CURIOUS INDEX, 2/7/08
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A big day for the ancien regime. Yesterday was the day to praise allegedly dead aristocrats: 1985 broke out all over again in college recruiting as Notre Dame, Alabama, Miami, and Oklahoma had large days in the handshake wars, passing out Ocean Pacific shirts for the boys and jelly shoes for the girls in a celebration of Huey Lewis-era recruiting trends. Phil Collins duet-awesome is the one and only word to describe how all of them did yesterday. The top ten classes, in an extremely scientific and indisputable manner from Rivals.com: 1 Alabama Again: this is science, and you’re looking at the exact finish of the BCS top ten in three years. Glad we could save you the trouble of watching the games, or of showing you the five biggest disappointments, because Brian’s already got that. Tommy Tuberville is in fucking trouble. Underline that: oh-for-seven in-state against Saban. The big get for Alabama was Julio Jones, the phenomenal Alabama wideout who adopted a vow of silence leading up to his recruitment. Jones announced on ESPNU with an admirable lack of fanfare: walked in, thanked people, put on a hat, and then shut up and left. The gloating may begin for Alabama fans, who claim their 363rd national title and can begin letting everyone know about their heaping pile of recruiting awesome, starting with their leader’s Ari Goldian celebration.
Miami, too, can only begin to express their glee in the form of gif animation No better summary of Miami’s triumphant day at the races can be found than the Great Barstoolio’s recruiting diary, a gif-strewn litany of recruiting exultation from start to finish. If you were to tell us that she was up at 4:45 a.m. waiting by the fax machine like Pete Carroll, we would not have been surprised, though she would have been listening to Rick Ross instead of the Who, what with being a Miami fan and all. Randy Shannon truly was a shoplifting seagull yesterday, walking into Miami Northwestern and taking all the chips he liked. Yes, he made it up. All of it. Terrelle Pryor is still standing at the Starbucks. No, go ahead ma’am. He’s not sure what he wants, actually…there’s just so many…choices…. |
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51
NewAZTiger says:
#20 – like an Ole Miss fan – bragging about recruiting.
Remember, about 40-50% of any signing class never makes it 4 years. Recruiting is the most overblown overhyped non-event in college sports. How else can you sign 25 guys a year for a 5 year sport while only keeping 85 schollys on the roster?
February 7th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
52
Steve says:
It’s only overhyped when you get your ass stomped in it.
I’ll have to remember that thing about being overhyped. USC, Texas, Florida, LSU, etc., needs to learn that all those top 5 recruiting classes they got didn’t actually end up helping them at all in getting those national championships, it was strictly coaching. They could have done that with Florida Atlantic’s roster.
Dumbass.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
53
CapstoneAlum says:
#51
When the fringe element at AU finally gets their way, and pushes TT out the door..I think that then you will have an idea of what I am talking about..I was not gloating over ‘crootn, only mentioning the long trip it has been.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
54
hunglikehussain says:
Damn, they must have had a sale on crimson kool-aid yesterday at the safeway. Oh, and #45, please remember to capitalize when screaming. It helps us visualize your frustrations.
That is all….
February 7th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
55
Picture Me Rollin says:
I think the desert heat must have gotten to you in Tempe dude. I think Georgia is probably a 10 point favorite (and I ‘m being optimistic) right now. I mean did you watch UGA’s last three games. Moreno or not, that defense is sick. Coming on the heels of a probable loss against Clemson and a tough road game against Arkansas, I’m just hoping it is not as bad as the last visit there (Brodie Croyle winces every time he hears the word Athens). I’m all for optimism, but talking smack like that just doesn’t help anybody.
I agree, it seems that my crimson brethren have come out of the woodwork. Damn we are desperate for things to be better.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
56
Tater Salad says:
The only thing I’m looking forward to in the Bama/UGA game is seeing Knowshown Moreno and Rolando McClain collide. Yikes.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
57
That Pederast Hanrahan says:
For fuck’s sake – what was Knowshon’s star rating anyway?
February 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
58
Biggus Rickus says:
I think Knowshon was a five star.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
59
Biggus Rickus says:
Guess I should have checked beforehand. He was a four star player.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
60
Steve says:
Rolando McClain gives me a funny feeling in my stomach. He is a man-child. He takes his duties and performs them with aplomb.
