'09 COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFF-SEASON THREAD-recruiting/Coaching Changes/Transfers

[ooiron manoo]

Originally Posted by Bigmike23

Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

Lot of reliable sources saying Devon Kennard has committed to USC

Byron Moore decommitted, not surprising.

HUH? that was a big time shock


To you.

Commitment and Byron Moore do not belong in the same sentence.

 

[bigmike23]

everyone has said Moore leaving USC is a big time shock and a surprise

 

[babam11218719]

Originally Posted by ddot7

Originally Posted by dr funk 13

Originally Posted by raw120

Originally Posted by dr funk 13

Apparently Boyd felt that Oregon's spread wouldn't prepare him for the next level.

I'm not sure what the evidence is with statistics or anything about spread offense quarterbacks and the "transition" to the NFL, but I suppose I can see how that would factor into a decision.

He needs to worry about making the transition to college before worrying about the NFL.

Good point to bring up. How many times have we seen hyped 5-star recruits not make that transition? You have to wonder how many of these recruits look seriously take an in-depth look into academics and things other than their possible pro potential. I think all too often college players waste that free education that they're given. In talking with my parents, they say that college players can't complain about not being paid because they're being given a free education at a quality university (sometimes an Ivy university). At this point in my life, I would be grateful for any kind of money donated towards my pursuit of higher education! These recruits need to remember that there is still more to life than football and that they should focus their efforts in schooling as well...

And that's all I have to say about that....

I agree in general.

If you listen to Tajh Boyd though, he talks about his ability but one of the first things he said at his press conference was that he liked the academic support Clemson provided. I can't speak on OSU or Oregon, but I know Clemson's Vickery Hall is regarded as one of the better student-athlete support centers. I know of a rival school that didn't really have the same type of structure that modeled theirs after Vickery Hall. Clemson is a top 25 public university, so it's not like it's a bad school. I don't know where we stand right now, but it was pretty high recently in terms of football players graduation rates in BCS conferences, IIRC. Clemson has an academic review committee that has turned down more than a few high profile recruits who wouldn't qualify academically, not even allowing them to sign an LOI (or I believe have one on the table). It caused some issues because of the resources that our coaches were spending recruiting these kids only to find out after the fact that they wouldn't even be allowed to sign regardless.

People choose to focus on what these kids say about the athletic part of it, their ambitions athletically (aside from Myron Rolle)...but that's what they're recruited for and that's typically the only reason they're getting a free education. Many wouldn't gain acceptance otherwise and a shot at the pros is their focus. If you had a chance to watch the press conference (I don't know if it was posted other than Clemson's site), he does say "for the next 4 or 5 years"...it's not like he's saying 3 years and I'm gone, there was a Clemson commit who basically said that at his press conference last year and he was about to play behind two high profile guys.

Boyd sounds like a very confident kid, maybe cocky. It seems like he's trying to be the best...some of it may be due to what's he's been told throughout this process. Apparently OSU was telling him he'd get PT alongside Pryor next season, easily the most high-profile recruit from last year. Part of the problem with recruiting in general now is that every step of these kids lives is documented by media and paid attention to by you and I. I would imagine that there are a lot more egos now in general with the way athletes and celebrities are glorified and followed, this is only fueling the fire.

I feel like I'm getting tired of talking about Boyd in this thread, he was the last highly ranked QB to commit and had a crazy recruitment, so it's understandable that he's gotten attention. I'm excited we got him, a little surprised but Swinney and Napier are both top recruiters. High energy guys who kids seem to get along with and can get excited by, not it just remains to be seen what happens on the field. Hopefully we're headed in the right direction, I'm glad Spiller will be back and I'm pretty confident Napier and Swinney will actually use Spiller, unlike Rob Spence who was wasting his talent. It's all up to the OL at this point.

Does that rival school happen to be Georgia? It seems that we have upped out Student athlete academic support system after the Jim Harrickbasketball debacle and was wondering if that was the school you were referring to or another one.

 

[39478]

Originally Posted by ddot7

Originally Posted by dr funk 13

Originally Posted by raw120

Originally Posted by dr funk 13

Apparently Boyd felt that Oregon's spread wouldn't prepare him for the next level.

