Unconquered

maize, he sounds solid... really solid. Best of luck.

We did the same thing as Urban last year but the difference is that Michigan does not negatively recruit like other schools. Also there is no gentlemen's agreement, only the coaches who lost recruits think there is a gentlemen's agreement.

Tom Whithers? Who in the world is Tom Whithers? Cass Tech's head coach is named Tom Wilcher. And while Cass Tech is generally a Michigan pipeline, they also send players to other schools. Vernon Gholston went to Ohio State, Dior Mathis went to Oregon, Ruben Liles and Laron Taylor went to Iowa. Acting like Michigan can't lose Cass Tech kids is ridiculous. As for Hoke's policy of pulling scholarships of players that visit elsewhere, it's a hypocritical and counterproductive strategy. In fact, I don't think you can consistently recruit elite talent with such a policy. The elite kids are turned off by it....completely. You mentioned earlier Royce Jenkins-Stone and Terry Richardson. They both were upset about not being able to not visit other schools. Michigan almost lost one of them because of the idiotic policy. Michigan DID end up losing their most athletic DL prospect in Pharaoh Brown to Oregon for the same reason. I'm not so sure why people always get so exicited about CT kids anyway. They usually are complete busts in college and usually don't come in very well coached at all (although this is changing). Michigan in particular has had absolutely terrible luck with kids from Cass Tech. Dawson comes back to Cass Tech after some time at Cypress Creek and will be well ahead of most of his peers in the Detroit PSL. I think he's a solid player, but I know he definitely wants to visit other schools. We'll see if Hoke is naive enough to actually pull his scholarship. I hope he does. It just shows that Michigan is not committed to playing big boy football.

and I thought OSU fans were dense

It is a fact that many elite recruits are turned off by a policy of pulling offers from kids that visit other schools. Do you disagree with this statement? Hoke's "rule" is one that is not used by elite programs. It may keep some kids in the fold, but it virtually disqualifies Michigan in the eyes of a lot of the top kids. I'm not sure how one could even argue that. Your comment about FSU's so called underacheiving is really irrelevant. I'm talking about recruiting ALONE, not what one does with it. FSU is recruiting a more elite athlete than Michigan and will continue to do so. I would not be happy if Jimbo adopted Hoke's antiquated policy. It shows a misunderstanding of the contemporary recruiting situation and probably would have cost FSU Jameis Winston, Mario Edwards, Mario Pender, Eddie Goldman, Ronald Darby, etc. Whether you want to admit it or not, Hoke's policy is not a model most would follow.

As for your other comments, I never stated that Laron Taylor or Ruben Liles were offered by Michigan. It doesn't matter whether they were or not - they weren't going to go to Michigan either way. The only point is that Cass Tech is not the 100% Michigan pipleline some make it out to be. I actually think Dawson will stick with Michigan. In fact, weeks ago, I stated that he'd commit to Michigan if he got an offer. However, it is an UNDENIABLE fact that he wants to take other visits. You would know that if you talked to him. It'll be interesting to see how Hoke handles that. Please don't take my post personally. I actually always thought Hoke was the right man for the Michigan job even when most Michigan fans excoriated the possibility. I just don't think his recruiting policy is good in the long run. I think it works right now to some degree because he's selling a dream and has a ton of playing time to offer. Michigan's roster is a disaster. Once the overall talent level is higher, potential playing time decreases, and the honeymoon period ends, I see Hoke's policy as incredibly naive. This is especially so with Urban Meyer down at OSU. Meyer has to love that Hoke is doing that.

I wouldn't get too excited...it's only February. Still plenty of time for Urby to steal em.

Urban is getting wayyyyyyyyyyy too much credit for "stealing recruits", he got Pittman from MSU (who was only there because of the mess that Tressell and TP made) and then devoured PSU's class because of obvious reasons. He managed to flip one other person who was an Ohio native and lifelong Ohio fan. Urbie doesn't have his best recruiter from Florida (Mattison) and doesn't have Timmy Tebow to bail him out anymore. I predict many more "health problems" in his very near future.

maize, it's just one class and we're less than 1 month into it.

I'm really impressed with what you did on D last year; and I like what you're building on O for 2013 (esp. QB & OL). I'm looking forward to 2013 where we finally see what Borges' west-coast, pro-style O looks like with the players you're recruiting... I'm not impressed with your current O: DRob drop-back, check off 3 WRs, then *depend* on DRob to scramble for a first down.

Until Denard graduates our Offense will be one dimensional because when he gets into the game and is pressured he throws off his back foot and his accuracy and arm strength disappears.

In theory that is a good policy, but in practice it could cost you.

For example we may have lost Mario Edwards last year if we didnt allow him to visit elsewhere. Notre Dame lost 5 star DB Ronald Darby because of this. They are 18 year olds, if for nothing else let them have free vacations. As someone who lives in Michigan, at least let them get out of Michigan's winter for a weekend or two

You sound awful confident for a team that had one pretty good year playing a weak schedule.

Look, I have no problems with Michigan, I live about 15-20 minutes from Ann Arbor, I watched every Michigan game from when I was 5 or so until I graduated HS. Michigan was one of my favorite teams. Since moving back to Michigan last year, I have watched a few Michigan games again. I was in attendance for the UM-MSU game this year. Michigan is Michigan, they are always going to be above average (except when RR is there). Michigan should be recruiting like they are now every year and should have been doing it every year in the past. Michigan fans are acting like its unprecedented the way they are recruiting now, yet teams like FSU, USC, Florida, Texas, Ohio St, etc do it year in and year out. Michigan has the history where they should be doing it as well.

And your coaches have been there one year, ONE YEAR, give it time, every program has decommits. Wait until your staff is in place for more than one year. Not letting kids visit elsewhere is another risk added to players decommiting.

I don't have to worry about that but he would just lose his spot and have to take a bunch of visits to Michigan again and have a couple meetings with the coaches to get back in the class.