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Michigan is recruiting LiAngelo Ball?

I remember Shea Patterson because that was at the height of Harbaughmania.  Recruiting rankings were all the rage.  He is the same guy who decommited from Arizona--Rich Rod lost someone big--and was a steadfast Miss. recruit.  He stuck out because he was from IMG where Michigan was making a big push.  Also, it was just about the height of the Hugh Freeze reign.

Who's next, Laquon Treadwell?

Harbaugh and many Michigan fans were loud critics of Freeze.  Everyone should be a critic of Freeze.  Now the time has come when they welcome the Rebels kids, cronies, and recruits.  They are the ones who volunteered, the student-athletes who went for it.

With Patterson we didn't hear about Harbaugh going to his high school (football factory) and holding sideline chains because it was never that close.  Or maybe he wanted to but they wouldn't let him.  But no, JH didn't penetrate IMG that successfully despite Patterson's history of some sort in Toledo, but also Louisiana...  The adulation of the South somehow felt more comfortable.

Maybe he was young, needs to mature a little, and deserves another chance.  That's the only course you can take.  Freeze and his disciples ("operations coordinator") are the adults and are more responsible.

Still, at that point the jury was pretty much in on Freeze.  Everyone and their brother were saying you just don't turn recruiting around like that.  The smell is just too bad.  Freeze stinks.

For Harbaugh and Michigan, well it sure has changed.  No, it doesn't mean Michigan has become Kansas Cornfields CC or whatever last-chance juco is in fashion.  It is not "illegal"--an accusation that isn't even civil when it comes to the NCAA--either.  There was a time when Michigan eschewed transfers of any kind but Harbaugh changed that ASAP with the additions of Wayne Lyons and John O'Korn.

It isn't a good sign either.  I know, I know, NFL and best-chance U.  Harbaugh's right if you really want to be good.  Still, it is a tough pill to swallow.

Elsewhere.




Elsewhere Jimbo Fisher made news.  $75 million over ten years for a football coach will do that.

For those of us who don't really follow he seemed like an enigma.  He could appear self-effacing and even charming.  He didn't display ogre-like bravado on the sideline and neither did the often difficult Florida superstars he recruited, which was unusual for coaches and players.  He had a system for keeping them focused and it worked.

Ever since Deondre Francois went down (again) their season was ruined.  It was hard to believe  Texas A&M would do a lot better than Kevin Sumlin as they usually seemed to be am above-average team, but they did.  Probably the two sides were together long before the announcement.

There are quite a few pictures of Fisher where he looks like a blank villain, void of any expression at all.  You know, like those rare people who are single-minded and can't feel remorse, empathy, or love.  But he has a fire burning inside him because he is an ultra-successful football coach.  There is only one other person like that in college football:  Nick Saban.

Fisher had that weird "don't you have any loyalty" press conference.  Apparently he kept pushing Florida State to be morel like...  Clemson.  Those in charge said enough.

Texas A&M finally got what it wanted and a couple more boosters, a few more million, and a creative financial package was all it took.  A financial package was all it took.


Patterson's brother at Ole Miss and Arizona.  Finally, some morality?