Whatever makes you feel better.

The recruits know where to go if they want to play on Sunday and that's all that matters

(02-03-2014 02:13 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:08 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:01 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 12:26 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  There is always going to be controversy and people will always cry fowl. The thing about our college athletics, that I find disappointing myself, is the fact that it's happening everywhere at every level. That's something the entire sport needs to work on and get serious about, but they wont because there is just too much reward.

Anyways, the SEC will dominate because kids want to play in the best league. It's just that simple.

That and the fact that there are a lot of very good recruits in SEC territory. It helps considerably when you don't have to scout all over the place for talent, and have it right in your back yard. So to speak.

That's another reason Bit.

Don't tell Tennessee though.

I don't think I have to, even though TE coach, Dave Johnson, is married to my wife's cousin, and you are supposed to help out family.

Have you seen their class for this year, and the start they have on next year? The Vols staff is well aware of all the talent in the area, and are working to bring a good bit of it to Knoxville. IMO it won't be long at all before Tennessee is challenging for a berth in the SEC Championship game again.

You have to give them a lot of credit for putting together the recruiting classes they have. That's an insanely difficult place to recruit because there isn't an awful lot of talent in the state and Ole Miss owns Memphis.

Credit where credit is due, that's one hell of a job Butch.

There's a good bit of talent in Tennessee. But Tennessee isn't the only SEC program recruiting the state. UT, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miss St, and many other schools mine both Memphis and Nashville for talent.

But let's not say Ole Miss owns Memphis. They don't, or their roster would be half filled with kids from Memphis. To say any school "owns" any town outside its home state, much less Memphis, is silly.

You're wrong in your assumption that it's difficult to get recruits to come to Knoxville too. Gen. Neyland didn't have any trouble. Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer didn't either. What kid wouldn't want to play in front of 100,000+ fans?

Any competent coach can recruit kids to come to Tennessee. Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley weren't competent. That should be fairly obvious, considering that both are currently unemployed. That's why Butch has to work so hard to build up the roster. He's following 2 incompetent coaches, who left him with almost no talent on the bench.

I don't agree Bit.

There is a reason Tennessee has to spend so much more recruiting. There is a relative lack of instate talent.

That's not judging the Tennessee program at all.

They simply have a harder time, especially since Fulmet left and they haven't had a lot of success. However, a lack of success only ever compounds existing problems.

Memphis is an Ole Miss city my friend. That's common knowledge.

Mizzou is going to continue to give the rest of the East problems because they are the only SEC program that does not split it's instate talent with another AQ program, a unique situation indeed

(02-03-2014 08:34 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  I don't agree Bit.

There is a reason Tennessee has to spend so much more recruiting. There is a relative lack of instate talent.

That's not judging the Tennessee program at all.

They simply have a harder time, especially since Fulmet left and they haven't had a lot of success. However, a lack of success only ever compounds existing problems.

Memphis is an Ole Miss city my friend. That's common knowledge.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here. I will admit the talent is more plentiful further south. But Tennessee isn't devoid of talent, and Butch isn't having any trouble attracting the best to come to Knoxville.

(02-04-2014 02:03 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Mizzou is going to continue to give the rest of the East problems because they are the only SEC program that does not split it's instate talent with another AQ program, a unique situation indeed

Really? The top lineman is committed to Arkansas. The top Quarterback is committed to us also. One of the states best D lineman is also committed to us. Nebraska got the best wideout and tightend.

DOMINATION

7 of the Rivals top 10 are SEC schools.

10 of the top 19.

Consider this:
7 SEC schools ranked higher than #10 USC, #11 Notre Dame, #12 Miami (FL), #13 Clemson, #14 Stanford and #15 Oklahoma.

Further consider:
10 SEC schools rank higher than #20 Arizona State, #21 Texas, #22 Michigan State, #23 North Carolina, #24 Penn State. #25 Virginia Tech, #26 Oregon, #27 Oklahoma State, #28 Arizona, #30 North Carolina State, #31 Michigan, #32 Nebraska, #33 Wisconsin, #34 Baylor, #36 Washington, #37 Indiana, #38 West Virginia, #39 South Florida, and #40 Virginia .