I'm not sure what the evidence is with statistics or anything about spread offense quarterbacks and the "transition" to the NFL, but I suppose I can see how that would factor into a decision.

He needs to worry about making the transition to college before worrying about the NFL.

Good point to bring up. How many times have we seen hyped 5-star recruits not make that transition? You have to wonder how many of these recruits look seriously take an in-depth look into academics and things other than their possible pro potential. I think all too often college players waste that free education that they're given. In talking with my parents, they say that college players can't complain about not being paid because they're being given a free education at a quality university (sometimes an Ivy university). At this point in my life, I would be grateful for any kind of money donated towards my pursuit of higher education! These recruits need to remember that there is still more to life than football and that they should focus their efforts in schooling as well...

And that's all I have to say about that....

I agree in general.

If you listen to Tajh Boyd though, he talks about his ability but one of the first things he said at his press conference was that he liked the academic support Clemson provided. I can't speak on OSU or Oregon, but I know Clemson's Vickery Hall is regarded as one of the better student-athlete support centers. I know of a rival school that didn't really have the same type of structure that modeled theirs after Vickery Hall. Clemson is a top 25 public university, so it's not like it's a bad school. I don't know where we stand right now, but it was pretty high recently in terms of football players graduation rates in BCS conferences, IIRC. Clemson has an academic review committee that has turned down more than a few high profile recruits who wouldn't qualify academically, not even allowing them to sign an LOI (or I believe have one on the table). It caused some issues because of the resources that our coaches were spending recruiting these kids only to find out after the fact that they wouldn't even be allowed to sign regardless.

People choose to focus on what these kids say about the athletic part of it, their ambitions athletically (aside from Myron Rolle)...but that's what they're recruited for and that's typically the only reason they're getting a free education. Many wouldn't gain acceptance otherwise and a shot at the pros is their focus. If you had a chance to watch the press conference (I don't know if it was posted other than Clemson's site), he does say "for the next 4 or 5 years"...it's not like he's saying 3 years and I'm gone, there was a Clemson commit who basically said that at his press conference last year and he was about to play behind two high profile guys.

Boyd sounds like a very confident kid, maybe cocky. It seems like he's trying to be the best...some of it may be due to what's he's been told throughout this process. Apparently OSU was telling him he'd get PT alongside Pryor next season, easily the most high-profile recruit from last year. Part of the problem with recruiting in general now is that every step of these kids lives is documented by media and paid attention to by you and I. I would imagine that there are a lot more egos now in general with the way athletes and celebrities are glorified and followed, this is only fueling the fire.

I feel like I'm getting tired of talking about Boyd in this thread, he was the last highly ranked QB to commit and had a crazy recruitment, so it's understandable that he's gotten attention. I'm excited we got him, a little surprised but Swinney and Napier are both top recruiters. High energy guys who kids seem to get along with and can get excited by, not it just remains to be seen what happens on the field. Hopefully we're headed in the right direction, I'm glad Spiller will be back and I'm pretty confident Napier and Swinney will actually use Spiller, unlike Rob Spence who was wasting his talent. It's all up to the OL at this point.

Now that I think about it more...Basketball recruits seem to have more of this problem...but I think the same can and should be said aboutfootball players. IMO more college players should push themselves to get their degrees. I know that what I say or what anybody else says can or will effecttheir decisions...it's just something I'd like to se more of I suppose.

 

[ooiron manoo]

I don't really get all bent out of shape about where a 17-18 year old kid chooses to play college football, but I don't agree with how some of them (not just Tajh) go about the whole recruiting process.
I completely agree, I try to share what I read or hear, but I really don't like to get deep into recruiting. I usually wait until Signing dayto study and get info on the incoming class. Too many variables to pull your hair over.

everyone has said Moore leaving USC is a big time shock and a surprise
Moore said all the right things, USC was his dream school, he was a lock to be a Trojan, even though he decommitted from UCLA last summer

. It all changed the day Taylor Mays decided to come back for hissenior year. Rumors started circulating, some saw it coming, others didn't. You can count me in the latter group.

He wants to play Safety and with Taylor Mays coming back along with Tim McDonald Jr (I heard his pops was a pretty good alum,

) and Patrick Hall coming in. The competition will be stiff for KevinEllison's spot.

