Update on '16 OT Commit Swenson
Yesterday, it was reported by Spath and Fishsaw that Swenson may not end up in this class.
It appears Wiltfong has now relayed the same information.
Apparently, this isn't Swenson waivering on his committment, this is coming from the Michigan side of things due to lack of development on the football field over the last couple seasons.
My take:
I'm on board with most of what Harbaugh does. And it's my belief that most things that are best for the Michigan football program are best for Michigan. However, this does not sit well with me at all. Swenson committed and stayed committed through everything. He was absolutely 100% loyal. Harbaugh re-affirmed his scholarship and was glad to have him on board when the class wasn't filling up.
Now it's two weeks before signing day, and suddenly he hasn't been progressing enough to be a part of the class. Maybe he knew a little while ago, but that isn't much time either. This doesn't sit well with me. This may be best for the Michigan football program for the short term, but this isn't what is best for Michigan. Loyalty, in my eyes, still means something, and while I understand some of the guys getting pushed out (either they waiver, they were told up front, etc), Swenson doesn't sit right.
And don't get me wrong, there are always reason to rescind scholarships (grades, off field issues, etc), but a guy not developing at your expectations when you had the choice to offer him a scholarship early or not (or rescind it earlier when he wasn't developing as you expected) is part of the risk/reward in recruiting.
This guy was loyal through all of that, loyal when Hoke (his coach) was fired, loyal when Michigan had no coach, and loyal once Harbaugh was hired. It was Harbaugh's choice to stick with him at the time, and he did. He still should now.
So yeah, I'm not on board with this from Harbaugh if true. It doesn't sit well to me at all. But about all that means is this post on this board, so it's whatever. Still don't like it though.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
I'm not assuming anything. JIM HARBAUGH is telling us that. Dickheaded or not I think Harbaugh knows more than what your feelings are telling you about a kid.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
You hit the nail on the head.
The big problem here is that *we* are just now hearing about this. Clearly if there was some change in Swenson's status that occured more than a week or so ago, all of us should and would have been notified.
Because we didn't know before, this must be new information to Swensen as well.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^
sarcastic? or is this a set of really silly assumptions? just because *we* are hearing about this now doesn't mean it's news to the staff, and it doesn't necessarily mean it's news to Swenson.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
*beats a dead horse*
Judging by Swenson's twitter feed (filled with references to his excitement of playing for Michigan, as recently as 7 days ago), anyone who says that Swenson has known about this for a long time is also calling him a liar.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
This is a dick move from the Michigan staff if it's true. If they didn't want him in the class, why wait this long to cut him loose? He's been a hard commit for over 2 years and he has (had?) a pretty good offer sheet.
This is one of those situations that I think you take the kid even if he wasn't what you expected him to be. Loyalty should count for something.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
I missed where it was reported that Swenson just learned of this recently, along with the rest of the public.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
The argument that Swenson has "probably known all along" is a huge assumption, one that is counterable with a lot of facts. Unless Swenson is also a liar, his twitter feed would indicate that he has been in contact with the coaches both before the dead period and after it.
But you make statements like the kid has known for months that he wasn't going to be included in the class.
He posted about his excitement to join the team within the past 7 days.
So, by your logic he both 1)known about this for awhile and 2) doesn't mind lying about it on social media
January 19th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
it also would not make sense that he was receiving only possible feedback and adaboys from the coaches until all of the sudden, out of the blue, they just didn't want him anymore because he wasn't cutting it. Who knows, something could have happenned with the kid that they simply cannot comment on because they cannot comment on any of it.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
I have never stated, opined, asserted, or speculated that Swenson knew all along. I simply pointed out that it could be a possibility and also that numerous assumptions are being made (positve and/or negative) to fill in the huge information gaps at this point.
I'll also point out that your response to what you asserted was my logic/argument is based on yet another assumption (that I believed to be true the hypotheticals I mentioned as an alternate possibility.) While I have no way to know if your assumptions about Swenson are incorrect, I can comfortably say that those you made about me are off base.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^
Well, the thing is...both sides are operating on, and can only operate on assumptions. We dont know all the facts. So if you up in arms about the moral problem of it, or defending it...you don't have all the info to reasonably make any claims without using your personal assumptions.
Also, Dele Harding kept UM Commit up on his Twitter for months when all the analysts said he wasnt. That doesnt mean he's a liar, just that you can say what you want when your'e the only one who can have a visible voice.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
"if this is true". Chill dude.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
Loyalty is inefficient.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
1. We don't know the full story here, so we shouldn't jump to judgement.
2. That said, Loyalty is important. If Swenson was pushed out in the last two weeks because there were better options then boo on that. If he was told a year ago he'd have to proove himself to keep his scholarship offer, or some such scenario then he knew where he stood and should have worked harder. Doubtful we'll ever know. I trust Harbugh treated him fairly until I hear otherwise.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
Loyalty is fine when you have the margins to carry some inefficiency.
When you don't, it's muda.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
and I never upvote you.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
that this is troubling if true that a solid commit is now on the verge of being displaced from scholarship consideration because the program might be onto a presumably better player, which is clearly a projection of talent evaluation without any real certainty.
If this is true, then I think it would be honorable for Harbaugh to ensure that this kid has a chance to go to another school of his choice. But it's so late in the process that a coach could even assure that, help in placement with another school.
I hate this part of the recruiting process. But it is clearly something that goes on when you are looking to put together the kind of class Michigan is right now. Clearly, Michigan can't preach platitudes about team building and individual sacrifice and loyalty when it renega on a verbal commitment based on dubious circumstances.
