RAKROOTIN', WITH ANDY STAPLES

1)OSU will crap their collective pants if Pryor decides on Michigan.

First, they lose the recruit to a rival.

Second, OSU needs him just so they don’t have to face that spread ****. Again. And be embarrassed. Again. Just think Juice Williams 2007… but w/ talent.

2) Jones has been hoing himself out to everyone under the sun. Texas Tech even thought they had him at one point.

3) Other than the Uncle thing Scott has no reason to give Colorado much of a chance. Texas wasn’t even on his radar till JarJar Charles declared opening a spot and the second that announcement was made Scott added Texas.

i actually think julio has handled his very high profile recruitment pretty damn well, but i’m sure it depends on where your loyalties lie as to whether or not he’s “hoing himself out.”

if he’s a ho, i’d hate to hear the names you call other recruits…or for that matter the people recruiting them.

“Notre Dame recruits sometimes get rated higher than they would had they not chosen Notre Dame.”

Duh.

So does that mean Ty’s last two classes that were ranked in the 30’s-40’s at ND were really overrated?

The blame for last season falls on Weis, he’s in charge now. That being said, the constant defense of Willingham by the majority of the media gets a little old. By any measure he has been a mediocre coach at 3 different BCS programs. He has never been a coordinator in major college football or the NFL. Can someone please explain the stiffy for the guy.

#2. Sorry didn’t mean it in an offensive way. Just semantics.

He just hasn’t seemed to show a lot of commitment in anywhichway except to the South East United States.

Nothing wrong w/ that. He’s got to make a decision that impacts the rest of his life so he needs to take his time and check all options.

Also, the press has given him a bad name w/ all the rumors of recruiting @ Florida and other such BS.

ya notre dame’s class really is teh suxorz! LOLOL
idiot… overrated or not it’s still a top 5/10 class.

Richt has made signing day sort of anticlimactic the last few years. The classes have been essentially done by the end of bowl season. Though I think Moreno was a signing day coup a couple of years ago.

I still don’t understand sweating the decision of an 18 year old. There’s the very real possibility that even the most can’t-miss prospect will never play a down, and most certainly won’t contribute for a couple of years.

1. That happens at most of the media darlings. I’ve seen 3-4 stars sign @ Texas, Mich, or USC and the stars get bumped up almost instantaneously.

It’s almost like there’s a media bias or something. Crazy… I know.

I thought it was called “Recrootin”

McClain is going to Clemson.

Both Alabama and Auburn are out of it with him and Tennessee is not going to get him for a multitude of reasons. LSU just got in it with him, so, nuts to them as well, not that they really need him.

Would love to get J. Harris, too, but will settle for McClain and Jamie Harper and finally end up with a national top 10 class under Bowden.

Oh, and South Carolina just picked up a kid who has been a Florida verbal since the summer because Florida yanked his offer.

He should fit in nicely with South Carolina’s 9 WR sets they will be employing next year. Because, everyone signs with USC to play WR, and none of them will ever be moved to another position. Isn’ t that right, Mr. Culliver?

You know, Spurrier was so much more honest when he did not have to work so hard to get so much more talent when he was at Florida.

And, his record is not quite the same at South Carolina. Shame he had to go and tarnish his name by spending the requisite 5 years at the Graveyard of coaches.

Alabama’s been out of it with McClain for awhile. He tried to commit twice but the coaches told him to wait. He didn’t take too kindly to that. Can’t really blame him.

And to #1, since when does taking all your visits constitute “hoing”? And it’s Bama or OU for him. Probably Bama, but he’s been very tight-lipped.

Radiohead on a football highlight reel… now I’ve seen it all.

Also, am I the only one who just read that and thought to myself, “I pay the $8/$9 a month to various (4) sites to read about what is going on, the message boards scare the piss out of me (especially various Clemson and South Carolina sites) with their, um, interesting posters, and I know more than this guy?”

Give me back AJ Harmon, Georgia, and you can have Brandon Thompson.

No, I know I am not. Over 60% of the people on here pay the $8/9 a month to Rivals or Scout for their schools’ “premium information.”

I love people who claim they “voraciously follow college football,” but claim that they don’t follow recruiting.

You just pick up a roster in August and hope for the best…

@10:
Yeah, I guess Julio Jones is the most hipster-ish blue chipper ever.

“…but Notre Dame recruits sometimes get rated higher than they would had they not chosen Notre Dame.”

