I don’t think you really have any idea.
There are rivalries and then there is Duke versus North Carolina. Tonight these two legendary programs will meet for the 232nd time. A quick tale of the tape Continue reading “Duke Versus North Carolina Means More Than Most People Can Even Imagine Part. 1”
Wednesday February 8, 2012
Duke at North Carolina
So much for the good feelings.
Urban Meyer, the newly minted head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, made headlines for more than just being Urban Meyer. It has been reported that Wisconsin head coach, Bret Bielema, was less than impressed about some of Meyer’s recruiting practices that differ from the longstanding tradition of recruiting for the conference. From SB Nation:
“One issue Bielema would talk about — and it’s perfectly legal under current NCAA rules — is Meyer’s recruitment of players who already had given verbal commitments to other Big Ten schools. It has been a longstanding “gentlemen’s agreement” in the league that coaches wouldn’t recruit players who had publicly given commitments to schools.”
Michigan State University head coach Mark Dantonio agrees calling Meyer “unethical.”
It sounds to me that longstanding rule only served the best interests of Universities who had something to sell. I have no problem with what Meyer is doing because as Bielema said “it’s perfectly legal under current NCAA rules..” The ultimate goal is building a championship program and that really should be all other coaches care about.
Brady Hoke, Michigan’s head coach, sees no problem with Meyer’s style:
http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=fda6d56e9f57102faba2001ec92a4a0d&z=CMH&embed_player=1
Too much stock shouldn’t be put on this. Just sounds like a few coaches who have issues working a little harder. If anything Meyer should be a wake up call to them and their programs. They only have to look at his fingers to see what is actually working in college football these days.
Video Source: http://www2.nbc4i.com/sports/2012/feb/02/brady-hoke-in-columbus-41598-vi-37401/
These are my top-5 recruiting classes of 2012:
1.) University of Alabama: Impact Player-Landon Collins: Sadly another case where “parents gone wild” overshadowed a recruits hard work. In any case Collins (ESPN150 #6/Dutchtown High School, Geismar, LA) has off the charts ability in the secondary and is a huge pickup for the Tide who took the #1 recruit out of the state of Louisiana
2.) Florida State University: Impact Player- Mario Edwards: It seems Florida State is selling something serious about Tallahassee because the Seminoles very easily could have been number one after signing Edwards (ESPN150 #1/Billy Ryan High School, Denton, TX) but were second due to some commits who chose elsewhere.
3.) Ohio State University: Impact Player-Noah Spence: Urban Meyer welcomed himself to Columbus in a big way. His impact is felt immediately with a top-five class that included defensive end Noah Spence (ESPN150 #4/Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA). Spence will have an immediate impact on a defense that should be much improved with the addition of defensive minded Urban Meyer calling the shots. Sprinkle in a slew of four-star recruits (including ESPN150 #65 defensive end Adolphus Washington) and you have the makings of an SEC team in the Big Ten. Scary stuff.
4.) University of Georgia: Impact Player-Keith Marshall: Mark Richt and his group are back at it. Most people don’t realize that Richt has produced top-five or top-10 recruiting classes just about every year he’s been in Athens. Problem is Steve Spurrier said it best when asked what happens to them once they get there. Well those times need to end in a hurry. Georgia had a nice season and a good run to their division title. Richt, though, is still in need of some big wins next season in order to prove they are capable of consistent contention for not only the conference but the national title. That said Georgia did a fantastic job of filling needs at running back (Keith Marshall ESPN150#5), offensive line (John Theus ESPN150#28), and on defense ( OLB Harvey-Clemons ESPN150#17, DT Jonathan Taylor ESPN150#53, DE Jordan Jenkins ESPN150#67, and DT John Atkins ESPN150#119). Credit goes to Todd Grantham for the boost he is giving this program.
5.) University of Michigan: Impact Player-Terry Richardson: Brady Hoke, coming off a Sugar Bowl win for “Big Blue” is continuing momentum into recruiting season. He locked up corner Terry Richardson (ESPN150#68/Cass Technical High School, Detroit, MI) as he will slide right into an already stout defense. I am concerned about the lack of a quarterback pickup this class as they ranked 93rd nationally in passing. While Robinson gets it done with his legs they may want to look towards a pro-style quarterback with Urban Meyer setting up shop in Columbus. One dimensional offenses don’t work against his defenses.
Best Of The Rest:
Texas, Florida, USC, Oregon, and Stanford
Works In Progress:
LSU, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Penn State
National signing day is supposed to be the culmination of four-years of hard work by a prep athlete getting validated by an offer from some of the finest institutions in the nation.
That was not the case for University of Georgia signee Josh Harvey-Clemons.
