Florida juniors highlight latest group of U-M visitors

BY JOSH HELMHOLDT
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

Besides the eight high school prospects on their official visits to Michigan this weekend, there were more than 30 unofficial visitors for the Wolverines’ game against Michigan State. Many of those were juniors, including more than a half dozen who are expected to be ranked in the top 100 recruits in the class of 2010.

Coming into the weekend, all eyes were on Eagle Lake (Fla.) Lake Region junior safety Marvin Robinson (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) who had stated before his trip that he would consider making a commitment to U-M at the game. Robinson left Ann Arbor with the Wolverines still in the lead for his services, but without making a verbal commitment.

"Right now I am just focusing on my season and trying to help my team go to the state championship,” Robinson said. “I'm not too much worried about the recruiting process. (A decision) will probably come after the season or maybe longer than that.”

Both of Robinson’s parents joined him on the trip to Michigan and the trio met with coach Rich Rodriguez. According to Robinson, his parents are supportive if he chooses Michigan and plan to relocate to the state to be near him while he's in college.

Robinson was one of four Florida juniors that came for the game. Orlando wide receiver Ricardo Miller (6-3, 208), who committed to Michigan in September and is a friend of Robinson’s, was also along for the trip. His mother is a U-M graduate and he attended the Wolverines’ summer camp in June, but this was his first time experiencing a game in Michigan Stadium.

"It was so huge, and sitting in the Big House, looking around at 110,000 fans, it was just crazy,” Miller commented. “I couldn't speak. I just kept looking around the stadium. I can't believe I'm going to play there in a few years."

Apopka, Fla., cornerback Lo Wood and Lake Region cornerback Tyler Blandin and Orlando Dr. Phillips sophomore running back Demetrius Hart rounded out the Florida contingent. The group stayed through Sunday evening, taking tours of the school and meeting with coaches and academic personnel.

Several notable in-state juniors were also attended Saturday’s game. Ann Arbor Huron receiver Jeremy Jackson, who committed to Michigan earlier this month, Chelsea running back Nick Hill, Inkster quarterback Devin Gardner and Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White all made the trip to Ann Arbor. Each is considered a top ten in-state recruit for 2010.

Palatine (Ill.) Fremd junior offensive tackle Christian Lombard is considered one of the top linemen in the Midwest for 2010. He picked up an offer from Michigan at their summer camp in June, and now has more than 12 total offers before him. Saturday’s contest was the first Michigan game he has attended this fall.

Josh Helmholdt is the recruiting editor for The Wolverine Magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com.

U-M to host biggest recruiting weekend of season

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Sam Webb: Recruiting

This weekend's matchup with Michigan State looms large for Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines, not only because the opportunity it provides to stem the negative tide from a 2-5 start, but also for what it might mean for recruiting.

The Wolverines are set to host their biggest visit weekend of the season, with eight official visitors (those seniors whose trip is paid for by the program), and even more unofficial visitors (those who have to foot the bill themselves).

Here are the attendees that we've been able to confirm thus far (all class of 2009 unless noted):

OFFICIAL VISITORS

QB Shavodrick Beaver, 6-4, 200, 4.50, Rider High (Wichita Falls, Texas): Committed to Michigan. Saturday will mark Beaver's second visit to Ann Arbor, but his first for a game. The dual-threat quarterback remains solidly committed to the Wolverines despite persistent pressure from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to reconsider.

OT Travis Bond, 6-7, 300, 5.28, Bertie High (Windsor, N.C.): After watching Bond work out at the Carolina Panthers' training facility with my own eyes this summer, I can verify that this young man's measurables are unquestionably legit.

Michigan has been Scout.com's No. 16 OT since the spring, when he was a virtual unknown nationally. Since then, both his exposure and his stock have been on the rise. Butch Davis' Tar Heels have made Bond a priority, and after hosting him during their summer camp and for visits earlier this season, they may be tough to beat.

However, Bond insists he has no leader currently and that Michigan is on equal footing will all of his other suitors. He further indicated that Michigan's early-season struggles will not hurt their chances.