Interesting comment coming from an SI writer, seeing as how SI’s Top 100 list features more ND recruits in the Top 50 (6) than Rivals (5), Tom Lemming (5), Scout (4), and ESPN (2).

When you have ND recruits rated higher than Mr. Blue and Gold himself Tom Lemming, you might want to tone down the hackneyed bias jokes.

Penn State needs to be on the ‘not doing much list’, notre dame class get more and more overhyped mostly because of the NBC broadcast rights to the army all-american game. Add that up.

http://thebigeleventh.blogspot.com/

Yeah, Bama is sitting on 26 commitments and they are waiting on at least two more. This is why we are getting McClain.

Last time I checked, you can only sign 25, but obviously you guys are going to sign and place a couple and/or a couple count toward last year’s class or something.

FACT: This guy is a fucking wanker.

(Possibly) FACT: This guy molests cocker spaniels.

(Probably not, but maybe) FACT: This guy blew Willingham.

#13’s comment would be true except for the whole thing of Orson writing for Sporting News…. not Sports Illustrated.

sorry #15. my bad

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/01/prep_coach_gut_instinct_says_q.html

Coop, they may be looking to get as many as four more. Not sure how it’s all gonna shake out. I know 2 are back-counters for last year. One or two are probably JUCO or prep school bound, and there may be a couple of grey-shirts thrown in there.

There’s probably a couple of guys that committed early that wouldn’t have a schollie now if they had waited.

ThreenOut – Those are Andy Staples’s comments in the post, not Orson’s. Hence the reference to SI and not Sporting News.

Besides, Orson’s ND jokes are never hackneyed.

Auburn is no longer pursuing McClain.

I gave up my subscription to recruiting services, you can pretty much get the same info on blogs without paying for it.

Seems like I heard McClain was having academic issues.

I hope Jones pulls a Tebow and stays close to home, it’s just hard to tell because he is so quiet.

And if you haven’t heard – Alabama made the hiring of McElwain official.

Finished it for you #24….

“……because McClain told them they were out of it.”

I think McClain will be a sign and place, but we are desperate for his ilk.

Fingers crossed he can get it done in the second semester of his senior year of high school, because that is when everyone buckles down and studies hard in high school. Right?

We’re screwed…

1. - recanted.

Reading comprehension is my friend. I post was based off the article.

Chalk up Nebraska for having a craptastic recruiting class. As much as Callahan sucked, he was on the way to a top 5 recruiting class. Now its like super sucking ass crap.

On Darrell Scott, Rick Neuheisel and DeWayne Walker have gotten UCLA in on that. Late in the game, but in the game no less. They’ll be at his house tonight.

1. - I still don’t understand sweating the decision of an 18 year old. There’s the very real possibility that even the most can’t-miss prospect will never play a down…

Thats so true, and I totally agree. A few years ago at WVU Steve Slaton as a freshman was 4th on depth chart and Jason Qwaltney, a heralded top 5 RB was supposed to be the future of program. Qwaltney was off the team by the end of Sept and and by the second weekend of Oct Slaton racked up a half-dozen TDs… recruiting hype is overrated

#26

I doubt that is true. I have never seen this staff say there were no longer pursuing a prospect because they were told they were out of it. I think it is a combination of grades and something else, maybe his attitude or off the field issues or maybe he has his hand out, I don’t know.

#1, I think you have this totally reversed…UM has crap for QB depth, their recruiting class is meh, and they’re are certainly going to lose again to OSU this season. They need Pryor much much more than OSU needs Pryor….

Wait, I take back my original statement, I KNOW you have this totally reversed…

#30, It’s “Gwaltney”, and citing exceptions does not disprove the overall trend that the schools with the best classes usually have the best teams. This is fact.

And regarding this, I think it’s evident ND’s rankings have been a bit skewed. There were 2 ND players in the Army AA game, Crist and Floyd, who looked like elite recruits. Maybe Rudolph didn’t get a chance, but that’s 3 out of what, 16?

I watched most ND games for the last 2 seasons, and would challenge any ND fan to tell me who the true “difference makers” are that they’ve recruited. Clausen? He could be pretty good. Allen? Walls? Young? Kamara? Tate? These guys wouldn’t see the field on most decent B10 teams, let alone SEC teams. and they’re the ones that have stood out.

Someone needs to remind Darrell Scott and Julio Jones about the nice weather and amazingly hot and totally fuckable Asian girls at UCLA.

@31:

That’s fantastic. You think the staff would come out and say that McClain told them he had no interest? Come on, he’s an in-state kid.