But, of course, we don't know all the details. I think the coach ought to have first refusal rights on players of his own choosing. But there comes a time when that right expires. And two weeks before signing day seems like that time has passed. If you weren't certain about a kid's development, then that should be communicated early enough so both sides can respond in kind.
Not sure why the term commitment is ever applied to optional prospect status until signing is actually a reality. You might still be married, but if you're separated by emotional distance of any kind, your marriage license is a lesser deterrent to divorce than assured commitment.
This is a risky business with lots of lonely hearts and suitors with good intentions and sinful hearts until their target is sealed, signed and delivered to campus.
Hopefully, our program is taking the high road with its prospects and being honest about their expectations throughout the commitment process.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
you're absolultely right. In the big-time competitive football world, not at all.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
that if JH thought he was going to be dead-weight, the news should have come 2 months ago.
Most ppl are saying that breaking such news with 2-3 weeks to go would be probablematic for their sitting.
My hope is that if JH is no longer interested that the kid has known about it for 2 months or more.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
How do you know the staff didn't tell him in October?
January 19th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
take a look at his twitter feed and tell me he looks like a guy who has known for awhile that Michigan was backing off
January 19th, 2016 at 12:04 PM ^
But I do know that if the staff had told Swenson earlier about conflicting intentions, I'm sure Swenson would've probably taken more visits, contacted other coaching staffs and probably changed his committed status.
Also with how big recruiting is now a days, I'm sure someone would've heard something about this and released the news earlier.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
What in the hell would constitute "strong evidence that he was just coasting along"? Are you going to attend every practice and judge his 'effort'?
My point is that you are really blurring the line here in order to justify pulling a scholarship from someone. The staff had a chance to pull it long ago, now is the worst possible time to do it.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
two or three weeks from now would be a worse time. aren't we still 3 weeks out from signing day?
or worse - pull it after a year or two? telling him now allows him the best chance to reevaluate his situation and find a better option for his long-term future.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
The Dele' Harding situation is just..................odd.
He still calls himself a Michigan commit even though the staff doesn't consider him one and signing day is looming. Not sure if he's even visited anywhere else.
What if he sends his LOI in anyways? How awkward would that be?
January 19th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^
a while back, not all the kids have a letter to sign, so it's not an issue.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^
That is correct. Even with "official, written offers," the NLI paperwork is not available to everyone.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
He will not receive an LOI, so there is no possibility that he will send one back.
Edit: beaten to the punch in under a minute!
January 19th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
We may accept that LOI if we miss on other LB prospects and his grades are good enough.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
I think Dele Harding will go to Rutgers. He basically hasn't changed his Twitter profile page for a year, except for the background, which he changed to a picture of him at Rutgers Stadium. In addition, he is following all the Rutgers coaches and just had a visit with them.
Also, you can't send in an LOI because the coaches have to send you the school's version first (i.e., it's signed in counterparts but the school sends their execution version first).
January 19th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
I did not know this about LOIs. I thought you just got them from wherever and the only thing keeping some random kid from sending one in is the fax machine number of said-program.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
It works like any other bilateral contract. Needs to be signed by both parties to be binding. The school typically signs first, and then the kid will return a counter-signed version. If the school never signs, then it's not binding.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
Yes, this is Kinko's...
Oh, hi. I'd like one letter of intent please! I'm going to take my talents to Michigan!
You what?
Harbaugh!
Harbaugh?
Harbaugh! Now send me a letter of intent please, the deadline is tomorrow morning.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^
+1
I laughed quite hard at this.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
That's the key question. Maybe Swenson didn't share the information until recently.
If he did just get notified by the coaching staff, then that is somewhat poor.
I have no problem with parting ways from a player that doesn't develop. Just be upfront and give the kid time to find a new home.
Hopefully the coaches told him during his senior season.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
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January 19th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
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January 19th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
Shitty situation for sure.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
January 19th, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
fully aware?
January 19th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
like the fact that Swenson stayed committed through all the upheavals you mention might also say something about his perception of his own abilities. Perhaps he knew he wasn't improving or wasn't a stud and thus held onto the offer for fear of not getting anything else on par. Of course, this is just me spitballing and I really don't know.
I don't feel as strongly negative about Michigan playing things this way though, since we don't know what stipulations came with the offer in the first place. Could've been contigent on reasonable improvement over time.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
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January 19th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
How is this any different then when a kid is basically forced to transfer because he'll never get playing time? We wish them well on their quest but wouldn't it have been better if they just went somewhere else in the first place. I'd gladly ride pine to wear Michigan but not every kid is like that. Maybe this is best for him.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
" College football is a business now like it or not. "
Is that you, Dave Brandon?
January 19th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
The "job" was offered and the kid accepted. He did all he could to take the job (signing day being the only thing preventing him from not already being tied to Michigan). So yeah, I have a problem with it.
And there isn't a lot of time. There are two weeks. He hasn't taken visits really anywhere else in two years because he's been loyal to Michigan. A ton has changed since then. He's potentially starting the entire process over again with fewer options and fewer contacts than he would have otherwise had.
And by the way, this is still a "kid" essentially. He's in high school. He's 17 or 18. This isn't a college graduate with a job interview. This is different, even though people want to make it exactly the same. I understand the business of college football. But this isn't a good look, and people would be all over that if one of our rivals or an SEC school did the same.