turtleboy

October 27th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^

Happy Trails young man. Hate seeing top in-state talent leave, but if we end up trading Conley for McQuay, and Dawson for Pocic then I suppose I can cope.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35129

Logan88

October 27th, 2012 at 10:01 PM ^

WOTS is that the staff already reached out to Pocic to see if he was still interested and he basically told them to "talk to the hand." Pocic ain't coming to UM and I very much doubt that McQuay ends up in Ann Arbor as well, unless FSU schedules a home-and-home with UM in the next few years.

Joined: 01/05/2009

MGoPoints: 8077

JT4104

October 27th, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^

Something tells me this staff wouldn't trust a kid if he decommitted  and then wanted to recommit.  Just a hunch on my part...hence the no visits thing. They put their trust in you to honor your word and once you go back on it I doubt they trust in it again.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 12331

turtleboy

October 27th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^

It means you are no longer committed. I don't think it means he can't ever possibly come back and recommit. Hoke keeps in touch with all kinds of kids he recruited, yet committed to other programs, so I wouldn't expect the door to be forever closed. Likely he'll end up someplace else, though.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35129

death by wolverine

October 27th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^

Soo how many decommitments is it gonna take for Hoke's policy becomes a problem. Say we get 10. I can't imagine all of the replacements of those would be 4-5 stars. Most likely a bunch of 3 stars.

Joined: 09/24/2009

MGoPoints: 4489

xxxxNateDaGreat

October 27th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^

 

 

This is not a matter of Hoke's policy being a "problem," it's a matter of 17-18 year old kids making one of the most important decisions of their lives and actually sticking to it. Hoke expects kids to honor their commitment and his policy is essentially like any committed relationship. 

Take marriage, for example. How would you feel if your future wife/husband tells you about five months after you got engaged, "I'm not so sure about this marriage thing. I think I should've slept with a few more people first. I'm gonna go do that, okay?" 

This is not far from the reality of this situation. Conley wants to test the waters again and Hoke has made it clear that he will do the same. I don't see a problem with anything that reinforces a philosophy of honoring your word and following through with your decisions.

Plus, who's to say that this policy would make a single difference on a kid like Conley, who's recruitment has ramped up significantly during this season? How do we know that not having this honor policy would really stop him or Dawson from taking visits or that Hoke will slam the door shut in his face, should he decided, once and for all, that Michigan is the right school and we still have an open spot? It seems to me that this policy actually PREVENTS more things like this happening.

Anyways, we can't blame Conley for wanting to take visits. He's killing it out there and schools are finally taking notice. We should instead be doing backflips on the coaching staff's talent evaluation skills.

Joined: 11/28/2011

MGoPoints: 2314

xxxxNateDaGreat

October 28th, 2012 at 10:23 PM ^

No. Kids should go to the school they want to go to. If they think they made a hasty decision, then they should explore other options. That said, why should Hoke play the waiting game for some of these kids while there are guys willing to fight and claw their way onto the team? Talent isn't everything man. Sometimes passion and loyalty are worth more.

Joined: 11/28/2011

MGoPoints: 2314

All Aboard

October 27th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^

I do not care about, nor care for, the young men that decide to leave this program. I stand by Hoke's visit policy 100%. This is about more than an individual. This is about Michigan and what this University stands for. I will not worry because for every Conley/Dawson/Brown, there are 10 Ferns/Morris/Kovacs/Robinson that know that this is the greatest school in the world and treat it as such.

Joined: 01/03/2011

MGoPoints: 816

GoBlue_55

October 27th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^

What? "Leave the program"? They aren't enrolled so they aren't in the program. This is the arrogance of the coaching staff that keeps Michigan from being elite. These are 18 year old kids who want to visit other schools. Why isn't a verbal commitment enough for this staff? Michigan has a great class but I don't like the no visit policy to be honest.

Joined: 01/12/2010

MGoPoints: 545

Goblue89

October 27th, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^

Everyone upset at Michigan for their no visit policy needs to view the situation in reverse. What if a kid had multiple offers, committed to Michigan and the other schools he was considering filled up at his position. Then Michigan decides they like someone better and stops recruiting him and tells him him they found someone better. He then has to look at new schools since the others he was considering are all full at his position...he has to settle for a lower tier school Wouldn't everyone be upset with Michigan if this was the case? Michigan commits to a kid just as much as the kid commits to Michigan. They are considering multiple players at each position and lately it seems have to turn kids away because they are full at that position. Then if one of those kids decommits they have to search for others and often times the players they were looking at earlier are now committed elsewhere (see Pocic). I think this is a very fair policy and holds both parties accountable...Michigan will consider your position filled and won't try and replace you, player will be considered committed and won't look to find replacements i.e. visit other schools.

