Gregg Henson: Why Michigan Pulled Matt Falcon’s Scholarship

Submitted by Mr. Flood on

"Sources close to the situation tell me that the Michigan coaching staff advised Falcon to forego his senior year of football and rehab his knee before enrolling at Michigan in January to continue his progress under the direction of the Michigan athletic training staff.  When Falcon and his family decided to play his senior year, the Michigan staff was not thrilled, two knee injuries in one year was a deal breaker for Michigan."

 
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Gofor2

October 21st, 2015 at 10:16 AM ^

Said that without a doubt he could play football at a elite level, without a doubt !! Harbaugh said NO, and then tried to get him to sign a waiver saying he can't play. This is what the Falcon Family said. The actual Family itself. This is typical Harbaugh dumping guys because he repeatedly takes any and all commits he can early and as NSD approaches he then dumps the kids he doesn't really want to meet his numbers. Harbaugh pulled this shit at Stanford every year, his last year he did this to 8 kids he offered and that committed to him in the 12 months prior. Harbaugh doesn't give a fuk about any of the kids, that's pretty obvious and this Falcon situation is a fine example of it.

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Gofor2

October 21st, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^

From Scout.com: Despite a successful surgery, recent conversations with the Wolverines have still left him with doubts about his football future. "I want to play football and I can still play at a high level," he said, "but at this time, I'm divided because Michigan is only giving me one option. Coach Harbaugh told my mother quote 'if Matthew comes to Michigan, he will not be able to play football.' But they would pay for my college education for academics. "I would have to sign a waiver saying I can't play even though top surgeons told me, my family and Coach Harbaugh I will be able to get back on the field and play at a high level."

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BornSinner

October 20th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^

So enlighten me on how Harbaugh's own interesting history with dealing with these situations has anything to do with Urban? 

As Scarlatina said, it is an improvement. That's a good thing. 

 

This is just an unfortunate circumstance. 

 

(Now watch Falcon go on to another school and end up in the NFL >_< )

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Scarlatina

October 20th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^

If it would make you feel better. I'm sure Urban has done similar things (Jamel Dean), but my point is that these kind of things are going to happen when you are trying to stay on top. By listing out Urban's history it isn't going to diminish Harbaugh's... "Yeah Stalin kind of did some bad things, but have you heard of what Hitler did?!" Because Urban is literally Hitler. I also did earnest mean that tell Falcon of his situation at Michigan was an improvement. Manning up and facing a recruit is always better in my book than just ignoring them until they go away. For the record, I don't mind that much Harbaugh did this because it is a huge risk to take a player with two ACL tears, but it is funny to me to see all rationalization of the situation. I have a hard time seeing any of those people defending Urban if he offered a player with an extensive injury history a medical when the player publicly says he can still play at a high level. But... proceed however you want

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trustBlue

October 20th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^

So you agree that Harbaugh has acted appropriately here --but just wanted to drop by to sling a vague accusation about something Harbaugh may have done 7-8 years ago in a completely different situation at another school and are perplexed why you by being showered in a hail of downvotes? 

Please tell me more about this rationalization you speak of.

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Scarlatina

October 20th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^

I'm not perplexed; I said something controversial on a Michigan-centric blog. The voting system was designed to pick out comments like mine. Part of the reason I like coming here to read is to get the other side's perspective. Without it, I'd probably be a very biased fan that sees everything with Scarlet-lens.

Do I like the Matt Falcon situation? No. Did I like the Jamel Dean situation? No. Do I think both coaches are well within their rights to offer a medical in lieu of an athletic scholarship? Yes.

I’m just not going to take a stance about how Urban or Harbaugh were looking out for the kid’s well being, and they are actually saints for even offer an academic scholarship. It is more likely to me that both made a business decision, and broke a commitment to a player. I don’t like it, but college football is becoming more and more cutthroat with decisions like this every season.

In an ideal world, both coaches would have offered both players a chance to medically redshirt and compete the next year after rehab... but the world isn't ideal, and that would mean one less scholarship to chase a player that could be immediately impactful like Kareem Walker or whoever else.

