Second Thoughts

Recruit: Harbaugh pulled spot

According to Chicago Tribune columnist Teddy Greenstein, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh (right) is no stranger to over-recruiting.
According to Chicago Tribune columnist Teddy Greenstein, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh (right) is no stranger to over-recruiting.

Chicago Tribune columnist Teddy Greenstein writes that Michigan football Coach Jim Harbaugh is showing his true colors when it comes to not giving an Illinois high school lineman a scholarship.

Downers Grove (Ill.) South lineman Erik Swenson orally committed to Michigan in 2013. But Swenson said earlier this week that Michigan had no spots left in its 2016 signing class for him, forcing him to find another school before national signing day Feb. 3.

"We hear about the Jim Harbaugh slumber party at a recruit's house and make lame jokes about khaki pajamas. Harbaugh stalks a California kid, sits in on his World Religions Class, and the photo gets thousands of looks on social media," Greenstein wrote.

"It's all a diversion.

"The real Harbaugh is the one who just told a left tackle from Downers Grove (Ill.) South who was verbally committed to Michigan for two-plus years to take a hike. Actually, Harbaugh didn't tell Erik Swenson. Apparently he was too busy posing for selfies. So he had his offensive line coach, Tim Drevno, do it.

"A month ago, I had a great talk with coach Tim Drevno, and he said, 'Get ready to play for us,' " Swenson told the Chicago Tribune's Bob Narang. "They called me last week saying I should reopen my recruitment and take other visits. My family and I were shaken back by it," Greenstein wrote.

"When Swenson called Tuesday, he said he was told by Drevno that there were 'no spots left.' He said he asked to speak with Harbaugh but 'he didn't want to talk to me.' " Greenstein wrote.

"Swenson said he helped recruit some members of the 2016 class, adding: 'I just felt used.'

"Don't feel bad, kid. It's how Harbaugh does business. It's called 'over-recruiting.'

"The irony here is that Harbaugh is so brilliant, he could probably go .500 in the Big Ten with Western Michigan's roster. But he's greedy. He's Nixonian. He is the Bill Belichick [Spygate, Deflategate] of the college game. In their worlds, your record trumps your reputation."

They said it

• TBS's Conan O'Brien, after some scientists said a universe where time moves backward is theoretically possible: "So finally, some good news for Laker fans."

• Baseball great Pete Rose, to reporters, when asked how he ought to be depicted in the Cincinnati Reds' planned statue of him: "Well, I sure as hell don't want it to be me standing at the $2 window at Turfway."

• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "A little birdie says the NFL Cardinals just might have some in-state draft interest in Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright. Coincidence? They just renamed their team bus the Mystery Machine."

He said it

From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:

• "Rob Gronkowski's brother Glenn announced he's leaving Kansas State early for the NFL draft. To prepare for a second Gronkowski, the NFL is doubling the number of jacuzzis."

• "The St. Louis Rams organization bashed the city of St. Louis in its application to move. The only way this gets worse is if the team writes graffiti on the Gateway Arch."

• "The official roster for the Puppy Bowl has been announced. If you're mounting a letter-writing campaign because a beagle named Ralphie didn't make the cut, you're probably too into football."

SPORTS QUIZ

Which two teams did the Indianapolis Colts, led by quarterback Jim Harbaugh, defeat in the 1995 AFC playoffs?

ANSWER

The San Diego Chargers in the wild-card round and the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. Indianapolis then lost at Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game.

Sports on 01/23/2016

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