I agree that there will be copy cats. But the reason for Michigan's success this recruiting season is because it's Michigan and they seem to be on the upswing, there should be opportunity for these highly rated recruits to play earlier than at some of the other programs, and Harbaugh's success as a coach.
Put it this way- climbing trees, having sleep overs, and Signing Day parties won't help Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, or Rutgers in their recruiting. Having satellite camps in the SEC footprint would and for that I give Harbaugh huge credit.
Seem to be on the upswing?
Michigan IS on the upswing.
I'd say this past year's Michigan team outperformed all others dating back to 2007.
The math is clear enough, if the play on the field isn't telling enough.
The current recruiting class is better than any during that same stretch as well.
The profile is high. Most of the pub is good, some of it is not so good.
But at least now the all-caring, all the time public know what the recruits themselves already knew: no entitlement, no spot "held" regardless.
No one walked in blind or in a cocoon. The onlookers knew nothing, but that didn't stop them from posturing and judging. That is nothing new. The supposed bad pub was really a good opportunity to clear the air and Harbaugh seemed to be pretty clear with how recruiting is going to go under his watch. Harbaugh took logical advantage of said opportunity.
Sleepovers and shirtless photos won't bring in recruits, logic says, but there's also nothing to indicate it is some kind of detrimental element. Only suppositions of the all-knowing - but not really knowing - public.
It's just fat for the onlookers to chew on, or not.
Michigan has always been Michigan. That hardly meant that maintaining the status quo was the optimum way to go.
In fact that ho-hum "we're Michigan" same ol', same ol' was the very culprit that unplugged the program's power supply. By being complacent, there was no winning, and with no winning there was a damaged rep. With a damaged rep there was weaker recruiting, and all of this weakness, tangible decline, rested under the shade of the same old oak tree of complacency and belief that history would power the future, not great planning, vision and relentless effort. Same ol' had been tried and it had failed. Clearly and miserably failed.
New coach, new ideas, re-newed definition of "hard work" and the wins are coming back on the field and in recruiting. Each will fuel the other with the new and far superior platform in place.
Better to lose the shirt than lose the games, eh?
Go Blue. Always.