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Gofor2

October 21st, 2015 at 10:28 AM ^

Then list all the kids that left each program during the first year of arrival. You will find the the only coach in the NCAA that the players thought was a bigger asshole than Harbaugh is Charlie Strong. Be sure to include that Urban Meyer has given his players, school, fans a National Championship, a 45-3 record, and the current longest winning streak in FBS. You shouldn't compare Harbaugh to Urban. Harbaugh hasn't won shit in college, he hasn't proven a damn thing. Urban has 3 Nat'l Championships and counting and is the undisputed best coach in college football. Whats Harbaugh got?? Nothing, that's what. He has already lost 2 games in his first 7 games. He's more like a James Franklin, or Pat Fitzgerald. Not Urban Meyer.

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GOBLUE4EVR

October 20th, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^

that falcon considers his options wisely here and sticks with michigan to get an awesome education instead of trying to play football at any school that will let him and possibly getting hurt again and to the point not being able to walk without pain for the rest of his life... 

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dirtypasta

October 20th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

If this is true, there really is no problem with it at all. However, the earlier feeling was that they pulled Falcons chance of playing for them, to open up a spot for the higher ranked Kareem Walker which is common in recruiting unfortunately but frowned upon by the general public.

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Rug Dog

October 20th, 2015 at 7:48 PM ^

The problem with this scenario is Harbaugh has been known to breed competition (look at all the QBs he has brought in and playing Higdon to send a message to the fumble-prone Isaac).  Even if Kareem was or is a silent verbal, I don't think he would have done that to Falcon.  I can see them telling him to rehab his knee and come to UM, but if they decided to not rehab the knee and blew it out again, that's the consequence that they brought upon themselves.  IMO, anyways.  Either way, good luck to the kid, hope he pulls through and we see him suit up in college somewhere.

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Yooper

October 20th, 2015 at 6:15 PM ^

The fact that Falcon was advised not to play HS ball this year makes it even more so.  As was said above, he was offered a scholarship even though he had a history of injury.  Michigan wanted to maximize the opportunity for Falcon to be physically able to play.  Falcon ignored that advice.  Sad for him, but he took the risk and now is not able to perform at the level anticipated.  I think it was a very nice gesture to offer him a free education.

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BornSinner

October 20th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^

Well this kinda makes me feel better about the situation. 

 

 

Too bad for the kid. Wish he had better advice. 

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Dawkins

October 20th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^

It's unfortunate for the kid, but he was made aware of the risks, took those risks, and it ended badly for him. I speculated in this thread from September that we may not be done recruiting the RB position in light of Falcon's injury (enter Kareem Walker 4 weeks later). You can't run a successful football program by having guys whose legs are prone to falling off take up precious roster spots for 4 years. Offering him a medical scholarship was the right move for Harbaugh given his responsibility to the program. 

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Double-D

October 20th, 2015 at 5:29 PM ^

He is a straight shooter but he also has a priority to the team and the program. These are tough decisions but I have not seen anything that makes me feel like he is treating kids poorly at all.

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TennBlue

October 20th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^

The headline is false. Michigan did not pull his scholarship, they honored it as a medical hardship. He still gets a free ride, but won't be able to play football.

With 2 ACL blowouts in the same knee, his college football days are over. Michigan is doing right by him rather than walking away.

This is click bait, nothing more.

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Stay.Classy.An…

October 21st, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^

I don't understand why there is all this hate towards Henson? Aside from saying something terrible and getting kicked off the air while he was still doing daily sports talk, what else has he done wrong? People make mistakes, and though he probably will never get back on the air in Metro Detroit, his coverage of the Harbaugh to Michigan stuff was ON POINT! If there is something I am missing in regards to his credibility (not just because of whatever he said), can someone let me know? 

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VauntedD

October 20th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^

This is a severe medical issue. not something to tarnish Harbaugh's reputation. To still be guaranteed a scholarship is proof of the caring attitude by the University Of Michigan Athletic Department and Coach Harbaugh.



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blue_n_VA

October 20th, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^

I know a kid in a similar spot. He got his first offer, from Army, and got invites to a camp (can't remember if it was scout or rivals). On his second rep in DB drills he tore his ACL. He has recovered and started playing a couple weeks ago.

One particular school that is recruiting him asked him not to play his senior season. They immediate told that school that he planned to play. It would be hard to play all that time and not play your senior season. Especially since the school hadn't offered.

I can see the players side and the colleges side. Just an unfortunate situation all around.



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Steve Breaston…

October 20th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^

Different question: how does JH or the athletic department have medical scholarships to just give away? Especially to a kid who hasn't even enrolled? Let's equate this to $200k plus over four years; no company just lets that kid of financial loss squeak through



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