The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 25 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE are part of the Michigan athletic pro- gram involved.' "But they still brought us out. They said to both of us since we couldn't do it together last year to go do your thing. Do what you do, take some shots and have fun." The two-hour production didn't feature quite the same sizzle as the one a year ago in Hill Auditorium — no Brady, no video look-ins from actors Vince Vaughn and Owen Wil- son, etc. (though Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps did record a con- gratulations for the big screen, much to the delight of the estimated 5,000- plus in attendance). That, Harbaugh noted, was by design. This one focused more on Michigan itself, with Olympic sports coaches doing introductions, former players on stage talking about the new Wolverines and a down-home feel to the gathering in the south half of Crisler. "It was just the thought we had to make it more about Michigan — from the band, the cheerleaders, the drum line, coaches, players, parents," Harbaugh said. "Make it about the family, the family we are at the Uni- versity of Michigan." They concentrated most heavily on the future Wolverines, show- ing video segments of each of the pledges to the delight of the fans in attendance. "I feel great about it," Harbaugh said. "I give a lot of credit to our uni- versity, to our coaches, to our cur- rent players, that helped recruit these youngsters and their families to help Michigan. It's the lifeblood of a col- lege football program, your recruit- ing class. "I'm thrilled because of the kind of people they are. They're big-time players. They're big-time people, too, from big-time families. That means so much." "This is a victory lap for the recruit- ing process," Jason Sklar added. "The hard work has been done; the kids already are brought in. This was a chance to celebrate all the hard work by the coaches, Coach Harbaugh and the university. "This is our chance to actually take a moment to be grateful, thankful and excited, and introduce the re- cruits to their home for the future." THE SKLAR BROTHERS IMPRESS All of the early enrollees — 11 of them — were on hand, introduced on Crisler's big screen before joining the stage. The event started, though, with the Sklars doing what they do best and holding court. Hosting together for the first time made it special in its own right, Jason Sklar noted. "Last year I was out in Los An- geles getting ready to film a pilot. I was watching from my trailer as I was getting made up, nervous for Randy," he recalled. "He walked out and did such a great job, but part of me said, 'If they do it again, I hope I get to be there next year.' "We love the sports program so much, respect Coach Harbaugh so much, that we will do whatever we can use to make the day more enter- taining." The two played off each other well, the only hiccup coming when Jason fell from his seat off the stage. "That's what I get for getting too close to the recruits," he quipped. The Sklars attended U-M in the 1990s. They lived in Markley Hall, Jason reported, and in a few differ- ent apartments on campus and were avid Michigan fans. "I remember sitting outside wait- ing to get into the Duke basketball game. Two-year-old Grayson Al- len [now a Duke standout notori- ous for his extra-curriculars on the court] tried to trip me," Randy Sklar quipped. "A referee in Ohio thought that joke crossed the line … but it was really six inches short," Jason added, pertaining to a questionable call from U-M's controversial overtime loss at Ohio State. "From every angle, that joke was six inches short." The Sklars also took a shot at SEC radio personality Paul Finebaum, who frequently takes jabs at Michi- gan and Harbaugh. "You can't talk about something that much and not secretly love it," Jason Sklar said. "He has a middle Jason (far left) and Randy Sklar hosted the second edition of Signing of the Stars, which featured several former U-M players like Jon Jansen (plaid jacket), Graham Glasgow and head coach Jim Harbaugh. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN