Georgia recruiting: Waiting on Isaiah Crowell (and normalcy)
Georgia is a slight betting favorite (unofficial odds) to land running back Isaiah Crowell over Alabama. (Jason Getz)
In the interest of full disclosure, two weeks ago I set up a search column on Twitter via my Tweetdeck to keep up on Internet rumors about where a certain high school football player might go to college. And I had I known almost 30 years ago that I would ever type that string of words, I would’ve told my father, “Yes, pops. I would love to sell insurance.”
Thursday is my favorite day of the year. That’s because it’s the day after national letter of intent day, when the creepiness of grown adults — OK, some not so grown — consumed with where 18-year-olds go to school moves back into the shadows.
I get why recruiting has grown to ridunkulous proportions. Our obsession with college football has mushroomed. It follows that the feeder system into college football has blown up with it. Technology like Twitter and Facebook just makes it easier to lurk. When it’s
"Why won't Clowney take my calls? I'm Nick Saban!" (Jason Getz)
all over, I just want to take a shower.
There was a moment two weeks ago — right about the time I was setting up the search column for Isaiah Crowell — when I started feeling some animosity toward some of these high school players. It wasn’t a jealousy thing at all. It was more the thought of teenagers stringing this out on a public stage and in some cases (like Crowell) waiting until signing day to make an announcement.
Then I read this comment from Jadeveon Clowney, a defensive end from Rock Hill, S.C., and considered by most professional dart-throwers as the nation’s top recruit. Clowney, who still hasn’t made his decision, was remarking on the recruiting process when he said: “At first, it’s a big thrill when coaches like Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier call. But by the middle of the year, that feeling wore off. Now I just let the calls go to voice mail.”
Once I stopped laughing over the thought of a groveling Nick Saban leaving a voice mail, I thought: Why wouldn’t these kids milk this for all its worth? The fawning is so extreme and protracted, it would be difficult for anybody to be immune — let alone a teenager.
But to Georgia fans, I’m going to ask you anyway: Are you irritated that Crowell, who’s possibly the biggest key to this recruiting class, has not announced his decision? Logic says he has made up his mind. Does he need to hold a 1:30 p.m. news conference on ESPNU at a Columbus community center on signing day — five to six hours after Georgia will announce most of its class? Just asking.
For what it’s worth, I’ve unofficially set the odds: Georgia is a 3-2 favorite over Alabama.
While you ponder the question, here’s the plan Wednesday:
♦ Chip Towers and Michael Carvell will be blogging from recruiting central. At the end of the day, the rest of us will scoop up their ashes and donate them to the Smithsonian.
♦ Tim Tucker and I will be in Athens. I will be Tweeting the names of the confirmed Bulldogs recruits as they become available. Georgia will only release them as it receives the signed letters, but here’s a link to the verbal commitments. If you follow me on Twitter at @JeffSchultzAJC, I’ll Tweet the confirmations. We’ll also get them posted as quickly as possible.
Via Chip’s blog, two of Georgia’s recruits will not be signing right away: As always, the grand majority of recruits will be signing with their respective schools tomorrow, and most will have done so by noon. But not everybody. Mitchell County wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley is waiting until Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. Nose guard John Jenkins of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College won’t sign until 1 p.m. Saturday so he can return home to Meriden, Conn., to be with his family at Maloney High School.
♦ In the morning, I’ll post a column on Georgia’s recruiting class and how coach Mark Richt still has his most important mission ahead: getting recruits to live up to their “stars.” That column will be updated later in the day after Crowell’s announcement and comments from Richt.
♦ I probably also will post a separate blog when Crowell makes his announcement. He’d be Georgia’s most important recruit because he can make an immediate impact at running back.
That’s it for now. The Georgia column will be posted next, unless word leaks out on Crowell’s decision or something less important, like world peace.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier posts
– As Braves get started, Fredi Gonzalez looks like Cox 2.0
– Arthur Blank still hasn’t recovered from Falcons’ playoff exit
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
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273 comments Add your comment
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:13 pm
“Auburn fans, do you really think you have a chance in **** of repeating?”
No, we’re not delusional like Bama and UGA fans.
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:15 pm
“Georgia is 4-1 against Auburn last five seasons.”
And Auburn owns the all-time record against JawJaw. Your point?
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:16 pm
“LSU won the BCS national championship, twice. Probably is going to be smoked by Oregon but that’s a different story. ”
Highly doubt that.
mike
February 1st, 2011
9:17 pm
Boots probably true. But you have to remember we were the butt of all jokes during our pre Saban years and we took it like the men we are. Remember we told you we would be back and back we are. ” We had to fall to get so far. But in the end it really did matter ”
P.S Why is David Pollock and Buck Belue at all the Georgia committments announcments. Looks goofy. Somone needs to tell them thanks for your contributions you have played now leave.
