December 20th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
It may have been Clowney as well, but I definitely remember a lot of talk about Fournette sitting out his last year at LSU.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^
Yeah, it was Clowney. He had a dominant Sophomore year and there were rumblings he was going to sit out his Junior year before becoming draft eligible.
(Looked it up out of curiosity. 23.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks as a true sophomore. Holy moly. That's more than Rashan Gary's career at Michigan.)
December 20th, 2018 at 9:39 AM ^
Hell, Jake Butt too. Mackey Award winner, blows out his ACL in the Orange Bowl against FSU. And I'm sure his story hits closer to home for the UM guys, since we're only a few years removed from that happening.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
Jack Butt tore his ACL in practice at UM and now with the Broncos - that’s three for his career. Should everyone stop practicing and playing in meaningless OOC games too?
December 20th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
Never mind. Nothing to see here.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
look at the dumb person
December 20th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
People seem to suffer injuries in practice far less frequently than games.
Also, Nick Bosa sat out the entire season for OSU so it could be worse. At least Rashan played out the season (although he never got within sniffing distance of Haskins so it didn't really matter).
December 20th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
Makes sense for a RB. Those guys take a pounding. Especially the way he runs.
They have in effect a lifetime pitch count on how many tackles they can take over their career and still be effective.
25 tackles in the Peach Bowl is 25 less tackles later in his career. Got to spend them wisely.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
Has anyone heard of any Florida players sitting it out? I get it that can’t risk injury, but sucks that throwing a bowl game, especially since really need a W to get to 11 (Spinal Tap!) and end year / head into next on something other than the complete deflation of last year’s season end
December 20th, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
From what i read this Florida team wants revenge, I don't believe they have anyone sitting out.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
Not good for us.
Every singe time we played Florida, they were the unmotivated team with their head up their ass. Even in the regular season game when they had all those suspensions.
We have never played a Florida team that was actually motivated.
Now we get to do it with our best players sitting out.
This is not going to look like those other four Florida games.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:54 AM ^
This game feels like 2015, only in reverse.
They're riding a revival wave of a first year head coach who has brought competency and purpose to the program. They're looking at the Peach Bowl as the icing on the cake to propel them into 2019. (much like we were in Harbaugh's year 1)
We're disappointed with a sudden thud to end the season, guys are ditching the team a game early for personal gain (2015 Florida was 10-1 before ending the season getting thumped by FSU and Alabama in the SEC Championship. Guys were declaring left and right. Jake Butt famously told the staff mid-Citrus Bowl that Florida had quit.)
Hoping it doesn't play out on the field the same way, but this all feels very familiar.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:22 AM ^
100% accurate Reggie, Florida is going to bring the pain. This is another opportunity for the team to "win something" (Yes, I think bowl games matter) I don't want to listen to the fucking national/local media trash Harbaugh and the program for the next 8 months because we cant win big games.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
Do our coaches get a bonus for WINNING a bowl game? Last year’s lack of effort was pathetic.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
I don't fault Higdon for looking out for himself. However, you can't simultaneously do that, and then have your dad throw a bitch fit when you don't get any team awards.
Team awards should be for team players.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
I am a capitalist and support any business decision the kids want to make to secure there futures. However, I just have that feeling there is a major disconnect among the team which might have partially influenced his decision.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
I think the whole major disconnect thing is just a conspiracy theory getting thrown around by us people on message boards. In todays climate, kids from top programs are transferring all the time. Also, top players aren't playing in their bowl games, that aren't playoffs.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
What?
December 20th, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
I think that “team disconnect” notion is just way wrong: that 10-win streak and revenge tour incredible comraderie didn’t happen or something? A morale-crushing flop at the end happened, but there’s no “team disconnect”, quite the contrary: these guys, including Higdon up-front (“best O-line in the country”), pulled for each other and stuck together tremendously. A great bunch of Michigan Men: Go Blue!
December 20th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Agreed.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
A Michigan captain just quit on his team. That's disappointing.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
At least Bush had the tact to blame it on his injury. Higdon bailed on his team and seemingly left on bad terms.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
He's playing in the Senior Bowl though, correct? So don't thrown out the avoiding-injury excuse. Just come out and say you (and apparently your father) are angry at the team and choose not to play.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
Did not hear about Higdon and his father being upset at Harbaugh. Any idea why?
December 20th, 2018 at 10:01 AM ^
Eh. It's an exhibition game and as a running back, he most likely has only a few years of football left. I'm fine with him being conservative
December 20th, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
There's one game left. It's on the schedule. Here, let me link it. Yup, there it is. Straight from the horse's mouth. December 29th at Noon, the 2018 Michigan Wolverines play the Florida Gators. It's right there on the same schedule as the last 12 games.
Here's the hockey team's schedule. See where it says "(EX)" next to Waterloo and the USNTDP? Those are exhibitions. Do you see that notation on the football schedule?
