'09 MN TE/DE Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota Verbal)

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by Bernini

Maybe an affinity for the program growing up in state and the pressure of his father, the alum. I know I'd have a difficult time turning down an in state program, even if I strongly disliked the coach or his style, and I know that has been the case before in the big 2 sports.

Good point about in this specific case Ra'Shede not being sold by anything in particular Brewster says though. If he's being honest in saying he'll base his decision upon the Gopher's improvement, it will have to be actual.

Have you seen that commercial on the Big Ten Network that features coaches pretending the camera is a recruit who they are trying to sell on their program using any tactic imaginable? It made me feel dirty.

Yeah that commercial was really weird, I almost died when Bielema said "Come too Wisconsin we have the big W on our helmets" lol that was so retarded.

[Bernini]

Originally Posted by TroyD92

Yeah that commercial was really weird, I almost died when Bielema said "Come too Wisconsin we have the big W on our helmets" lol that was so retarded.

Yeah, BB's comments were pretty dorky, but at least they were innocuous. Brewster was one of the coaches who came off as sleazy, IMO. I just felt sorry for Joe Pa.

[TroyD92]

I cant remember Brewster s actually, but I dont know what it is but something about him gets me sick too my stomach. I like Joe Pa but he seriously needs too retire before he has a heart attack on National TV. He is becoming senile, its no wonder PSU hasnt lived up too expectacions the last few years. I remenber Ferentz gave me a bad vibe as well.

[OnWisconsin07]

Brewster's was the one talking about their new stadium.

Agreed. The guy seems like a sleeze. It is almost painful to hear his press conferences. Just blowing steam up everyone's you-know-what. He seems like he would say or do anything for his benefit.

Also, improvement? Are you serious? They beat an NIU team in the final minutes (by only 4 pts) that we beat handily 41-3 last year. Minnesota beating this team means NOTHING. I am sure Ra'shede is smart enough to see that.

[TroyD92]

Originally Posted by OnWisconsin07

Brewster's was the one talking about their new stadium.

Agreed. The guy seems like a sleeze. It is almost painful to hear his press conferences. Just blowing steam up everyone's you-know-what. He seems like he would say or do anything for his benefit.

Also, improvement? Are you serious? They beat an NIU team in the final minutes (by only 4 pts) that we beat handily 41-3 last year. Minnesota beating this team means NOTHING. I am sure Ra'shede is smart enough to see that.

who said they improved? I thought they were just as bad as last year. and Bernini said he thinks 4 wins because of their schedule against teams in D2 and D3

[OnWisconsin07]

TroyD.....from the article written by GopherIllustrated on Rivals after the win. Talks about how Hageman was impressed with the win and how Alipate is trying to convince him to go to MN.

"I am glad they are in my top three. The way they played last night really shows me that they are getting better."

Thought it was already posted. I will link it. What I should have said is that I hope Ra'shede is smart enough to see that.....in reference to MN's win not really meaning anything.

http://minnesota.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=844442

[TheFresher]

hmm.. the badgers beat niu 44-3 last year

and the goofers had to pull of a win in the last minute

if anything, hageman should be concerned

[Bernini]

It appears the Gophers have made a bona fide improvement. Now, I'm hardly concerned about Wisconsin's chances against them, and I'm not ticketing them for the BCS or even a bowl period, but the change in their team is quite noticable. Last year they lost to Bowling Green at home but on Saturday they beat them by 25 on the road. Prove it's not a complete fluke and that may be all Hageman is searching for.

[OnWisconsin07]

Here is a somewhat funny article from ESPN about the schools that play the most cupcakes during nonconference games.

Surprise, surprise....Minnesota ranks number 1....only playing 2 games against BCS schools from 1998 to 2007 in noncenference games.

This year is no differant....which is undoubtedly where some of the "improvement" will come from as they scheduled some major cupcakes for nonconference.

ESPN Page 2 - Page 2: Frightful -- the 10 BCS teams that load up on cupcakes

[OnWisconsin07]

Hagemen has decided on a top 4, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, and MSU (replacing Florida). He says he thinks the Big 10 is more suited for his style of play. Talks about what he likes about all of his top 4, claiming that he likes Wisconsin for their use of TEs.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

9/8

From BadgerBlitz....Down to Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State. Talks about his interest in each of the programs. Plans on taking an official to the Ohio State-Purdue game. Will make a decision after his season is over.

