Sparty recruiting 26 year old Australian weight lifter for football

Submitted by Leaders And Best on

Mark D'Antonio is not only recruiting nationally; he's recruiting worldwide.  I can't even make this stuff up.  What's next?  Offering participants off the World's Strongest Man?

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120203/SPORTS0202/202030345/1132/sports0202/Australian-lifter-eyes-American-football-maybe-MSU

Space Coyote

February 3rd, 2012 at 10:35 AM ^

I feel like I'm defending Sparty a lot lately but it's clear to me when people start bashing inane things that they would find awesome if Michigan did, that people are trying way to hard to make MSU look stupid.

Look, Dantonio is offering this guy a walk-on spot.  Not really a big deal.  He might be a real good scout team player for them and give them a look with some things.  He's not offering a schollie, he's not expecting him to be the next Jake Long.

So many posters are trying to justify Sparty being stupid by saying "Arnett is a douche so I'm glad we don't have him" to making fun of a team that recruits someone for a walk-on spot when Michigan did something similar and everyone thought it was great.

ChiBlueBoy

February 3rd, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^

I think what's funny is the way the article is written. The kid seems very sincere, and I personally find sincerity inspiring. This whole thing has an Eagle vs. Shark feel. Read between the lines, and he's being offered an "opportunity" to walk-on. I.e., we'll let you try out along with any other student. I wish the kid well--I hope he achieves his dreams. Truth is, it's a long-shot, and the article writer seems most naive of all.

Cold War

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^

Strength is great, but I've never understood the belief that being big and strong makes you a great football player. The guys he will play against are pretty strong themselves and have a lifetime of experience.

Would they doing this if they had recruited well?

Sione's Flow

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^

If the guy is willing to travel from Australia to the US to try american football, then best of luck to him.  I don't think recruiting Australia or the Pacific Rim will become common place. But whos to say there's not some beast rugby player in New Zealand, who wants to try out for UM in the future, would we ridicule him?

bronxblue

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:27 PM ^

I will echo the sentiment that this is a massive non-story.  It's a walk-on spot for a big kid - UM does this all the time.  To waste a thread on it is just dumb and neurotic.

mgopoo

February 3rd, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^

MSU is dominating us in international recruiting. Luckily, we will have the edge when it comes to galactic and inter-galactic recruiting due to our highly touted aerospace engineering program.