 

[ddot7]

Originally Posted by babam11218719

Does that rival school happen to be Georgia? It seems that we have upped out Student athlete academic support system after the Jim Harrick basketball debacle and was wondering if that was the school you were referring to or another one.

I thought about UGA and about writing "a few schools" but some of it could be looked at as puffery because it's coming from aClemson perspective, since I've only really heard of one school doing it. I've also heard Vickery Hall was one of the earliest of it's type, butwho knows how true that is. The athletes that I was friends with, well at least the ones who cared about academics, really appreciated the support, eventhough they at times hated study hall hours and all that. Side note, I wish UGA was more of a rival and that we could actually compete with them. Though Iwas at the Clemson-UGA game in Athens in maybe 2002ish and that was a good, close game and fun as hell, even though we lost. The game at Clemson %#**#%@sucked though.

The NCAA as a whole has put a lot more emphasis on graduation rates, like I said I've only gotten a certain slant on things and any influence Clemson mayhave had, so I'll admit that. Clemson was so far behind in its actual football facilities (other than the size of Death Valley) until maybe 5 years ago,that its academic support was one of the few things that could help it compete...aside from giving recruits

Dr Funk...
I completely agree that it would be nice to see the focus be academics because they are student-athletes and they are getting a free education, but that'sjust not how it works anymore, especially with football and basketball being glamorized, including recruiting. They get the most press, the pros get paid thehighest and it becomes the priority to a lot of kids. They're 17 or 18 years old and have grown #%# men worshipping their every move when they could endup being Al Bundy, I can see how their reality can get a little skewed.

 

[dlo13]

There's some talk of Je'Ron Stokes visiting Athens this weekend...

UGA is still going hard after Marlon Brown, but they've started going after some other WRs now that Cameron Kenney committed to Oklahoma...

 

[39478]

Originally Posted by ddot7

Originally Posted by babam11218719

Does that rival school happen to be Georgia? It seems that we have upped out Student athlete academic support system after the Jim Harrick basketball debacle and was wondering if that was the school you were referring to or another one.

I thought about UGA and about writing "a few schools" but some of it could be looked at as puffery because it's coming from a Clemson perspective, since I've only really heard of one school doing it. I've also heard Vickery Hall was one of the earliest of it's type, but who knows how true that is. The athletes that I was friends with, well at least the ones who cared about academics, really appreciated the support, even though they at times hated study hall hours and all that. Side note, I wish UGA was more of a rival and that we could actually compete with them. Though I was at the Clemson-UGA game in Athens in maybe 2002ish and that was a good, close game and fun as hell, even though we lost. The game at Clemson %#**#%@ sucked though.

The NCAA as a whole has put a lot more emphasis on graduation rates, like I said I've only gotten a certain slant on things and any influence Clemson may have had, so I'll admit that. Clemson was so far behind in its actual football facilities (other than the size of Death Valley) until maybe 5 years ago, that its academic support was one of the few things that could help it compete...aside from giving recruits

Dr Funk...
I completely agree that it would be nice to see the focus be academics because they are student-athletes and they are getting a free education, but that's just not how it works anymore, especially with football and basketball being glamorized, including recruiting. They get the most press, the pros get paid the highest and it becomes the priority to a lot of kids. They're 17 or 18 years old and have grown #%# men worshipping their every move when they could end up being Al Bundy, I can see how their reality can get a little skewed.

Yup

Oh the world we live in

 

[gunna get it]

Some SEC rivals are targeting two of Tennessee's long-standing football commitments.

Tailback David Oku from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., will visit Auburn this weekend, according to The Birmingham News. Oku took an official visit to Syracuse last weekend.

Receiver Je'Ron Stokes is expected to take an official visit to Georgia. The 6-1, 180-pound receiver from Northeast High in Philadelphia committed to UT in April, becoming the Vols' first commitment for the 2009 signing class.

Stokes was first considering a Georgia visit last week when he told the News Sentinel he still considered himself a UT commitment. The Vols and Bulldogs are also facing off for another highly rated receiver: Marlon Brown from Harding Academy in Memphis.

Stokes has also taken official visits to Illinois and Michigan this month after expressing concern over the unknowns at UT following its coaching change. Stokes took his official visit to Knoxville in September.

