Austin Hatch takes medical scholarship
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042715aaa.html
Discuss. Also, please be respectful here. There are a lot of Spartys and Buckeyes who are going to use this as an opportunity to prove their classlessness, don't be like them.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
April 27th, 2015 at 10:30 AM ^
Admittedly, I'm partially responding to your post because as a D1 athletics administrator I feel there are misconceptions about taking a medical and I hope more folks read this because it's at the top.
I ask, why dang? There is a HUGE difference between this and what Saban does. This isn't paying a doctor or forcing a doctor or even suggesting to a doctor that a player needs to go a medical hardship so that it frees up a scholarship.
If Hatch could play basketball at the D1, I firmly believe he would be on scholarship at the University of Michigan. Unfortunately, he cannot. I wasn't able to get to a practice today, but I've had multiple folks tell me that he just physically can't move like he used to. He himself admitted on Gameday that he can't do the things he wants.
So when you take this into consideration, add in that he's BEEN a D1 basketball player, he's SCORED at MICHIGAN in his career.
The big thing you need to add into consideration is that if HATCH wants, this changes NOTHING except him playing in actual games. He can practice with the team, he can help run practice, he can travel, he can eat the same team meal, he can have a locker, he can watch film, he can scrimmage, he can go overseas with the team, he can go to study hall with the team, everything. During games he can even be on the bench (probably in a polo and khakis). He just cannot enter the game.
He can have his senior day, he can do all of these things. The medical does not take any of this away. These options would all be between he and the coaching staff.
So what I'm saying is, nothing really changes...because he wasn't playing anyway. This in the end, could very well just take away those 60 seconds he gets to stand on the court while Andrew Dakich dribbles around and lets the time expire. That's it. But he's already done that before...so it's that REALLY that big of a deal?
Ask any walk-on or kid who rode the bench...they much prefer the practices, the bus rides home, the flights, the stories locker room, team film, etc. - once you've done the "end of game" thing a couple times...it's not that big of a deal anymore. Especially if you've scored.
So let's see what Hatch's involvement is moving forward, because he still has an opportunity to be a big part of the program and earn an incredible degree from the University of Michigan (for free).
The kid survived two plane crashes - he'll be fine not having the opportunity to stand on the court maybe 5, 10, 15 more times during blowouts. He can stand on the court whenever else he wants. This doesn't limit access.
Please excuse the rant and any typos...have to get back to work. Will check back later for corrections. In the end do NOT confuse this for an SEC/Urban Meyer type move, it's not even close. If Hatch transfers to Indiana St. and plays 3 years, THEN we all should take issue with this. That's not what is happening.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^
April 27th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
April 27th, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
I don't get it. Austin survived—miraculously, some might say—not one but TWO fatal plane crashes involving his family. He was grievously injured in the second crash to the point of needing extensive hospitalization and rehab just to get back to walking condition, but perservered to the point where he was able to get on the court and play for the university that offered him before the second crash.
The fact that he's alive and apparently able to get on with his life with a UM degree in his pocket is as big a storybook ending as you could possibly want.
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one could assume that something is happening behind the scenes that precipitated this action, especially after Beilein said it wouldn't be the case for 2015
April 27th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
I had a guess, this was likely the plan all along. What Bielien was asked kind of off the cuff was whether he expected any off-season attrition including with Hatch and he said no but it was not the place to say yes. I expected this from the moment he was put into those games late. If he was going to be an active game participant for Michigan there would have been no reason to insert him in those situations especially in the somewhat ceremonial way it was done. I think JB just took his time, said the right things at the right time, with discussions likely on-going with Hatch and deparment the entire time. In this day and age with the type of attrition that college basketball teams endure, you can't just take a scholly away from your team for 4 years just for the sake of an almost unreasonable showing honor and valor.
This was the right move for everybody, for Hatch and the basketball program.
April 27th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
I think they didnt want to end up with a situation where a recruit commits to Michigan and at the same time or shortly thereafter the announcement is made that Austin Hatch will be taking a medical scholarship. That would kind of look bad even though the decision was probably in the making for months. And as someone else said in this thread, there was likely some approval they had to receive from the NCAA that took time to obtain. At least now, the speculation and debate will (hopefully) end over where Michigan is going to come up with a scholarship for either Brown or Williams.
From that perspective the perusal of 2015 kids makes sense the past month or so.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
From the beginning, I said that my wish for Austin Hatch is to get his degree. John Beilein and the University of Michigan have honored their commitment to Hatch and he has been a breath of fresh air around the program.
I hope he follows in his father's footsteps and someday graduates from Michigan as Dr Austin Hatch. However, if he decides coaching is in his future, it would certainly be great to see him on the Michigan sideline for years to come.