Rank/School/Total Commits/5-star/4-star/3-star/Avg/Points
#1 Alabama 26 6 13 6 3.92 3263
#2 LSU 23 2 14 6 3.74 2844
#3 Ohio State 23 1 15 7 3.74 2734
#4 Florida State 29 3 13 11 3.59 2636
#5 Tennessee 31 2 16 13 3.65 2600
#6 Texas A&M 21 3 10 7 3.71 2558
#7 Florida 24 1 12 11 3.58 2389
#8 Georgia 20 1 11 7 3.6 2371
#9 Auburn 23 3 11 7 3.65 2352
#10 USC 19 2 9 8 3.68 2220
#11 Notre Dame 23 1 10 12 3.52 2211
#12 Miami (FL) 26 1 8 17 3.38 2148
#13 Clemson 22 1 7 12 3.45 2116
#14 Stanford 20 0 9 11 3.45 2115
#15 Oklahoma 26 1 8 14 3.27 2110
#16 South Carolina 21 0 10 11 3.48 2033
#17 Kentucky 28 0 10 16 3.29 2016
#18 UCLA 18 0 11 7 3.61 1974
#19 Mississippi 25 0 7 17 3.24 1965
#20 Texas 23 0 6 15 3.17 1931
#21 Arizona State 26 0 7 18 3.23 1918
#22 Michigan State 22 1 6 13 3.27 1912
#23 North Carolina 22 1 4 16 3.23 1818
#24 Penn State 25 0 6 18 3.2 1797
#25 Virginia Tech 28 0 8 14 3.11 1792
#26 Oregon 20 0 5 13 3.15 1747
#27 Oklahoma State 27 0 4 17 2.93 1737
#28 Arizona 28 0 6 16 3 1720
#29 Arkansas 24 0 3 17 2.96 1671
#30 North Carolina State 31 0 3 23 2.94 1666
#31 Michigan 16 1 6 8 3.44 1641
#32 Nebraska 24 0 4 14 2.92 1585
#33 Wisconsin 26 0 4 15 2.88 1580
#34 Baylor 26 0 2 20 2.92 1550
#35 Missouri 28 0 2 18 2.79 1540
#36 Washington 23 0 3 14 2.91 1503
#37 Indiana 26 0 2 16 2.8 1470
#38 West Virginia 22 0 3 15 2.95 1465
#39 South Florida 28 0 2 21 2.89 1456
#40 Virginia 17 2 2 7 3 1449
#41 Mississippi State 23 0 2 14 2.78 1448
#42 Boston College 26 0 3 15 2.81 1441
#43 Texas Tech 26 0 1 19 2.81 1440
#44 Pittsburgh 23 0 4 15 3 1428
#45 California 21 0 3 11 2.81 1390
#46 Louisville 20 0 0 16 2.8 1380
#47 Georgia Tech 21 0 1 18 2.95 1365
#47 Kansas State 22 0 2 12 2.8 1365
#49 Oregon State 28 0 0 18 2.64 1320
#50 Vanderbilt 22 0 3 11 2.77 1317
#51 TCU 24 0 1 12 2.61 1313
#52 Syracuse 24 0 1 15 2.71 1308
#53 Minnesota 20 0 1 12 2.7 1307
#54 Maryland 17 1 3 9 3.06 1297
#55 Kansas 23 0 1 13 2.65 1275
#56 Iowa State 25 0 1 11 2.52 1245
#57 Rutgers 25 0 0 15 2.6 1230
#58 Cincinnati 25 0 1 13 2.6 1226
#59 Wake Forest 27 0 0 12 2.44 1215
#59 Duke 18 0 0 16 2.89 1215
