Coaches say Michigan-Ohio State game has little effect on recruits
Michigan will host its biggest recruiting weekend of the year for Saturday’s Ohio State game, but coaches Rich Rodriguez and Jim Tressel agree what happens on the field probably won’t sway any decisions.
Rich Rodriguez
“I think it’s natural to feel that it would, but I don’t know if it makes that big of an impact,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, you want to be able to sell success and those things, but I think more than anything you’re selling your university and all the things that the school’s about, their role, their role in the system and how they fit.”
Rodriguez said recruits have been receptive to his program despite back-to-back poor seasons and five straight losses to Ohio State.
Punter Will Hagerup committed to Michigan over OSU earlier this fall, and Pittsburgh Penn Hills cornerback Cullen Christian is one of a number of recruits who’ll take an official visit to Ann Arbor this week.
Christian is set to decide next week between Michigan, West Virginia, UCLA and Ohio State.
California safety Tony Jefferson, Florida cornerback Tony Grimes and already-committed linebacker Marvin Robinson are among others expected on campus.
“All players want to go where they have a chance to have success and what we’re telling our guys now in recruiting is that we’re in a process so we’re going to be there and they can help us get there,” Rodriguez said. “I think that opportunity is maybe helping us in recruiting because a lot of young men are looking at, ‘Hey, I’ve got an opportunity to go to a great place and help them get to where they want to win championships.'”
Tressel acknowledged that Michigan could get a recruiting boost with a win Saturday, but said players don’t “sit around waiting to see who won a game to decide where they go.”
“I’m not sure that wins and losses and all that stuff have as high an impact with kids as the comfort levels and sometimes proximity, sometimes opportunity to play,” he said. “But it’s one of the things that you certainly would rather be victorious in your games than not.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Man in the Mirror
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 2:31 p.m.
Rich Rod is not a Dave Wannstant nor in his league....wash your mouth out with soap. Give him his five, six years and let's all be patient and see what happens. He will get recruits. Recruits that will want to play on national TV as freshmen or walk-ons. What caliber they are, that remains to be seen...like Will "The Freshmen Bust" Campbell everyone was so high on. We will see him next year.....and a brand new outlook for UM.....
rightmind250
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 1:17 p.m.
I was playing cards ( Euchre ) at a bar in washington DC last night. One of the players was a girl who grew up in A2. She was embarassed to even tell anyone where she was from. Thats the kind of National exposure Richrod has brought to the program.
rightmind250
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 1:11 p.m.
Of course he says that. Tressel 7-1 against UM. I think it definately has an impact on recruiting. Last place in the B10, no bowl game. You would have to be a complete idiot to think that doesn't have an impact. Oh yeah, we are talking about complete idiots here.
Sparky79
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 12:13 p.m.
A few things... If you fire RichRod like some want, tell me how that speeds up the turnaround process? If you bring in a new coach who wants to run a traditional pro-style offense, in which many of our current recruits are NOT, many will probably leave the program. You think we're thin on defense right now, wait until there's another coaching change and mass exodus. Then you're resorting to playing even more walk-ons and freshmen and your turnaround process becomes even longer, provided you can still get top quality kids to come here. Lets say Tate Forcier leaves. Then you're left with Denard, who can't operate a passing game. You'll be lucky if Devin Gardner doesn't switch commitments, too. If he does, then you're left with Robinson and NOBODY! Uh oh! As for the "Let's be positive and supportive approach is o.k. if you like living in denial" comment. Uh, no. I fully understand what RichRod is trying to do to the program and support it. I also realize that it's not something that's going to happen when he's only recruited ONE FULL class of freshmen (the other being split with Carr recruits). Seriously, the argument that "RichRod doesn't deserve more time!" is stupid when he hasn't even had time! And how many of those true freshmen actually play a big role? Very few. You're not going to win with a team of true freshmen, you gotta give them a few years to develop. It's called reality. How many folks wanted Dave Wanstandt fired from Pitt? Oh look, all his top recruiting classes are now paying off because he was given time to get kids on campus and