Higdon Playing in the Senior Bowl When He Didn't Play in the Peach Bowl?
Karan Higdon admitted today that Harbaugh was pissed he didn't play in the Peach Bowl. And while I fully support any player's right to look out for his future, how can Higdon justify playing in the Senior Bowl when he didn't play in the Peach Bowl? (He's the only Michigan player in the Senior Bowl, by the way.)
The "I didn't want to get hurt before the draft" excuse is clearly not true, because he could get hurt in the Senior Bowl just as easily as he could have in the Peach Bowl. Did he sit out the Peach Bowl because he thought he had proven all he needed to in college? If so, why is he playing in the Senior Bowl?
I haven't scoured the Senior Bowl rosters enough to see if there are any guys who skipped their team's bowl game. This is his life and his career, but this is a really bad look for a Michigan captain.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
Jake Butt
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:39 AM ^
Captain quit on his team. Enough said.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:43 AM ^
He should have to start all the way back over and go back to peewee for this. I mean, he barely put any effort into football the past 15+ years of his life. Him reaching over 1000 yards this year was luck, his bulging muscles just naturally appeared, and he never ever played through injury.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:51 AM ^
Honestly, who gives a shit. Root for the school and not the player. Higdon wasn't making that Peach Bowl loss look any better.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
Eh, it's his right to do as he wishes, just as it's coaches and fans right to dislike it he/we wish. I didn't like it and still don't, but it's whatevs. This is what the playoffs have done to the bowl games. Time to expand the playoffs.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:25 AM ^
I'm not an elite player and not in his position. I wish him the best, but the fan in me is disappointed. I didn't say I blame him or that he has made a terrible decision, it's the side of me that can't overlook the emotional connection I have to wanting to see Michigan win games. Would Michigan have won with him out there in the Peach Bowl? Hard to tell.
If I'm remembering correctly, Bo said something about Michigan being a place where you played for the team, and you would never do that again after Michigan. You'll play for a contract in the pros.
It's hard to blame him based on economics, it's hard to accept decisions from the fan perspective.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:29 AM ^
It's a business decision. A non playoff bowl game means nothing (except maybe to your fragile ego) and as others have stated there are scouts at the Senior bowl. He is trying to make it in the NFL and is doing what he feels is best for himself and his family - something everyone should be able to understand.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:47 AM ^
I think the team fell apart after getting pantsed at OSU. There was something weird going on internally, coaches were probably affected too. Guys and coaches left. Hopefully they can get something positive going in 2019.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:54 AM ^
He's gone. We enjoyed watching him play. Just let it go.
January 23rd, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Hey Karan, if you read this... go get that paper
January 23rd, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
He is motivated by his own best interest and the program doesnt really matter to him.
January 23rd, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
Senior Bowl, I imagine, is big for his draft stock, whereas there's not a whole lot of eyeballs on you in the Peach Bowl. At least not the eyeballs he needs. I'd figure most every NFL team is sending scouts to the Senior Bowl, so this is likely for the sake of visibility. Who knows? May also send the wrong message to teams if he skips both his bowl game AND the Senior Bowl. I don't know, just speculation.
I wish he played in the Peach Bowl too, but its his choice and his life. He's got a daughter to provide for, and if he gets injured in the Peach Bowl, he's losing a crap-ton of money both for himself and for her. If he has a good showing over the next couple of months, he could work his way into being a Round 3-4 kind of guy.
January 23rd, 2019 at 5:05 PM ^
The coaches gave him a chance to develop and showcase himself on the field. He was also given the opportunity to be a captain. Ultimately he did not return the favor.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:59 PM ^
Higdon was a captain of the team. Captains should play unless injured.