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 11:10 AM ^
I've been a Michigan fan all my life so UM would be at the top of the list, but if I'm being honest, when I was 17 or 18 years old, I had females on the mind constantly (well, still do). I have to think it would have been a tough choice for my sex-addled, poor-judgment, pre-adult brain to turn down ASU or AZ or USC or Miami (YTM). In the end, I think UM would have won me over.
January 20th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
that our athletes get laid plenty. In fact, the only person that I'm 100% confident never got laid in A2 is Drew Sharp.
January 20th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
Maybe.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
Probably not if I'm being realistic.
If I'm a recruit right now, I've probably done a number of visits already and have been talking with coaches and thinking over what school I want to go to for months if not years.
If I'm a 2016er (or later), yeah sure I'd be interested. NFL coach, already attractive schools, great staff, etc.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^
I would do it again in a heart beat.
Here are the things I considered.
1. Education - The number one, top of the list. Some players dont think of it and its iimportant to a lot of us. Great school and institution.
2. Winning - Being a part of somethign special and bigger then yourself. Even when MIchigan isnt doing well, they are still respected as winners.
3. Big House - To get to play there every Saturday infornt of 100,000 plus people.
4. Fans - The greatest fans in the world, even more then Florida.