P. Bull Terrier
February 1st, 2011
9:20 pm
Jeff-
As difficult as it must be for a sports writer to track and report on the ever changing whims of a bunch of spoiled teenage children, I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for college coaches. If groveling at the feet of a bunch of kids as they send your calls to voice mail, try on different hats on television, and play games with the process isn’t bad enough, just think of having to go through all of that with a multi-million dollar job on the line and hundreds of thousands of fans judging your job performance with each new rumor that comes out.
To top it off, only when the kids finally make their decisions and arrive on campus does the real job – keeping them in class and out of jail, checking their grades, attendance and driver’s licenses, and trying to teach them to play football as a team – begin.
Hearding cats sounds easier.
bulldogmanic
February 1st, 2011
9:20 pm
Whatever bammer nuts! you don’t even own your own state……AUBURN DOES! Worry about winning your state instead of spewing your garbage in a GEORGIA newspaper!
Oh wait….Alabama doesn’t have anyone smart enough to be an editor so you don’t have a in state newspaper do you?
@buckeye
February 1st, 2011
9:21 pm
LOL you coming on an SEC board talking Middle of the road , 1-10 vs SEC, the most over rated program in the country the Ohio State Buckeyes
mike
February 1st, 2011
9:23 pm
Oh No. I just came back from Columbus Rolando McClain and Cornelius Bennett were checking into The Marriott Courtyard as I was leaving . I overheard them telling the Clerk they would be at Carver Columbus HS tomorrow.
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:24 pm
“Trent Richardson’s backup at Alabama.”
Richardson sucks.
mike
February 1st, 2011
9:27 pm
Manic we never said we owned our own state. What we said ” The state of Alabama owns the BCS”. We have nothing more to discuss in Alabama so we can over here. You didnt think we would go to the Vandy site do you.
Nick Fairley
February 1st, 2011
9:27 pm
I’ll put it this way, Murray is a good QB for Georgia. Too short, but good passer. But who is he going to pass to and who is going to block for him? Nobody. That means you can put 11 in the box and crush UGA’s run game.
Now on the flip side, Alabama will have an o-line, have a QB (in their system you don’t have to have a big gun but rather a manager), and a stable of play makers that just makes it that much easier to have big games. Big games means a chance for the NFL.
That is not an opportunity UGA will afford Crowell.
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:30 pm
“Oh No. I just came back from Columbus Rolando McClain and Cornelius Bennett were checking into The Marriott Courtyard as I was leaving . I overheard them telling the Clerk they would be at Carver Columbus HS tomorrow.”
So what’s your point?
mike
February 1st, 2011
9:31 pm
Rolls Tied how did Ealy and Caleb No Show King work out for you guys this year. You would never know about Richardson because Richt would have to move him to offensive or defensive line. He bench presses your entire Dream Team.
Americusdawg
February 1st, 2011
9:32 pm
@ roll tide, do you remember just a few years ago the tide was the laughing stock of the sec west? This is the SEC man. it comes and goes dude.
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
“Rolls Tied how did Ealy and Caleb No Show King work out for you guys this year.”
You’ve obviously confused me with someone who cares about UGA football.
“He bench presses your entire Dream Team.”
Seriously, you need to actually read my comments, Gump. I pull for Auburn.
Columbus War Eagle Dawg Family
February 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
The Hat had an “A” …and no other letters……
Good Nite..all.
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
“do you remember just a few years ago the tide was the laughing stock of the sec west?”
Four years ago. In Saban’s first year as head coach and after we beat them for a sixth straight year.
Nick Fairley
February 1st, 2011
9:34 pm
Whoever quoted Paul Bear Bryant “Alabama can do more for you then you can do for Alabama” is very true right now.
Because Crowell is barely mentioned when you look at Alabama news:
Alabama Crimson Tide
Commits: 23 | ESPNU 150: 8
Overview: Has any team in the nation recruited as well as Alabama over the past several years? This class is no different, as the Crimson Tide currently sit at No. 3 overall. It has star power and the Crimson Tide filled needs. You have to be impressed with what coach Nick Saban and Alabama did once again, especially out of state, landing players like safety Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips), running back Demetrius Hart (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips), linebacker Trey DePriest (Akron, Ohio/Springfield), defensive end Xzavier Dixon (Griffin, Ga./Griffin) and wide receiver Bradley Sylve (Port Sulfur, La./South Plaquemines).