Little known fact: He killed 14 walk-ons in practice last year. They actually have to sedate him for the games to avoid murder charges.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
61
PeterPumpkinhead says:
Maybe I hang out at the wrong Bama message boards, but I haven’t seen this big flock of unreasonable fans yelling about how Bama’s going to win the MNC this year or next year… I’ve seen a few saying that maybe we’re getting our money’s worth after all…
There’s not even one on this thread… there are 10 people making fun of something that’s not even happening… now THAT’s fucking hilarious.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
62
Dinknflicka says:
Hanrahan –
Still haven’t gotten that promotion, huh?
February 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
63
bamafanintigerland says:
The Rivals #1 team in recruiting since 2002 have won 6 national championships (and USC lost one to Texas). Not saying this class alone is going to win a title, but for christ sake, I don’t blame Alabama fans for getting a little excited for the future. If half these guys don’t pan out we will still have an Auburn-like class, hell I would take an Auburn season right now. All I care about is being a 8+ win team every season with some BCS bowls mixed in. stopping the losing streak against Auburn and LSU is of course up there and beating Tennessee on a regular basis again will be nice as well. I am sure there are plenty of asshole Alabama fans in the world (just like every fanbase), but I never seen so much animosity towards a fanbase that just wants there favorite team to win more often. Perhaps it was me growing up in the South, but not being a SEC fan much later that I miss the entitlement phase Alabama fans get. I just want my team to be good.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
64
NewAZTiger says:
#52 – Auburn hasn’t had a top 5 recruiting class in probably forever, yet we’re in the top 5 in wins over the past 5 years, and one of only a handful of schools to go undefeated. Sorry if I don’t get my panties in a wad over recruiting. Recruiting is to sell magazines, and that is why the same underperforming schools are in the top 10 year in and year out – they have the largest, most rabid, most unreasonable fanbases who will buy the magazines (Hello to Notre Dame, who again has a top 3 class, for the 50th year in a row). Recruiting rankings say more about the school’s fanbase than it does the players.
The only recruits to get excited about are the NFL-eligible juniors who return for their senior season. They’re the known commodity.
I can write story after story about unheralded player at who earned a starting spot at over at every year for over 1/2 of the Div 1A schols and I can do that same article every year.
Oh, and Auburn signed a long snapper to scholarship. WOOOO!!!! He’s the #1 long-snapper in the nation!!! WOOOOO!!!! /sarcasm
February 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
65
NewAZTiger says:
#63 – USC will not have a NC after the Reggie Bush wins are taken away.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
66
NewAZTiger says:
I can write story after story about unheralded player at who earned a starting spot at over at every year for over 1/2 of the Div 1A schols and I can do that same article every year.
Should read…
I can write story after story about unheralded (walk-on, one star, two star) player at (position) who earned a starting spot at (position) over (highly touted recruit) at (posotion) every year for over 1/2 of the Div 1A schols and I can do that same article every year.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
67
Biggus Rickus says:
NewAZTiger,
Auburn actually has been ranked pretty high recently. Ahead of Alabama pretty much ever year until this one. Rankings matter to some extent, but one class doesn’t fix everything. Finishing consistently high is a decent indicator of success. Coaching still plays a key role, which is why FSU has grossly underacheived.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
68
The Artist Formerly Known as tOSUBuckeyes says:
#63
I’m not exactly sure how you get: The Rivals #1 team in recruiting since 2002 have won 6 national championships (and USC lost one to Texas).
2002 – 2007 is only 6 seasons.
Alabama fans…congrats on our class…looks like the 100 million dollar upgrade in facilities and 40 million dollar upgrade in coaching wasn’t enough to beat ULM, but it does enable you to rack up recruits…especially when immediate playing time is available. Now let’s see what the highest paid coaching staff…by far when compared to the average coaching staff salary…can do with all that talent.
But more importantly let’s talk about this oversigning issue.
I know everyone wants to write it off as not being an advantage, at least that is what SEC fans will tell you, but there is absolutely no doubt that oversigning is what contributes to the overall depth of a team.
I was talking to a Bama fan and he told me that the “few” extra guys they signed weren’t that big of a deal, in fact, if anything, they hurt Alabama’s ranking more than it helped. How? I asked. he said it was because the few extra guys they signed were only 2-3 stars and that they brought down the star average and might have kept them from signing more 4-5 star guys.
I made the point that he talked about these 2-3 star guys like they didn’t matter and they were most likely going to end up on the scout team. I laughed. I told him that it only takes a couple of those 2-3 star guys who really turn into a stud to make a huge difference. Take for example, Troy Smith. He was the last guy signed in his class and he was a 2 star athlete…he turned out to be a Heisman winner and 2 time winning quarterback vs. Michigan.
Now he was signed as the last guy in his class of roughly 22. Imagine if there were another ten guys in his class who Tressel could kind of weed through and see who might or might not pan out. That’s 10 more shots of landing a Troy Smith like player.
