Aubrey Solomon Decommits Comment Count

Ace

So it turns out the Georgia 247 post was the one to read into.

As Solomon said in the note, Michigan will get a chance to bring him back into the fold when he takes an official visit this fall. In the interim, the coaches will continue to push hard for four-star UT DT Jay Tufele, and we may see some names that haven't been mentioned around here in a while—Popo Aumavae comes to mind—pop back up on the board.

EDIT: 247 has an article up on Solomon's decommitment, and, well...

"A day or two ago, they sent my mom a card thanking us for going to the Michigan bbq, but we never went," Solomon said. "I do not know which recruit they were talking to, but it was not me. It was just a little heartbreaking, for me to supposedly be so high on their list, for them to confuse me with someone else. Plus they spelled both of my names wrong after I told them, but that was not the main issue. I guess they do not have tabs on me."

...that's not ideal. Solomon mentions his mom "loves" Georgia and that he didn't consult her before making his initial commitment. Even with the return trip scheduled, Georgia looks like a big favorite now.

Comments

PopeLando

August 22nd, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^

Yeah, after someone on Michigan's staff couldn't spell his name right, and didn't even check to see if he was at the BBQ...

Not a good look for us. Professor Needs A Raise should have been the primary point of contact here. He ALWAYS checks spelling and primary sources.

Double-D

August 22nd, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^

to decommit. I see it more likely he was heading that way and this gives him the out. I would think he would understand this is just a back room staffer error. The fact that he even brought it up would suggest to me that our odds are not good.

Let's hope Otis Reese can provide us a little traction for another chance and we do get an official. Solomon paired with Gary would terrorize the Big Ten.

bluesalt

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^

Say I was looking for a new job. A recruiter calls me up, we talk for 15 minutes. He tells me that I sound like a perfect candidate, and I should go to a job fair in a week where they would interview me for a position. I'm psyched! The job and the company both sound great! Mentally I'm already visualizing myself working there!

But then something comes up, and I can't make it to the job fair (I was traveling to it and my flight was canceled.) I call the recruiter to let him know, and he says not to worry about it, we'll work something out. Then, a week after the job fair, I get a letter in the mail saying: "Dear Blusalt, It was a pleasure speaking with you last week at the job fair. We are pleased to offer you a position with our company." Signed by someone higher up at the company than the recruiter.

Now, we'll assume it's a legit company and not a scam, and after some follow-up I determine it was a clerical error. The recruiter apologizes, insists they are still interested, and will pay for my expenses to come to a real interview. I'd probably still go to the interview, but certainly that excitement I had earlier where I envisioned myself working there would have worn off, and it's no guarantee I accept the job if offered for real this time. Certainly not if I have other options, which (to complete the metaphor), Aubrey Solomon does. They'd have a chance to bring that excitement back when I was there, but that company who's closer to where I live suddenly seems much more appealing.

PopeLando

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:25 AM ^

I believe that we decided that Professor Needs A Raise is a rotating title, based on year.

Whichever professor, researcher, or faculty member is mentioned as playing big part in a highly rated recruit's decision shall have the titled bestowed upon him/her.

So this year, I think PNAR was someone involved in Rashan Gary's recruiting.

ThoseWhoStayUofM

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:01 AM ^

yeah, I might consider decommitting too, considering Michigan sent him a thank you letter for doing something he didn't do, and even spelling his name incorrectly in that letter. That's just unprofessional. I'm legitimately ashamed of our football program for that. Get it together! Stop failing! Those kind of mistakes are disrespectful and inexcusable. Michigan deserves to lose this commitment. FUCK!!!

Farnn

August 22nd, 2016 at 7:50 PM ^

Success on the field is so important this year.  If Michigan is as good as people here are hoping, it will set up for a great recruiting class when all is said and done. 

shmax02

August 22nd, 2016 at 10:09 PM ^

Couldn't agree more. My expectations are the CFB playoff, fair or not, our rivals are rebuilding and we have a better roster than all 12 teams we are set to play this year. I was excited about Soloman, but it is a good reminder that the onfield success we should experience this year will bring in a top five(ish) class, can't dwell on it, let's go get that B1G championship fellas.

In reply to by ijohnb

schreibee

August 23rd, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^

Oh come on people, I'm disappointed with so many here trying to turn this around on the kid. Whoever sent that note is seeing the side of Harbaugh that so famously burns people out on him, I'd wager.

That message reopening his commitment and ending "Go Blue!!" was a lot more classy and thoughtful than anything I'm reading in this thread. And when he lets the crootin site in on the event that clinched his decision to reopen (which clearly Mom is very behind), even that was heartfelt.

For people here to even hint that this is a good thing because he wouldn't have been able to handle adversity & competition sounds a bit too 11W or RCMB. I for one came out with more respect for the young man, and hope we double down on recruiting him. A heartfelt apology from JH about the mistake would be a great start.
Followed up with a little gift box containing an ear from whoever sent that note... A Godfather style offering! ;-)

Yost Ghost

August 24th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^

I agree that the ball got dropped here big time. That is embarassing. If I were Solomon I would find it irritating if I had gotten that note with my name spelled wrong. However I wouldn't use that as the reason to decommit. I would recognize it for what it is. Sometimes in large institutions miscommunication happens. Do I quit because of it? No.

Now if that note came in conjunction with phone calls and emails not being returned then yes. I would probably think all those things combined means I'm not very important. If there were other things UM did to make him feel less important then shame on us. Just the note itself though? No.

Considering he made the decision without his Mom's input and that she was very interested in him going to UGA makes me think this is an excuse to try and make his mom happy. At UM it's not going to be easy for her to see all his home games. Any good parent is going to want the opportunity to support their kid.

Hopefully this is a chance to get her on board with a UM decision so everyone is comfortable, if not then it wasn't going to happen anyway.

In reply to by ijohnb

ThoseWhoStayUofM

August 23rd, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

It is unprofessional and completely inexcusable to send a thank you note to a recruit for something he didn't do, all the while misspelling his name in that note. What a disgrace.

HL2VCTRS

August 22nd, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^

We did not send him a thank you card for an event that he didn't attend with his name spelled wrong. In fact, we were trying to thank Aubrie Solaman for coming to the BBQ and just got the address wrong. See? Right thank you and right spelling, just wrong address. He just needs to return it to sender and forget about it.

ijohnb

August 23rd, 2016 at 5:12 AM ^

guess I don't see this as a reason to be up in arms at the staff. They are recruiting hundreds of kids every year, this kind of mistake is bound to happen at some point and I'm sure it does every year. He is kind of throwing us under the bus I think. I highly doubt THIS is the reason he is decommiting. It is just an easy out.