But don’t let that stop you from saying the kid is dumb, has a bad attitude or is looking for a payout. Guess we will know the truth about the grades issue next year …

Will eat crow, by the way, if he doesn’t qualify.

Notre Dame’s recruiting of late has had more talent on the offensive side. Last year’s futility had more to do with coaching and position changes than even the youth movement would excuse.

This is the first class in more than a decade that Notre Dame got defensive linemen and linebackers that USC, Michigan, OSU, Florida and Alabama all wanted. The fact that we got Ethan Johnson away from USC is unbelievable. Getting Filer from OSU and Michigan is a big deal, too. Did losing Omar Hunter to Florida hurt? Yes, but given that we stunk on ice last year getting him to commit in the first place is pretty impressive. We didn’t win every recruiting battle, but we did well enough.

I don’t know what happened with McClain, but something happened on that visit to Auburn the other weekend.

I am speculating that Auburn’s offer to him had an expiration date on it of less than 48 hours, his stay on the Plains, b/c they had Savage on the hook, and McClain smiled and said, “I am going home.”

He is quoted in all the articles as stating he left Auburn early because, “he had to get to church on Sunday morning.”

Now, if that does not sound like something Tommy Bowden told him to say…

Neither Alabama nor Auburn “really, really” want him for whatever reason, but we do, so we will happily take your “sorta kindas” and possibly steal away Jerriel (sp?) Harris from Alabama, as well.

Anyway, I am going to go the pessimistic route and say that, while Clemson thinks he can quality, I expect to place him.

Hope I am wrong.

I am just saying I have never seen the current staff say they were backing off a kid for some made up reason just because they were beat. The church thing was planned in advance and the coaches knew it before he arrived. I am almost certain he will not qualify, but I do not think that is the only issue. Hell, half our class is not going to qualify. We are not having a good year recruiting, especially in state, but I really believe we let McClain go for some reason, I just don’t know what it is.

Coop-

I think Alabama definitely wanted McClain and still do, but Bama has no shot. For some reason they asked him to hold off while they waited on Cordy Glenn. Looks like a mistake in hindsight. From all indications the Bama staff tried to patch things up but to no avail. I hate to lose a kid like him. He will be a monster wherever he goes. Here’s hoping he goes to Clemson, out of the SEC, without Jerrell Harris…

Word as of 3:30 or so is McClain is down to Clemson or LSU with Clemson in the lead…

The way Julio Jones is playing it close to the vest is so he can make a splash on signing day, kinda like the Tebow thing….taking visits around the country, just checkin out the coeds I am sure……Lest ye ferget, Pat White was an early LSU VERBAL who wanted to play QB but was recruited as a WR, and decided on WVU on signing day since they said he could play QB there..
Word on the street is that Julio’s mom is lookin for EZ money on a lower Reggie-Bush like scale…..just sayin…..But from people I know who would know is that he has been a done deal at Bama….hell I ran into him at the Foley Wal-Mart last week ….the hot chick in the checkout line said Roll Tide as he walked out the door and got into his buddys Tahoe

@ Pants (#32),

While I agree that ND underachieved this past season, and the blame for that falls squarely on Weis and his staff, to your point, it’s hard for freshmen and sophomores to stand out when they’re surrounded by other freshmen and sophomores. A couple freshman can make a difference when they’re surrounded by experience, since their assignments will usually be relatively simple and they can count on the other guys to do their jobs. But when 9 of the 11 guys out there are babies, you’ll have multiple screw-ups on every play that keep anyone from standing out. Just my overpriced $.02.

Wow, the domers are touchy today.

I think USC fans have as much to be happy about with this recruiting cycle as anyone when you also factor in the Razorback refugees who will become eligible next year and the fact that Cushing and Rey Rey decided not to jump to the NFL.

My reaction to Julio Jones was that he’s doing a smart thing by avoiding the media frenzy.

I like Andy Staples column quite a bit, but he might want to get a new photo on SI.com. The current one looks like he’s got a pretty bright shade of lipstick on. I assume he’s not trying to become the Eddie Izzard of recruiting. Not that there’s anything wrong with that I suppose.

Eddie Izzard = Executive Transvestite = funny motherfucker

@ #32 -

I cited a specific example, yes… but how many people had Kansas, Mizzou, Wf’nVU, Louisville, Wake Forest as teams that ever have top 10 classes? Yet, I’ve seen these teams over the past couple years compete and win their conferences and BCS games….