"I think they are still rebuilding," Bond told Scout.com. "I think their future looks good, so I'm not too worried about how they are doing right now. Michigan has great history and has produced some great athletes. They always seem to make their players better and the school is also known for its good academics, too."

S Vladimir Emilien, 6-1, 190, 4.66, Plantation High (Plantation, Fla.): Scout.com's No. 40 safety is out for the year because of a torn ACL, but reportedly is mending very well and has a top six of Wisconsin, Michigan, Wake Forest, Central Florida, Ohio State and Stanford. His visit to Wisconsin two weeks gave the Badgers a big boost, but if Michigan can equal or better that effort, they could become the team to beat. Emilien may also visit Stanford before announcing his decision on his birthday, Nov. 23.

WR Willie Haulstead, 6-3, 205, 4.59, Titusville High (Titusville, Fla.): Scout.com's No. 37 wideout verbally committed to Florida State in May but is looking to visit a few other schools, including Michigan. Thus far, his trip to Michigan this weekend is the only one other than Florida State for which he has concrete visit plans. Regardless of how his trip to Ann Arbor goes, don't expect a decision anytime soon. Haulstead plans to announce his intentions on signing day in February.

DE/OT Anthony LaLota, 6-6, 265, 4.65, The Hun School, (Princeton, N.J.): Committed to Michigan. LaLota will be the highest-rated prospect in attendance as the No. 4 OT in the country, No. 28 player overall, and a five-star recruit, according to Scout.com.

WR/CB Dewayne Peace, 6-0, 183, 4.68, South Grand Prairie High (Grand Prairie, Texas): Committed to Michigan. This cat-quick athlete, ranked the No. 104 WR in the country by Scout.com, has maintained his commitment to Michigan. However, he is contemplating visits to Kansas and Oklahoma with his high school teammates.

WR/CB Josh Robinson, 5-10,180, 4.45, Plantation High (Plantation, Fla.): A teammate of Vladimir Emilien at Plantation High, Robinson has consistently put in-state schools South Florida and Central Florida at the top of his list over offers from Michigan, West Virginia and South Carolina. His time in Ann Arbor could go a long way toward closing the gap.

RB/slot Vincent Smith, 5-8, 175, 4.62, Pahokee High (Pahokee, Fla.): Committed to Michigan. Smith, who is Scout.com's No. 101 RB, will be making his first visit to Ann Arbor.

UNOFFICIAL VISITORS

RB Brennan Clay, 6-0, 190, 4.47, class of 2010, Scripps Ranch High, (San Diego): A teammate of Michigan QB commitment Tate Forcier, Clay already has offers from Wisconsin, Baylor and Stanford. Now the Wolverines are jumping in the mix.

QB Tate Forcier, 6-1, 190, 4.63, Scripps Ranch High, (San Diego): Committed to Michigan. The other half of Michigan's quarterback contingent will be on hand to take in the game and help court future teammates. Forcier is currently ranked a four-star prospect and the No. 12 quarterback in the country by Scout.com.

RB Demetrius Hart, 5-9, 165, 4.5, class of 2011, Dr. Phillips High (Orlando, Fla.): This electrifying tailback is only a sophomore, but Michigan and a number of others have decided to get started early.

WR Jeremy Jackson, 6-4, 200, 4.57, class of 2010, Huron High (Ann Arbor): Committed to Michigan. The son of Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson opted to join his dad in Ann Arbor after considering offers from Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Stanford and Wisconsin. Now he is working hard to help bring others into the Maize and Blue fold.

OL Christian Lombard, 6-5, 280, class of 2010, William Fremd High (Palatine, Ill.): Lombard was one of the top performers at Michigan's camp last summer and will be among the highest-rated linemen in his class. Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Iowa and Illinois have already offered.

WR Ricardo Miller, 6-3, 200, 4.5, class of 2010, Dr. Phillips High (Orlando, Fla.): Committed to Michigan. Miller had accumulated offers from Florida, Central Florida, UCLA and South Florida before choosing to end the recruiting process with his commitment to Michigan in September.

DB Marvin Robinson, 6-1, 204, 4.63, class of 2010, Lake Region High (Eagle Lake, Fla.): This talented youngster already has offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia and Nebraska, but might decide to end his recruitment in the coming days. Friends Jeremy Jackson and Ricardo Miller have been working hard to convince him to do just that.

