The Athletic article ($) on Alan Bowman's path from UM to Oklahoma State
I believe the article's paywalled but in case not:
Key takeaways for me:
Though frustrated stuck down the depth chart, he values his time at Michigan.
* "I don’t regret going there because I think it’ll pay off this year, and I have the degree.”"
AND
* " I learned how to manage the game, take care of the football, operate an offense and break down a defense and be able to handle a huddle, to go under center and understand footwork and play-action footwork from Michigan."
Michigan coaches didn't hinder but helped his path through the portal.
• Harbaugh let him talk to other coaches even during prep for TCU
• When Bowman was visiting Baylor, Sherrone Moore, his offensive coordinator at Michigan, called.“Hey. Just talked to Oklahoma State. Hooked you up,” Bowman said Moore told him. “It’s a great situation. You need to go.”
I don't know that this is unique for a guy so buried in the depth chart, but it's really cool to see those last few points on the support with his transfer. Moore has a million other things to do I'm sure, but he took the time to support his guy.
Culture!
There’s worse things than gaining a rep as “the school which will help you find a starting job if it’s not going to happen here.”
I tell people the same thing at work: don’t be afraid of promoting people who deserve it. Yeah your team loses a rock star. But if you’re the guy who gets rock stars promoted, all the young talent will want to work for you.
Take a small hit now, get touchdowns later.
Michigan becomes the team that other coaches recommend when they have an eager talent who can't crack the starting lineup. Football teams are built on depth.
It’s shocking how many people don’t have this attitude. They suppress that talent growth and… that talent leaves anyway (to go work somewhere else). Total loss to the organization. Good on you, seriously!
I was one of those people. My former boss made it very clear that I had nothing left to prove at my level…but that there were zero plans/opportunities for me. It was a “good luck next time a position opens up” thing. Which, in Corporate America, means “you’re valuable on my team, but I’m not going to lobby for you.” And for the positions I was going for, you needed leaders in your corner. Turns out I didn’t have any.
So I left. Had no trouble jumping up two levels during job interviews, with a pay raise to match. The amount of talent and brains that my former boss wasted - he lost 4 members of a 5 person business strategy team - still pisses me off.
Love that our coaches are ensuring soft landings for kids to have a great future. THAT is a long-term recruiting strategy.
When coaches talk, those are the stories that will counter bs negative recruiting narratives.
Fun read, thanks.
Am very impressed on up front Michigan was about Alan Bowman's status while at Michigan and what a class act Sherrone Moore is.
Bowman learned a lot of the QB fundamentals while at Michigan. Players come and go for various reasons today. Jack Tuttle from IU is a good example of QB who will not a QB1 starter yet chose to come to Michigan. Tuttle could be QB2 or QB3 but we have him and he lends us valuable experience.
I wish Alex Bowman nothing but the best and really hope he sees the field a lot more at OK State.
You learned how to handle a huddle at Michigan?
You think Texas Tech under Kingsbury huddled?
That was a really cool article. It's hard to imagine the football team back when he transferred here, but I was interested to see his expectation was to walk in and start. I remember his addition as more of a depth piece and Cade was the starter and JJ the five star true freshman ppl wanted to see.
Loved his perspective on his time at Michigan and his decision to stick around through the TCU game. I assume Okie State will have a lot of Michigan fans supporting them this year.