Top prospect: Clinton-Dix is the top-rated commitment to date, but that could change with what’s left on Alabama’s board. Regardless, the nation’s No. 2 safety prospect brings it all to the table. He has size, speed and plays with great instincts. He supports the run and can play the pass.
Don’t be surprised if: The Crimson Tide land the nation’s top prospect, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe). He’s torn between Alabama and South Carolina and there’s the chance he doesn’t do anything on national signing day. Instead, he could wait and sign on his birthday which happens to be Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Alabama is also sitting pretty with the nation’s No. 3 prospect, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio (Hyattsville, Md./DeMatha), and the Tide are also co-leaders for the country’s No. 4 prospect, running back Isaiah Crowell (Columbus, Ga./Carver).
Rolls Tied
February 1st, 2011
9:36 pm
Nick Fairley
Why are you blogging as an Auburn guy when you are a Bammer?
Americusdawg
February 1st, 2011
9:36 pm
@ Nick Fairley, So you r sayin UGA doesnt produce NFL players? Dude we have almost double the guys in the league than bammer! get your @%$!! straight boy!
DILLIGAF
February 1st, 2011
9:38 pm
JeffSchultz;
I have been a fan of yours for some time and for the most part, agree with what you have to say and respect your satirical wit and insight but these comments are truly questionable.
“That’s because it’s the day after national letter of intent day, when the creepiness of grown adults — OK, some not so grown — consumed with where 18-year-olds go to school moves back into the shadows.”
I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with passionate, college football fans or loyal fans of any sport, to follow recuiting or any other aspect of the program. I do realize that you are from the west coast, home of the Pac 10, where football is more of a pastime rather than a second religion, so you can’t really relate to football in the south even though you have covered for some time.
“Technology like Twitter and Facebook just makes it easier to lurk. When it’s
“Why won’t Clowney take my calls? I’m Nick Saban!” when its
all over, I just want to take a shower.”
That’s just plain weird.
Bottom line…these are kids that are being thrust into the limelight and many have probably replayed this senario many times in their heads since they started pulling for their favorite teams.
Let them have their moment and then let the reality of coming out of high school and taking the field for an SEC team and what that entails, set in. Most of these kids will never will never be elite college football players and will quietly fade into obscurity in athletics but will hopefully get a degree and move on with their lives as better individuals.
Let them enjoy their 10 minutes in the spotlight.
UGA/85
GATA!
mike
February 1st, 2011
9:38 pm
Well said dawg. It is the SEC where the peaks are never too high and valley never too low. We have to enjoy the peaks while we can, because they fly by. Kids are going to go where they can play period. It is just the mind-set of today. If Crowell can handled the incredible and unrealsitic expectations Georgia fans have placed on him it is Georgia. No pressure at Alabama and we would love to have him.
Chris Davis
February 1st, 2011
9:40 pm
It’s so overblown and means squat if you can’t coach them up to a higher level in college. We get a good recruiting class every year. It’s all about what the coaches do with them.
If I had a hammer
February 1st, 2011
10:02 pm
Last dream team at UGA was way back in 1980.
rogeriter
February 1st, 2011
10:13 pm
MARK RICHT HAS TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING NEXT YEAR? Mark Richt doesn’t have to show you jack-s__t! He has accomplished more in his life than you will if you live to be 90! Before you go telling UGA how to clean up their program, make sure you’ve learned how to clean up your room!!!
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:17 pm
Gadawgs — Thank you, kindly.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:18 pm
Win With Richt — 2012 recruiting class? Uh…no.
P.O.A.J. 365/24/7
February 1st, 2011
10:18 pm
“The Hat had an “A” …and no other letters……” Roll Braves!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:19 pm
Sugg ID — I know, and obviously you’re not alone. Pageviews thru the roof on recruiting.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:20 pm
Mike Etheridge — I think you summed things up quite nicely.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:21 pm
D A DoubleU G — I was not aware the entire Columbus-Carver team was making their announcements together, but that doesn’t change anything, does it?
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:22 pm
The_athenian — I can’t, in good conscience, make you any chain-letter-like promises.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:24 pm
Tommy P — I believe I wrote above that I understand why Crowell and others are playing it out. But if you’re just looking for a reason to bash me, that’s fine.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:28 pm
JSS — Los Angeles trivia for you: Did you know my former high school, University, used to be named Harding High School but was changed to University because he turned out to be such a tool?
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:30 pm
Pit Bull Terrier — Yep. College coaches love coaching and raising young men. I don’t know any college coaches that love recruiting for the reasons that you outlined.
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:33 pm
Dilligaf — As I stated: I understand them soaking up the spotlight. I guess you missed that part. What I don’t understand and find “creepy” is the obsession some have with it — even with college football’s popularity. It’s out of whack, in my view. You can agree or disagree but that’s my opinion.
