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Michigan Gets Commitment From Long Snapper

By Alex -06 June 2012
23 Comments
- Football

OSU did this two years ago with Bryce Haynes, but Michigan offered/got a commitment from LS Scott Sypniewski, their 21st verbal pledge. Michigan experts were predicting 22-23 players, but even if it is 25, they only have a few spots remaining. Interesting move by Hoke, they must have been in need badly.

steensn on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:25pm #

I never understand... WHY!? Just get a guy on backup or find on of the thousands of students more than willing to walk on and play a specific role on the team. I'm glad they did it though ;)

tennbuckeye19 on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:31pm #

I get why you would want a guy specialized in long-snapping on your team and I doubt they would've offered if it wasn't a big need. But man, sure does look like UM's class will be full before summer's over (if Treadwell commits and maybe another one or two guys). I'm not sure I would want to have my class full with so much time left before Signing Day.

Alex on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:33pm #

Try showing a coach this and tell them to "just get any walk-on":

Of course walk-ons work most of the time but if you want to make sure your special units are in good hands you "waste" a scholarship on a LS once every 4-5 years.

BucksfanXC on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:34pm #

/Jim Tressel'd

“Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.” - Woody

steensn on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:41pm #

I'm not saying it is easy, but it is something you can learn through focus. I believe our longsnapper got beat out by a walkon? There are a lot of very good athletes available as walk-ons that can focus on certain duties.

steensn on 6 Jun 2012 - 4:43pm #

Article on the matter:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/02/11/longsnappers/

DMcDougal24 on 6 Jun 2012 - 5:33pm #

Waiting for our Michigan contributors to come here before I decide just how strange and comical this is. @TremendousUM commenting on twitter how bizarre it seems

hail2victors9 on 6 Jun 2012 - 5:58pm #

We had a walk on long snapper that transferred to MSU after Sparty offered a scholarship. Also, we lost one to graduation. Definitely a need, but very bizarre to me that we burned a scholarship for one. Sorry for no names. At the airport on my phone.

Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler

WoodysGlasses on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:00pm #

Do we have to have a thread every time Michigan gets a committment?

hail2victors9 on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:08pm #

Well, this one is poking fun at the decision, I believe.

Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler

xtremebuckeye on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:12pm #

if they offer a scolly to a water boy i would like to see a thread on that too. ;)

O H I O is the Buckeye State

ItsMichiganFerG... on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:20pm #

I believe it's a waste if we only have rumored to be 24 spots. Maybe some attrition coming? Alex never made a thread when Michigan got Poggi did he? I know someone did, but he must of misse that one :)

hail2victors9 on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:25pm #

I made the Poggi thread, but more to clarify that was the recruit Alex was referring to in the tweet last weekend.

Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler

scUM on 6 Jun 2012 - 6:36pm #

I certainly don't get it. We've had some very productive walk-ons of late. Kovacs. Heininger. Brink. Why offer a scollarship for a long snapper? I don't get it.

hail2victors9 on 6 Jun 2012 - 7:01pm #

Yeah on the 3rd page of comments at Mgoblog, people still seem to think this is misinformation. They're in disbelief. FWIW, he's a great long snapper...[whistling]

Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler

tOSUman on 7 Jun 2012 - 12:18pm #

@Tennbuckeye19

I think we would welcome having our class close to full by summer if it was filled with the type of players scUM has at this point.

I personally don't have a problem offering a scholarship to a long snapper, especially if you get one that specializes in the craft such as this kid does. scUM almost gave the game up to us this past year do to a problem with the punt snap. This is a crucial part of the game.

M Man on 7 Jun 2012 - 12:50pm #

Here's my thought: for all of the fathers out there. Like teaching your daughters to play golf; teach your sons to be long-snappers. They don't have to run 4.6's to be long snappers. A really good one might get a scholarship to Michigan, and later an NFL contract. Where the NFLPA minimum rookie salary is $375,000 and a long snapper with 10 years in the league will make $910,000.