More insight to the recruiting saga between South Carolina and Tucker LB Jonathan Davis
A quick recap of the recruiting soap opera between Tucker’s Jonathan Davis, one of the state’s best football players, and South Carolina, which is coached by Steve Spurrier: Davis committed to the Gamecocks last month, then Davis said he was told by South Carolina last Friday that his scholarship offer had been withdrawn. Tucker’s coach, after hearing Spurrier’s version of events on Sunday night, says that the Gamecocks are “no longer welcome” to recruit his players.
Tucker's Jonathan Davis
New information: According to the Charleston Post and Courier on Sunday night, Davis was offered by South Carolina assistant Ron Cooper against the wishes of the staff. Travis Haney reports that “I’d been told in the past that Cooper was told, rather pointedly, not to take Davis. The decision had been made not to take him. Then, one day, at a recruiting meeting in which the main board is assessed, Cooper pipes up and says Davis is a commitment. Those in the room were said to be stunned.”
Wow.
So Cooper took a job with LSU last week. And then South Carolina let Davis know how they really felt on Friday. Ouch.
What will Spurrier say publicly to state the reasons supporting South Carolina’s actions? Unfortunately, NCAA rules prevent college coaches from commenting on prospective student-athletes. But I expect Spurrier to give his version on signing day, and probably even sooner (you know, talk about the situation, without specifically mentioning “Davis”).
People have taken Jonathan Davis to task on a million things … his ability to play at college football’s highest levels (fair question about any prospect, who knows?), his grades (his coach said he is “on track” to qualify) and everything else. Continuing debating that stuff somewhere else, please.
Based on the additional information, what do you think about how things transpired between South Carolina and Davis? Does it change your perspective of the situation? If so, how?
Charleston blog: http://www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks/2009/jan/11/0111-davis/
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
23 comments Add your comment
Rec
January 12th, 2009
6:57 am
That makes a whole lot more sense, and should be posted/printed on the sports/recruiting sections just as prominately as you all had posted the previous article about SC “yanking” Davis’ scholarship & being “banned” by Tucker’s coach etc.
Let’s just get it over with already. « Get The Picture
January 12th, 2009
8:12 am
[...] they come up with, it probably can’t come soon enough for [...]
BlackMagic84
January 12th, 2009
10:02 am
No matter how you spin it, South Carolina pulled the offer and did it just prior to signing day.
If Spurrier did not want the kid, all he had to do was pick up the phone or have someone on his staff do it right after Cooper made the announcement in the meeting.
No matter how you spin it Spurrier is not showing any kind of leadership or guts.
The Head Ball coach has lost any balls he had.
Spurley
January 12th, 2009
10:48 am
BM84(translated – bowel movement 84), excuse me but if you could hire a better football coach for USC than Steve Spurrier, you need to be doing something other than making anonymous posts on websites. Spurrier’s done more for this program than we can even measure, even if it doesn’t show up in the standings. Have patience and let this thing come together. We’re going to be fine.
OcillaGeneral
January 12th, 2009
11:31 am
Michael, does that mean I can’t point out that the kid’s so short he could drown before he even knows it’s raining? Davis is a heckuva football player. It’s too bad he’s being hurt by Spurrier’s inability to control his own staff.
Pimple
January 12th, 2009
12:19 pm
“Have patience”?
As a South Carolina fan, that’s all we got is patience for the past 100years of football. Nothing more, nothing less.
cockyspur2001
January 12th, 2009
12:32 pm
If he’s such a great player, why didn’t UGA offer? They didn’t want to keep one of the top players in the state to stay home? There’s more to this story.
Destin Beach Bum
January 12th, 2009
12:41 pm
If the player decides at the last minute, even at signing time, nothing happens. He’s praised for making a tough decision. But a school withdraws SEVERAL WEEKS prior to signing day, and they get bashed and blasted? Makes no sense at all, no sense. Cooper isn’t there for a reason, and not a reason of his own.
Buckey
January 12th, 2009
12:47 pm
Was there a letter, or was it just a verbal offer? What’s in the fine print?
Smyrna Man
January 12th, 2009
1:16 pm
Monte Kiffin was seen tearing down I75…
Davis who was still upset, was surprised to see Kiffin at his home.
“He was very impressive and I enjoyed the visit,” said Davis who is now shopping for a new college to play for. The Vols have a long standing relationship with Tucker High and Coach Stephens.”
Go Vols
OcillaGeneral
January 12th, 2009
2:15 pm
CockySpur2001, I’m pretty sure they didn’t offer him because they already offered 4 instate linebackers who translate better to their scheme.