Harvey-Clemons (ESPN150 #17/Lowndes High School, Valdosta, GA) was the number one outside linebacker recruit in the country and the number one recruit in Georgia. He was pretty tight-lipped about his commitment status until 2 p.m. yesterday when he announced on ESPN. What everyone didn’t expect was his choice: Georgia.
That set off a chain of events that were as inexplicable as they were confusing.
You see Harvey-Clemons legal guardians are his grandparents and in order for the deal to be official he needed both grandparents signatures on the letter of intent (LOI). Problem is his grandfather, Woodrow, went missing right after the announcement. The interesting part is he meant to do so.
Yep. Grandpa went AWOL.
You see his grandfather decided to take this kids opportunity and make it about himself and his desires rather than what his five-star grandson wanted which was to play in Athens. Because of proximity he didn’t like the idea of Georgia because it was two hours further for a drive. So we’re talking about giving up a chance to play for a great program and a coach who coaches who know how to get their guys ready for that next level for two hours and the wishes of someone who didn’t tackle a soul the last four years (although as a bail bondsmen I could be wrong on that second fact).
Listen, family is family, but understanding that when a kid makes a decision that he feels is best for him and his future in life (be it in football or otherwise) I think that should be understood. Especially considering the myriad other things he could be doing instead of the right thing.
it is unfortunate that his day will be marred by the actions of an overbearing guardian but I wish him all the best from here on out. Lets just hope this isn’t a precursor of things to come and its a smooth ride from here on out.
Obviously things have been rough the last four weeks for Les Miles.
After getting thumped in the BCS National Championship game by Alabama you would think he would have gained a little bit of humility. They, for all intents and purposes, did win the Southeastern Conference and their division all while holding the number one spot in the country for most of the season.
That being said his bravado (and grass chomping mojo) ran out when he ran into the crimson wall that was the Alabama defense. Heading into recruiting Les could have been poised to sell prospects of a National Title season on the Bayou in 2013.
Then he stuck his foot in his mouth.
Gunner Kiel (ESPN150 #52 Columbus East High School/Columbus, Indiana) pulled the old wool over the Tigers eyes by saying he would commit then changing his mind at the last minute and bolting for Notre Dame. LSU needed a quarterback and didn’t get the one they wanted. That left Miles slightly ticked off. From the USA Today:
“We needed a quarterback in this class,” Miles said. “There was a gentleman from Indiana that thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and the ability to lead a program. Just so you know.”
While they did end up with Jeremy Liggins, the 6-foot-3, 270 pound monster out of Mississippi (and by monster I’m talking size wise), the tone doesn’t match up with the rhetoric. Miles came off as petty and childish in his assessment of Kiel. The Jilted lover talk will only go so far as Miles needs to know Its unfair to go after an 18-year old for changing his mind because, well, he’s 18. I understand both sides of the coin and the frustration Miles has for losing out on what he thought was his future starter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if future recruits catch wind of the clip and don’t give him the time of day for fear of being lambasted by him and a fan base over their decision not to enroll at LSU.
I guess the real question is whether Miles’ frustration is from the decision of Kiel or the Tigers less than stellar showing in recruiting this year.
Either way, old less is getting large helpings of humble pie in 2012.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again on this blog. BYU needs a reality check in athletics, at (18-6) and with a chance to make a statement at home they blew it against St. Mary’s (who leads their conference) and than made themselves look bad by blaming the officiating and throwing objects onto the floor. They haven’t beaten a quality opponent all year and that can be attributed to their lack of defense and too many chiefs behind the three-point line. Upcoming games against Gonzaga will essentially determine the Cougars fate as far as making the tournament in March.
These special edition NCAA men’s basketball uniforms look pretty sick. Normally Nike doesn’t do it for me with the pro combat style as noted here and here. But these basketball uni’s make up for what the football ones lacked.
Writer’s Note: Throughout the winter, spring and summer leading up to the 2012-2013 College Football Season I will be gathering information on my top-25 teams in the country. The teams will be in no particular order but you can check The Locker for the complete list when camps start.
There was a lot to be learned for the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
Not to say that every other team in the nation didn’t learn anything but in Athens that curriculum had to be picked up quick. Mark Richt has put together an impressive career at Georgia but in an era where winning quickly is the norm the faithful were becoming restless.
Fact: Richt has won over 100 games during his tenure as head coach of the Bulldogs.
Fact: His last two seasons have produced a combined (14-12) record including (7-9) in conference play.
Fact: The Bulldogs have two Southeastern Conference championships under Richt.
Fact: The last one came in 2005.
So you get the picture? This conference has produced the last six national champions. In a conference with as much bad blood as this one, Georgia, whose immediate rivals Auburn and Florida, have three titles between them was under a lot of pressure to turn things around in a hurry. Factor in a new athletic director who brings a penchant for winning (two national championships a piece in football and basketball while at Florida) and that made the seat real toasty for the affable Richt. Even when that seat got hotter after a loss to Boise State in the Georgia Dome and South Carolina he didn’t panic.
