Definitely. Plus, the assumption here is that Denard Robinson is now headed to the pros, their second string QB (Forcier) was made ineligible due to grades and may not recover from that, and already there are rumblings about other players leaving, or recruits they assumed were committed rethinking their commitment.
Whomever the new coach is definitely has his work cut out for him. His recruiting class is going to be meager at best for the 2011 year, and Michigan fans need to suck it up and recognize that. Next year’s record is going to be about 3-9. The year after that, if he’s a good coach, they might break .500, but might not. Give the new guy at least a third year before expecting even a lower-grade bowl appearance and a winning record, and at least a fourth year to have a good team on the field.
Unfortunately, Michigan’s fans (mostly), and athletics department doesn’t seem patient enough to wait for those four years.
Rimbo
1823
More to the point, as subsequent discussion has shown, the NCAA rules regarding player benefits are pretty fuckin’ far from a black-and-white moral situation. These kids weren’t out raping grandmas or anything, so absolutist “Shouldn’t have even been in that game!” judgments are as ridiculous as the inconsistent application of judgments by the NCAA itself. :)
DT1
1824
I don’t think Robinson is eligible for the 2011 draft. They’ll never do it, but I would love to see UM hire Leach. I can only imagine how many points he would score in Leach’s system. If they could hold teams to 30 they’d win every week. :)
Rimbo
1825
UT is finally starting to fill in the massive number of coaching vacancies it has.
Done deals:
WR coach/recruiting: Darrell Wyatt, from Kansas (and formerly OU)
DT coach: Bo Davis, from Bama
DC: Manny Diaz from MSU
Up in the air:
OC: Paul Chryst has been made an offer and is mulling his decision
OL: If Chryst takes the offer, Bostad will go with him
Strength & Conditioning: Just started the search; rumor is that it’s Tommy Moffit’s job if he wants it and you know we’ll pay :D
Director of Football Operations: Rumor is, former Seahawk and Texas DT Marcus Tubbs, who has been assisting for the past couple of weeks
Associate AD: No names given yet, although former S&C coach Madden may get the gig; some rumors are that Mack is sticking up for Cleve Bryant in the face of the allegations
Why would Robinson not be eligible? Most players wait until after the bowl games to declare, and he’s certainly old enough. I can’t see him being drafted as a QB, but I think he’ll make an excellent running back or maybe a defensive back.
Bluto
1827
He’s only been out of high school for two years, you need three for the NFL. Plus , he just might go undrafted.
DT1
1828
Unless I’m off base, he’s a true sophomore (i.e. no redshirt season). You have to be 3 years out of high school to be eligible.
War Duh Eagle!
Not too proud of my alma mater in this area…
Interesting, is that a relatively new rule? I must have missed it somehow.
In any event, the Ann Arbor News this morning also raised the possibility that he would transfer elsewhere, but he’d have to sit out a year. I think that would be a really dumb move on his part, but then again, sticking around and then not being the starting QB next year might be equally dumb. I’d love to see them put in a QB who wasn’t the focus of the offense so much, though, and move DR to running back.
Bluto
1831
That’s the rule Maurice Clarrett tried to fight, and lost terribly.
DT1
1832
According to ESPN, it was implemented in 1990.
I must have just misremembered then, I was thinking it was two years out instead of three, thought maybe they’d raised it some. Oh well, sucks to be Robinson then.
Bluto
1834
Maybe they’ll get transfer exemptions and not have to sit out a year, but I doubt it. I can’t remember the rules around that, but I’m sure it’s murky.
Luck is going back to Stanford next year. Guess he figures he has a shot at the NC, especially since UO is @Palo Alto.
How likely is that if the coach leaves?
I dunno, but Stanford made it official by putting out a press release that Luck is staying, so it’s as good a reason as any.
Sarkus
1839
All the signs indicate he’s leaving, but you never know. At least two NFL teams are prepared to offer him their head coaching job with lots of money but it really depends on whether Harbaugh thinks they are a good fit. More then a few sources say he has interest in the NFL, so this would probably be as good a time as any to make the jump. Luck returning, though, might make him consider another year at Stanford.
And I doubt Luck would put let Stanford make this announcement if he didn’t intend to stay no matter what. The big surprise is that he’s willing to walk away from the money - Luck would be the guaranteed #1 draft pick this year and get a much bigger contract then he will likely see next year even if he was the #1 pick then. It’s pretty much assumed at this point that there will be an NFL rookie salary cap in place by the time of the next NFL draft.
Luck’s probably going to lose his coach. He loses 3/5 of his line. And he loses a couple of receivers. But even if Harbaugh bolts he left the cupboard stuffed. Even if Stanford hires Ty Willy back he’d still be assured of one or two more really good years thanks to all the talent on hand.
