Rivals Survey of Recruits

Submitted by Sharuck on

Rivals conducted a camp in Columbus, and surveyed a number of players that attended.  Questions included who will win the BIG, who is the best coach, will Meyer or Harbaugh coach longer, and who has the best unis.

Answers to who will be coach longer:

“Urban Meyer. The way he runs that program is great and the consistency is there. He’s not going anywhere.” – Grant

“Probably Urban Meyer. I think he’s going to be there forever. It seems like Michigan fans aren’t really happy with Harbaugh. And I know it really doesn’t matter with the fans or what they say, but it just seems like they aren’t really that happy with him.” – Anderson

“I think Jim Harbaugh. He’s younger and he’s a good coach, too.” – Stephens

“I’d say Urban Meyer, just because he’s getting it done already.” – Nester

“Urban Meyer because he’s so successful there.” – Johnson

“If I had to guess, I don’t know, probably Harbaugh. That’s just a guess, but he’s young.” – Briggs

“I’ll say Urban Meyer, just because he already has a national title and stuff like that. I don’t think he’s going to retire soon.” - Mathis

“Harbaugh. I think Harbaugh will be there for a long time.” – Douglass

Link to full survey

https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-camp-series-columbus-prospects-weigh-in-on-big-ten

DrMantisToboggan

May 9th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^

The answer to who will be at the school longer, barring a major change in his health, is Jim. It’s a health question, not success question. Jim is healthier than Urban, physically and mentally. I could see Urban retiring in a few years. I think Jim will coach until he’s 70.

DrMantisToboggan

May 9th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^

Because I read and talk to people. Jim’s greatest health concern is a nagging hip injury that he just needs to get corrective surgery for. Urban has a plethora of health issues. He has had esophageal spasms and heart issues. His esophageal spasms are probably a result of his severe anxiety, which he and his wife have been open about. This isn’t a health issue, but if you talk to anyone from UF they’ll tell you it’s an open secret that Meyer had a serious affair with a younger lady in Gainesville. Urban just seems to have a lot more going on outside of football that will pull him away from the sport before Jim.

DrMantisToboggan

May 9th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^

Haha I was suggesting that his marriage might become a full-time job if he has a few more highly successful seasons, since it seemed to be held together by duct tape coming out of Gainesville. 

 

But man, if he left UF for OSU for the female students...I think he miscalculated.

Don

May 9th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^

it's been an article of faith on MGoBlog that "Urban Meyer won't last more than a few seasons at OSU because of his health LOL" He's now going into his 7th season.

I just did a little googling, and there's no confirmation of a recent nature that Meyer has heart-specific problems; the chest pains he famously encountered while at FL were caused by gastroesophogeal reflux disease. He also has a brain cyst which causes occasional severe headaches but is not considered life-threatening and doesn't affect his cardiovascular system.

Meyer has openly discussed his past issues with anxiety and depression, which has led to his recent attention to mental health for athletes.

However, all of those are easily treatable, and there's no indication at this time that health by itself is going to curtail his coaching career.

Meyer is only 53. Harbaugh is 54.

The thing that will end Meyer's coaching career more directly than his health is his won-loss record.

DrMantisToboggan

May 9th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^

Idk about the NFL. His offense is being figured out it college - he's been winning on talent the last couple years, not scheme, which is why he has taken steps to go to a more vertical passing game. When the talent is more evenly distributed, I just don't think he would be as successful. He doesn't seem like an NFL guy to me. He's a recruiter, he's a guy who can dominate with a talent advantage, he's a very intense guy that might rub pros/front offices the wrong way (a la Jim). I think he has it made in the shade in Columbus, I don't think he's itching to get to the league.

kurpit

May 9th, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^

Saying that Meyer never stays anywhere very long is like saying Harbaugh wears out his welcome everywhere. Harbaugh wore out his welcome once. Meyer bolted on only Florida. Every other time each of them moved was purely just a coaching job upgrade.

yossarians tree

May 9th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^

When fans of other teams (mostly Molest U) say that Harbaugh is going to drive people crazy at Michigan and get driven out I tell them that is completely wishful thinking on their part. We love Harbaugh, Harbaugh loves Michigan, and he ain't going anywhere for quite a while. It's the same for us with Urban Meyer. He ain't going anywhere, so let's get out program up to their level and enjoy some great battles with the Buckeyes for the next ten years.

DrMantisToboggan

May 9th, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^

I said it wouldn't surprise me, but it's not something I am betting my life on. It's also not something that I personally suggested would cause him to retire before the age of 55, so the "MGoBlog Article of Faith" quip doesn't really apply to me. I'd be a little surprised if Urban coached much past 60. 

 

It's an objective fact that he has more health issues than Jim. 

 

Esophogeal spasms (DES) can be caused by both GERD and Anxiety. If Urban has both, it's pretty hard to say that one is the sole cause of his DES. We know that he has anxiety, I was unaware that he also had been diagnosed with GERD.

 

They're essentially the same age - I wasn't making a "one is older argument", but they were born in the same hospital six months apart. Age, by itself, is not a factor between the two.

 

Urban's W-L isn't going to tank. He will not be run out of town by OSU for losing too much. If he hangs it up before 65 it will be because he wants to focus on his well-being and his marriage.

ldevon1

May 9th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^

Most answers were effected by commit status, but the OSU love, (Although I think this was in Ohio) is sickening. Understandable considering all the success they've had.

Mike Damone

May 9th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^

These comments and analysis are one step above worthless due to the location venue.  C'mon - if the camp were held in Ann Arbor, you would see the comments flip.

