Harbaugh pulls commit's offer two weeks before signing day

[umichgradfan]

I can't think of a single time when Urban offered a kid to play at Ohio State, or had an existing commitment, only to pull his scholarship out of thin air. Now, it doesn't sound like that's quite what happened with Swenson, but nothing like that happened with OSU. There was the DB commit we had that didn't get cleared by OSU coaches, but that was at least merited.

Do tell. Apparently the Michigan coaches did not "clear" Swenson.

 

[cwerph]

I saw this post yesterday. Let me get this straight: You are saying that Meyer and Ohio State don't accept commitments and then rescind them. Riiiiiight.

Again, remember that only one side of this situation is currently being heard.

As for the two other commitments, they re-opened their recruitments themselves. Perhaps they saw the writing on the wall. Again, no one knows what really happened.

Did you read the article? They were TOLD to start looking around. And please don't act like this isn't exactly what Harbaugh did at Stanford. He fills up the class with lower rated kids to try to gain momentum, then dumps them in the end if he can find higher rated kids to fill their spots.

I'm just enjoying the 180 degree turn made by most Michigan fans on this.

 

[umichgradfan]

Did you read the article? They were TOLD to start looking around. And please don't act like this isn't exactly what Harbaugh did at Stanford. He fills up the class with lower rated kids to try to gain momentum, then dumps them in the end if he can find higher rated kids to fill their spots.

I'm just enjoying the 180 degree turn made by most Michigan fans on this.

Enjoy away.

 

[Deep Creek]

At least Harbaugh isn't pulling a Mack Brown. Brown would have his next recruiting class finished the day after NSD and before the kids even played their senior year. Look how that shitty strategy worked out!

 

[Across The Field]

Do tell. Apparently the Michigan coaches did not "clear" Swenson.

His name was Jamel Dean. He had a history of knee injuries, including in his senior year. He enrolled early, which is really upsetting and my heart goes out to him. He was examined by the OSU doctors and they expressed serious long-term concerns with his knee and wouldn't clear him to play. OSU did still honor his scholarship had he decided to stay at Ohio State, but he wanted to still play so he transferred to Auburn.

 

[umichgradfan]

His name was Jamel Dean. He had a history of knee injuries, including in his senior year. He enrolled early, which is really upsetting and my heart goes out to him. He was examined by the OSU doctors and they expressed serious long-term concerns with his knee and wouldn't clear him to play. OSU did still honor his scholarship had he decided to stay at Ohio State, but he wanted to still play so he transferred to Auburn.

I've read about Dean's "medical" scholarship offer. Michigan has had at least one similar case. But, we aren't discussing medical scholarships. We are discussing rescinding offers made to players who are physically able to play. Let's just not pretend that Urban Meyer occupies the moral high ground here.

 

[cwerph]

I've read about Dean's "medical" scholarship offer. Michigan has had at least one similar case. But, we aren't discussing medical scholarships. We are discussing rescinding offers made to players who are physically able to play. Let's just not pretend that Urban Meyer occupies the moral high ground here.

No one ever did. Only Michigan fans did that.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Who ever said Harbaugh is the morality police? This is the guy who almost got in a fight with Jim Schwartz after a post game back slap after beating the Lions.

As was stated earlier. Any top program is having multiple changes in recruiting classes. This is only a big deal because it is Harbaugh and everything he does gets headlines and the kid said he blindly pulled the offer 2 weeks before signing day. We won't know what the truth is til Swenson signs elsewhere

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I can't think of a single time when Urban offered a kid to play at Ohio State, or had an existing commitment, only to pull his scholarship out of thin air. Now, it doesn't sound like that's quite what happened with Swenson, but nothing like that happened with OSU. There was the DB commit we had that didn't get cleared by OSU coaches, but that was at least merited.

lol, merited....they cut him because they're class was too big and he was injured -- needing a few months to recover. He played this year (I think for Auburn). Yes, OSU's doctors were right in that he was injured. But no one's going to convince me that because a kid had a knee injury (like a billion other players and recruits) he should no longer play football (as suggested by the team "doctors" at OSU). It's especially convenient that the revoked scholarship made OSU hit the correct number of scholarships last year.