"It's possible I could join (Miller and Jackson) in the class," Robinson said, referring to this weekend. (Their commitments) had an effect on me, but I'm going to still talk it over with my family."

CB Lo Wood, 5-11, 170, 4.5, class of 2010, Apopka High (Apopka, Fla.): Wood, who is a teammate of Michigan commitment Jeremy Gallon, is receiving strong attention from a number of national powers, including Florida and Michigan.

U-M pursuing top 2010 recruits from Florida

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Sam Webb: Recruiting

The 2009 recruiting season hasn't even concluded yet, and already a number of top-flight 2010 prospects have emerged.Michigan is currently in hot pursuit of a number of them in this state.

The Wolverines have extended early offers to Livonia Stevenson tailback Austin White, Inkster quarterback Devin Gardener, Detroit Southeastern defensive end Will Gholston, Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Dior Mathis and Ann Arbor Huron receiver Jeremy Jackson.

When the search extends beyond the Michigan and Ohio borders, no state looks to be higher on the priority list than Florida.

Rich Rodriguez showed just how much he would prioritize the vigorously contested region when he assigned three coaches to recruit it upon completing his staff. Now it appears that strategy is paying off.

Michigan currently holds four commitments from the Sunshine State: Apopka slot receiver Jeremy Gallon, Orlando safety Mike Jones, Pahokee running back Vincent Smith and Pahokee linebacker Brandin Hawthorne -- all three-star recruits.

The Wolverines appear to be even more of a factor with the 2010 crop and they already are among the favorites for a number of highly-rated prospects.

Rodriguez scored his first commitment for the 2010 class two weeks ago when he landed Orlando, Fla., receiver Ricardo Miller. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was a standout at Michigan's summer camp and had already earned offers from Florida, Central Florida, UCLA and South Florida by the start of the school year. A number of other programs also were showing heavy interest when the Wolverines extended an offer late last month. It didn't take long for him to jump at the chance to don the winged helmet.

"I committed right away," Miller said. "It's something I waited for and I wanted to seize the opportunity. Coach Rodriguez told me he liked me ever since he met me at camp. He said not only was I a solid kid on the field, but said I was a good kid off the field."

Describing Miller's talent as "solid" is a bit of an understatement, according to Scout.com analyst Allen Trieu.

"Miller is kid who is shockingly put together for his age," Trieu stated. "He uses his strength to play a very physical game and blocks like a tight end. He also has good speed (4.5 in the 40) and has shown he can stretch the field. Certainly, when you talk about Florida juniors, Ricardo's name has to be mentioned right up there with the best of them."

Recruiting help

Once Miller joined the Maize and Blue fold, he immediately went to work trying to help lure others. His efforts even reached back to the state of Michigan, helping convince Jeremy Jackson (the son of Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson) to also take the plunge. Now both are focused on trying to help land an even bigger fish from the recruiting pond.

Marvin Robinson of Eagle Lake, Fla., is a 6-1, 204-pound playmaking safety who is already a prime target for many of the country's elite programs.

"When I saw this kid at the Michigan summer camp two years back, I thought they had misclassified him as a sophomore-to-be," recalled Trieu. "He's built like an NFL player already, and the fact that he can cover ground well enough to play free safety is impressive. I cannot imagine there are many other kids out there with his size that can run, jump and catch the ball the way he does. It is easy to see why Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, USC and others have offered him this early. A kid that boasts those offers before the start of his junior season is definitely elite."

Add Ohio State, Florida State, Georgia and Nebraska to Robinson's scholarship ledger and you'll have an accurate feel for just how coveted he truly is. However, the problem for most of those programs is he has a strong affinity for the Wolverines. So strong is his connection with them that the question many scouts ask isn't if he will commit to Michigan, it's when. It's a topic that he, Jackson and Miller have been discussing since the summer.

"When Jeremy Jackson came down and we were at the Friday Night Lights (7-on-7) camp (at the University of Florida this summer), we were talking about all three of us going up there," said Robinson."(Their commitments) had an effect on me, but I'm going to still talk it over with my family. Me, my mom and my dad are going up (to Michigan) for the Michigan State game."

