Observations of a Transplanted Buckeye

[killme]

3. Recruiting. Harbaugh and other big names in the coaching profession will be calling several of our commitments for 2015 and I hope we are buttoning things up on the recruiting front as the day of backing off of committed athletes in the BIG Ten is over.

I disagree with some things you wrote, and those have been addressed by others. I agree Kill should seek other opinions from the coaching fraternity, which he and his staff have done for years. But the credibility of your overall perspective of the state of the program really comes into question for me with Point #3. From my perspective -- and I'm not an expert -- I didn't think our recruits would even be allowed to walk on at Michigan or the schools with Big Name coaches. And, your Point #4 illustrates why if Kill did worry about #3 and spend some extra time trying to "button them up," it probably would be wasted time when they play the facility card. I personally believe JK and his staff get kids to come in spite of our facility deficiencies because they're coming to be coached, developed and to be part of this "program."

 

[beavergopher]

Losing the bowl game is a big deal as it ends the season on a down note and diminishes the overall optimism that built up this season.

 

[Friend of the U]

" I didn't think our recruits would even be allowed to walk on at Michigan or the schools with Big Name coaches".

Greetings,

What I am referring too are the kids that have verbally committed to Jerry but have not yet signed their Letter of Intent. That occurs in early February. Until they have signed the Letter of Intent they can continue to visit other universities (5 total official visits). Jerry has secured commitments from several young men that have posted outstanding performances in post season All-Star games. Harbaugh has just taken over at Michigan and he will be contacting kids regardless of previous commitments to other Universities. Jerry and his staff have shown a knack for uncovering "hidden gems". These are kids that are not highly recruited but have outstanding athletic abilities. When these young men participate in post season All-Star games and play like they are "Jim Thorpe reincarnated" coaches like Harbaugh and particularly the SEC coaches will go after these young men right up until signing day making them all kinds of "promises" that can sound very appealing to the kids. I believe Jerry and his staff are excellent recruiters and are all over this one like "smoke on fire". But I listed it as a potential concern that I have because the day of coaches honoring commitments that kids have made to other universities no longer exist in the Big Ten like it did 5 yrs. ago.