Would you do Blue?
Would you do Blue? Why or why not?
As a Michigan fan, I had a hard time being objective about this question. But I think that if I was a recruit doing my homework, I'd have to go with Michigan. Some reasons, in no particular order, include:
1. Low-injury success: As most already know, Harbaugh took a 1-11 Stanford and made them 11-1 in just a few years. But I believe he also did so while reducing injuries by some 87%. As an NFL hopeful, this would be a big selling point.
2. Top staff: More than half of these guys have coached in a Superbowl. What? Yes. The average NFL experience on this staff exceeds 8 years. They are more NFL than some NFL staffs. These guys know what it takes at the very top. And they are as well connected as any college staff could ever hope to be.
3. Player development: Even if I felt myself to be an NFL shoe-in, I'd want to be in a high-visibility program that maximized my development and draft stock. Harbaugh has consistently done so, sending many unheralded recruits to the league and getting the most out of his available talent. He helped a three-star running back become a Heisman runner-up the year before making a four-star quarterback a household name. On a related note, Harbaugh's linemen consistently BEAST, which is crucial for skill players to be able to best showcase themselves.
4. Winning: As everyone knows, Harbaugh is a winner. But the extent of his winning is unprecedented in the modern era. In the NFL, he's in the top-5 list of winningest coaches ever (at least 50 games). Some of the names in front of him are Lombardi and Madden. He's the only modern coach in the top 10 (Shula, at #10, stopped in the mid-90s; all the others retired by the end of the 70s). Belichick, for a modern comparison, comes in at #14. And this is the NFL, where NC-winners like Saban and Spurrier couldn't even hack it.
5. Michigan: Of course. Most wins; great academics; and a tremendous, successful, and passionate alumni base.
Those are my quick thoughts. What are yours? Would you do Blue?
January 20th, 2015 at 6:54 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 6:56 AM ^
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January 20th, 2015 at 7:00 AM ^
Blue know it 
January 20th, 2015 at 7:00 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 7:12 AM ^
There are a lot of good teams out there. I would do it because I grew up in Michgan and that is THE TEAM.
You also brought up the other factor: Harbaugh. That is all that needs to be said there.
However you have a lot of other teams that have looked a lot better than Michigan the past few years and I cant but help thinking about that. These recruits haven't seen Michigan at its prime and all they have seen growing up is SEC and ESPN talk non stop about that beast on saturday mornings. It's kind of hard to avoid that elephant...
January 20th, 2015 at 7:15 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 7:15 AM ^
Give me one of those helmets and let the ghost of yost carry me onto the field.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:21 AM ^
I'm just curious as to who you think is going to say no on this blog?
January 20th, 2015 at 7:29 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:09 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^
I am born and raised in Michigan. All I've ever known was that UM was a great place, the Big House, Ann Arbor, academics. My parents weren't Michigan fans, so I figured it out on my own living here. If I were a world class athlete from Michigan, I would have an undying loyalty to represent a school from my home state, and the best school at that. Now I was never smart enough to get into UM, but I'm smart enough to realize what it has done for the people that went there and how lucky they are they went there.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:43 AM ^
Blue is a bit old for me, but what the Hell?
January 20th, 2015 at 7:48 AM ^
Just to give an unbiased opinion here you have to consider other team's success in the most recent. ..... I can not be unbiased!! GO BLUE ALL THE WAY!!!
January 20th, 2015 at 7:59 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:05 AM ^
I think Michigan is hard to beat in so many ways, but I had a problem with D'Shawn Hand's recruitment. The kid dreamed of being a civil engineer and had some interest in sports communications. From the blog it sounded like we pushed him to sports communications. HARBAUGH even angered people when he made comments about this while at Stanford. If the new staff encourages the kids to major in engineering, science, math, business or whatever they want, I'd say Michigan is impossible to beat.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:32 AM ^
especially when we have a top notch engineering program. I say let the kid do it and give him all the ethical resources necessary to allow him to do it.
It's not like it hasn't been done before.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:41 AM ^
Maybe his numbers (grades, test scores) were way outside the engineering school's range for incoming students. It may have been that simple.
Who knows? They may have been outside Alabama's, too. But, schools that make use of "bag men" are probably more likely to sweet-talk recruits.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^
Engineering school is pretty challenging, even for full time students. Playing varsity sports takes up as much time as a part-time job. Whle it has been done on rare occasions, it's hard to imagine being successful at both playing varsity sports and competing in engineering school.
The options would be varsity sports, engineering, sleep - choose two.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:08 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:16 AM ^
although USC or Stanford would be hard to pass up.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:24 AM ^
Mind you, this is not my opinion but if you were recruiting against Harbaugh you would try to spin it differently.
