Gary sitting out Peach Bowl

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on December 2nd, 2018 at 5:14 PM

Per Harbaugh on the teleconference. 

BlueMk1690

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^

Is there any evidence he would have done anything differently with a different bowl matchup?

Personally I think it's funny that people call it a 'meaningless game'..technically in relation to a career in the NFL, all college football and before that high school games are 'meaningless'. I guess the only way to protect that NFL career is to *never* play football before being drafted.

bluepalooza

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:35 PM ^

Meaningless in that no posibility of a B1G championship and/or National Championship.  Nothing Rashan would do in the Peach Bowl will change his draft status.  For some players they could improve their draft stock and maybe make sense.  For a first round pick, makes no sense unless it is for National Championship. I once felt differently about this.  But in reality, the NFL career short enough and I totally get why a player would make this "business" decision.

BlueMk1690

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:53 PM ^

Same business decision would have you sit out all but 4 or 5 games a year. Does a game vs Rutgers or SMU or Western Michigan affect your draft stock? Really you just need enough games to get enough tape to 'prove' you're a 1st round talent. Combine and personal workout takes care of the rest.

What I'm saying is that either you view playing for Michigan as a job with commitments and obligations attached to it or you don't. If you don't then you can consider a significant chunk of activities around Michigan football as 'risky' and 'meaningless'. That's the hazard of defining yourself as a NFL training center first and foremost.

Wolverine Devotee

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^

I like how the people who said the Orange Bowl two years ago was "meaningless" and then those same people were the loudest to bitch about losing it. 

This game absolutely matters. A loss here and we're right back where we were at the end of 2017 with the media laughing at us. Can't have that if there's any hope of continuing to push forward and building momentum.

CFraser

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^

I’d like to take this chance to wish Rashan a full recovery and thanks for giving us amazing memories.

He’s a guy we’ll be able to brag about for a long time ala Woodson/Brady. Look forward to seeing Rashan on sundays and making the money he’s worked so hard for. 

Glen Masons Hot Wife

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:58 PM ^

I wish the kid well but let's be fair... this kid has done nothing next to what Woodson and Brady did, as far as college years go.  Woodson and Brady also wouldn't have sat a out a bowl game because they were worried about getting injured.

And the pro bowl doesn't count... that meant nothing to anyone

charblue.

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:41 PM ^

Given the way college football is run and the money at stake for all concerned except the student athlete, who serve at the benefit of their school, putting their professional health on the line every week, I have no problem with any kid who sees himself playing in the league opting out of an exhibition game. And what's more in this case a game that won't move the needle for anyone except altering their final record for this season.

BornInA2

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:32 PM ^

So much for all that fakery about how important the team was to him. I don't know what the deal is with M and five-star recruits...they just never seem to really pan out. Green and Isaac never did much of anything, and Peppers and Gary were hurt a lot and while, good, weren't remotely close to Woodson/Howard great.

billygoblue

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^

To say that you helped the team win the Peach Bowl?   By this spring, nobody will even remember the score of the game.   He is making the best choice, rest up, heal up & get ready to have the NFL get the checkbook opened up.  Good luck to him, he was great while he was here & will always be welcomed back.

Zoltanrules

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:37 PM ^

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Florida's safety leaving early for draft and playing

Probably a late second rounder who wants to improve his stock. Gary could only hurt his stock based on his high draft projection. Good moves by both players.

jblaze

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:39 PM ^

This is the problem with the CFB Playoffs (not that Michigan would have had any shot at a Natty in the prior systems), but every other bowl game has lost it's luster. 

charblue.

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^

That is the curse of the bowl system, which also really negates any real possibility of changing the current playoff format, which has already become a yearly foregone conclusion. I mean if the same schools are going every year, then when there is any doubt about not including them, they get greater consideration than others.

When Herbstreit suggested last night that the playoff committee ought to not only grant Georgia a playoff berth but move them above ND after Alabama's storbybook comeback with their former starting qb, he raised the real possibility that the SEC thinks it ought to be only the conference puttng teams in the playoff. Thank God, that didn't happen.

But either the system gets revamped or they change the criteria for qualification based on actual criteria. If they really want to make the New Years bowl games matter, then there has to be more than pride at stake when the teams are matched.

 

Junior18

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^

Good for him. If he feels this to be the best move for his future, then great. Glad he came here and appreciate the games he played. Don't think we relied upon him too much this year, so I'm not sure this is really a huge loss for this game. 

J_Dub

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^

I don't think the peach bowl is meaningless.  If we lose, i will be less happy than if we win.

I don't have a Rashan comment but to call it a meaningless game is a bit of an exaggeration. 

If all that matters is college football playoffs, then basically every game played after losing 1 game is meaningless, and definitely every game played when losing two games is meaningless, which I just don't agree with.  A 10-2 season is not the same as a 5-7 season to me, so games must have meaning outside of CFP.

I care about all-time win record. I care about historical record vs individual teams (even Florida).  I care about bowl wins and I think it's cool that players will have a chance to go to a bowl game and see a new venue and have bew experiences.  I care that Michigan gets to play a game in a different region and that local fans will have the opportunity to see the team play in person.

As a Michigan man, it's not meaningless to me.

 

WolvinLA2

December 2nd, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^

Absolutely.  I don't understand the notion of bowl games being meaningless.  They are great for recruiting and creating (or killing) momentum going into the offseason.  It's actually one of the biggest games of the season, most of the time.  

It's hilarious how there are all of these threads (full of comments) about what bowl we're playing in, yet a bunch of posters calling it meaningless.  I don't get it.

kevbo1

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^

Another benefit of expanding the playoff to eight teams would be that fewer players would sit out the bowl games.

Glen Masons Hot Wife

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:54 PM ^

Disappointing... I think that's weak... Give me a Winovich that comes back for year 5 with less talent over a Gary any day.

He's not a bad kid, but its still a selfish move, and its disappointing.

I hope that whole refusal to play DT thing isn't true.  

kehnonymous

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^

I'm sure cowards like BorninA2 and northernmich would 100% absolutely have the cojones to say the same weak-ass trash talk in this thread to Rashan Gary face-to-face.  In the meantime, I'd loooooove to hear all about how much U-Mich means to true fans like them.

WolvinLA2

December 2nd, 2018 at 6:16 PM ^

In their defense, there are a lot of completely true yet negative takes I have about athletes that I wouldn't say to their faces.  That doesn't make said take any less true.  i probably wouldn't tell Kareem Hunt my opinion of him to his face.  I don't see why that's the standard.

Jonesy

December 2nd, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^

Bowl games are nearly pointless exhibition games for teams in playoff contention. Think of this as practice for next year's starters.

Muttley

December 2nd, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^

Exactly.  We're playing 2019 without Rashan Gary, so Rashan giving up his PT will benefit the 2019 team.

Good luck, Rashan.  You represented the University of Michigan well.  College careers are limited.  Of course, part of me is sad that the time has come for Rashan to move on, but there's no one to blame but Father Time. I have no problem with this decision.