"I came up to Oxford on Monday and stayed with Coach Dan Werner at his house,"
added Michael Strauss. "He use to be the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss,
but he is now the head coach at a high school around the Oxford area. Coach Dan
is very friends with my father. He use to live in Miami when he coached at Miami,
so I have known him for a while. Coach Dan helps me out with my game. We worked
on a few things. He told me about Ole Miss and what to expect. Coach Dan has always
told me that I would love it up here.. He had a tragedy occur in his family so
were there to keep him in good spirits. We went and watched a movie and grabbed
something to eat and watched the championship game in basketball. I woke up the
next morning and went and met with their coaches. It was a good trip."
The Gulliver Prep standout headed to the Ole Miss campus to get a look at it
for the first time Tuesday morning.
"The whole town is circled around the school. It is a college town. The
atmosphere is a big thing for me, and they have a real good atmosphere."
What surprised Michael the most about Oxford and Ole Miss?
"I really had no clue what to expect. I had never been up to Mississippi
before. When I got there, I was shocked at how nice it is and how nice the campus
is up there. I was also shocked at their coaches. All of their players told me
Coach Nutt is a player's coach, and you want to play for him. That is one thing
that stood out, and Coach Austin is so intelligent. He knows the game so well.
He gave me a bunch of stuff to help my game out. He helped me out a lot. Basically
it was like a mini-clinic."
The Rebels were not practicing that day, but that did not bother Michael.
"I saw everything I needed to see in the program. I see where I stand, and
they know where I stand with them. I like them a lot. Coach Austin told me that
he is going to come down with Coach Austin to see me play this spring in person.
Coach told me that he has to see his QB's play in person before making an offer
because you can make some mistakes if you just go by the film, but he thinks I
am a natural passer. He just wants to see me play in person. If I do not get an
offer after he watches me this spring, then I will know more or less where I stand
with them. If I do get an offer, that would be awesome."
What part of the trip did Strauss enjoy the most?
"Everything really stood out to me, but the meeting I had with Coach Austin
jumped out at me. Coach Austin put Ole Miss up around the top. Just talking
to him and seeing how well he knows the game. He makes it look so simple. I
want to go to a college where I will be around a very knowledgeable QB coach,
and I also want to be around an established program where the coaches will be
around the four or five years I am there. That is what impressed me the most
about Ole Miss, besides the facilities."
Where else has the All-Dade performer visited?
"I have been to Tulane, Alabama, Ole Miss, and I am going up to Vandy today,
Tennessee tomorrow, and Bowling Green on Friday."
Tulane was Michael's first offer, and he had nothing but good things to say
about the Greenwave.
"It was awesome over there. The coaches are just great guys. They know
what they are talking about. And Coach Toledo is a player's coach. New Orleans
is a great town, and they had a real good recruiting class last year so they
should be winning a few games soon."
And Alabama?
"Again, like Ole Miss, the facilities are just unbelievable. They said
they had the biggest weight room in the SEC. All of their facilities are right
there together so you do not have to walk around too much. And again, Coach
Saban is one of the more respected coaches in the nation. When I spoke to him,
I was kind of in awe. Their practice has a real good tempo too."
What is Michael trying to get accomplished on his upcoming visits?
"I am hoping to get an offer, but if it does not work out, then I will
just keep working hard and let them scout me some more in the spring.
Strauss threw for 3193 yards and 32 touchdowns with a 71% completion rate. He
led Dade County in total offense and was a 1st Team All-Dade selection along
with being named the State Finals Offensive MVP. Michael was also named to the
1st Team All-State squad in Class 2A.