Mitch: Wishful Thinking
I am being optimistic, but it is interesting that they have been so open about the circumstances; if they didn't want discussion on the topic, why divulge so much? I do think it is because it is thought the media may react, and therefore garner sympathy for the case. Why do that if giving up?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^
You know, not that the school has had any recent experience doing the opposite of this of course...
April 25th, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
Juice.
April 26th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
Are you saying "we" from the position of an insider? Because I consume more college football media than 95% of the adult male population and all I've heard are a scatterplot of totally shot-from-the-hip rumors.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
and then got another one that paid at least $500,000 or maybe more, I might just say screw it.
Now Mitch is turning down the possibility of having a great season and becoming a lottery pick, but that didn't work out so well for GR3.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
...small seemingly insignificant exchanges like this that makes love this blog.
That gave me small respite from all recent tumult. Bravo!
Nope. Despite Big Al's recruiting efforts, he's a Bronco:
http://247sports.com/Recruitment/Chance-Stewart-13697/RecruitInterests
I thought you were going to go in a different direction. My conspiracy theory is that IF Mitch really wanted to declare for the draft this year, getting disqualified next year for a stupid reason is a GREAT P.R. move. Michigan fans wouldn't be mad for him going pro because he'd be suspended next year anyways. Pro teams would think he has a higher ceiling because he was going to go back to college (and thought he would improve his own draft stock), but had to go to the NBA -- hence ruling out the possibilty that the only reason he was declaring for the NBA was because he thought he wouldn't recover from his injury while at Michigan or that he wouldn't have a productive junior season.
If Mitch really wanted to go pro but not face any wrath from NBA GM's, this is one of the better ways to do it.
That said, I don't think this conspiracy theory is why this really happened -- but it was interesting to me.
Typically, schools set their own guidelines when it comes to punishments for failing drug tests, and I believe we've heard that, if this had been during the regular season, the punishment might have been a suspension of perhaps a couple weeks (I could be wrong though). As it happened during an NCAA-sponsored event in which Michigan participated, it is their rules which apply, no matter how insane or overbearing they seem. I would imagine that Michigan wouldn't have a leg to stand on due to that alone, so I very much doubt they'll fight it.
Personally I think Mitch was gone even without the suspension (maybe why he was willing to risk a drug test...).
Someone pointed it out: If Mitch returned, he'd be competing with guys for draft position that wouble be 5 years younger than him. That's not a good thing.
He's gone, let's not grasp at straws. He's not the best test case anyways.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^
Long time reader, first time poster. I dont think by any means that a calculated PR move would include a star player declaring for the draft because of an impending one-year ban for a failed drug test. This seems like the complete opposite of a strategic PR play considering the scenerio.
Also, I saw you posted the word-for-word exact same thing in one of the other threads, a little repetitive don't ya think to start a new thread when the conversation was already going?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
I'm sorry but "we don't want to be the school that took on the NCAA over weed"
What about human rights?
That has famously allowed its students (and thousands of out-of-towners) for decades to toke up on the Diag one day in April, and you think it would cower before the NCAA?
April 26th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
If any school should take on the NCAA over cannabis, it should be UofM. It is located in Ann Arbor, after all.
Paging Jesse Ventura
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_Theory_with_Jesse_Ventura
April 25th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
Glad to see the NCAA is truly looking out for the best interest of the student athlete here, who should stay in school.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^
To sit out half the year while he was suspended? Do you think he is an idiot?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
can know peace from the threads that have been filling up this board lately
April 25th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
I read this and thought it was the "What Are You Drinking?" thread.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
Why is this even an issue? I though pot was legal in Ann Arbor.
At least it seemed that way when I was there.