Chuck Uga
February 1st, 2011
10:38 pm
npgator and others, let’s just see how Mr. Muschamp does with ZERO head coaching experience. Meyer had already coached TWO teams to undefeated seasons if I am not mistaken. Muschamp?
Chuck Uga
February 1st, 2011
10:45 pm
So many idiots posting here. Especially Bama people. Go back 20 years and look at how these 4-star and 5-star and top-rated ____ (fill in the blank and position) did when they got to the team they signed with. You will find a TON of failures and those who never lived up to the hype. Not to mention injuries and defections. Ask Mark Richt or even Nick Saban, it is BLIND LUCK to land a class full of good players that actually pan out. Usually you get 12 or 13 kids who actually contribute. That’s it.
BiggdawgK
February 1st, 2011
11:06 pm
@columbus war etc…
I see my post at 8:59 was dead on the money and ruined your “clever” little joke. At least you don’t have to stay up until after midnight now.
You bama boys and barners are so pathetic that you make the techies look down right cool.
Committee on anti Alabama activities
February 1st, 2011
11:23 pm
BiggdawgK,
Bama boys and barners are pathetic? Sorry dawg fan but the last 2 bcs titles reside in the state of Alabama. That’s all that really needs to be said ma’am. Now STFU and go back to your little corner with your 6-7 record and your loss in a bowl game to UCF.
DILLIGAF
February 1st, 2011
11:32 pm
“Dilligaf — As I stated: I understand them soaking up the spotlight. I guess you missed that part”
No, I read your post in its entirety and I understood it’s context. We can agree to disagree.
The whole “creepy” thing, I don’t get. I have a kid as a verbal commit for 2012 and I can’t even relate to him on any level because his head is full of “visions of grandeur”. HELP! ‘
JSS
February 2nd, 2011
12:21 am
Jeff Schultz
February 1st, 2011
10:28 pm
“JSS — Los Angeles trivia for you: Did you know my former high school, University, used to be named Harding High School but was changed to University because he turned out to be such a tool?”
Ole Teapot Dome died with his pants around his ankles Warren G, and people thought Clinton was a cad!
Hunker Down
February 2nd, 2011
12:33 am
I think who ever Crowell signs with his coach has maybe already got the wink wink routine. Just specualting
BiggdawgK
February 2nd, 2011
12:35 am
committee on blah blah blah
I would say making up a story about Crowell’s family coming into a store where one of your fellow bama boy grads is a cashier and buying bama caps is more than a bit pathetic. In all honesty most rational people would think spending a large chunk of your days and nights on blogs for a newspaper in a different state, like you do, is very sad as well. Do newspapers not exist in moomingham or are there so few people able to read in Alabammy that it’s pontless?
To be fair though most of you bama boys and barners can’t afford to have both a computer and electricity in your trailer so you are doing very well for yourself. I had no idea welfare and/or disability checks were so large.
Way to go fella.
JSS
February 2nd, 2011
1:46 am
@ Jeff Schultz…
I always knew it used to be the old UCLA teacher training school; but I did not know it was Harding. Isn’t there a famous First Nations (Native American) Natural Springs on the campus?
Big D Dawg
February 2nd, 2011
3:13 am
suckeye/buckeye…. and when did you last beat UGA? yeah, you finally got a win against the sec but you can’t say you’ve ever beaten UGA. I hope we play you this year in a bowl, doesn’t matter which one. just to shut you up. and the rest of the big 10 has never beaten UGA either. and you can’t count psu, they were independent when they played uga in the sugar bowl.
woebegong
February 2nd, 2011
5:46 am
I sure hope I am wrong but I am thinking although, Crowell, is a great athelete, from what I have read and seen on videos and TV, and after the game with Calhoun, I am not sure he is going to be a fit for the dream team. The main reason I think is simply, there is no “I” in team, but there is one in attitude and immaturity. For sure, I do not see him coming in and making a difference immediately for any team without maturing and growing up pretty fast.
I sure hope he proves me wrong, but having spent a good portion of my life, training and managing youngsters in the service and civilian jobs, I am afraid this young man, would bring out my caution sign, if he were under my supervision.
Let the negative comments begin!!!!!!
GO DAWGS
One and Done
February 2nd, 2011
6:23 am
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KINGS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ted Striker
February 2nd, 2011
6:23 am
Where’s my Chick-fil-A biscuit?
zbulldawg
February 2nd, 2011
6:47 am
Come ABOARD ISAIAH my Dawg. How a bout a #35.Come break all those RECORDS Come set the RED & BLACK on FIRE!!!!! History awaits YOU ! It’s time.