J. Redux

December 5th, 2022 at 12:22 PM ^

Steel sharpens steel.

I don’t think Michigan can afford to be afraid of running off talented players by bringing in other talented players.  If a player is good enough, he’ll see the field despite the competition.  And if a player is afraid of competition, I don’t think he’s a great fit for Harbaugh’s program.

Joined: 10/15/2020

MGoPoints: 21517

Magnum P.I.

December 5th, 2022 at 10:37 AM ^

Like Deion said to his new team yesterday, "Go ahead and jump in that portal and do whatever you're gonna get. Cause the more of you jump in, the more room you makin'!" 

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30783

Eat Your Wheatlies

December 5th, 2022 at 11:06 AM ^

But why would anyone "buy in" to that? Deion basically said he doesn't care if anyone says. 

Wouldn't saying "This isn't going to the the Colorado you signed up to play for...we're going to work harder. Losing isn't acceptable. If you're not ready to dig in and fight, then pack your bags."

Strange, strange way to approach a group of young men that are looking for leadership and possibly hoping to build trust/a relationship.

Joined: 11/17/2010

MGoPoints: 7618

goblu330

December 5th, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^

Because he wants the players to prove him wrong.  He is flat out saying "I don't think you can do it.  I don't think you are the ones."  

He wants the kids who are remaining to be the ones who want to make him eat his words.  And you could see 4 or 5 of those players sat up in their chair before the end of that as if THIS is want they needed to hear.

Joined: 01/07/2022

MGoPoints: 32240

redjugador24

December 5th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^

I have mixed thoughts on Deion's speech. On the one hand, yeah, if the guys from a 1-11 team aren't going to embrace change and be willing to work MUCH harder, no reason to keep them around.  So, for the sake of efficiency, its best to be blunt about expectations.   On the other hand, it did come off as pretty damn condescending speaking like that to a group of kids he's never met.  He basically says "I'm not here right now, just long enough to tell you all you're pieces of shit and I'll be bringing in my own guys who don't completely suck. See ya in a month if you're dumb enough to still be here."  Seems like a similar message could have been sent without shitting on the players whom he's never even met.    

But really, the "I'm comin'" message, at THAT school, where Mel Tucker left a few years ago, is just weird.  Maybe that's a shot at Tucker somehow, who knows, but seemed more than just coincidence.   

Joined: 11/08/2015

MGoPoints: 5461

bronxblue

December 5th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^

We don't have a ton of evidence either way about Sanders as a program builder.  He had two great years at Jackson St. (2020 COVID year was fine) but that's a place where you can out-talent your opponents quickly.  Scott Frost did a bang-up job at UCF for comparison's sake.  But Colorado is going to be a much harder job to crack because he won't be able to out talent everyone else.  He might well still do a great job as HC but as we saw with how he left Jackson St. as well as that shady charter scam he ran he's not above cutting bait and running if a better opportunity presents itself.  Let's see how he handles losing a couple of games in a row and if he can still get buy in from guys he either said sucked or he brought in as quick fixes.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172080

bronxblue

December 5th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^

Maybe it's because I saw Remember the Titans recently but it feels somewhat appropos you brought up Boone with respect for Sanders because the actual story around that team doesn't match the narrative.  Boone was apparently a shitty dude who abused players, the team had been integrated for years beforehand, and was so good in part because it was a combination of 3 HSes and so has the biggest talent footprint in the state.  What the actual Boone accomplished was being in the right place at the right time and then getting a favorable story written about him by Disney.  Stop me if "plays well with media despite being an asshole" sounds like a former all-world DB.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172080

swdude12

December 5th, 2022 at 11:00 AM ^

Its football...he needs to know who is buying in and who isn't.  Can't have a team that is not going to compete and give 100%.  There is a longer version of his speech where the players ask questions and I believe one questions was asking about summer workouts and Deion says he is trying to make people quit.  You have to find out who you have and if you cant even cut it in summer workouts...you cant cut it on the football field in a game.  Mental and Physical toughness.

He has to undue 2 decades of a losing culture.  Keep that in mind.  

#ImComin

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 1880

JMo

December 5th, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^

Agree. But tact and decorum have never been "Coach Prime's" strong suits.

That said, Colorado needs headlines. He got a nice day or two of buzz on the hire. Now, how do you keep that going? He's going to do a lot of this in the coming months. All of it will be intended to get people talking about Buff Football, which nobody really has for years... other than their coach leaving, or a stray 9 win season in between a bunch of 3 win seasons.

As a player Deion spent a career grabbing headlines. Then for a decade after, he was a member of the media itself. He knows that just showing up isn't going to help him win games. He's going to have to do a bunch of things that get boosters excited, get fans excited, get 18 year old kids excited... and may be "unseemly" to the rest of us.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 21188

Bo Harbaugh

December 5th, 2022 at 1:05 PM ^

Deion has the personality of a megachurch televangelist.  This has been a very successful model historically for college football programs.  A team is essentially a small group that needs to buy in to certain values, goals, beliefs, etc. Not saying it's a cult, but definitely has group think qualities. There's definitely a "your with us or against us" mentality, and in many ways it's needed so everyone is moving in the same direction.

Often the leaders of these teams and this sort of culture building are sleazy or come off disingenuous  (Hugh Freeze, Dabo, etc), but no matter the critiques, faith does create a shared sense of purpose and bond. 

I have not been a huge fan of Harbaugh being more outspoken regarding the team's faith, lord and savior gospel, etc...but from his history at least we know he's not the type to alienate folks, has a relatively open mind, and doesn't come off like a hypocrite like many others.

Deion could just as well be a pastor in a purple jacket preaching the gospel of "prosperity", flying around on a private jet funded by his congregation - but given his football accomplishments, coaching CFB seems the more obvious path for use of his charisma.

This may sound harsh, but in reality, if he can help young men reach their goals and find their way, I think it's a better route than a faith based grift.

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38788