 

[cwerph]

lol, merited....they cut him because they're class was too big and he was injured -- needing a few months to recover. He played this year (I think for Auburn). Yes, OSU's doctors were right in that he was injured. But no one's going to convince me that because a kid had a knee injury (like a billion other players and recruits) he should no longer play football (as suggested by the team "doctors" at OSU). It's especially convenient that the revoked scholarship made OSU hit the correct number of scholarships last year.

Since he was a transfer last school year, he could not possibly have played.

 

[Across The Field]

lol, merited....they cut him because they're class was too big and he was injured -- needing a few months to recover. He played this year (I think for Auburn). Yes, OSU's doctors were right in that he was injured. But no one's going to convince me that because a kid had a knee injury (like a billion other players and recruits) he should no longer play football (as suggested by the team "doctors" at OSU). It's especially convenient that the revoked scholarship made OSU hit the correct number of scholarships last year.

I can see the point you're making, and it would make sense if not for the fact that we were needing DBs badly in that class and this kid was near the top of the rankings. We've taken plenty of kids before that were injured when they signed their LOI, several of them taking a RS Freshman year to make sure they're fully healthy before they step onto the field. No reason to believe they wouldn't have done so with an elite prospect at a position of need if they thought he was going to be able to safely do so.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Since he was a transfer last school year, he could not possibly have played.

He definitely had to sit out a year. I've had no clue who you guys were talking about until the name was posted. First article I read -- Dean went to Dr. James Andrews to get a consultation regarding his knee and he cleared him to play. This is the same Dr. Andrews that the elite of the elite go to for answers. His client list includes, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Peyton Manning, Allen Iverson, Bo Jackson, Albert Pujols, Drew Brees, Troy Aikman, etc.

Whichever OSU fan posted the article about the meniscus tear his senior year -- I'd strike that from any discussion as that is the most minor knee injury you can have and it only takes a few weeks to be completely fine.

That being said -- I don't have any issue as long as the school gives them time to look at other schools. Those saying he was a top recruit -- While he wasn't a slouch -- he was the 50th ranked recruit out of Florida and #340 ranked recruit in the country, much lower than the two CB's signed in the class (ranked #36 and #52 nationally)

 

[MiamiVice]

He definitely had to sit out a year. I've had no clue who you guys were talking about until the name was posted. First article I read -- Dean went to Dr. James Andrews to get a consultation regarding his knee and he cleared him to play. This is the same Dr. Andrews that the elite of the elite go to for answers. His client list includes, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Peyton Manning, Allen Iverson, Bo Jackson, Albert Pujols, Drew Brees, Troy Aikman, etc.

Whichever OSU fan posted the article about the meniscus tear his senior year -- I'd strike that from any discussion as that is the most minor knee injury you can have and it only takes a few weeks to be completely fine.

That being said -- I don't have any issue as long as the school gives them time to look at other schools. Those saying he was a top recruit -- While he wasn't a slouch -- he was the 50th ranked recruit out of Florida and #340 ranked recruit in the country, much lower than the two CB's signed in the class (ranked #36 and #52 nationally)

Honestly... kids flip on signing day every year screwing over the programs they were committed to... the fact he was given a heads up to start looking at other schools and taking official visits a month before should be applauded. Seriously.. if you are a commit and your recruiter calls you and tells you to take your official visits... he isn't saying that because he wants you to stay... obviously UM just wanted him to figure it out and move along instead of having to go the route they went.. but since he wasn't getting the hint... they had to pull the offer.

 

[cwerph]

Honestly... kids flip on signing day every year screwing over the programs they were committed to... the fact he was given a heads up to start looking at other schools and taking official visits a month before should be applauded. Seriously.. if you are a commit and your recruiter calls you and tells you to take your official visits... he isn't saying that because he wants you to stay... obviously UM just wanted him to figure it out and move along instead of having to go the route they went.. but since he wasn't getting the hint... they had to pull the offer.

This is exactly correct, but Michigan fans in general (not necessarily you particularly) have made great sport of calling Nick Saban and Urban Meyer "slimy" for pulling this kind of crap for years.

