
Eh. I think Aubrey heard about Anthony and realized there isn't enough room for that many Solomons.
I wish them both the best.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
Unless there is clear evidence of some larger problem in the program's culture, which there isn't in this case, I won't freak out about transfers. Sometimes, you choose the right place at the wrong time, or a place that just isn't for you in the end, or whatever, and all you can do is wish these kids success if they do leave.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
yes. I almost left sophomore year. Chemistry with the university is important
December 18th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
That just makes me sad.
When a kid commits here I want him to do well. I want him to have the advantage of the UM degree and the networking that goes with being a UM football alum. I want someone like Solomon to get his degree, the. Go play in the league like Hurst or Gary
December 18th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
Well, there are more guys who have stayed, I’d focus on them.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^
I sense that a lot of these guys would have liked to stay. I wouldn't be too dismissive of them.
December 19th, 2018 at 1:22 AM ^
Also, a bunch of them are grad transfers so they did, in fact, get their degrees.
December 18th, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
Back in the 90s, my high school team played an already known to be OSU-bound junior RB in the state semifinals. He didn’t do much against us, we won, and went on to win state.
The next year his team won state, but he went on to an unspectacular career at OSU despite being a consensus All-American Prep and #1 player in Ohio. He was part of a top 5 OSU class under Cooper, right as Tressel was pulling the sweater vest over his shoulders.
He never saw the field at RB, became a DB, then hit hurt. Then I think he transferred to UC.
People need to stop with the Groundhog Apocalypse Day shit. In those days, we were supposed to get all kinds of talent. Plenty of them flamed out and transferred, or simply were never as good as advertised. That same 1999 class had UM at 1. And what did Tony Pape do as an All-American prep? He was drafted in round 7 with Navarre and Drake. BJ Askew was the eventual star of that class...a full back.
December 18th, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Excellent perspective.
Shout out to Blake Countess and Keith Washington.
Both great players and people and doing well.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:12 PM ^
I always like Countess - not sure what really happened there with his transfer but we weren't bad at CB when he left.
RB depth and the lack of what-could-have-been with a guy like Kareem Walker is more concerning than losing a DT
December 19th, 2018 at 1:25 AM ^
IIRC, Countess was supposedly concerned about the new system coming in with the coaching change.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
Seeing the list of mostly underperforming players keeps this sane.
I'm bummed about the most recent transfer but two questions come to mind:
1. What was this guy like in practice? Motivated? Focused? A Chase clone?
2. He'll have two years to prove himself elsewhere - if he ends up a so-so player then the real loss will be depth in our D Line - not the greatness that could have been had he stayed.
I'm most bummed about what Kareem Walker could have been, going into 2019. From what little I saw of him in 2017, he looked like he had Evans speed plus more size.
I was bummed when guys like McDuffie left - but later shouldn't have been.
December 19th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
Ask yourself a couple of questions:1. Do you really think there no players that stay but are unhappy and would like to transfer but don't because of various factors that in their view outweigh the desire to leave, even if you're playing or starting?
2. If you were unhappy being here, unhappy with the coaching, but you were playing and had good prospects to start or contribute more, or were already starting would you be nearly as likely to transfer as you would he if you were just as unhappy and not playing or seeing time coming?
As a bonus question, what percentage of transfers nationally are big contributors, starters or have good prospects to be?
This observation about the performance of the transfers doesn't eliminate the possibility that there are underlying problems with the staff that are causing more players to leave.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:09 PM ^
Doesn't Aubrey have to sit out for a year?
December 19th, 2018 at 12:04 AM ^
A common sentiment around here is “Well, a kid has to do what’s best for him.”
Leaving the University of Michigan because of playing time to finish a career at a minor school with no pro career afterwards is not “what’s best”—it’s throwing away a degree from a significant educational institution in order to catch a few more passes or make a few more tackles. From a cost/benefit standpoint, it’s a stupid decision.
December 19th, 2018 at 5:24 AM ^
The times they are a changing. Football is a brutally physical game. I would never question the physical toughness of anyone who steps on a football field. I do think the sense of entitlement permeates our society across all professions. Patience and conflict resolution is not some of the virtues that are being commonly taught. "I want it now" often becomes the hierarchy of a decision. It is unfortunate, but the genie is not going back in the bottle. Transfer rates are only going to increase along with more and more players sitting out meaningless bowl games. Not saying there wrong, just the way it's going to be going forward. In other words, the "new norm".
December 19th, 2018 at 8:03 AM ^
Patience and conflict resolution is not some of the virtues that are being commonly taught. "I want it now" often becomes the hierarchy of a decision.
That is absolutely true. And it impacts more than just college football. It bubbles all the way up to how supposed "grown ups" now behave.
There are no more adults left in the room, just a bunch of grown children throwing "because I want it" tantrums.
December 19th, 2018 at 8:08 AM ^
That's not at all the way to look at it.