develop them. The "Lets fire RichRod after two years because his recruits aren't doing anything, even though they haven't had a chance to make their true impact yet, and if we fire him a new coach will come in and magically turn things around overnight" approach is living in a fantasy world. "We as fans do not play, do not coach, do not recruit, and do not win or lose." Ah, but all the fan negativity DOES play a role in recruiting. Go read Craig Roh's dad's post on the Go Blue Wolverine (Scout) message board about it. He hits it dead on. Recruits DO read the internet and if they go to a Michigan message board and week after week read nothing but fans bashing their own coaches and players, do you think they want to come to our "wonderful" program and face the same treatment? Heck no! Fans certainly can influence a recruit's decision. It's one thing to be critical and analytical, but to just flat out bash the team with no real thought or input like so many so called Michigan fans online have been doing isn't going to win over any top recruits. Many fans haven't given RichRod a chance to succeed from the day he took the job. That's a fact. And that's totally unfair. He deserves every opportunity to recruit his players to fit his system to succeed, and you're not going to do that in two years. What are you going to do if a new coach comes in and isn't successful after two years? Place the blame on RichRod and give him more time, despite that you're probably the same folks who claim it's not Carr's fault for leaving the cupboard bare? So Carr leaves a team of inexperience and lacking depth to RichRod, it's not Carr's fault. RichRod does the same, it's his fault. Gee, that's great logic. We get it... lets just keep blaming RichRod for everything. Wow, that's fair... It's funny how when this team started out 4-0 all the RichRod haters went crawling into their closets. They were probably cheering on this team, proclaiming how great they are and how they could have a big season. But the second the team loses and hits a wall, they all come crawling back out. Get over yourselves. You're from Ann Arbor and went to Michigan? Good for you. That somehow makes you entitled to...? I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, too. I want to see this team succeed as much as the next football fan, but I'm not going to cry and pout and stomp my feet because it hasn't happened overnight. Then again, I never expected it to.
pardawg45
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 11:55 a.m.
81Wolverine, I think you have a realistic sense of the team (one that I share). I agree that if we do not get those 7-8 (REALISTIC) wins next year, then maybe it will be time for a change, but until then, it is hardly the time to only spew hate towards the team you are supposedly a "fan" of...
BornInA2
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 11:44 a.m.
If it's all about talent, why has the team played worse through the course of each of the last two seasons? I swear if I hear RR say one more time "We're going through a process..." I'm going to puke. NO MORE EXCUSES, NO MORE BLAMING OTHERS. Let the buck stop with you RR: Proceed from here with integrity and honor and go win games. Great coaches inspire their players to perform beyond their abilities and in doing so find ways to win. Bad coaches dish out blame.
81wolverine
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:41 a.m.
Will Hagerup was a big pick-up for Michigan. With Zoltan Mesko moving on next year, it was either find a good punter or it's tryout time in the spring. Cullen Christian is also a very important player for Michigan. For a while he was pretty solid for U-M, but may not be a sure thing now. I think our two poor seasons HAVE hurt recruiting somewhat. This year's class doesn't look as good as last year's. There's still no big-time linebackers in this class yet, which we desperately need. Marvin Robinson was a H.S. safety and will need to put on pounds to play LB in the Big Ten. Regarding the ongoing coach debate, I think another year will really tell a lot. I think RR should be given a fair chance to succeed. Neither Michigan nor Rodriguez fully understood the difficulty in converting Michigan's traditional offense to a spread. Beside that, the defense had been declining well before Rodriguez took over. Poor recruiting from 2005 on, combined with a high attrition rate (transfers, academic washouts, injuries) eliminated a lot of talent and depth. Add 3 defensive coordinators in 3 years, and you get a lousy defense. It's going to take time to fix the defense. You can bring in any coach you want - Pete Carrol, Bob Stoops, Les Miles, whoever. No one is going to wave a magic wand that's going to fix the defense overnight. We simply need better athletes at many positions. Still, if we don't see a good improvement next year - at least 7-8 wins, then I'd say start looking elsewhere.
Fresh121
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:06 a.m.