If the camp were being held in Indianapolis or Chicago area, with the right mix of high recruits - then you are talking about meaningful metrics and feedback.

Blue in Paradise

May 9th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^

to fan "attitudes" about the players, program and coach.  This is completely rationale, who wants to play for a school where the fans turn against and torment you / the team after a loss or disappointing season?

I don't think the Michigan fan base is the worst in terms of turning on our team but we are definitely not one of the better ones either.

I appreciate passion but I will never understand why a "fan" of a team would hate or be negative ad nauseum about their team.  Unless you have a financial interest, why not find something else to do with your time?

I have been a Lions fan for 40 years despite a 100% track record of disappointment.  If I ever find myself hating the team, I will either follow a different team or find a new hobby.

Larry Appleton

May 9th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^

So true.  My general opinion of this fanbase (at least the more vocal parts of it) has cratored ever since the end of the 2016 season.  Entitlement, brattiness, pettiness, pessimism, and a general attitude of sheer misery runs rampant within the Michigan football fanbase.  A lot of "fans" clearly get no joy out of this program, and it's sad, really.

And yes, anyone who is a fan of the Detroit Lions should by now have conditioned themselves to enjoy the hell out of the highs and brush off the lows (I don't know how else to survive as a Lions fan).

Blue in Paradise

May 9th, 2018 at 2:10 PM ^

A lot people are just generally miserable and negative.  I certainly have days where I feel that way about work, the world, whatever... But I refuse to allow myself to become a negative person.

Interestingly, nobody has more "starz busts" than OSU and Alabama.  Of course, this is true based on the sheer quantity of top 100 guys that they bring in.  They can't all start so by definition you end up with a bunch of high 4 and 5 star players riding the bench or transferring.

I don't follow the sites of those teams enough to know if the fans support the kids who underperform their rankings or jump on them.  I did notice that an LB named Ben Davis who is a Bama legacy and was a top 10 player overall in 2016 is struggling to make the 3 deep.

He is from a school near Tuscaloosa so the fans were really encouraging him to stick with it and supporting him.  Not sure if that is a typical example or because of him being a local kid.

BoCanHam15

May 9th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^

Finalists. I never knew how his career took off but if one can say stars do matter, or if they didn’t matter this means that the negative people have to actually continue to make stuff up. Recruiting is funny because you always have the people who continually say the same crap. Negative energy is a practice.

potomacduc

May 9th, 2018 at 4:49 PM ^

Your comment starts out discussing college football and ends with the Lions. I think there is an important distinction. My tolerance level for mistakes and my ability to hold my tongue is much greater for college football than it is for the NFL. I agree that college players "deserve a break" for under-performing, making mistakes, etc. It doesn't mean I won't criticize or call out problems, but I will do so charitably. For college coaches and administrators, I will be a bit less charitable, but still maintain some level of generosity. This is not because they deserve it, but because of what you note regarding recruits and players; criticism of the coaching staff does impact the kids on the team.

When it comes to the NFL (or any other pro sport), I try to maintain realistic expectations, but I have very little concern about being charitable to players or coaches. They're big boys cashing big checks.  It doesn't excuse being a jerk to them, but it does mean a LOT less sugar-coating.

 

Blue in Paradise

May 9th, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^

Players - as you said, they are grown a$$ men cashing large paychecks.
I am just saying that I personally choose to stay positive and excited about the teams I support - if I felt overly negative about them, I would find something else to do with my time.

The Lions test me every year, but I am still excited about 2018.

Blue in PA

May 9th, 2018 at 11:46 AM ^

Urban has a mediocre season or two, throw in a couple losses to Michigan and he'll be retiring due to health reasons.  

 

 

HAIL-YEA

May 9th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^

I have been saying all offseason, we are the reason Harbaugh is having trouble recruitng in-state kids this year. They see the atitude of the fans more than the national kids and this fanbase has been horseshit towards football for the last 6 months.

Blue in Paradise

May 9th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^

it is muted in the grand scheme of all things Michigan.  Heaven forbid they read the comments section on any mainstream news sites.

That being said, I wouldn't say that is the main reason but it certainly doesn't help!

BoCanHam15

May 9th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^

Harbaugh is definitely having a hard time recruitng all of Michigan. And you alone truly have been saying it. Although it doesn’t make it true! Congrats

Larry Appleton

May 9th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^

More than 6 months.  This fanbase was apoplectic after the Orange Bowl in Harbaugh's second season.  It never fully recovered.

DeepBlueC

May 9th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^

The attitude that hates losing to Michigan State and Ohio State? The attitude that hates finishing third in the division? THAT'S the attitude recruits hate? Are they looking for a fanbase that tolerates losing with good grace? Try NAIA.

Michology 101

May 9th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^

I'm not going to say you're totally wrong because what you're stating could be possible to some degree. Though couldn't it also be easily possible that some unique situations occurred within the 2019 class and that pushed a couple of top in-state kids away from Michigan?

One kid dreams of playing for Wisconsin.

One kid goes to a high School that has a hate Michigan environment.

Many people want to blame someone for those apparent recruiting failures and just totally disregard it as being an anomaly with some unique situations.

Though this is the first time I've read the fan base as being the blame.

truferblue22

May 9th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^

"the fans aren't happy with him"

I'm so sick of our fanbase sometimes. There's not a better coach out there who would coach at Michigan. All the whining and bickering from the fans obviously has an effect on recruiting...

And then you create your own problems that may or may not have existed in the first place.

and then we