Oku told the News Sentinel last week that he wouldn't be taking any more official visits before National Signing Day on Feb. 4. The 5-10, 185-pound Oku hasn't responded to several calls and text messages seeking comment.

Stokes and Oku are both considered among the top prospects in the nation.


that's lightweight surprising news if it were true, He just talkin to talk tho
**
and just found out Nu'kese is taking a trip to knoxville, Nice job getting someone who had no interest in UT to come take an official visit

Next yr, CLK gonna be snaggin hella players .

 

[N41D]

Yeah, if they have even a decent rebound year in 2009, Kiffin is gonna be mopping up the recruiting trails...

 

[sorkoram]

Ronnie Wingo commits to ArkansasRazorbacks, another one for Petrino

We're going to be alright next year

 

[zs05wc]

I would love to pickup Stokes, or even Haulstead, we are pretty light on WR in this class but two early 2010 WR commits help that. Ricardo I think is gonnabring in a lot of kids in with him. He's recruiting for us so hard, seems to be fully committed to UofM.....but then again McNeal was the same way.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

and just found out Nu'kese is taking a trip to knoxville, Nice job getting someone who had no interest in UT to come take an official visit

Next yr, CLK gonna be snaggin hella players .

Yep.

Nukeese and Jarvis Byrd.

 

[ddot7]

[h1][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Tennessee's Kiffin may not be ready for SEC[/font][/h1]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Wednesday, January 28, 2009[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]What is the biggest upset in sports history?[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Was it Joe Namath leading the New York Jets over the Baltimore Colts 40 years ago in Super Bowl III (afterguaranteeing the win)? The Colts were favored by 18. Or what about the "Miracle on Ice" with the USA men's hockey team beating the Soviet Unionin the 1980 Winter Olympics? Could it be Buster Douglas, a 40-to-1 underdog, shocking Mike Tyson to win the heavyweight boxing crown?[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Or could it possibly be the vindication of Al Davis, the most maligned and mercurial sports owner in modernhistory, for firing 33-year-old Lane Kiffin from the Oakland Raiders (after a 5-15 two-year mark)?
[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In the aftermath, Davis called Kiffin immature and "a flat-out liar." His behavior at the newsconference, which was carried live on ESPN, came off more like a You Tube video of the Unabomber than the man who owns an NFL franchise and has three SuperBowl trophies.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]" I just couldn't go on much longer with what I would call the propaganda, the lying that had beengoing on for weeks and months," Davis said.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Most concluded a straight jacket was the only solution to Davis' problems.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]However, after watching Kiffin's bizarre and infantile behavior at Tennessee the past few weeks,I'm beginning to wonder if Weird Al was so crazy after all.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Since arriving at Tennessee in December, Kiffin has gone on a spending spree that rivals the recentgovernment bailout of Wall Street. He's been hoarding assistant coaches, making unprofessional comments about other schools, and, in the process, is wellon his way to becoming public enemy No. 1 in the SEC without having coached a game.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]His coaching staff has gotten the most attention with the hiring of his father, Monte Kiffin (an NFLcoaching legend) and Ed Orgeron, who in three years at Ole Miss might have been one of the worst head coaches in SEC history.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kiffin's father will average $1.5 million a year (when bonuses are enacted). Orgeron, whose record atOle Miss was 10-25, will make $650,000 annually.
[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]If you add up Kiffin's head coaching record at Oakland and Orgeron's at Ole Miss, you have a spiffy15-40. Nice.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And to continue the incestuous nature of this staff (Lane Kiffin and Orgeron worked together at USC),Kiffin hired his brother-in-law, David Reaves, to be the quarterbacks coach. He was at South Carolina last year. Could Kiffin's mom be far behind to jointhe staff?[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Of course, it is well known around these parts that Kiffin recently added Lance Thompson to hisdysfunctional staff. Thompson was Nick Saban's top recruiter at Alabama.
[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]That move, and others, prompted Kiffin to proclaim: "With the staff now complete, not only do we havethe best recruiters in the SEC but some of the best in the country. To be able to take South Carolina's recruiting coordinator, Mississippi State'srecruiting coordinator, Alabama's best recruiter and Auburn's best recruiter over the past 10 years was a great accomplishment for us."[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Not only was the comment classless, it reeked of inaccuracy.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]We've already covered his brother-in-law (from South Carolina) and Thompson (who fled Tuscaloosa forpersonal reasons). The fact he is claiming to have Auburn's best recruiter is funny since Eddie Gran was unemployed after being let go. It wasn't likeKiffin won a bidding war with Southern Cal and Florida for his services. And, wow, bragging about taking Mississippi State's top recruiter is borderlinecomedy.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The way he made the statement showed he was not ready for prime time in a league of veteran coaches, whousually have each other's back in public, whether it's for show or not.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Another concern for some in Big Orange Country - in addition to fiscal irresponsibility during bleakeconomic times - is a complete break from the tradition of Tennessee football, according to Bob Gilbert, a respected journalist and sports historian of UTfootball.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"This is the first time since Bob Neyland became head coach in 1926 that there are no coaches withTennessee backgrounds on the staff," Gilbert said.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Even more important than whether Kiffin is up to the job against the likes of Mark Richt, Saban and UrbanMeyer is if he knows anything about football and competing at this rarified level as a head coach.
[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Here is a guy who coached at the Mecca of West Coast football - Southern Cal - and desperately tried, butcouldn't land, the Washington job recently. That program, which has gone 18-53 in the last six years, blew off Kiffin like a bad cold. To me, it seems withhis 5-15 record he would have been a perfect fit in Seattle.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]As for the question of whether he is ready for the SEC, let me direct you back to a game last Septemberagainst San Diego. Instead of letting the first-half clock run out, Kiffin sent Sebastian Janikowski out to try a 76-yard field goal. Now Janikowski is a greatkicker but anyone with a working brain knows you can return a short field goal. In case you don't have a record book available, the longest field goal inNFL history (achieved twice) is 63 yards.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]To say the least, the field goal fell short, and two days later Davis fired Kiffin.
[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Only Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton thought enough to pick him off the waiver wire, offer him $2million a year and an unlimited budget for his staff, and give him the keys to the kingdom.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And in the process, he did the unthinkable - he made Al Davis look sane.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Somewhere up on old Rocky Top, I think the father of Tennessee football, Gen. Robert Neyland, is probablyrolling over in his grave.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Contact Paul Finebaum at:[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][email protected][/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]His column appears Tuesdays in the Press-Register.[/font]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]This bonus column was originally scheduled to run Tuesday, but was replaced by Finebaum's column on theresignation of Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried.[/font]