Who really wants to come here and coach Les? No. Jim? No? Brian K? Another big 12 coach that yells at his coaches maybe but you got RR who was on the top of the B12 when he left. I just dont see who you people really think would come coach and could win right away.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 10:28 p.m.
I don't need the approval of the Polyannas to feel secure in my status as a fan. I grew up in Ann Arbor, went to Michigan. It's a part of my life. I believe I'm being a good fan by pointing out that Coach Gimmick and the No Defense Bunch are hurting the program. They don't need more time. Every day they're in office hurts, makes the recovery longer.
michboy40
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:15 p.m.
Most of the negetivity around our program is not from Michigan fans, it is from people who are happy that they finally have the ammo they need to sling mud...You know who you are Sunset. Anyway, I'm not happy with RR on several levels, but when push comes to shove I am behind him and the team. They are doing their best, and a few years down the road we will be in great shape. Stay the course. Be patient, and eventually the haters will be back on thier own sites talking about how tressel, dantonio, et al, need to go because they can't beat MICHIGAN.
aarox
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 7:21 p.m.
Perdawg, I am the biggest fan and am confident that comments from Macabre are not the reason for our demise. We as fans do not play, do not coach, do not recruit, and do not win or lose. Bo did not shirk from responsibility by talking about 'non-counting games' when he needed to be talking about winning. Bo did not tear up at a post game conference. Ever. Bo did not suddenly tell the press that his team was too small to compete. Bo did not - ever - blame his players. If you can't tell I'm rather disgusted. Why aren't you?
saginaw
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 7 p.m.
We must get out of this coaching mess and fast. Remember what happened to poor old Notre Dame: Gerry Faust Bob Davie Tyrone Willingham Charlie W We can not afford to go for 20 years of bad coaching. Get someone really good and don't wait. Recruiting at ND and Michigan is still great. This should not be that difficult.
chosen1
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 6:57 p.m.
Both of these coaches are wrong. Recruits do keep track when they are deciding on one or the other. I remember when cooper actually won a game against us and it led to Mike Doss, Matt Wilhelm, and Will Smith choosing Ohio State. four years later they won a national championship. This was also the case for several michigan commits. This game does matter to recruits who are in the midwest. I am not sure which players other than Cullen Christian,who is actually seriously considering these schools, that will be on hand saturday. But either way Rich needs to take advantage to show them how much they are needed first hand.
hurd06
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 5:17 p.m.
Game preview: http://isportsweb.com/2009/11/17/storm-clouds-and-buckeyes-approaching-ann-arbor/
Maize&Believe
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 4:09 p.m.
pardawg45 you are absolutely correct.. people need to be patient and not be so negative.. fans like that give michigan fans a bad name..
pardawg45
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 3:51 p.m.
Macabre Sunset, comments like that are the reason there is such negativity around the Michigan program. There is something bigger at stake when it come to college football more than just winning and losing, it is how your program is perceived around the country. I live in Dallas, and I have OU and UT fans constantly asking me why people are so negative toward RR and our team. They actually "feel bad" for our players and fans. You need to calm down and realize that having a bad team for a few years is not the end of the world and actually give some positive feedback towards Michigan....and YES! it is important to get a punting recruit away from tOSU, because when it is a game of field position isn't it always nice to have a guy who can boom it down the field and help the entire team?! Seriously...how is your post helping anyone, everyone knows that getting rid of a coach 2 years into a COMPLETE change of system, is quite premature. We need to calm down and be patient.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 3:13 p.m.
RichRod doesn't get the Rivalry at all. How can it not help recruiting to experience the intensity of this game? UM/OSU was a real holiday for the 40 years prior to the Coach Gimmick invasion two years ago. Well, let's celebrate. We won a punter from OSU. Smart choice - he knows he'll get more game experience here as long as this fraud is in charge. And Tressel didn't agree. He was asked a loaded question about Michigan's recruiting. How else is he supposed to respond? Tressel gets it. He understood OSU and the football culture immediately. Not bad for a guy who had no prior head coaching experience outside of I-AA.