[Bernini]

Inside the Game: U wants big man on campus

9/14

Like every blue-chip high school athlete in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Ra'Shede Hageman knows what everyone within these borders wants him to do. C'mon Ra'Shede, they say, please please please sign with the Gophers football team. The Minneapolis Washburn star, who is ranked among the top 10 senior tight ends in the nation, hears that mantra in the hallways at school, at the mall, at the gas station. Even in the most unexpected places, such as the football field.
During the Millers' season opener at Minneapolis Edison, a guy wearing a striped shirt and a whistle had a quick little chat with the 6-6, 260-pound Hageman.
"The ref told me I should go to Minnesota," Hageman said with a shrug of his wide shoulders.
This revelation came during a conversation after Thursday's practice, as the Millers gathered for their weekly team dinner in the school cafeteria. Hageman, who says the best things about football are the contact and the collisions, was in full-scale assault of a paper plate weighed down with pasta.
The next day was game day, and one of the guests at school was Gophers coach Tim Brewster. He was back on campus that evening, watching the Millers' 64-25 loss to Edina. As if Brewster needed any further convincing, Hageman displayed Saturday skills on a first-quarter play.
On third-and-4 from the Edina 35, quarterback Brandon King threw a dart to Hageman on the right hash at the 25. After catching the ball between the pair of 8's on his jersey, Hageman turned, rammed a shoulder into a tackler and buried him. Another defender closed in near the right sideline, but this time Hageman leaped over him, performed a tippy-toe step to stay inbounds and charged into the end zone.
It was the kind of play that makes onlookers exclaim, "Oh, my God!" Which, according to Edina coach Kim Nelson, is precisely how the Hornets reacted while watching film of Washburn and Hageman earlier in the week.


"He's got scary ability," Nelson said. "He's obviously got a big body with long arms, speed, catches the ball well, he can block; he's just got all the tools to be a great football player."
Here are some of the colleges that have offered scholarships to Hageman: Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Florida and Illinois.
Here are the schools that remain on his whittled-down list: Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio State. He will take official visits to all three in the next month and will make a decision after the high school season ends.
This is rarefied air for any young athlete, of course, but it is especially remarkable, considering Hageman's early life. He and his brother Xavier, who is one year younger, were born in Lansing, Mich., to a troubled mother who was unable to provide consistent care. They lived in a dozen foster homes before being adopted by Eric Hageman and his wife, Jill Coyle, when the boys were 7 and 6.
Eric Hageman and Coyle, both lawyers, have since had three children of their own, all under the age of 7. Xavier, an aspiring hip-hop dancer, is a junior at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.
"He and Ra'Shede couldn't be more different," said Eric Hageman, who played college football at Dartmouth. "We've got a dancer and a jock." Or, as Ra'Shede put it, "Xavier got the cuter side of the family."
As the cafeteria conversation returned to the brothers' upbringing, Ra'Shede said simply, "It was tough." He said most of the foster homes "were fine, but sometimes they didn't treat us right, so we'd go to a different foster home. ... Back then, nothing was permanent."
Now, however, Hageman's future is brighter than ever. And those wide shoulders are carrying the hopes of the rest of the Minneapolis City Conference. For decades, kids from the city were regulars on the Gophers' roster. But that hasn't been the case for more than 30 years.
That's one of the reasons so many people want Hageman to play for Minnesota.


"There are some fine athletes in the city, both in Minneapolis and St. Paul," said Washburn coach Peter Haugen, himself a Washburn grad. "Certainly the overall numbers and depth is not as strong as the suburbs, but in terms of some talented players, Minneapolis and St. Paul have some strong athletes."
Minneapolis Southwest coach Sean McMenomy, a former Gophers player, said, "You don't understand how much it means to kids to look at the hometowns on the Gophers roster and see 'Minneapolis, Minnesota.' "
If in a year or so that roster also includes the name of a certain wide-shouldered tight end from Washburn, well, that would make everyone in Minnesota happy. Including the referees.

[TroyD92]

man there desperate lol luckily Sheed doesn't seem like the type that would have the outside things persuade his decision.