 

[brian cushing]

Hopefully Pete Carroll can do some convincing this weekend.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

That column seemed to reek of a hint of salt.

But, with that said:

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kiffin hired his brother-in-law, David Reaves, to be the quarterbacks coach. He was at South Carolina last year[/font]

 

[bigmike23]

whats so funny? god couldnt help them QB's it had nothing to do with the coaching

 

[gangsta207therevolution]

Originally Posted by dreClark

That column seemed to reek of a hint of salt.

But, with that said:

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kiffin hired his brother-in-law, David Reaves, to be the quarterbacks coach. He was at South Carolina last year[/font]

He helped convince gunna that they were going to beat Iowa.

 

[gunna get it]

huh???? U got me confused with someone else. I had Iowa winning that game

 

[nako xl]

wait... USA Today has Ole Miss ranked in the top 10 in their 2009 projections???

 

[gunna get it]

why shouldnt they be in top 10?

 

[nako xl]

I'm not a scout or expert but they're in my top 20, maybe 15, but I can think of ten teams off the top that will be better than them. 3 in the SECalone...

And isn't losing Orr gonna hurt Snead a little?

 

[gunna get it]

I can only think of one team in the SEC that will be better than them.
Oher wasnt as dominant as everyone thinks.
that Offense is back. the defense is back minus Jerry and an OLB.
I see them winninng the West.

 

[dlo13]

Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

I can only think of one team in the SEC that will be better than them.
Oher wasnt as dominant as everyone thinks.
that Offense is back. the defense is back minus Jerry and an OLB.
I see them winninng the West.

Kiss of death...

 

[gunna get it]

Hey, I picked UGA to have 3 or more losses. how'd that work out?