Christine Michael might want UT??

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DGScott975

25+ Posts
CHRISTOPHER DABE: West Brook's Michael has playoffs, All-American Bowl in sight
By CHRISTOPHER DABE
November, 8, 2008

Christine Michael might have let the cat out of the bag a bit early, but any follower of high school football knows he's among the nation's best running backs.

So there should be no surprise to learn that Michael, a West Brook senior, will play Jan. 3 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, he said Saturday.

The bowl is a showcase of the nation's best high school football talent, and that's where many players - Michael included - will announce college selections in front of a national television audience.

Bowl organizers prefer player selections to remain secret until rosters are announced, one player per day. The selection tour is ongoing, and Michael said he has known of his selection for months.

Past Southeast Texans in the game are linebacker Dravannti Johnson of Nederland (in the 2008 game), cornerback Deon Beasley of West Orange-Stark (2006), running back Jamaal Charles of Memorial (2005) and defensive lineman Jorrie Adams of Jasper (2003).

Michael's college options today are Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, he said. He would include the University of Texas on that list if the school hadn't cooled on him.

"After I went to A&M and LSU, I made the mistake of saying those are my only two schools," said Michael, who made that statement to The Enterprise. "(UT coaches) got the wrong idea and kind of backed off for a little while and haven't been back since."

Michael initially eliminated UT from consideration after Madisonville senior Chris Whaley, a 6-3, 232-pound running back, committed to the Longhorns. Michael (5-11, 202) said Saturday he regretted dismissing UT.

"After thinking about it, I thought: 'I'm kind of competitive,'" said Michael, rated the No. 25 high school senior nationally by recruiting Web site Rivals.com. "I like competition. I wouldn't mind getting to compete with him."

For what it's worth, Whaley is rated No. 99 nationally by Rivals.com. Among running backs in Texas, Michael is No. 1 and Whaley is No. 2, but Rivals.com lists Whaley's position as "athlete," meaning he could play other positions.

If Michael does not get a chance to beat Whaley for a starting job, he'll have to outshine him as an opposing running back, as two of Michael's final four teams play with UT in the Big 12.

Until then, Michael's main focus is getting West Brook at least three rounds deep into the playoffs. Doing that, he said, would help make up for the three games canceled this season by Hurricane Ike and give him and 28 other West Brook seniors a full slate of 10 games.

Those canceled games were against Class 5A state powers Spring Westfield, Aldine Eisenhower and Katy. Playing those games would have prepared West Brook well for what it saw Friday in a 41-13 loss to mighty North Shore.

The Mustangs extended a state-record regular season winning streak to 78 and preserved their No. 2 slot in the Class 5A Associated Press state poll with the victory.

If nothing else, North Shore's fast and blitzing defense prepared West Brook well for a playoff run that begins Saturday against Pasadena Memorial. The Bruins (6-1) beat Memorial (4-5) in the first round of 2006, Michael's sophomore season.

"They may not be what North Shore brought to the table, but we still have got to go out there and face them like they are North Shore or (Euless) Trinity or whatever," Michael said in reference to the only school ranked ahead of North Shore.

Should West Brook advance far in the playoffs - a state championship is the goal, of course - the spotlight will get brighter and that televised announcement Michael plans to make in San Antonio will get more attention.

As for why he has chosen to wait until then, the reason is simple: "My mom wanted me to."

Fair enough, Christine.
 
The recruitment of Michael has been strange, to say the least. He's a great talent and comes across as a good kid. I don't know why he's not more heavily recruited.
 
I really wish the coaches would swoop in & grab this guy. I also hope after some bad experiences (RP, Brantley, D Scott) that mack is not backing off in hopes that some other recruit will keep his word & come on board.

HOOK 'EM,
Texdoc
smile.gif
 
It is my understanding that Mack promised Chris Whaley that if he commited - he would be the only RB taken this year.... at least that is what I think I heard.
 
I hate to point this out but with Buck getting dismissed and the lack of a runningback stepping up I really wish we would offer him.

Mack knows best.
 
"Michael is better than Whaley. He needs an offer and I really don't see Whaley ending up as a RB."

I'd feel better if you preceded that with an "IMO".
I will.

IMO, Whaley is a better back and will play RB at Texas.
smile.gif
 
It is my understanding that Mack promised Chris Whaley that if he commited - he would be the only RB taken this year

That has been repeated on various boards since February and I wonder where it originated. If I'm not mistaken though there were reports we were interested in the Richardson kid from Florida who is committed to Alabama.

I kind of understand making a promise like that to a QB, but not to a running back, especially one like Whaley. I think there is some other explanation for our lack of interest and it is not necessarily academic or a character issue. It could be something as simple as a comment that went down wrong with the coaching staff as Michael suggests.
 
I find this story kind of funny.

Michael says that Texas coaches got the wrong idea when he said LSU and A&M were his only two schools?
wtf.gif
Well, Michael...What would you like them to believe from that statement? Maybe you should pick up the phone and call Texas considering those comments if you really have an interest in playing here.

As others have said...If he really has an interest in being here I hope we go and get him.
 
There has to be something going on. According to all sources, Texas just does not have interest in this kid and it appears LSU doesn't either. They both targeted other kids and went after them.

I am from Beaumont and I talk to a lot of people from West Brook and I really can't figure it out. It has been said that the kid is overconfident and that may not have sat well with the ocahces, but most people think he is a good kid.

the whole situation is just weird.
 
I too am a WB grad '88, and would love to see another WB player on the 40 acres. The last Bruin to put on the burnt orange turned out pretty good. James Brown anyone?
 
Jerry Ball played both ways at WB. He was an awesome running back at the high school level. Gerald Landry was pretty good that year as well, but Ball was great.
 
Didn't Mack once say, "If you're afraid of competition, don't come here!" ???

I would be severely disappointed if that rumor were true.
 
LSU has backed off of Christine Michael. The TIgers have a commitment from Leesville La RB Michael Ford, who finally played in the 4th quarter of a game last week. He gained 443 yards, scoring 6 TD's.

With Lache Seastrunck coming next year, it is time for them to find some Linebackers.
 
I hope they do offer Michael he put up 29 carries for 304 and 6 TD's in West Brook's first round 5A playoff win this afternoon
 
tholly...are you serious???

With all that went down during this recruitment, involving Scott and his mother and a job, I'd think that the chances of Mack offering him are ZERO.
 
after what we have seen within the past few years....anyone questioning whom and who we do not recruit needs to be taken behind the woodshed
 
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