Story: Michigan Transfer Oliver Martin Checks Out Iowa

Former Iowa City West star receiver meets with Hawkeyes Thursday:

LINK

 

Yeah, this is a done deal. @RobHowe , how confident are the Hawks and the Martin family that he will get his waiver from the NCAA and be eligible to play this fall?

 

Well the fact hes not wasting any time visiting the coaches and then not having anything else planned as far as visits go anywhere else seems to point to him being a Hawk..
So if this is a foregone conclusion then is the push for a waiver to play right away a real possibility? I mean the whole changing of coordinators seems like a long shot to me but is there a precedent to it?

 

There is precedent to it, and actually Kirk referenced it in a press conference mocking it, still being upset that Drew Ott was denied for legit reasons and other kids were getting waivers because of a change in coordinators.

 

That's what I mean. Kids like Ott have gotten screwed over (none more then him) Something like this seems ridiculous almost. Coaches and coordinators are changing gigs all the time. To open it up for that should almost make it a free for all... I'd be curious to know of some examples if Rob or anyone knows of any

 

Man, I wish I knew what the hell was going in the NCAA offices. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

From what I was told today, Iowa would have to submit the waiver request for OM.

I'm also told the staff very much wants OM as part of the program. The kid very much fits the culture here. He doesn't like attention and he works hard.

 

And then there's this story. I know it's the narrative, but it sure as hell seems like the NCAA favors big name quarterbacks transferring within the blood blood fraternity.

 

What a crock... Sorry Gpas aren't close enough family. But stud QBs sure we'll let them have their own set of rules. So yeah I hope theres no body putting $ on Martin/ Iowa winning such a request...

 

Man, this happened fast. I thought he might come back as a grad transfer, but never thought he would do a regular transfer.

 

Rob, great job of staying on top of this story. Keep this up and you should get a nomination for a local sports Emmy!

 

You can be sure if OM was transferring to Michigan from Iowa the waiver would be approved in 24 hours. The Justin fields and martell stuff really sticks in my craw.

 

And the plot thickens even more.

 

Yeah, now that I think about it, the NCAA isn't going to like players leaving Blue Bloods like Georgia in Ford's case and Michigan in Martin's case. Maybe they will just deny the waiver on that basis alone.

 

He’s expecting to sit out, which speaks to how much he wanted to move on. He could have played this season at UM, graduated and transferred without having to sit out.

 

Reading your article, Rob, it appears as much he didn't want to play under Greg Davis's offense and/or under Kennedy, than he wanted to play for Harbaugh. Maybe I'm reading too much between the lines.

 

Here is how the NCAA decides waiver requests;

Odd, the waiver is granted. Even, it's denied. This is the actual board they use.

 

When OM chose Michigan, Iowa was between WR coaches. Kennedy had been canned and Copeland had yet to be hired.

OM actually knew and liked what he had heard of Copeland at that time. He had connected with former NFL WR Don Beebe, winning MVP honors at his camp. Beebe sent his son to play at NIU, where Copeland was coaching.

Kennedy was the main reason Iowa held off so long on offering OM. Reese Morgan wanted to do it earlier. Greg Davis didn't help matters.

Had OM known that Copeland was going to be the Iowa WR coach, he may have come here out of the shoot.

Better late than never, as they say. I think he's going to be a great addition to the program. He's a blue-collar kid that doesn't like attention. Perfect fit here.

 

Thanks for the reminder on the history of the staff. I tend to forget the details.

 

Sounds like Martin is the anti-DJK.

 

I wish this was true,then OM would actually have a chance of getting a waiver.