Safety recruit Vinopal will "earn everybody’s respect."
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-safety-recruit-ray-…
Short excerpt:
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound safety plans to sign with Michigan on Wednesday, the first day recruits can ink binding letters of intent, regardless of what late prospects the Wolverines add.
Michigan has three safeties already committed for its 2010 class in Vinopal, Marvin Robinson and Carvin Johnson, and the Wolverines are still recruiting three others - Sean Parker, Rashad Knight and Demar Dorsey.
Vinopal is the biggest sleeper of that group and the lowest-ranked member of Michigan’s 26-person class according to Rivals.com.
He committed to the Wolverines in early December after leading Cardinal Mooney to a state championship. At the time, Vinopal’s only other scholarship offers were from Air Force, Bowling Green and Kent State, though Wisconsin and Vanderbilt pursued him more recently.
Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko cautioned not to read too much into Vinopal’s mediocre recruiting ranking.
“He’s somebody that will earn everybody’s respect up in Ann Arbor on the football field and off the football field,” Fecko said. “If they aren’t believers right now, I guarantee you they will be very, very shortly.”
February 1st, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
The coaching staff saw enough to offer him a scholarship. I trust they know what they are doing. Welcome aboard.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
Kid with chip on shoulder, comes from winning tradition, and a couple respectable offers (Air Force and Wiscy). Won't be a starter in Year 1, but definately the kind of kid that can redshirt and become starter level talent in yrs 3-4.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
Vinopal search, but didn't find it. Mea culpa.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
...I think he has that important intangible: He appears to love contact. If he can add 15 to 20 lbs, he could bring a load. He reminds me somewhat of young Pat Tillman.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^
If I'm not mistaken, Tillman was also somewhat of a sleeper. He didn't have the right body type for safety and was on the small side as a linebacker. He made up for his shortcomings with a love of hitting and a healthy dose of moxie.
And on the subject of Pat Tillman, Jon Krakauer's 'Where Men Win Glory' is a must read.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
I attended ASU the latter half of Tillman's Sun Devil career and can tell you he was nothing but fun to watch. He developed a huge following because of his long hair, playing style and overall attitude. He used to climb the light towers at Sun Devil stadium and camp out at the top to clear his head. Bruce Snyder wanted to red shirt him and Pat refused because, "Coach, you have me for four years. I have a lot of stuff I want to do with my life." Thinking about that answer in retrospect is really strange for me. This is a guy I used to see and say, "Great game" to and is the only person that I know of that I have interacted with that died in the war.
Anyway, if Ray is 1/2 Tillman, Michigan just got a kid that will become a fan favorite.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:24 AM ^
Even with the influx of safeties (especially if we were to get the three we are still after), it will be amazing to have solid talent backing up whatever cream rises to the top.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
Ugh. It seems like something coming out about one of our lower rated recruits proving himself is published every single day. How many of the lower rated recruits actually back up their talk after they get on campus and see how college football really works? I'm glad the kid is ready to work but this is becoming repetitious.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^
Forgive him for having confidence in himself.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
I know what I am saying is a losing battle here but just because my point goes against the majority doesn't change it. It all boils down to, "Talk is cheap". I hope he becomes a brick shithouse and eats WRs coming over the middle for breakfast but to hear about it all the time makes it seem empty.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
The example I have cited previously is Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year for 2009, Chris Borland. Also a 2-star, also from a similar Ohio h.s. program.
Here's the thing. It doesn't matter if you are Rich Rodriguez, Jim Tressel or Bret Bielema; you don't get a recruiting class of all 4 and 5 stars. And your coaching judgment about kids' potential and character matters. A lot. And it is kids like Ray Vinopal that will tell us the most about Rich Rodriguez; more than kids like Tate Forcier. I hope and expect that we are going to get some Devins and some Tates every single year. But the difference in whether Michigan wins or loses is with kids like Ray Vinopal producing.
btw, I sort of expect that Ray Vinopal will ultimately be a RS in any event. Chris Borland at Wisconsin might never have started, and might even have been a RS, but for injuries at the LB position in Madison.
Welcome, Ray Vinopal. Glad to have you as a Michigan Man.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
" It all boils down to, "Talk is cheap"."
Yeah, especially when the athlete isn't the one talking...
You lose the battle not because it is a minority opinion, but because it is misapplied and unfounded.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
is a brick shithouse... and why do we want our recruits to become one?
February 1st, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
It refers to a brick outhouse. Really built. Often used to describe a female with amazing attributes. As in, "She's built like a..."
February 1st, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
When is an article about an incoming recruit NOT about proving himself, getting better yadda yadda yadda? Also, how about you chastise Ray after he's actually show you what he can do?
February 1st, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
"How many of the lower rated recruits actually back up their talk after they get on campus and see how college football really works?"
Huh? The quote comes form his coach. His coach says he will earn everyone's respect. Now you are bashing a kid for an expression of bravado that wasn't even his??
February 1st, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
Nice article about a quality kid that wants to come in and work his tail off.. and with all the recent stories about UM in the press you are sick of hearing this?
Do top recruits not have to prove themselves? Maybe that has been our problem recently??
February 1st, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
Sounds good to me -- I expect the same out of all of our recruits.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
You don't have to be an all-conference player to be a valuable member of the team. If all he does is bust his ass, contribute on special teams and force the guys ahead of him to work harder, he'll be worth the scholarship.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^
Vinopal is white enough to start for Wisconsin day 1.
He's the type of recruit I like. Not projectable, but has a history of making things happen and knows how to play football.
Here's wishing him the best.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
he will earn people's respect like David Harris, and not ear their respect like Jordan Kovacs.
which isn't a slam on Kovacs. He has worked his ass off to be in the position he was in last season. athletically he is just overmatched in most games.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
I spoke with a kid that played for Cardinal Mooney a few years back. He was a Senior when Ray was a Soph. We were talking about Ray and he said before he left Ray was already Squating around 700lbs and he was the fastest kid on the team. He said he has crazy closing speed and loves to hit people. He also said that if anyone ever blew coverage that Ray was the one always running the guy down to save the TD, God knows we needed that last year. This kid had nothing but good things to say about him and that was just from his Soph year in High School. I really like Ray, I think he's going to a big contributor in a few years.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
is gonna be a beast, I for one am happy to have him as a Wolverine. Good luck Ray
February 1st, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
Is earned, not given. That's the way RichRod has run his program here in Ann Arbor from Day 1, which explains a lot of the attrition that we've seen.
I like this policy and am confident that it will pay off. We need to lay off RichRod and let him run his program.
Our patience is going to pay off.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^
You forgot "IMO" at the end of your post.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
He already HAS my respect.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
do read the content on message boards, something you would expect. What is going to make this kid a solid asset is his response to the negative content out there.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
All recruits have to earn my respect...unless they have Barry Sanders legs and dreads.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^
They HAVE to? Is that in the new NCAA regulations somewhere?
ARTICLE V, Part III: Earning Drkboarder's Respect
All NCAA Football Recruits shall be required to earn Drkboarder's respect, or may, at the discression of the NCAA, have their right to Athletic Scholarship in the sport of College Football revoked.
ARTICLE V, Part IV: Exemptions
See: Dreadlocks and Excellent Lower Mobility.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
the f*ck?
February 1st, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
Relax. It was a play on words, or rather on emphasis. You said they have to earn your respect, emphasis on "your". Meaning your respect is not freely given to recruits.
When I first read it, it popped into my head with emphasis on "have", meaning it's a requirement. I just ran with the idea. Take it easy.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
Ray is a five star in my heart..
February 1st, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
Anyone can recruit a 4 or 5 star recruit. I glanced at the 2011 board and see that we have a bunch of offers out to them already.
What separates a good coach from a great coach is the ability to see two things in potential recruits. First, they have to identify athletes with latent but undeveloped talent. These will tend to be guys who either started late, or are in programs with substandard coaches, facilities, etc.
Second, coaches need to be ability to identify the guys with the will and the heart and the intangibles to play. These are the Rudys, the Mike Harts, the Pete Roses, the Tom Bradys, of the world. When an athlete is driven, and is hungry, it often goes very, very far. True, you can't teach speed and size. But I will often take a good athlete with the heart and will and brains to succeed, over a better athlete with a lousy attitude, lousy work ethic, and strong sense of entitlement. I don't want prima donnas, I want mean SOB's who will do anything inside the rules to succeed and see the field.
I don't know the deal at USC, but just stocking the shelves with 4 & 5 star recruits obviously isn't enough to win. Obviously, you have to have some speed with your receivers, and your corners, and you have to have strength at the LT, and brains at the QB. But a decent baseline of skills, along with hard work and determination, will pay off in the end.
I believe that the fact Leach and Kovacs saw the field is a sign of several things. Obviously, it was a sign of our terrible lack of depth. But beyond that, there are three important things. First, guys who are motivated and work it and have at least some talent can make it to the team and to the field. Second, RR is fair. Third, there are no guarantees. These are all critical things, especial for the Vinopal's of the world, and bode well for our future.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
Rudy wasn't even an average college player, hopefully he turns out better than that.