But I think he could do well at Tennessee. Lord knows they need guys who won’t just roll over and die against tough competition. Like, I don’t know, Wyoming.
DON
January 12th, 2009
5:38 pm
he got 7 offers including penn state. his GPA is 2.8. South Carolina has a history of doing this.
Rob
January 12th, 2009
5:50 pm
Obviously a school has a right to offer who they choose but this should have been handled sooner to allow time for him to find another school. After a month, other schools may have moved on to other players since he committed to SC, leaving him no where to go. Regardless of why, I think it’s sad this situation has happened to SC and Davis. Schools have many more options than these kids. Pulling a scholarship 4-5 weeks (or something like that) after he has committed when they (the staff) didn’t even want him, is not right and hurts him getting into a school. SC football will go on with no impact because they will still sign 25 players or so for their program. How many offers are left for this kid, who obviously thought he was set for the next stage in his life.
I wish him the best where ever he ends up. Sure someone will come back with their offer to him now that SC has backed out. His height scares a lot of people but he’s a very talented player. Hopefully he can find the right situation for him.
peter
January 12th, 2009
8:18 pm
don, you need to do much more research!
Ral-NC Cock
January 12th, 2009
10:30 pm
Firstly, USC should’ve let it be known that Cooper recruited/offered him a free education against the coaching staff’s desires and THEN high tailed it to LSU. NOW, since Cooper is a LSU coach, let LSU offer him….will it happen??? Time will tell.
Secondly, USC doesn’t give FREE educations lightly and should make sure the recruits are there for an education and not NFL job training. I sure wish the NFL would restrict their ranks to real college grads, For that matter I wish all professional sports required their ranks be college grads if they want to play in the USA but that’ll never happen.
I firmly believe Spurrier will have a gelled team this year because he new coaches hired are first class.
Sharon
January 13th, 2009
12:34 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sharon
http//www.autoloans101.info
Ronny
January 13th, 2009
2:23 am
Ral, LSU will not offer this kid. First they have not been recruiting him, and do not know him. Second, LSU recruits a different level of talent that SC does. LSU recruits and gets commits from the top players in the country, not 1 or 2 like SC, but 25 a season.
Rob, very good comments. These kids have a very limited number of opportunities, while the colleges have multiple players wanting to come there and play. Withdrawing a scholarship at the last second by a school can have devastating effects on a mid-level talent player who received a small number of offers. Yes schools can be hurt a little by kids changing their minds at the last minute and backing out of a commitment, but overall, the affect there to the school is really minimal whereas to the kid it could mean the difference in playing at an SEC school or Alabama-Birmingham.
Jim
January 13th, 2009
6:52 am
Has the old ball coach quit yet?
Glibbity Glabbity
January 13th, 2009
8:40 am
Spurrier’s control of his staff is evident in Cooper taking another job. He doesn’t allow renegades players, and he sure doesn’t allow renegade coaches.
I’m glad Coach Stephens has such high moral standards. Maybe next year when a Gwinnett County kid wants to come to Tucker, he will recruit him before the 10th week of the regular season. Stephens is another sad example of DeKalb County at it’s best.
Tye Davis
January 13th, 2009
11:50 am
This from his family we want to thank all the people that do not know my son and still write about him we are going to fine in the furture before you say anything bad about someone get to know that person it people like you guys the reason my son do not read mess and if you do not have any thing good to say do not say anything We are not upset at S C we fish they a great season once again Jonthan Davis will be fine thanks.Enter your comments here
mwt
January 13th, 2009
12:11 pm
there`s more to this story…The kid wants to go to UGA where his uncle went.but they haven`t offered…why haven`t they offered..his grades? probably not..His attitude ? probably not…His height …probably so…the average lineman in the SEC is 6 ` 5″ 320 lb`s..Bigger , faster , stronger..is what they all need and you can`t waste a prescious scholarship on a hope and a prayer.Renee Curan`s are few and far between.
Glibbity Glabbity
January 13th, 2009
12:31 pm
I don’t think position is the factor at UGA. Jonathan Davis is a DB/OLB type player. I think it is more that they have plenty of DB/LB scholarship players already.
Besides, they are holding out that Reid qualifies and heads to Athens since the Gators backed off.
gamecock88
January 13th, 2009
8:34 pm
This is just the type of player ut needs to continue down the road of being WORSE than a historically mediocre Gamecock team. Sure, SOS pulled the offer, big effing deal. If the kid has any SEC talent whatsoever, there are plenty of teams in need and he will not be left out. On the flip side, had he decommited from USC, it would again be USC’s fault for losing him. It’s a lose lose so move on. My guess is that the truth will come out after signing day and this rinky dink po dunk HS in ga will be the one with explaining to do.