It happens all the time…not everyone who turns into a stud starts off as a 5 star recruit. Just look at the players on your team who were 2-3 stars who blossomed into studs.
So don’t give me this bull shit that those few extra guys don’t count because they were only 2-3 star guys or they probably won’t qualify. That is Bull Shit to the highest degree and we all should admit it.
It is an advantage. I offers a cushion and the ability to take more risks.
Tressel has signed 116 guys since 2002…the national average is 143.
Last year alone the SEC had 40+ academic non-qualifiers and the Big Ten had 4.
It is really a mystery to everyone why the SEC has been on such a run lately? Until we have standard recruiting practices across the board, just like everything else in college football, we are going to continue to have this arguments.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
69
The Artist Formerly Known as tOSUBuckeyes says:
#64
Great points. Alabama fans are out of control because they are so glad to finally have something to brag about. That is all they really care about. Nick Saban knows that, we know that, he even said it in a press conference one day. “You all put winning before doing things right, and I think that is wrong.” I know he said it to the media, but it was a message to the fans as well. And he is dead right. The average Alabama fan only cares about one thing: BRAGGING RIGHTS.
And that is why I fucking hate alabama fans…
February 7th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
70
bamafanintigerland says:
I was counting USC’s split national title with LSU-though I probably should not have now that I think about it. I guess 5 since 2002 will do just as well.
2 of the 32 count back to last year’s limit (Corey Smith a kicker and Chris Jackson, WR both already enrolled). 1 of them will probably get a Bryant Scholarship for Wesley Neighbors who is a legacy (who knows). So we over-signed by 4. I have no problem fixing it, since it appears only the Big Ten does this (Oregon State signed 35 guys last year..)
You right-Alabama went 10-2 with a bunch of 2 and 3 stars on their defense during a probation period. I don’t care who is on my team as long as we are winning. But yes if we get a nice big talent base to choose from it is nice to have as well. Auburn has been in the top 10 4 times since 2002 and only out of the 15 twice. You keep on barely scraping by Auburn, it seems to work out since you keep on beating Bama at any rate.
and bragging rights bitches. #1 recruiting class, you can never take this away from me. I got my ring ordered already.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
71
bamafanintigerland says:
Though I do wonder what the average [Insert football team] fan do care about more. If not bragging rights, what is it? Winning, I guess if you are not bragging about it, it is cool. Being modest about being good and enjoying having a great football program while ranting about another school. Is that what average fans care about? Someone inform me.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:02 am
72
CapstoneAlum says:
#69
You write rambling diatribes that come close to satisfying the danger to self/others requirement for an involuntary commitment. I really am confused as to how a buckeye fan could have that much hatred for a team other than UM. The only thing I can figure is that you were changing a tire on your camero on the side of I-65, and got mud splashed on your tOSU jersey by the UA team bus.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:07 am
73
bamafanintigerland says:
and I hate to make another post so soon, but any Alabama (or any other team) fan who just rants and raves about the 4 and 5 star dudes is one to not take seriously-which I am sure you don’t anyway. My favorite Bama player on the roster right now is probably Rashad Johnson, a walk-on RB who now starts at safety and plays at an All-SEC caliber. Javy Arenas was pretty much a last second addition to the 2005 recruiting class DeMeco Ryans is my favorite player of recent years-a 2 (or 3 star) LB. I am looking forward to Marquis Maze this year and hopefully one day Chris Underwood. And I am sure as hell not sleeping on Auburn because they got a bunch of 3 stars since I know Tommy is picking up athletes that I will be cursing at soon enough.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:24 am
74
Tyrone Theisman says:
I don’t understand all the hate for TAFKAtosu. He is a wonderful example of the humility, modesty and non-assholeness he wishes to see in Bama fans. He is completely rational, not obsessed, and is absolutely in control as a fan. He has no issues regarding his father/priest that need to be resolved. Everyone here could learn a lesson from him.
February 8th, 2008 at 1:58 am
75
Tater Salad says:
Peter-
Post of the day. Was wondering the same thing.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:00 am
76
Biggus Rickus says:
TAFKatOSUB,
Jesus fuck. First, “bullshit” is one word. Second, if you find your league at a disadvantage take it up with your league offices and spare us the diatribes.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:32 am
77
The Artist Formerly Known as tOSUBuckeyes says:
#76 Not when you say it like this “Bull [dramatic pause] Shit.”
February 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
78
crimson daddy says:
NAZT @ #51,
You’re right, 33% of Auburn’s class last year didn’t even make it in.
