IncrediblySTIFF

January 19th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^

sucks for fans who believe in the high road also. my opinion is still going to be unpopular and without all the facts. if there were any reason for Harbaugh to hate recruiting, this damn well should be it. the sun is still going to come up tomorrow, though, and I am just a nobody with a keyboard and an opinion

Joined: 03/26/2011

MGoPoints: 7962

Wolfman

January 19th, 2016 at 9:56 PM ^

thread. Of course, either way, you will feel bad for the young man. However, I just don't think Harbaught would treat the kid in a manner not keeping with that which guides him. He is a pretty straight shooter when it comes to dealing with prospects and players on his team.

Of course, because there is a difference, those on his team on going to hear things that recruits who go elsewhere never will. However, based on what I know of Harbaugh, what this school means to him, what Bo meant to him, likewise his father, I just can't see him doing something that would be so out of line with the lessons passed onto him. Additionally, he's thought of as somewhat off center but his character has never been questioned to my knowledge. If it is proven otherwise, I would agree with you that it's inappropirate and SEC like. For those reasons, I just can't see it going down in the manner many feel. I hope this is the last thread we see on this. Actually felt one was sufficient.

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

reshp1

January 19th, 2016 at 10:27 PM ^

I dunno, I want to give Harbaugh the benefit of the doubt, especially since he's barred from telling his side. On the other hand, between Stanford and the others in the class, he's establishing a bit of a pattern and reputation. I'm sure a lot of these have perfectly good explanations taken individually, but taken as a whole, it's not a great look for him or the University

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

westwardwolverine

January 20th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^

What's more important? How you feel or the young man's career? 

If its the young man's career, then Harbaugh is doing right by him even if it offends you. If its how you feel, then I suppose you have ever right to be upset. 

Joined: 11/26/2013

MGoPoints: 9007

APBlue

January 20th, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^

Yep.  Not getting a scholarship to U of M is not the end of this young man's career.  He has other offers.  

Is he behind a little, sure.  But if you believe other "reports" out there, Swenson was told prior to his senior year that he had to show improvement.  

I'm not convinced that this would be coming out of left field for him.  

I wish the kid all the best this world has to offer.  

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 22020

westwardwolverine

January 20th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

1. He's not going to Iowa State (or at least isn't at the moment. That was someone else on his feed). 

2. If he wants to play football, its likely an Iowa State would provide him that shot from the get go. 

3. It looks like Northwestern is/was interested in him. I think we can safely say a Northwestern degree is on the same level as a Michigan degree. 

Joined: 11/26/2013

MGoPoints: 9007

gwkrlghl

January 19th, 2016 at 9:43 PM ^

this is the first sour taste I've gotten from Harbaugh's unorthodox life. Swenson has been in the class since the middle of the Hoke tenure. He won't be remembered like an Antonio Bass, but IF the rumors are true, I'll always feel bad for him.

I just imagine I was accepted to Michigan and had my heart set on being a Michigan student only to be told in the summer before that I was out and I had to go somewhere else. It would suck. This was Erik's dream school.

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

Blau

January 19th, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^

"I just imagine I was accepted to Michigan and had my heart set on being a Michigan student only to be told in the summer before that I was out and I had to go somewhere else."

My reply was responding to the poster before me stating as if Erik Swenson was told he wouldn't be part of the class during the past summer and not within the past few weeks as is suspected with the most recent information.

I believe it is you having troubles comprehending the posts.

Joined: 01/23/2014

MGoPoints: 35213

BroadneckBlue21

January 19th, 2016 at 11:51 PM ^

Because you are not understanding the parallels. A normal, typical first year student enrolls in the fall, so being told no, we won't take your money, as summer ends is the same as, oh, say, an athlete who is told at the end of the recruitment calendar and right before the school is bound to its offer that he cannot come and they won't accept his signature. Reading comprehension has different levels to it, too. You cannot simply see the word summer and not try to think about the analogy and what is inferred. Or, you can but shouldn't.