Big day for U-M

Should Robinson opt to become Michigan's third 2010 verbal commitment, he won't hesitate in trying to help add to the tally. As a matter of fact, it seems he has already started.

"I talked to (Apopka, Fla., junior cornerback) Lo Wood at the Friday Night Lights camp," Robinson said. "He was telling me about some of the schools he was interested in and one of them was Michigan. I also talked to (Royal Palm Beach, Fla., receiver) Chris Dunkley and he said that Michigan is one of the colleges he is interested in, too. I'd definitely talk to them about Michigan if I go there."

Dunkley is a 5-10" 175-pound big-play wideout who already holds offers from Michigan, Florida, Georgia and West Virginia. Wood (5-11, 170), who claims a 4.49 40, only holds an offer from Florida International at this early stage, but is receiving strong interest from a number of national powers, including Michigan. He will be yet another of the visitors in attendance at the Michigan-Michigan State game on Oct. 25.

As it turns out, that weekend may be as significant for the Wolverines off the field as it is on it.

Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.

STRIKE IT RICH: West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez accepts Wolverines job

By MARK SNYDER
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

December 16, 2007

Michigan has a new football coach.

West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez, who met with U-M president Mary Sue Coleman and athletic director Bill Martin on Friday in Toledo, has accepted the Michigan coaching job, replacing retiring coach Lloyd Carr.

Associate athletic director Bruce Madej confirmed to a Free Press report this afternoon that Rodriguez would be the Wolverines' 17th football coach.

U-M has scheduled a news conference for 9 a.m. Monday on campus.

Rodriguez had a 10-minute meeting with his team early this afternoon, told the 11th-ranked Mountaineers that he was leaving for Michigan and went back to his office, according to West Virginia media reports.

His players had little comment but looked downtrodden.

Also, the country's top quarterbacking prospect told Superprep.com this afternoon that Rodriguez had called with similar news.

“I just spoke to Coach Rodriguez about 10 minutes ago and he told me he is going to Michigan,” the QB, Terrelle Pryor, told Superprep.com. “He said they made him an offer he can't refuse.”

Pryor, from Jeannette, Pa., told the recruiting site that he wanted to add Michigan to his list of finalists. West Virginia had been on the list.

Rodriguez's decision came after nearly two days of pondering Friday's discussion and, according to the Charleston Gazette, two meetings with West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong on Saturday.

Although Rodriguez did not comment about the U-M job at his previously scheduled Saturday morning news conference, instead talking about his team's impeding Fiesta Bowl date against Oklahoma, his lack of a denial kept hope alive for many Wolverines fans. Combined with his decision to cancel an afternoon practice, a move seemed possible.

Rodriguez made nearly $1.8 million this season, according to a recent USA Today survey of college coaches.

A 44-year-old coach who has won at least 10 games in each of the past three seasons, including two BCS bowl trips, seemed to fit many of Martin's criteria.

He recruits the Midwest well, he is young enough that he could be a long-term fixture at U-M and brings the dynamic spread offense that has thrived everywhere he has been as a coordinator (Tulane and Clemson) and a head coach (Glenville State and, since 2001, West Virginia.)

His 60-26 record at West Virginia is sterling, although procuring him appeared costly with a $4 million buyout added in a contract amendment signed in August 2007.

Carr is still expected to coach Michigan in the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl against ninth-ranked Florida.

Martin attended the Michigan basketball game Saturday but refused comment on anything related to the search, which began officially when Carr announced his retirement on Nov. 19.

Rodriguez's acceptance would brings to an end the long and winding process to replace Carr.

Michigan had reached deep discussions with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano before he pulled out of the race on Dec. 7. There were extensive discussions between LSU coach Les Miles' representatives and U-M. Miles officially spoke to Coleman and Martin on Dec. 7, although released a statement saying it was just in an advisory capacity.

Like Schiano, Rodriguez was in his second major job flirtation in 12 months, having spurned Alabama last December.

Rodriguez also has a tenuous tie to Ann Arbor in his former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen, who was one of Bo Schemebchler's assistants before leaving to build the Mountaineers' program.