Joined: 08/28/2008

MGoPoints: 2101

southern_yankee

October 27th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^

I agree 100%. I'd also add this policy protects UM as well as the kid. For example, say a kid is wavering, takes visits to other schools but Hoke & Co bank on him receiving a scholly from UM. Come signing day, UM could be left holding the bag with no real options if the kid chooses elsewhere.

Joined: 10/27/2010

MGoPoints: 148

dmuthalovinmase2

October 27th, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^

That a kid who's been a part of this recruiting class for months, skills are being belittled because he might not end up blue... If he decides to stick with this commitment or not he's a hell of a high school player and playmaker, could make a big difference on either side of the ball...

Joined: 08/18/2011

MGoPoints: 73

alum96

October 28th, 2012 at 1:05 AM ^

I know.. it is amazing to see the "oh well, we're loaded at that position" posts.  Probably by the same people who 2 months ago said Conley will be the star of the class at DB.  All of this recruiting is guesswork - you want to load up on as much talent as possible and hope 10-14 pan out for you out of every class.  Conley could be a stud or a dud at the next level who knows - but everyone saying "well we're loaded anyhow" doesnt know that.  Every guy we have recruited could be a NFL star in 8 years or someone who doesnt make it past JR yr in college.  

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82804

Lac55

October 27th, 2012 at 6:45 PM ^

I don't think people realize the dynamic athlete this kid is. Guys like this with that combination of size, athleticism, and speed don't grow on trees.

Joined: 01/18/2011

MGoPoints: 1546

Smitdog6767

October 27th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^

Until next year when there are another group of players just like him.  Don't get me wrong, I wish he would come here because I think he's a good player but some people are acting like this is a once-in-a-generation type player we're losing here.  He's a borderline 4* recruit, he's not a program maker, he's not going to single handedly lead us back to glory.  He's a damned good athlete and a damned good football player but yes, they kinda do grow on trees. 

Joined: 11/27/2011

MGoPoints: 240

Smitdog6767

October 27th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^

Again, he's a borderline 4* recruit.  If we end up losing him then yeah, it really sucks.  But stop acting like he's Charles Woodson Incarnate.  We expected some attrition from this class given how early it filled up and now it's happening and people are freaking.  I can't guarantee that we will get a player just like him next year or even the year after but I can guarantee you that Hoke will continue to bring in top flight talent and this team will continue to grow and progress and get back to what we expect and demand out of our program.  Perhaps I overstepped in my previous post but this isn't a consensus 5* player that will shatter our class.  We will be just fine with our without Mr. Conley.

Joined: 11/27/2011

MGoPoints: 240

Lac55

October 27th, 2012 at 7:36 PM ^

Come on my man. I could care less about stars from these "experts" from recruiting sites and our coaches don't either because they know a football player with great potential and attributes when they see one. When we offered Conley, he wasn't highly rated or coveted and had very few offers if any. Now he's killing it on both sides of the ball and he's starting to blow up. And I never said he was the next Woodsoon who was a Heisman winner and Michigan great. If your telling me that corners with size, speed, and ball skills are a dime a dozen then God bless and we'll agree to disagree. Leave the stars alone and go with what you know about football.

Joined: 01/18/2011

MGoPoints: 1546

alum96

October 28th, 2012 at 1:09 AM ^

Stars mean crap.  Jake Ryan was a 3 star with no offers outside of MAC schools.  Our starting interior D-lineman Will Campbell was a 5 star national recruit - he has bombed.  I have no idea if Conley will bomb or be a stud.  But to downplay it is silly.  Do you know how many stars Woodson had?  Curious.  not that it MATTERS.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82804

Lac55

October 27th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^

JT might have been a dynamic athlete, but Conley is a long speedy guy who has been torching defenses this year. Flip to the other side and he's a long rangy, tall corner with speed. I can't recall JT as a recruit, but I just know Hoke is recruiting different athletes not just when it comes to body types and talent, but most importantly character. I weouldn't compare what he's putting together to what RR was doing.

Joined: 01/18/2011

MGoPoints: 1546