1. San Fransisco and injuries were a real discussion point this year in the media. There were a number of times that Harbaugh was asked about injuries and was on record talking about them.
I agree that he could tout his injury record at Stanford as a selling point. It would be interesting if a recruit asked him why there were so many injuries at SF what his answer would be.
2. Harbaugh doesn't have a National Championship as a coach.
This is reaching by a coach with a National Championship, but you could point to Mattison for coaching experience. I only bring this up because the constant reminder from rival fans is that Harbaugh hasn't won anything (Super Bowl, National Championship). While I contend that these things are on the horizon for a Harbaugh led staff, a staff nervous about the new guy on the block would still want to bring it up. Of course this isn't unique to Harbaugh - any coach with a National Championship ring would want to bring it up no matter who they were recruiting against.
4. Harbaugh only won because Andrew Luck.
There isn't a whole lot an opposing coach could say here against player development - especially when Harbaugh is splicing game tape together showing a recruit how they would be utilized. If it's player development and getting kids to the NFL that someone is going to try to argue against I think this would be an uphill battle for another coach. Harbaugh has a oretty good track record here.
5. Michigan - cold weather, small city (insert any other comment about Ann Arbor not being LA, Miami, etc.) Also would point to last 7 years of football and make comments about how it would be taking a chance to play there.
The counter to this is it's Harbaugh, dummy. Michigan, Texas, Notre Dame, and Alabama all get people interested because of their name recognition. Once again, who better to sell the Michigan tradition than Harbaugh.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:24 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:32 AM ^
Would I "do Blue"? No, that just seems creepy:
Not my type, but not judging. Well, judging a bit ... .
January 20th, 2015 at 9:19 AM ^
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's a really awkward turn of phrase. I would go Blue, but not do Blue.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
Pink
Our minds are in the gutter this morning.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
There's no way of knowing what kind of decision I'd make as a recruit without knowing the coaches. Especially their coaching styles and how they actually interact with their players on the practice field and off it. We might think we know that about Harbaugh, but we really don't. And I'd want to know how I fit in with the rest of the actual team.
It's just not a question that I think anyone here is equipped to answer, because anyone speaking truly objectively will know they don't have the right facts. It's easy to say "ya hellz ya i'd go to Michigan!! wooo Blue!!!" but then, to this day I still don't know whether I'd've picked U-M or Georgia Tech, had I not gotten into my first choice. Lot of considerations for school besides rooting for the football team.
Also, how is Harbaugh even in sniffing range of the top-ten winningest coaches ever in the NFL? Unless you mean winning percentage.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
Yes he meant %, Harbaugh left as the 5th highest winning % coach of all time.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:33 AM ^
GO BLUE!!
January 20th, 2015 at 8:39 AM ^
I don't do yellow.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 9:00 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 8:50 AM ^
likely doesn't have Alabama or OSU on his list. He's choosing between Michigan and Stanford. And as much as I love Michigan that's not an easy decision to make.
As for my own kids, they're going to Michigan if they like it or not. In-state tuition (paid for by me) and one of the best schools academically on the entire planet.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:09 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^
is going to be a 1st round NFL draft pick someday. Brady Hoke had coached Michigan to a crap 7-5 season the year before.
I imagine that a great education is less important to him than playing for Saban is.
EDIT: Was not aware of our previous staff allegedly steering him towards a Sports Communication degree as opposed to engineering. So if Bama would let him into their engineering program, and Michigan wouldn't, then his decision makes more sense from an educational perspective. That said, I'd take a Michigan degree in just about anything over an Alabama degree. It's really not a very good school.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
Myron Rolle. Many thought Michigan had a really good shot at landing him but where did he decide to go? FSU. There definitely are a lot on here that lets their fandom for Michigan impair their analysis of how or why a kid picks a school.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:10 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
Would do.
Would not do (NTTAWWT).
January 20th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
i would also throw the (its a cold weather state) in my selling point, and reference that if you want to be in the NFL most teams in the league play in cold weather, so playing here would also weather wise prepare you better for the next level
January 20th, 2015 at 10:48 PM ^
"Real football" is played down south!
Except the best football teams in the NFL are far north of the Mason Dixon.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:03 AM ^
I think the honest truth is MANY of these kids dont give a darn (or much of one) about academics. They think they are going to the NFL. I am reading the OP as a guy who has major NFL aspirations - since you said development is key. If I am a 3 star who realizes I can play CFB but probably never NFL Michigan makes a lot of sense as "top 3".