Coaching counts more than recruits, its why Randy Shannon and Charlie Weis suck and Bobby Petrino had a 40something – 9 record at Louisville…

I saw Darrell Scott in a CIF playoff game last season. Now, I know this guy is well regarded, but I have to say I was not blown away.

Totally anecdotal on my part, it was just one game, but I didnt walk away thinking I just saw the next “Eric Dickerson/LaDanian Tomlinson/Reggie Bush”. Thought he was a nice player, but didnt dominate or blow me away.

UCLA had a home visit last night, but the word is that he’s going to Texas.

ESPN has Florida’s recruiting class currently ranked number one, both in terms of recruiting the top 150 and in terms of addressing needs. We’re happy, so to Hell with UGA.

Pants and beckett,

Recruiting rankings do matter if you consistently pull in top classes. It generally means you’re signing more guys with the potential to be studs than other programs. At the same time, drooling over an individual recruit and getting caught up in a will he or won’t he scenario is silly. There are far too many huge recruits who have done nothing in college to assume that Pryor or anyone else will automatically be able to make the transition. If post-Richt (along with other important assistants) FSU has taught me anything, it’s that you have to have at least adequate coaching to win at a respectable level and good to great coaching to reach the heights.

I fuckin hate Chris Berman.

There should be a star number assigned for attitude as well as obvious physical talent. Pouting, disgruntled, selfish ‘high school can’t-miss 5 star recruits’ with poor attitudes can clearly ruin team game day performance. Hasn’t that been part of Tenn’s. problem lately?

Notre Dame has had the #1 recruiting class for months on just about every web site – rivals, scout, espn – and in the last week prior to national signing day, espn drops them to 7th even though they haven’t lost anyone (except one defection over a month ago) and EDSBS now says “Notre Dame recruits sometimes get rated higher than they would had they not chosen Notre Dame”. What a joke the media is, and the blogs too. EDSBS used to be a good blog, now turning into the same hype fueling swill merchant as espn.

“At any other school, two consecutive top-10 classes would translate to more on-field success, but Notre Dame recruits sometimes get rated higher than they would had they not chosen Notre Dame. But that’s probably also Tyrone Willingham’s fault.”

Yeah, it is. Just like it’s ND’s fault that Willingham sucks as a coach.

speak,

You guys are fucking touchy. Which is funny considering Notre Dame tends to receive fawning media coverage. Technically, Andy Staples, not EDSBS, said Notre Dame recruits are sometimes overrated. I look at Notre Dame this way: Either their classes the last two years were overrated or Charlie Weis is a shitty coach. It’s one thing to struggle a bit with youth, but the debacle that was 2007 is inexcusable. Players or coach? Take your pick.

There goes Biggus trying to compensate for his Tinus Dickus again.
When anyone has over 30 freshmen and sophomores starting or contributing major minutes on both sides of the ball, its going to get ugly. Kind of like Bill Belichick in Cleveland ugly. Of course, we all know that guy can’t coach a lick. They can have all kinds of potential, but a team of rookies isn’t anything like a team with a few super-talented young’ins and a core of vets. Exhibit A: 2006 Florida Gators.

First of all, that’s a bad insult. I mean, a play on the handle? A blog comment as compensation for a small penis? Seriously, just awful. It’s the equivalent of me typing something like, “JohnnyBGood? More like JohnnyBBad.” Now to the football bit, Notre Dame started two sophomores, two juniors and a senior on their offensive line, and that was far and away the worst part of the team. It was so bad that it was damn near impossible to tell if the young skill players are any good or not. Maybe they just suck and started by default, or maybe the staff can’t develop offensive linemen for shit. Either way it comes down to the same basic issue, either the offensive linemen included in the last couple of top ten classes stink or the coaching staff isn’t very good. And yes, you can succeed with freshmen mixed in with a couple of experienced guys (Notre Dame returned two starters).

Take it easy on Pants. He’s an OSU homer still recovering from yet another rear side hollowing in a BCS game. He’s looking to lash out at someone while his Columbus laughingstocks await Youngstown State, Akron, etc….

Sad thing about it is even though USC will dismantle them early on, they could easily run over the rest of the lowly Bum10, beat a rebuilding UM team and we might AGAIN have to watch them bludgeoned in the NC game.

You have to admit, it is realistic, even if not probable. Dear Lord, where does it end.

I can’t decide if it would be more fun to see OSU out of contention where they belong or humiliated again, like they deserve (for playing that sad ass schedule.)

Buckle in everyone…yawn…Pants’ comebacks are on the way. Meaningless stats from yesteryear in 3, 2……