#61 Western Michigan 28 0 0 14 2.5 1200
#61 Iowa 19 0 2 11 2.79 1200
#61 Temple 27 0 1 12 2.52 1200
#64 Colorado 21 0 1 12 2.67 1170
#64 Marshall 26 0 0 11 2.42 1170
#66 Boise State 20 0 2 7 2.55 1153
#68 Utah 19 0 1 10 2.63 1149
#69 Northwestern 15 0 4 7 3 1147
#70 Brigham Young 19 0 2 9 2.68 1103
#71 Washington State 19 0 0 14 2.78 1095
#72 Illinois 17 0 0 13 2.76 1080
#73 San Diego State 24 0 0 10 2.42 1065
#74 UCF 17 0 1 9 2.65 1046
#75 Purdue 18 0 1 8 2.56 1020
#76 Colorado State 23 0 0 6 2.27 915
#76 Western Kentucky 27 0 0 7 2.26 915
#76 Houston 26 0 0 2 2.08 915
#76 East Carolina 25 0 0 3 2.12 915
#80 Memphis 21 0 0 4 2.19 885
#80 Fresno State 21 0 0 4 2.19 885
#82 Tulane 22 0 0 5 2.23 870
#83 FIU 26 0 0 0 2 855
#83 Middle Tennessee 22 0 0 2 2.09 855
#83 Tulsa 23 0 0 4 2.18 855
#83 Louisiana Tech 21 0 0 3 2.14 855
#87 Arkansas State 24 0 0 3 2.14 840
#88 Southern Miss 22 0 0 2 2.1 825
#88 Florida Atlantic 21 0 0 4 2.19 825
#90 Northern Illinois 19 0 0 3 2.16 810
#91 Southern Methodist 26 0 0 3 2.13 780
#91 Toledo 24 0 0 3 2.13 780
#93 UAB 26 0 0 0 2 765
#94 Rice 19 0 0 3 2.16 750
#95 Texas State 26 0 0 1 2.04 735
#95 Wyoming 23 0 0 0 2 735
#95 Army 45 0 0 2 2.05 735
#98 Air Force 24 0 0 2 2.09 720
#99 Ball State 18 0 0 0 2 690
#100 Central Michigan 18 0 0 0 2 675
#100 Bowling Green 16 0 1 1 2.19 675
#100 Nevada 21 0 0 1 2.05 675
#103 Louisiana-Lafayette 19 0 0 2 2.11 660
#104 Louisiana-Monroe 22 0 0 0 2 645
#105 North Texas 17 0 0 3 2.18 630
#106 San Jose State 18 0 0 4 2.25 600
#107 Idaho 17 0 0 2 2.13 570
#107 New Mexico 16 0 0 4 2.27 570
#109 Eastern Michigan 13 0 0 3 2.23 555
#110 Navy 24 0 0 0 2 495
#111 Connecticut 16 0 0 3 2.2 465
#112 Akron 10 0 0 3 2.3 450
#113 Ohio 9 0 0 2 2.22 420
#113 Hawaii 15 0 0 2 2.13 420
#115 UNLV 16 0 0 1 2.09 405
#116 Utah State 11 0 0 0 2 390
#117 Texas-San Antonio 15 0 0 0 2 375
#118 South Alabama 13 0 0 1 2.09 330
#118 Buffalo 10 0 0 3 2.33 330
#120 Kent State 10 0 0 0 2 315
#120 Massachusetts 12 0 0 1 2.08 315
#122 Troy 13 0 0 2 2.22 300
#123 UTEP 10 0 0 1 2.13 285
#124 New Mexico State 16 0 0 1 2.06 270
#125 Miami (OH) 6 0 0 0 2 180

