OT: DJ Fluker Tells You to Marry Your School
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/marry-your-school/
I thought this was a great write up. It had a bit of everything and emphasized the right things while acknowledging the realities (just casually avoid the bagmen rumors around him while you read it).
February 6th, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
Ha DJ Fluker giving recruits advice on how to pick a school. That is gold.
February 7th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
At first I thought it was a joke too. But it was very well written, and from a unique and authentic perspective.
There is nothing in the article that I can argue with. It is good advice for recruits, from a trusworthy source for them.
February 6th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^
Suck on that, Urbz
February 6th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^
Can anyone guess what DJ Fluker's full name is?
Daniel Lee Jesus Fluker. True story.
February 6th, 2015 at 8:53 PM ^
assumed it was Dick Jeans Fluker
February 6th, 2015 at 8:57 PM ^
DJ Fluker.
Horse: neeeeiigggghhhh.
February 6th, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
I blame the NCAA for all this as much as the coaches.
February 6th, 2015 at 9:05 PM ^
What did the NCAA do?
February 6th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
create one-way contracts that bind a recruit while the coaches can go as they please
February 6th, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^
What do you want me to do Mix?
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February 6th, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^
Marry your school, like 'bama married Fluker. You should see the wedding gifts they bought him..
All kidding aside it is a good writeup. It never ceases to amaze me how poor an effort schools, and recruits put into the process.
February 6th, 2015 at 9:33 PM ^
It's true what he says concerning studies - if you go to Michigan or Notre Dame or Northwestern, but never go to class, then what's the point? The education portion is worth exactly what you decide to put into it.
February 6th, 2015 at 9:49 PM ^
Wow. Great advice for everyone looking at schools, not just athletes.
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February 7th, 2015 at 12:28 AM ^
hmmmm
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February 7th, 2015 at 1:40 AM ^
When he got drafted by the Chargers in 2013, just before training camp started, I was walking into the grocery store and saw this behemoth of a man walking towards me and as he got closer I realized it was DJ and I went up to him and introduced myself, told him I was a Michigan fan and punched him in the arm and called him an asshole because Bama kicked our butts the previous season.
What did he do? He laughed and said "well you know, we do what we do and that's what we do" I kid you not. I wished him luck with his NFL career as I am a Chargers fan as well, behind the Lions of course.
As I walked away, I was SMH at myself for punching him in the arm and calling him an asshole, what is wrong with me? That's how much of an M Fan I am.
February 7th, 2015 at 8:04 AM ^
...we'll take out the first person who says "cool story bro" together.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:19 AM ^
stick accepted, he was a super cool guy and we love him here in San Diego. He's the kind of road grader I want Harbaugh to accumulate for our beloved team, I got a good feeling about it.
February 7th, 2015 at 7:20 AM ^
And it was a huge NFL guy you've never met? You've been in the sun too long.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
But trust me when I say that it doesn't take too much sunshine for me to be a crazy M fanatic!!!
BTW, when I hit him in the arm it felt like I punched a brick wall as his arm was almost the size of my thigh and I'm a pretty big boy myself.
February 7th, 2015 at 8:03 AM ^
Great advise from someone who has experienced the process. Know how do we connect that information to the young men going through that process today.
February 7th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^
I love this quote:
"Not many guys get the chance to commit as a sophomore, but I was a big boy, and colleges love big bodies. They’re like huge balls of coachable clay."
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February 7th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
That was a great line. The man has some wit about him.
I also like the picking a school like picking a girl analogy.
He was a "contributing author". I would read more of his stuff if he contributed in the future.
February 7th, 2015 at 8:41 PM ^
His title on the site is "contributor", but he wrote the article.
Saying he is a "contributing author" makes it seem like you don't think he wrote it
February 7th, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
Yes,he skirted around the bag man issues but it is worth noting what he did point out beyond the quote "marrying your school."
1. Unlike what many fans on the boards may feel, he acknowledged very little prior understanding of the tradition and history of the place. Maybe a bit of hyperbole but he publicly stated he didn't know who Bear Bryant was. The point here is that tradition is great for us long term fans and alumni but for a lot of these kids - it is just stuff that happened in the distant past -might as well be talking about Red Grange and The Gipper.
2. He mentions how some schools really saturate a region such as LSU and the whole state of Lousiana (of course) and New Orleans. For decades that was the Wolverines, but now honestly we face a real credible threat that it is Spartans doing this.
For all of us, the tradition and legacy are important; honoring predecessors like Bo, Harmon, Ford, etc. all matter but for the current group of recruits and subsequent years, it probably was more important that Tom Brady was the recent Super Bowl QB or if Denard Robinson becomes a marquee RB; and of course if the Wolverines win the Big Ten and appear on national TV late in the year.
Last, beating State and not that school in Ohio arguably has now become the number priority.
Go Blue!
February 7th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
Beating State merely keeps the yip dogs from nipping at your heels.
Beating Ohio State is what will launch this program.