Great Sam Webb article on Rashan Gary's decision
Sam has a new (free) post up in which he interviews Rashan's mom about the decision. It was closer than we (maybe) thought. But he chose the good guys.
http://www.scout.com/college/michigan/story/1641564-so-how-close-was-it-rashan-gary
My favorite quote: "He picked Michigan so we will pack up all the gear,” said Coney. “And I did. I packed up all of his Alabama, USC and all of his gear that he's collected over the last four years, I put it in a box, and took it to the Salvation Army. You chose Michigan and that's where you're going to be."
February 10th, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^
"But he chose the good guys."
SPOILER much? Geez.
February 10th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
Schools down south will cheat like a bandit for a back-up long snapper. I cannot even imagine what the highest bid would've been for the #1 recruit in the country.
That's some serious will-power right there.
February 10th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
someone mentioned they heard something like 200K+.
February 10th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
I have my suspicions and actively make jokes about the good ol' boy bagmen, but it may not be appropriate to speculate on the specifics of the shenanigans w/r/t Gary's process. Just my 2.5 cents.
February 10th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^
Now I really want to know what happened on his visit to Clemson.
February 10th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
Well, from the article it sounds like they started thinking about elsewhere on the USC trip.
February 10th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
will make a man question his whole life.
February 10th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Do you really think so? I mean, sure, song girls, USC, LA the beach, etc., etc. But aren't there cute girls everywhere? And I've kinda gotten the feeling, not just from this article, but from several others, that Rashan and his mother are a bit deeper than that. Of course, I don't really know, but I know read they were very impressed with Greg Harden and his wife, and there have been a number of references to spiritual things. That's what made Harden such a plus for Michigan. Bacon wrote in his book about how faith life was pretty important to a lot of the guys, especially African American, playing for Michigan. I get that discussion on spiritual things is verboten on the blog. But I think that it played a significant role in Rashan coming to Michigan, which is why I'm mentioning it. And which is why I think song girls and bagmen and mortgages mattered lessed to Gary then they did to Treadwell and others.
February 10th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
But if you think there was a religious component to his recruitment, Gary went to Catholic school. Harbaugh is Catholic. Dabo is a protestant heretic. Ergo, Gary to Michigan.
February 10th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^
That's funny. Plus one to you. I'm pretty sure that Rashan and Jennifer are not Roman Catholic, despite Gary's attending Paramus Catholic. I'm pretty sure there are some spiritual things going on with the team, but I'm also pretty sure they fiercely keep that private, personal, and under wraps. Which is as it should be. It isn't for everyone, and none of the team are proselytizing others. But shared faith life will make a difference to some guys coming in.
February 10th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
That is all.
February 10th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Different strokes for different folks, but if I were independently wealthy, I would live in West LA.
Weather is awesome. Lots to do. Very close to some great beaches. Great seafood. Having a picnic lunch at the Getty when the weather is nice is something everyone should do (delightful view of the smog, lol).
February 10th, 2016 at 5:53 PM ^
Yeah but USC's campus is not in West LA or near the beach.
February 10th, 2016 at 7:01 PM ^
I've lived in West LA, the Thousand Oaks area, and the South Bay, and I much prefer the South Bay. The weather is more awesome - fewer real hot days than West LA, closer to some great beaches that I never go to. Most of the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings live in Manhattan Beach. If I had the dough, I'd move across the street from Redondo to MB, mostly to get my wife off my back (she prefers MCHS to RUHS, but I don't see much difference in them.)
February 10th, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^
Our older son attended school in Hermosa up thru 8th grade before we got transferred back to MI, and saw Hermosa friends get both ends of that stick at MCHS and RUHS.
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February 10th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
cute girls everywhere.
February 10th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
Ok, not everywhere. But certainly at Michigan there are some. To wit, here are a few suitable for work:
February 10th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
That's what he said.
February 10th, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^
Bad news, she went to Michigan State.
February 10th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
My wife has been trying to get me to buy a house in Ann Arbor for years now, and I've been resisting / dragging my feet (too expensive, too far from work, etc).
What the hell have I been thinking? I should put my house on the market tomorrow.
/and then start looking for a divorce lawyer, since I'll be needing one of those soon after we buy that house
February 10th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
Uh, no? Been married for 17 years. Never seen another cute girl in all those years. All those damn long years. Not one. In fucking 17 years.
February 10th, 2016 at 3:01 PM ^
I can see why USC was appealing and I can see why Michigan is too, but honestly I don't see what Clemson had to offer that Gary wasn't already aware of well before the Clemson visit that Michigan or USC could not do better.
Yeah, Clemson was in the playoffs and championship game, but that was known for well over a month before Gary was even looking at Clemson, so I doubt that would suddenly catch his interest.
It's just weird that they went from total non factor to a coin toss in the span of, what, maybe two weeks?
February 10th, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
I went to UofM for undergrad but have since been to Clemson numerous times since graduating due to friends who attened school there. I can see why Clemson is attractive for football players - but didn't appreciate it until I was there.
It is a beutifull campus, near a lake, has stunning girls, but mainly football is life there. Seriously, it's hard to describe but the atmosphere at Clemson is unlike any other I've ever seen.
Walking around on game day - every family has a tailgate spot next others that have been there for years. Random people will offer you food, drinks, ask you to play cornhole as you walk by. It is so wholesomely family friendly it's almost sickening.
February 10th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
...I like Michigan. :(
February 10th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
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February 10th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
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February 10th, 2016 at 7:55 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 8:58 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
The hate for Michigan nationwide is strong. If they hate us this much while we were down, I can't imagine how they'll feel over the next few years.
February 10th, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
Seriously.
Rashan with glasses: Intense, thoughtful Investing consultant.
Without glasses: Terrifying Death Beast.
Exibit A:
Exibit B:
February 10th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
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February 10th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
He and his family are independent thinkers, not lemmings. They make their own decisions based on all data, instead of blindly following what they are told.
Rashan, his family, and Harbaugh are going to get along just fine.
February 10th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
February 10th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
Wasn't there something a while back that indicated his visit to OSU went really badly? With what we know about them and negative recruiting, I have a feeling that may be a part of the reason it wasn't very good.
February 10th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
I thought it was academics.
At least it wasn't his Ole Miss visit (a rent-a-cop at the stadium got into it with Rashan's mother).
February 10th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
Love the part about how he and his friends in the class want to be part of the process to bring Michigan back to national prominence. THAT tells me what type of men they are. They want to help re-lay the foundation of Michigan's return to greatness. They know they will be rememberd among the alumni for stepping forward and saying "yes, we WILL rebuild this tradition of greatness." We have a great class, and under this coaching staff, I fully expect them to become the next Michigan legends.
HAIL!