(02-03-2014 02:08 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:01 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 12:26 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  There is always going to be controversy and people will always cry fowl. The thing about our college athletics, that I find disappointing myself, is the fact that it's happening everywhere at every level. That's something the entire sport needs to work on and get serious about, but they wont because there is just too much reward.

Anyways, the SEC will dominate because kids want to play in the best league. It's just that simple.

That and the fact that there are a lot of very good recruits in SEC territory. It helps considerably when you don't have to scout all over the place for talent, and have it right in your back yard. So to speak.

That's another reason Bit.

Don't tell Tennessee though.

I don't think I have to, even though TE coach, Dave Johnson, is married to my wife's cousin, and you are supposed to help out family.

Have you seen their class for this year, and the start they have on next year? The Vols staff is well aware of all the talent in the area, and are working to bring a good bit of it to Knoxville. IMO it won't be long at all before Tennessee is challenging for a berth in the SEC Championship game again.

Luster will start to wear off after another sub par year this season. Year two is very important for Butch

(02-05-2014 10:44 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:08 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:01 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 12:26 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  There is always going to be controversy and people will always cry fowl. The thing about our college athletics, that I find disappointing myself, is the fact that it's happening everywhere at every level. That's something the entire sport needs to work on and get serious about, but they wont because there is just too much reward.

Anyways, the SEC will dominate because kids want to play in the best league. It's just that simple.

That and the fact that there are a lot of very good recruits in SEC territory. It helps considerably when you don't have to scout all over the place for talent, and have it right in your back yard. So to speak.

That's another reason Bit.

Don't tell Tennessee though.

I don't think I have to, even though TE coach, Dave Johnson, is married to my wife's cousin, and you are supposed to help out family.

Have you seen their class for this year, and the start they have on next year? The Vols staff is well aware of all the talent in the area, and are working to bring a good bit of it to Knoxville. IMO it won't be long at all before Tennessee is challenging for a berth in the SEC Championship game again.

Luster will start to wear off after another sub par year this season. Year two is very important for Butch

Butch already has a signature win. That's something neither Kiffin nor Dooley were able to accomplish. However, the folks in Knoxville are very aware that it will take him time to get Tennessee back where they need to be.

As long as there is steady progress, Vol fans will be happy. What they've seen so far beats the hell out of what they've had to deal with since Fulmer was forced out.

(02-04-2014 02:03 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Mizzou is going to continue to give the rest of the East problems because they are the only SEC program that does not split it's instate talent with another AQ program, a unique situation indeed

Missouri is rated 11th or 12th in the SEC in recruiting this year. Last year, I think they were 13th. If Franklin hadn't left Vandy and taken recruits with him to Penn St., they would have been 12th or 13th, ahead of only Mississippi St. again and maybe Arkansas.

(02-02-2014 10:52 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  The $EC ha$ di$covered a $ecret $omehow when it come$ to recruiting $tellar athlete$.

It's interesting that when a conference is dominant in football, it's because they are all cheating bastards. But when another conference is best at basketball, it's because they have saintly coaches who don't need to cheat, and therefore attract a better class of student athletes.

The SEC's average class ranking, including all 14 teams, was a ridiculous 17.8. The ACC is a distant second at 35.4. Imagine if Franklin's departure for Penn State hadn't decimated Vandy's class, dropping them all the way to #50.

(02-06-2014 12:57 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(02-02-2014 10:52 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  The $EC ha$ di$covered a $ecret $omehow when it come$ to recruiting $tellar athlete$.

It's interesting that when a conference is dominant in football, it's because they are all cheating bastards. But when another conference is best at basketball, it's because they have saintly coaches who don't need to cheat, and therefore attract a better class of student athletes.

UNC is as dirty, if not dirtier, as they come.

(02-02-2014 01:16 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(02-02-2014 10:52 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  The $EC ha$ di$covered a $ecret $omehow when it come$ to recruiting $tellar athlete$.

Kind of like how Clemson gets random 5 stars from Florida to commit to their "Dream school" without even visiting seemingly every year.

I'm not saying we all don't do it but come on man.

After yesterday all I have to say to this post is Blake McClain.

Of course it's probably best if your recruits sign LOIs before they come to Columbia and see the scenic warehouse and industrial setting the stadium and practice fields are in or get robbed or shot in Five Points by the local gangbangers.