Here's the basketball schedule. Hey, there's another one! Northwood is definitely an exhibition as recognized by the university. That game doesn't count toward standings or national rankings.
The Peach Bowl is not an exhibition. If it were, it would be noted as an exhibition. It's not. It counts toward standings and national rankings. So you're wrong. Please stop with the exhibition nonsense.
If you're fine with team captains quitting on their team before the season is completed, then be fine with it. I'm not. I'm disappointed. And we can agree to leave it there. I never asked you to share my sentiment.
Just don't invent categorizations in an attempt to justify Karan Higdon quitting the team.
December 20th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
Yes, let's all pull our lawyers to argue about the legal definition of an exhibition. In everything but the (EX) on the schedule, this is a meaningless exhibition game that has no bearing on conference or national championships or really much else other than feelings and maybe recruiting. It's a fun trip for players and a fun game for fans to watch. If a captain with NFL aspirations has no desire to participate due to injury concern, I have zero problem with it.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^
Some real "winners" in our fanbase making classless replys to his twitter announcement.
Sad
December 20th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
I don't agree with his decision but to each his own. I wish him well.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
So what is the full list of players sitting out the Peach Bowl?
These are the ones I know of:
- Gary
- Bush
- Higdon
- Solomon (obviously)
- Not sure about Chase?
Any others?
December 20th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
I thought chase already came out and said he's playing.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
I don't want to live in a world where Chase sits out any game he's physically able to play in.
How the fuck was he not a captain?
December 20th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
At some point we're going to get a player who skips an entire season to protect his draft status. The younger Bosa kid obviously came close, but the "Clowney" hypothetical from a few years ago isn't far away, and I can't say I disagree with it if the universities allow it.
December 20th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
Except skipping the entire season will hurt the player's stock and hurts his future career because they dont' have game tape of his improvement and will be hesitant to draft a player who hasn't played in a year.
Bosa has that injury excuse where he played for part of the season and has an injury that is bad enough that he would be back for the bowl game.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
Should not have been a captain if he cannot finish out the season with his teammates. A good leader would have went to battle one more time with his teammates.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
Idiot
December 20th, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
I think this is actually a win-win. Higdon gets to rest up and be 100% for the combine. He's done all he could to showcase to the NFL this season. No need for an ACL tear in a bowl game.
This now allows for Evans/Wilson/Turner/Haskins to shine. Big moment for all of them, as this will be a good live-game practice to show what they can bring next season.
I like to see Evans get 40%, Wilson 10%, Turner 25%, and Haskins 25% of the RB touches (carries and receptions) in the bowl game.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
I believe Haskins is more so a defensive player now? correct me if I'm wrong but I wouldn't guess he gets many carries if any at all. Evans/Wilson/Turner is more than enough. We should be throwing the ball anyway
December 20th, 2018 at 9:31 AM ^
Probably bordering in a 'hawt' take/been speculated already. With the new redshirt rule/freshman able to play in bowl and trend of draft eligible guys sitting out...are non-playoff bowl games now more of a stepping stone into the next season rather than the true final game of this season? 2018 Season is over and the bowl game kicks off the '19 version of Michigan football/CFB in general.
Kind of 'Winter game' or 'Pre-Spring Game' if you will.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
Was talking with a buddy about how it's kind of a spring game in a sense.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
No. This game counts. It goes on the record.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
The record is meaningless. There is no difference between 10-3 or 11-2 when the single game is a Peach Bowl victory.
December 20th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
You guys are crazy. Yeah, a NY6 win against a ranked team is "meaningless". Jesus. The Rugters game was meaningless. This game means a lot.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:54 AM ^
Yes. They are de-facto pre-Spring Game scrimmages for next year.
Expect to hear a lot more "Who's that?" about players that you have not seen all season that are suddenly playing in the bowl game..
December 20th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
Take care of your family, go get that money.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
Wishing him the best and understand he needs to do what is best for him.
I dont agree with saying these bowl games are meaningless though. We are playing against an SEC team for a championship. A player can get hurt against any team just the same they can get hurt in a bowl game so what is the difference?
Rooting for the guys that will be playing...GO BLUE
December 20th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
The game isn't entirely meaningless, but this is probably the least meaningful games of Harbaugh's tenure here. No one nationally is going to be paying attention to this. If we win, nothing happens. I guess if we lose, the ESPN talking heads can have another whole offseason of stupid "Is Jim Harbaugh on the hot seat??" narratives. I don't think either team could've picked another P5 opponent they'd less like to see in a bowl game either
December 20th, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
Go make your money, young man. Thank you for representing the school so well.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
when he was deciding he made a pros and cons list. Wrote “Jake Butt” in cons and just stopped after that.
December 20th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
He didn't list the thousands of players who finished their career with their team without catastrophic injury?
I was gonna head out to get milk last night, then I remembered a fatal car crash that happened last month. So I curled up in a ball on the floor and my family went hungry.