Joined: 01/12/2015

MGoPoints: 6320

gwkrlghl

January 20th, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^

But we're piecing together the clues -Was posting on twitter within the last few weeks how he was looking forward to signing with Michigan -Rumors are circulating that he is out because he wasn't developing -Twitter page removes all references to Michigan -Harbaugh and Co. are out recruiting OTs Not sure what other conclusion there is to be drawn unless you believe his grades are poor

Joined: 04/13/2012

MGoPoints: 72

Mgodiscgolfer

January 20th, 2016 at 1:59 AM ^

Well if this is true, or without the facts or if the rumors are true. But my favorite is "How would you feel if this happened to you?". That one is special because its just an assumption of what may have happened intentionally designed to make you feel sorry for the person who may have never been wronged in the first place. I have one for you except this IS FACT. What if you were a coach who may have been falsely accused of something (especially about recruiting) that the NCAA has said you may not comment on? Then every Tom, Dick and Harry get on the internet and lob accusations at you they have no idea to be true or not. Better yet they say this is becoming a pattern! Give me a effing break. So like in politics if you throw enough shit on the wall some of it has to stick and if it's true or not is beside the point.

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 5322

RobM_24

January 19th, 2016 at 10:04 PM ^

What if this type of decision was the difference between Michigan winning National Championships and not winning NCs? Would you rather feel queasy and have Harbaugh run things like Saban/Meyer (and win), or have Harbaugh play good guy and be satisfied with feel-good stories and no championships? I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm really interested in your answer. I would take the rings, and have Harbaugh worry about the team's best interests.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 62411

turd ferguson

January 19th, 2016 at 10:42 PM ^

A better comparison would be Beilein, who plays by rules that others don't, which realistically keeps us from hitting the ceiling of programs like Kentucky (or, hypothetically, Indiana, if they get their shit together).  And I'm totally fine with that.  

Rob's asking an interesting, fair question.  I just fall on the other side of it.  I'm honestly fine with Beilein/Carr results as long as they come with Beilein/Carr ethics.

Joined: 12/09/2009

MGoPoints: 26493

grumbler

January 20th, 2016 at 8:41 AM ^

I'm with you, and like you, fall on the "do the right thing" side rather than the 'win at all costs" side.

Frankly, I think that doing things the right way is what makes Michigan different.  there are plenty of teams that win more than Michigan for the "win-at-all-costs" crowd to follow.  It's hard for me to even wrap my mind arund the fact that there are Michigan fans who would rather win than treat the players and recruits fairly and honestly.  I know now those fans exist; it just took a lot of evidence to convince me of their existance.

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 14092

growler4

January 20th, 2016 at 12:24 AM ^

You are presenting a false choice. You can win with integrity. It doesn't require compromising principles.

I don't know the facts in this specific case. In general, however, I'd rather win enough with integrity. You know, the whole concept of being a "Michigan Man". That, to me, is part of what makes Michigan Michigan.

Frankly, I don't understand how anyone can view a national championship to be so important so as to cut corners to achieve it.

Joined: 11/24/2014

MGoPoints: 1692

True Blue Grit

January 20th, 2016 at 8:01 AM ^

But the scenario you described is exactly what can happen to any accepted U-M student who f's off his senior year in class and their spot gets rescinded.  And it has definitely happened.  Swenson probably has not lived up to the expectations under which the offer was made - whether that is on the field or in the classroom, or whatever.  All of this is one big rumor and it's not fair to Harbaugh to jump to conclusions with insufficient facts.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32234

Witz57

January 19th, 2016 at 11:25 PM ^

This really bothers me. His Jan 3 tweet:

"One more month until I sign "

Is pretty damn heartbreaking. Yes there's a nonzero chance that Harbaugh didn't do anything grey and there's a completely logical explaination, but on the surface, it sure looks like they were dishonorable to the kid. I really hope that's not the case cause I know Bo would have rather had them lose in the right way then win in the expedient way. I would too cause supposidly that's what Michigan is all about.

Joined: 06/11/2011

MGoPoints: 2175

MGoblu8

January 19th, 2016 at 11:28 PM ^

I didn't realize that he never had an OV. That seems weird. Let me be clear that I think this situation is all around shitty, and is below my expectations, but that does seem strange. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever know the 100% whole story. Ugh, just sad.

Joined: 08/19/2010

MGoPoints: 7373

BlueFish

January 20th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^

Interesting how the reaction to the mutual parting with Sir Patrick Scott -- who also didn't take an OV -- was taken without much fanfare.

I'd like to know all the facts before forming a conclusion about potential crootin' shadiness on the part of our coaching staff.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 4650