At the very least, he will have four years to get his degree. I am happy that he will get those four years and that he can still be around the game he loves.
I think he's already said he's changed his focus from medicine and that he wants to use what he's learned from his experiences to help in other ways, I believe including public speaking (no doubt on the inspirational path).
The mere fact that he's speaking again at all, and so well, after months and months of therapy, makes this another version of a Hollywood ending.
Wishing him the best, and happy to see that he'll still be a part of the team in some capacity.
Jaylen Brown, come on down!
Dude...you're probably the guy who, as everyone's finishing up dessert at grandpa's funeral luncheon, asks if anyone has a copy of the will for you to take a peek at.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:09 AM ^
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April 27th, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^
April 27th, 2015 at 10:50 AM ^
there is not a person on this Board that did not think the same thing the moment this was announced.
April 27th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
To be honest, this never crossed my mind.
April 27th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
everything about your post except for the honest thing and that this never crossed your mind.
April 27th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^
But out of respect, those that did kept their mouths shut. No props for "having the courage to say what everyone was thinking."
props, but I don't think that what he said was out of line.
This was the correct decision by all parties irrespective of Jaylon Brown. The open spot allows for Brown, true, but feeling sorry for and grateful to Hatch can exist without any moral complexity with excitement over possibly landing Brown.
April 27th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
You don't wish him health or happiness? Pretty rude of you...
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I don't know what's more difficult - to be dealt a bad hand in life or to be dealt a great hand in life, only to have most of that ripped away from you. What a gut wrenching story he's lived.
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What a guy. Unbelievably selfless of Hatch to do that.
I do think Hatch is a selfless man, but taking his and JB's words at face value this seems a decision he made for himself to better his academics (which seems to have been below his expectation). It is also clear that he could not participate in drills much less competition level activity. Based on what Hatch and JB said, this seems to be much less about roster spots than some might say.
I'm sure it was a conversation for both that they weren't exactly looking forward to, but needed to happen.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
Maybe. JB said the decision was difficult, but Hatch said, "not at all." They said they'd talked about this scenario and are extremely close. It sounds like Hatch's academic aspirations may have been at the forefront of this conversation, and this decision may have provided more solution and good thoughts than anything else.
Beilein would have found it hard to crush Austin's dreams, but Austin's dreams have no doubt changed. He recovered beyond anyone's expectations and found his moments on the court, but what he's gone through has taught him that there's more to life than basketball. He'll retain the bonds with his coaches and teammates, and the love of his fans, and now he can turn to using the hard-won rest of his life to do even more.
It has been floated that the NCAA would probably accept some type of waiver to allow him to play on Senior Day.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
As a Buckeye fan, I am bemused at your assumption that we are going to "use this as an opportunity to to prove our classlessness."
I watched the SC special and was touched by the incredibly unfortunate events that took place during this brave young man's youth. I was impressed and relieved to to discover that UM was upholding his scholarship. In today's game though, there really aren't enough basketball schollies floating around for a premier program to reserve for those that may never see meaningful minutes on the court.
Even though UM may have pulled their athletic scholarship, they and Hatch are being realistic while ensuring that the big picture (his education) will still be prioritized. The fact that he will stay on as an assistant could serve as a boon for the team chemistry and may have been the best option considering the circumstances.
By unfairly attempting to generalize the fanbase of two rival programs, I would contend that you are actually the one being incredibly classless.
He will still have such a huge impact on this program. Mr. Brown, Mr. Williams, come on down.
All the best, Austin.
I can't help but feel bad for him, I know he wanted to play for Michigan. While I don't know the details I feel we can confidently say he is rather selfless to agree to this. He is the ultimate team player.
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But I doubt Austin wants anyone feeling bad for him. I would bet that he just wants to be treated like anyone else, and probably appreciates the opportunities he's been given.
He's going to be great at whatever he does and he'll have the largest alumni group in the world in his corner.
If we don't pick up Brown (or another recruit), this will open up a scholly for Biefeldt
I think he's still gone. Beilein knew this was coming and probably wouldn't have encouraged Max to take visits if Max was going to be offered a spot.
April 27th, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
Max is done here, regardless of what happens with recruiting for 2015.
It makes me sad, but clearly this has been in the works for some time. I'm sure it was a mutual decision, Beilein is not the kind of guy to force a Medical, ala Saban.
This does explain a lot of the unexpected recruiting moves that have been made recently.
He has already accomplished more than most of us will in a lifetime. I'm glad he still gets to live his dream to be a part of this team. Go Austin and go blue!
Amazing kid.
It'll be too easy for folks wanting to hate on M to turn this into a negative story.