BJNavarre

March 25th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^

Except that he did:

 

 

He said his decision to leave Michigan “was not a football-based decision.”

“I enjoyed playing here and I loved my time here,” he said. “I just wanted to be able to get back home whenever I could.

oriental andrew

March 25th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^

Leaving for "family reasons" is often misinterpreted as the family having hardships of some sort.  It could just as easily mean that the kid is homesick and wants to be closer to his family.  The whole "family issues" or "famiyl hardships" thing was speculation by the media and, even more, the denizens of the internet.  

mstudent

March 25th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^

Or maybe he did leave because of family issues and Pitt was closer to his home. I live about 45 minutes away from ann arbor and it is so easy to go back home whenever I want. He probably still wanted to play football and Pitt was the closest one. Don't immediately jump to conclusions especially when you are making a person look bad.

GoBlueInNYC

March 25th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^

That's not a terribly accurate summary of the article, especially when it includes statements like:

 

He said his decision to leave Michigan "was not a football-based decision."

 

Sounds like wanting to be close to his family was a big reason he wanted to transfer, just not that his family is experiencing any hardships.

EDIT: Damn, everyone beat me to it...

EDIT: Now with block quotes! Thanks, OMG!

OMG Shirtless

March 25th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

He said his decision to leave Michigan “was not a football-based decision.”

“I enjoyed playing here and I loved my time here,” he said. “I just wanted to be able to get back home whenever I could.

“It’s been portrayed in the media in some places that my family was having hardships but I’ve never said that,” Vinopal said. “I simply said I wanted to be closer to my family and be more accessible to them.”

It just wasn't one particular incident though like the rumors implied, he wanted to be closer to his family.

SC Wolverine

March 25th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^

How could that be true when he started as a freshman?  How could he already know that he was out in the new regime?  I think the obvious reason is more likely the correct answer.

mejunglechop

March 25th, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^

Relevant section:

<blockquote>He said his decision to leave Michigan “was not a football-based decision.”

“I enjoyed playing here and I loved my time here,” he said. “I just wanted to be able to get back home whenever I could.

“It’s been portrayed in the media in some places that my family was having hardships but I’ve never said that,” Vinopal said. “I simply said I wanted to be closer to my family and be more accessible to them.”</blockquote>

Edit: why is this screwed up omgshirtless?

mejunglechop

March 25th, 2011 at 10:16 AM ^

The difference between a three hour and one hour drive isn't that big of a deal. I doubt it's enough on its own to make someone start from scratch at a new school. If location were such an overriding concern you'd think he would have ended up at YSU.

TrppWlbrnID

March 25th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^

it actually is a big deal.  for a weekend trip, not really, but if you are thinking about having to get home for your uncle's birthday on a tuesday night, or your parents coming to meet you for dinner, a one hour drive is pretty easy.  i figure that your duration of stay has to be about a 2:1 ratio of time of travel, personally, to make the trip worthwhile, so by my math 6 hours of travel would require a 12 hour stay, 18 total hours, whereas a 2 hour roundtrip equals a 4 hour stay, just enough time to see the dorm room, go to dinner, talk to coach and get back on the road.

Pete the Numbat

March 25th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^

I lived three hours away from Michigan, and going home was not an easy thing.  Especially when you're a frosh/soph living in the dorms.  I got to go home for holidays, and a couple special occasions my freshman year because I was homesick.  By the time I was a junior, going home was just something that wasn't possible most of the time because the six hour round trip was just too much.

SWFLWolverine

March 25th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

We have kids the same age going to war thousands of miles away from home. Ray is entitled to transfer for whatever reason he wants, but I would think that the team is also a family. I would certainly encourage my children to hold to their commitment and see it through. I wonder how Lewan and Roh feel about his 3 hour drive home!? He has abandoned his team and while I do not wish the kid ill, I certainly do not wish him success on the field...he is simply a kid that plays for a possible opponent and I do hope he regrets this decision immensely.

wlubd

March 25th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^

"It looks like he just didn't see himself playing for Michigan any longer."

Which if one reads the article is because he'd like to be close to his family. Maybe there wasn't one event that led him to return home but it's unfair to say he isn't leaving for family reasons, at least based on that article alone.

ChrisPerryCarry

March 25th, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^

Everyone had stated that he was having family problems and that is not the case. The coach he commits to play for gets fired and he has an opportunity to play for some of the same coaches and it's closer to home. Sounds like an excuse to leave. If you can't read between the lines on that and try to understand a teenagers thought process then try again.

Magnum P.I.

March 25th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^

Youngstown to Pittsburgh: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Youngstown to Ann Arbor: 3 hours, 32 minutes

Hmm, doesn't seem like a difference of just over two hours travel time would necessitate a move, especially when it's to a school 35 spots lower on the US News rankings. But, I don't know anything about the kid's situation. 

oriental andrew

March 25th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^

Seriously?  35 spots is some significant amount to you?  Do you realize there are over 2,400 4 year colleges and universities in the United States?  That puts Michigan around the top 1.04% and Pitt - at 35 spots lower -  at about the top 2.5%.  Your denigration of Pitt for being a lesser academic institution is just ridiculous.  

As the crow flies, the distance between AA and Youngstown is about the same as the distance to Traverse City, Gary IN, Lafayette IN, Cin-Day OH, and Hamilton ON.  Those are long drives.  

And maybe one of his requirements was a BCS school within an hour or so of home.  Guess how many there are?  1 -  Pitt.  

Ziff72

March 25th, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^

Did anyone else hear he was the leader to start because he had grasped the defense so well?

Seems hard to believe the family thing is the only basis for his decision.  As with many things it was probably a bunch of little things that lead to 1 big decision because to leave a starting gig at Michigan to be 3 hours closer to home seems a little nuts.   Factors could be....didn't like coaches, really liked Gibson, homesick, girlfriend, sensed wasn't going to win the job etc..

neoavatara

March 25th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^

He is gone, for his reasons.  I wish the kid the best, and time to move on.

On a side note...has there ever been this much talk about a former 2* on this site?

Blue Mind and Heart

March 25th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^

I took two points from the original announcement

- he was homesick

- he looked around the field and felt that the new regime was going to emphasize a scheme that would require more speed/strength/athleticism than as a 1*/2* surprise recruit, he could provide.  Since I am trying to be positive about the D in '11, I take this as another sign that we will be better, much better.  

His new comments seem to reinforce this view.  Probably more emphasis on the second point.  

Michael Scarn

March 25th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^

Really hope the OP forgot /s after the text of his post.  There is literally nothing in the article that suggests anything other than wanting to be close to home and still be able to play in a BCS AQ conference (albeit the worst one). 

ChrisPerryCarry

March 25th, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^

If i'm 11 then what would you call the people who neg me when it doesn't count. I'm going to show my dislike for this by using a neg which has no power whatsoever. Please keep negging me and I'll keep posting and adding to my awesome point total. It's great to be 11 and have no responsibilities.