(02-06-2014 12:19 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-05-2014 10:44 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:08 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:01 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  That and the fact that there are a lot of very good recruits in SEC territory. It helps considerably when you don't have to scout all over the place for talent, and have it right in your back yard. So to speak.

That's another reason Bit.

Don't tell Tennessee though.

I don't think I have to, even though TE coach, Dave Johnson, is married to my wife's cousin, and you are supposed to help out family.

Have you seen their class for this year, and the start they have on next year? The Vols staff is well aware of all the talent in the area, and are working to bring a good bit of it to Knoxville. IMO it won't be long at all before Tennessee is challenging for a berth in the SEC Championship game again.

Luster will start to wear off after another sub par year this season. Year two is very important for Butch

Butch already has a signature win. That's something neither Kiffin nor Dooley were able to accomplish. However, the folks in Knoxville are very aware that it will take him time to get Tennessee back where they need to be.

As long as there is steady progress, Vol fans will be happy. What they've seen so far beats the hell out of what they've had to deal with since Fulmer was forced out.

I think Butch made a big mistake choosing Tennessee rather than Purdue or Colorado.

Butch is big on rah-rah motivational speeches, big on character, but not really that big on coaching ability. People forget that his first year at UC, he turned a 12-1 team into a 4-8 team. He did pretty well the next 2 years, but not really that spectacular when you consider what he was handed.

Good recruiter, great motivator, but a mediocre coach. I thought that when he was at UC and I still think it now.

That type of thing would have worked well at Purdue, where consistently getting to bowl games is acceptable as long as the kids are graduating and aren't making headlines for the wrong reasons. It might even have worked at Colorado. But the folks in Knoxville want to WIN, and WIN BIG. Butch just isn't good enough to consistently win in the SEC, and they won't give him any brownie points for being a good guy like Purdue or Colorado will.

(02-06-2014 03:55 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 12:19 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-05-2014 10:44 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:08 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(02-03-2014 02:02 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  That's another reason Bit.

Don't tell Tennessee though.

I don't think I have to, even though TE coach, Dave Johnson, is married to my wife's cousin, and you are supposed to help out family.

Have you seen their class for this year, and the start they have on next year? The Vols staff is well aware of all the talent in the area, and are working to bring a good bit of it to Knoxville. IMO it won't be long at all before Tennessee is challenging for a berth in the SEC Championship game again.

Luster will start to wear off after another sub par year this season. Year two is very important for Butch

Butch already has a signature win. That's something neither Kiffin nor Dooley were able to accomplish. However, the folks in Knoxville are very aware that it will take him time to get Tennessee back where they need to be.

As long as there is steady progress, Vol fans will be happy. What they've seen so far beats the hell out of what they've had to deal with since Fulmer was forced out.

I think Butch made a big mistake choosing Tennessee rather than Purdue or Colorado.

Butch is big on rah-rah motivational speeches, big on character, but not really that big on coaching ability. People forget that his first year at UC, he turned a 12-1 team into a 4-8 team. He did pretty well the next 2 years, but not really that spectacular when you consider what he was handed.

Good recruiter, great motivator, but a mediocre coach. I thought that when he was at UC and I still think it now.

That type of thing would have worked well at Purdue, where consistently getting to bowl games is acceptable as long as the kids are graduating and aren't making headlines for the wrong reasons. It might even have worked at Colorado. But the folks in Knoxville want to WIN, and WIN BIG. Butch just isn't good enough to consistently win in the SEC, and they won't give him any brownie points for being a good guy like Purdue or Colorado will.

I'm not so sure you're accurate in your assessment. IMO Kelly got out of Cincinnati while the getting was good. He was losing a lot of talent at UC and rather than rebuild the Bearcats, he bailed for Notre Dame. It took Butch a full season before he was able to replace all the talent that was no longer available. If you ask me, between Butch and Kelly, Butch is the better coach of the 2.