The Big House BBQ is a Success and U of M BBall Gets Kansas on the Road

As we know, recruiting is a tough business. Kids are getting hundreds of calls and text messages from coaches all over the country. Their Dad wants them to go to a good football program, their Mom wants them to stay close to home, their coach has always been a "Gators fan" and their Uncle wants them to go to where they played football.

Which makes choosing a program a very difficult decision for a young man. One thing you keep hearing over and over on the recruiting trail is, "University XYZ just felt right". Meaning the kids had some type of connection with the coaches, the campus, or academic side of the University.

So if your a head coach, how do you show the special sides of your institution? One way is an "official" visit, but you can only go on a few of those. Another is an unofficial visit to a game, Spring Game, or just a visit anytime.

Coaches have to find new and interesting ways to showcase their programs. Rich Rod and Staff have found that in the second year of the "BBQ at the Big House". This is a rare opportunity for parents, friends, and family of a recruit to come to Ann Arbor for an unofficial visit and interact with the coaches and learn more about the special opportunity to become a Wolverine.

"It's definitely something different and something I haven't done on a recruiting visit,” said Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White. “It's more of a personal, family-type thing and I liked that about it.”

Michigan even had to charge for the event under NCAA rules. No matter if you like Rich Rodriguez or not, these are the kind of changes the Michigan football program has needed for years. It brings fresh ideas into the program and players that would have never considered the Wolverines are now really thinking hard about the Michigan Football Program.

Prospects like Hillside (Ill.) Proviso West wide receiver Kyle Prater, the nation’s No. 19 overall prospect, came away with a more favorable impression of the program. "That was the good thing about having a barbecue,” Prater said. “It lets you know that the coaches are real laid back and not real flashy.”

Michigan has already garnered one commitment from the BBQ (Christian Pace an OL from Ohio) and one more could be on the way with the announcement of Washington (Pa.) Trinity linebacker Ken Wilkins decision coming on June 9th.

• Michigan to play at Kansas on December 19th. One of the ways Tom Izzo gets his team ready for the NCAA tournament and the Big Ten Season each year is by playing difficult opponents at home, on the road, or in tournaments. It seem John Beilein has a similar philosophy. He has scheduled road trips to Utah, Kansas, and the Old Spice Classic in Orlando for next year.



• Kelvin Grady's HS coach likes Kelvin's chances with the Wolverines: “Kelvin on the football field is one of those guys where you kind of hold your breath,” said Stuursma, who also watched Grady change games with explosive kick returns. “He has the opportunity to take it to the house at any time. He’s electrifying and can take over the game with one play, a natural ability you can’t coach.”



• Former Wolverine Ryan Mallett injuries his right hand in a weight room accident. Arkansas expects him to be out only a couple of weeks and the injury should not require surgery. No word if this injury will allow Ryan to hold on to snaps during a game.

• Brennan Clay has U of M in his top 3. Brennan is one of the top RB's in the 2010 class and former HS teammate of Tate Forcier. BC is planning an offical visit to Michigan this September and visited Ann Arbor last season as well.