Michigan Football Recruiting: A Recruiting Synopsis — Final
Posted ay 8:00am — 6/29/2014
Michigan Football Recruiting: A Recruiting Synopsis — Final
Final Chapter — Sign Here and See Who Delivers
The process is at an end, recruiting is transformed into the reality of a choice. The choice is meant to be final, but in contemporary society, it isn’t always that way.
Signing day arrives. Each school has procedures that inform parents and students regarding times and methods of messaging an accepted agreement. And the paperwork is an agreement, a contract.
Beforehand, some athletes are hoping for a new offer, some are hesitating, some are ready to just sign the paper and get on with life, and some have long closed the door on any real recruiting and have lowered the curtain.
Dec 28, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke in the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Kansas State defeated Michigan 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsCoaches may be busy making last minute visits to protect commitments that are starting to melt, or to reassure parents against claims made by other schools, or to heavily tag team a few undecided commits of note. Or, maybe even flip another school’s commit.
This is a time when parents are happy for the scholarship, but typically hold some minor apprehensions about the choice and whether or not the choice will eventually provide a degree and some notable athletic experiences.
Now that the commit has turned from recruit to player, the ethics of the coaching staff keeping explicit or implicit “promises” becomes a prime focus for the new student athlete. Athletes and parents have long memories about those discussions during home visits, phone calls, or campus trips whereby the future of the recruit was discussed and the selling points of the program placed forward. Some merely offer an opportunity, while others promise the moon. Most programs are semi-cautious and do not make outrageous claims or promises that most likely cannot be realized.
January 1, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison prior of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsThere will always be coaching decisions on playing time that are difficult, and maybe a player comes out second-best in a close contest for playing time. Some players and parents do not have the ability to separate the mere self from the overall team picture. Most parents do and hope for a fair shot, a safe environment, academic progress, but perhaps above all, a coach who is a family figure, one who takes personal interest in the player through good times or bad.
Most players end up satisfied with their college choice and team experience. Most parents were as well. Those who were not either have a high-profile athlete not meeting someone’s expectation or getting the glory expected, and then, adios. Sometimes, unfortunately, a coach breaks that original recruiting bond and withdraws support of the athlete for no other reason than not making the grade regarding team contributions, that is to say the athlete is considered not capable getting onto the field. This is called running a kid off, or out of the program. A coach’s silence and a lack of instruction send the clear message: move on. Some schools do not even hide pretenses any more; the athlete is more or less released from scholarship. Essentially, teams can now cut players and extend next year’s scholarship count.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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