How did he and his team respond?
They won ten straight games, including a comeback victory over Florida and a resounding statement game against Auburn. During the streak we saw the “Dawgs’ learn a few new tricks. they learned that they are capable of winning in their conference. They learned they have the personnel to compete with anybody in the country. They learned that they have a defense as vaunted as any you will see. Most importantly, though, they learned that with this group they have a chance to accomplish something they haven’t accomplished since 1980. We are getting ahead of ourselves because as coach Richt always points out the goals never change, both in order or importance; Eastern division, conference and then see where you land.
As for that “higher” goal I won’t say it out loud. The ghost of Herschel Walker looms large enough without me adding to it.
Q&A with Kimberley Nash of the Lady Sportswriter:
On the commitments of running backs Keith Marshall (ESPN150 #5/Millbrook, Raleigh, NC) and Todd Gurley (Rivals #42/Tarboro, Tarboro, NC):
We were salivating over them down here. Marshall, we definitely heard about his above-board character. Marshall also did a great job getting Gurley to come our way. He had over 2,600 yards to go along with 33 touchdowns.
On which is better: Gurley or Marshall:
Let’s put it this way, Gurley beat out Marshall for player of the year. Note: Marshall is still the higher rated player in some rankings and is very, very good.
On the differences in style between the two backs:
Gurley is power and speed whereas Marshall is speed and finesse. They hope to be a formidable 1-2 punch for us in 2012.
On Isaiah Crowell and his issues:
Crowell is kind of a victim of being overly pampered at a soft school. Crowell actually wanted a buffer [between himself and the feature spot]. He wasn’t comfortable with the spotlight and the responsibility [year one] of being “the guy.” Trust me; he’s happy about the new blood. But hopefully it makes him work harder to get better. The kid has the talent to be a good one if he does.
On Jarvis Jones and his emergence:
Hard to believe he and Jarvis came from the same place. Jarvis is the real deal. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and a totally different outlook. I think his experience at SC (University of Southern California) changed him for the better.
On the Bulldogs Offensive Line situation going into ‘12:
O-line is a big question mark right now. Lost a couple of quality starters, but if [offensive line coach Will] Friend can whip the talent we have into shape they should be decent. The main thing is finding a left tackle to protect Aaron [Murray] better. We weren’t very good in pass protection last year.
On recruits on the horizon who could make an impact on the “O-Line”:
We’re still looking at Avery Young (ESPN150 #61/Palm Beach Gardens High School, Palm Beach, Fl). He’s got long arms and is built to play that position but he needs some weight on him to handle SEC defenders. We are currently in his top-2. John Theus (ESPN150 #28/ The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fl) is already on campus and looking good for spring reps. He is a beast, too. He’ll be a candidate right along with Watts Dantzler (true sophomore).
The defense looks to be stacked coming back but Brandon Boykin graduated. Who fills that void?
No one in my opinion but we could find pieces to step up and replace that versatility a bit. We are looking for Branden Smith who will surely look to shine for sure. Add to that list, Corey Moore and Sanders Commings as well.
To win the SEC East Georgia must:
Get better on special teams and get more consistency out of Aaron Murray. Fans will be looking for more competition out of the QB spot with Christian LeMay off the redshirt. Murray is a good guy, great leader, but he’s shown he can’t handle the pressure in big games thus far. Fans are getting tired of him falling short against the big boys. Part of Murray’s problem is he’s not progressing. How much of that has to do with [offensive coordinator Mike] Bobo is debatable, however.
Which brings me to the next question: With Richt and Grantham getting extensions is Bobo’s seat the hottest?
Bobo has yet to be placed in the conversation as far as extensions go. What does that tell you? He is Richt’s guy but he lost favor with everyone else a long time ago. I figure he will get at least one more season to do something with this offense before serious conversations about his future start to happen.
Why not make that move now? Wouldn’t it seem appropriate with all the pieces coming in and expectation high in Athens to take the next step to move on now?
Well, not really. Who would Georgia have picked up to replace him at this juncture? Bobo’s done just enough to not be a disaster and that was enough to give him one more year-especially given the schedule. Even more how much the offensive line contributed to the offense’s struggles is still a conversation many consider having. not to mention the lack of a running game for the better part of seven games. The part you have to look at Bobo is his adjustments during the course of a game. That being said, he didn’t throw the interceptions or fumble the ball. That goes right back to the consistency of play on the field.
Early predictions for Georgia in 2012-2013:
I want to see how they do against Missouri, but I can’t see less than 9-10 wins this season.
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