It's kinda fun to throw it back in their faces.

 

[Codaxx]

Who ever said Harbaugh is the morality police? This is the guy who almost got in a fight with Jim Schwartz after a post game back slap after beating the Lions.

As was stated earlier. Any top program is having multiple changes in recruiting classes. This is only a big deal because it is Harbaugh and everything he does gets headlines and the kid said he blindly pulled the offer 2 weeks before signing day. We won't know what the truth is til Swenson signs elsewhere

Not true. When Strong came in he said 2015 scholarships will be honored and 2016 offers are subject. Hemphill was a recruit that was upset about it, but was reoffered and eventually resigned. That is proper way to do it. Clearly this kid thought he had a scholarship.

This isn't like a lot of offers that are "uncommittable". Saban is famous for offering, but with the idea that the offer is only valid after you visit and talk to the staff. That is nothing like this. They were probably trying to push him out and the kid didn't take the hint. Be a man and just tell him from the start, don't pull it in Jan.

 

[MiamiVice]

This is exactly correct, but Michigan fans in general (not necessarily you particularly) have made great sport of calling Nick Saban and Urban Meyer "slimy" for pulling this kind of crap for years.

It's kinda fun to throw it back in their faces.

I get it... every major program that wants to win is going to do what they have to do... I wasn't a fan of Meyer before he was at Ohio State... he ran a total slime ball program at Florida that recruited guys based on talent with known character flaws... Saban at least has some level character requirements... if a kid can pass a test and can play elite ball.. meyer will sign him... he doesn't care. Eventually fans of Ohio State will see this... Meyer destroyed Florida's reputation and had no control of his players. Its only a matter of time until Meyer pulls the same stunt he did at UF in Ohio... when he leaves he is going to make the whole Lebron James leaving ohio thing look like a going away party.

 

[MiamiVice]

Not true. When Strong came in he said 2015 scholarships will be honored and 2016 offers are subject. Hemphill was a recruit that was upset about it, but was reoffered and eventually resigned. That is proper way to do it. Clearly this kid thought he had a scholarship.

This isn't like a lot of offers that are "uncommittable". Saban is famous for offering, but with the idea that the offer is only valid after you visit and talk to the staff. That is nothing like this. They were probably trying to push him out and the kid didn't take the hint. Be a man and just tell him from the start, don't pull it in Jan.

Why anyone would even remotely feel bad for the kid after finding out that UM called him and told him to take his official visits to other schools is beyond me... Seriously.. How stupid do you have to be to not realize what they are saying. Its like interviewing for a job and the employer telling you to go out interview for other jobs... do you think you are getting hired there?

 

[MiamiVice]

According to a New York Times report, Meyer’s 2008 Florida Gators team that won the BCS national championship is in rarified air when it comes to being jailed. There were 121 players listed on the roster of that year’s squad, according to the report, and 41 of those players were arrested either during their tenure as a UF student or after graduating.


Comparing pulling an offer to what Meyer does is a little off.

 

[Codaxx]

Why anyone would even remotely feel bad for the kid after finding out that UM called him and told him to take his official visits to other schools is beyond me... Seriously.. How stupid do you have to be to not realize what they are saying. Its like interviewing for a job and the employer telling you to go out interview for other jobs... do you think you are getting hired there?

Your own Michigan blog said the kid didn't get definitive answer until 2 weeks before the story broke. The kid was a commit for years. He committed to Michigan. Harbaugh waited almost a full year to pull the scholarship. I don't remember seeing Urban or Saban doing that. He can pretend this is common practice, but I cant remember many situations like this.

 

[MiamiVice]

Your own Michigan blog said the kid didn't get definitive answer until 2 weeks before the story broke. The kid was a commit for years. He committed to Michigan. Harbaugh waited almost a full year to pull the scholarship. I don't remember seeing Urban or Saban doing that. He can pretend this is common practice, but I cant remember many situations like this.

I don't think you understand.. they didn't come right out and tell him they were pulling the offer because they wanted him to walk away on his own to avoid exactly what happened... They talked to him the first week of January and told him to take official visits... that may not be direct to some.. but if anyone with a brain got that call they would have taken the hint.