And are you sure you don’t want to change your stance? The artist is agreeing with you.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:45 am
79
tempebamafan says:
#69
i could give two shits abourt bragging rights. I want my team to win SEC and national championships. also beating big ten teams like tOSU doesn’t hurt either. bama is 3-0 vs the bucks btw, but im not bragging, merely pointing out
February 8th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
80
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Note to all “haters”……especially Auburn fans…..
The reason, or fact, is that there is a drumbeat resounding thru the state that has gotten louder now…serious in-state domination…the loss of both of AU’s Off/Def coordinators,which do impact recruiting, at inopportune times…..this class was no fluke, Saban finally got the recruits with the talent that would usually go out of state or to Auburn or USF and kept them at Alabama for the first time in about 15 yrs. By the way, when Alabama was on probation, freaking Cadillac Willams WANTED to go to Alabama but couldnt… IF we can get the performance out of our 4/5 star players that Georgia got outta Knowshown Moreno,and Urban Myer got out of Percy Harbin and Tim Tebow, you cant help get a little giddy at the possibility of cracking the top 10 again in the next few years, and hopefully stringing 2 or 3 good recruiting classes together for DEPTH-the one thing Alabama hasnt had.
The main difference between Alabama and Auburn is that AU has had a 4 or 5yr head start, and they focus on mainly beating Alabama, and not winning National Championships, thus Auburn fans, lets see, Tubbs had been there 8 yrs, and how many MNC does he have? Give Saban 8yrs and he gets at least 2 more MNC….thats the diff between Alabama and Auburn……Alabama is focusing on getting ANOTHER championship. Beating Auburn will just be a step in the process of getting further into the BCS….Alabama needed this to stay somewhat competitive in the ever tougher SEC, with Nutt and Petrino getting in the mix…
And this “Crootin’” victory comes on the heels of an Auburn staff that got rid of or didnt want to step up and keep good Def/Off Coordinators,….we are hoping to catch Auburn in a transitional period-I wouldnt feel as confident if they still had Muschamp-but since they dont, they still have talent, I just like our chances a little better this year…..they got rid of Brandon Cox, but we kept JPW…..dont know who got the better end of the deal there……. but know 2009 is the year we should make a serious run at the SEC after the winner of the Florida/Georgia game wins out this year. Winner of the SEC will more than likely be in the MNC game vs tOSU…..again (if they beat USCw and the new improved Michigan) I dont see Notre Dame or Miami being even close to being 3 yrs away for competing since they dont have the coaching to do anything worthwhile with the talent they got… One thing you cant deny, unlike tOSU, when Alabama gets to the MNC game, they wont be the laughing stock and on the other end of a blowout 2 times in a row, and the odds of getting from the SEC twice to the MNC for any team are slim to none, but we all know what happens when an SEC team does when they get there….they take care of business since the SEC schedule aint no joke. Lastly, Tubberville is a great running back recruiter, and does more with less and wins big games and drops games that leave most AU fans scratchin their heads, but Nick Saban BUILDS teams to win MNC—his last rebuilding effort spawned a shared MNC team and 22 players he was responsible for recruiting for LSU contributed to helping LSU win last years MNC.
That is why many Bama fans, reasonable or otherwise, simply look at the past recruiting track record of the coach that is Nick Saban and how those teams ended up, and how many players went to the NFL that he coached “up” and the results they yielded.
How many people think LSU should have had at least 1 more MNC if Nick Saban was still there, especially with Jamarcus Russell, Laron Landry and Dewayne Bowe? How the fuck do you lose to anybody with those players that start as rookies on Sunday, even leaving early as Juniors for the NFL? BTW, Jamarcus is from Mobile, and this year from Mobile,Nick Saban got 8 more 4/5 star recruits this year!
So in summary, if you think Alabama has something to look forward to, you’d be right.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:16 am
81
Randomly Firing Neurons says:
I’m an Alabama fan and I’m excited about this class, but it only took a minute to compare two LBs and see who I’d rather have. Check Scout’s 2002 signees for Alabama.
DeMeco Ryans: 1 Star/NR 6-2/215/4.60
Derrick Pope: 5 Stars/JC 6-0/235/4.45
I remember Pope… but vaguely.. I remember Ryans… emphatically.
NFL comparison… Heck, we’ll spot 5 star Pope the extra two years of competition and he’s a distant second, with 147 tackles in 55 games (Dolphins), DeMeco has 283 in 32 games (Texans).
Again, I’m excited about the possibilities… but sometimes I’d rather have a player who’s committed rather than convinced.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:02 pm