Right now Michigan has been lacking in high level player development AND winning. Yes those things can change on a dime and you hope so with Harbaugh but right now you are looking at his San Fran years more than anything - he had "1 great year" at Stanford as our rivals would say, in college. In 2 years its a different conversation.
To be blunt if I was analytical I'd' look #1 at the SEC as that is where a lot of NFL players are coming from now. I'd look at the staff's player development at my position. I'd look at the position coach and think how long he plans to be at the school - if dude is 59 I'd me more apt to believe he would be around to develop me, if i he was 38 yes he would be more relatable but more likely to be gone to a promotion in my time there. I'd look at the HC the same way - is he going to be around. If he goes his whole staff can leave. Weather would matter to me - yes in the NFL I have to deal with Green Bay but if I can live for 4 years in a wonderful climate why wouldn't I? Those mid January walks from the Hill to wherever on campus are not fun at 12 degrees. Winning would matter to me. Generally teams full of well developed players win. And my competitive streak would hate losing.
Assuming all the below schools are doing the above (some have been down due to coaching) AND academics matttered my pool would be something like:
- USC
- UCLA
- Florida
- Stanford
If academics did not matter it would be a lot broader to the south. Georgia, Bama, Texas would both appeal greatly because I love the tradition aspect. Not that Georgia and Texas are poor schools - both rank pretty darn well nationally once you get past that top tier of the Michigans, North Carolinas, UCLAs.
If I didnt care about weather PSU and UM would come into play but all things being equal enjoying weather at USC v PSU/UM would sway it for me.
TL; DR I'd love a blue blood WITH a competent coaching staff who develops players - specifically with a coach at my position who i thought would stick around to develop me. And all things being equal, I'd prefer to play in a warm climate just for comfort. If USC had the righ staff it would be difficult for me not to go there. UCLA as well. I just love SoCal's weather and I still get a very good conference, lots of tradition, very good academics, etc. And I have not touched on the hot chicks aspect which for most 17 year old guys matters. ;)
January 20th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
I agree with this except I would add Texas to your academic group. UT-Austin is a pretty good school with great weather and all the trappings that come along with it. If academics did not matter, I would look at ASU as well. Hell of a campus atmosphere.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:03 AM ^
is like asking the denizens of an opium den if they would prefer opium or a swift kick in the nuts.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
if I am a wide receiver recruit. Who is going to throw the ball to me? Let's face it we do not have a proven thrower. We don't have a QB that has thrown a TD pass yet. I'm not saying one of these guys is not going to develope into one. Harbaugh is the man for a QB
But if your an outside guy you have to question that. I would. But knowing Harbaugh is the coach one of these guys will turn into the man that can do the job. Personally I like Malzone.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
But there are too many other things to consider.
- Distance from home. If you have a close family relationship, if your family is settled in a home in an acceptable neighborhood, if you want to be able to go home, if you like your area of the country, this is a huge factor. To the OP, I would ask, what part of the country are you from? If you yourself are from Michigan, it makes sense that you love Michigan. But for someone from California, it would make sense that they would like their own state. There also is weather to consider.
- Academic programs. You suggested that Michigan had great academics. But you really have to look at different programs. Stanford, Notre Dame, Texas, Northwestern, Duke, Cal - Berkeley, UCLA, Virginia, USC, Wake Forest, are all great schools, and rated more highly than Michigan academically. In a particular program, they could well be stronger than Michigan. More than that, Michigan has a number of programs that are inaccessible to football players, that won't flex for football players. iirc, it is impossible to be in the nursing program and be on the team. I think that architecture might be in the same boat. And there are a number of programs that Michigan doesn't have, or isn't strong in. I think, for instance, that if I wanted to go into film making, I might go to USC ahead of Michigan.
- Success in placing athletes in the NFL. Let's be honest: there are plenty of schools who have been much more successful in preparing and grooming players for the next level. If that is what your primary interest is in, maybe you would be wise to go to Alabama, or Ohio State, or any number of other schools.
- Depth chart when you're enrolling. You can talk all you want about "we only want players who don't shy away from competition." Yes, this makes sense . . . to a degree. But honestly, beyond a certain level, it makes sense to go to a school where they NEED you, not where you are a luxury.
It is great that you are such a loyal Michigan fan. But realistically, there are all kinds of good reasons for people to consider other schools.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 10:26 AM ^
I absolutely love Michigan. I love the tradition, the program, and the campus. If I was an in-state recruit, I would most likely go to Michigan
That being said, there is almost no chance I would come here to play football IF I was from out of state. There are plenty of prominent academic institutions across the country that have respectable football programs; plus the huge caveat: weather. It would be tough to choose Michigan over the likes of a UCLA or USC.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^