There have been 16 Division I-A coaching changes since the regular season ended and Michigan was one of three - UCLA and SMU - that had not been filled.

University of Michigan Stadium Dedication 1927

Dedication Day, Oct. 22, 1927, UM vs. Ohio State

Article source: Bentley Historical Library

Michigan played in the dedication game of Ohio State's new stadium in 1922, and behind the running and kicking of Harry Kipke spoiled the Buckeye's celebration with a convincing 19-0 victory. The Ohioans came to Ann Arbor in 1927 hoping to return the favor. Michigan was undefeated and unscored on in its first three games, home victories over Ohio Wesleyan and Michigan State and a road win over Wisconsin. All-American end Bennie Oosterbaan led a potent Michigan offense that also featured elusive halfback Louis Gilbert and rugged fullback George Rich. The line was anchored by tackle Ray Baer and guard Otto Pommerening - who would earn All-American honors in 1928.

Unlike the rainy weather which kept the crowd for the opening game against Ohio Wesleyan well below capacity, conditions on dedication day were near perfect. Temporary wooden bleachers (that would, in fact, remain in place until 1949) had been erected around the top of the stadium to provide an additional 10,000 seats in anticipation of a capacity crowd.

The game had sold out well in advance, but hundreds showed up hoping to find a ticket. As the Detroit Free Press reporter told it, "To those within the field, you can add doleful hundreds outside who, a few minutes after the game started had reached the hysterical point where they were asking one another if they didn't have just one ticket to sell. ... One latecomer today was asked and paid $16 for a pair of tickets, or $10 over the printed price."

General admission tickets sold for three dollars. The 11,114 student ticket purchaser had to pay a fifty cent surcharge on the normal $2.50 price for this and the other "big games" of the year. The box seats in the lower rows went for four and five dollars. More than 17,000 tickets were sold at Ohio State.

Nearly one thousand Boy Scouts, from all over Michigan, plus a few from Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus, were on hand to usher the ticket holders to their seats. A crowd of nearly 85, 000 was on hand as the dedication ceremonies got under way at 2:00.

As a football spectacle, of course, the day wholly surpassed anything in Michigan history. As the Michigan Alumnus writer noted "Ann Arbor flung open its gates to a horde of visitors nearly triple the size of its own population - and the new stadium swallowed them by two o-clock in the afternoon." The dedication ceremony itself was simple. Michigan Governor Fred W. Green and his Ohio counterpart Vince Donahey, and Presidents C.C. Little of Michigan and George W. Rightmire of Ohio, led the massed bands of the two universities onto the field from the east tunnel. The bands paraded to the flag pole where the national ensign was raised and the vast throng stood bareheaded during the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "The Yellow and Blue." The Detroit Free Press carried a particularly colorful account of the ceremonies. With the formalities completed, the Stadium was turned over to the use for which it was built.

Among those in attendance on dedication day were "Bennie" and "Biff" the two live wolverine mascots Fielding Yost had acquired after a long search. For a number of years they were brought to the stadium for all the big games. The wolverines lived for a time at a small zoo near the Natural History Museum, but eventually became too vicious to remain on campus and were moved to the Detroit Zoo.

The unquestioned star of Michigan's 21-0 victory was halfback Louis Gilbert. He scored all of Michigan's touchdowns - two on long passes from Oosterbaan featuring elaborate deception in the backfield and the third on a short run off a lateral from Oosterbaan and kicked the extra points. Despite the score, the Buckeyes gave the Wolverines a good game. The Michigan Daily and Michigan Alumnus accounts of the game praised Ohio's efforts. Only an outstanding defensive effort led by Oosterbaan held the powerful Ohio ground game in check.

Both of the remaining home games for 1927 were sellouts. A crowd of 83,650 saw the Wolverines defeat a tough Navy squad 27-12. In the season finale, a homecoming crowd of 84,243 looked on as Michigan dropped a 6-13 decision, and custody of the Little Brown Jug, to Minnesota.

Michigan finished the stadium's inaugural season with a 6-2 overall record; 3-2 in the conference, 4-1 in the "Big House."

Source: Bentley Historical Library http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/dediday.htm