ESPN: Tech is the second-worst at keeping in-state talent
Jonathan Dwyer: One of the exceptions who proves the rule. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
One of the charms about ESPN is that the Worldwide Leader has enough correspondents to satisfy every viewpoint. Just yesterday, ESPN recruiting correspondent Jamie Newberg was lauding Georgia Tech for its success in finding prospects of lesser portfolio. But now comes LaRue Cook of ESPN the Magazine to serve as the bad cop.
Georgia Tech, Cook writes, is the nation’s second-worst program at attracting high-end in-state players. (Only Arizona keeps Tech from being No. 1.) Cook’s rationale: Over the past five years, the Jackets have landed only two of the 74 Georgia recruits ranked in ESPN’s top 150.
Wait. It gets worse.
Neither of the two — Jonathan Dwyer and Morgan Burnett — was landed by Paul Johnson and staff. Those two were signed by Chan Gailey, who last coached Tech in 2007. Only one Tech signee under Johnson, Cook writes, has cracked the ESPN 150, and that was Vad Lee of North Carolina.
More from Cook (link requires registration): “Over the last five years, Alabama and Auburn have combined for 10 blue-chip preps out of the Peach State, while Florida and Florida State have combined to sign nine.”
As has been noted a time or two in this space and others, Tech under Johnson hasn’t been shopping at the same ritzy store as do the big SEC programs — so we can’t say Cook’s findings are a shock. Still, there’s something about seeing the chilling number (2-for-74) that drives the point home. Thank goodness for Arizona, huh?
By Mark Bradley
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746 comments Add your comment
Adam
January 31st, 2012
1:24 pm
Yeah, Stephon Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Reggie Ball, Javaris Crittenton and even Quincy Carter were all admitted into GT. So what?? Is that the only card you people can play???
As someone wisely noted earlier, you people never use the academic copout excuse for basketball or baseball. So try again.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:24 pm
If you don’t think it’s working, Smyrna Gold, don’t go to the games. You won’t be missed.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 31st, 2012
1:25 pm
To say that CPJ has won two more games in the 4 year period than CMR is another example of how misleading statistics can be. That is like comparing an SEC schedule to ACC and saying the ACC is harder than the SEC or even on equal footing. That just doesn’t float and the point is not about that anyway. The point is whether, given the high academic standards, combined with an offense few college teams use, will bring in recruits to Techs. Football Program?
It is just like saying Tech. has 24 pro players and claiming they have all turned pro. while Johnson was the coach or the recruiter. You can manipulate statistics almost anyway you want to prove or disprove your point.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:26 pm
Stephon Marbury and Kenny Anderson matriculated more than 16 years ago. Crittenton is a criminal, but he may not be an idiot. Reggie Ball flunked out.
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
1:26 pm
George Stein, Favors was actually an honor student in high school. Crittenton, well before he became a super thug had a 3.5 GPA and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. Thaddeus Young had a 4.3 GPA and was a member of the National Honors Society. Mfon Udofia graduated in the top 10% of his class. The myth that GT only recruits dumb basketball players is a false one.
farnamore
January 31st, 2012
1:27 pm
@GTBrad
I agree. That isn’t why they recuit badly. They recruit badly because they suck and no one wants to go there. And the whole ghetto thing cannot be a great selling point either.
gt4ever
January 31st, 2012
1:27 pm
LOL George, I will have a moment of silence for you and your followers…. Super comes to mind…
kc
January 31st, 2012
1:28 pm
Bradley-I can make my dog available if you would like to kick him too. Geez.
CP
January 31st, 2012
1:28 pm
@ GT is a 4th rate high school team
January 31st, 2012
10:40 am
Most GA high school athletes do not like to go to college to play like high school kids again. They like to move on to better things.
You are absolutely correct. The Yellow Jackets will continue to be below average as long as Paul Johnson is there and running the very predictable triple option offense.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:28 pm
I forgot about Young, GTBob. Thanks for the facts.
gt4ever
January 31st, 2012
1:29 pm
Oh, and I am on this planet, George. The same planet that say GT beat NOBODY of substance last year….
GTBob
January 31st, 2012
1:29 pm
When the number of games won by CPJ is cited you must remember the level of competition being played.
So wins and losses don’t matter because we play in the ACC? Is there any reason for us to play at all then? Are you suggesting we shut down the football program because winning doesn’t matter anyways?
Rich Jacket
January 31st, 2012
1:30 pm
Only 25% of the top 50 recruits in Georgia are qualified to enroll at GT. If you get 3 of those you did well.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 31st, 2012
1:31 pm
Bratworse,
Have you been reading what you are typing. Overall this year, UGA had the number 5 defense in the country. Are you going to tell me or other people reading what you type that Tech. had the better defense? I know you weren’t and most likely never will be be a Tech. grad with that kind of reasoning.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:32 pm
I can’t help but feel sorry for the people who think Tech is in a ghetto. The racial undertones are striking and the narrow mindedness can’t be ignored, either.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:34 pm
Whatever, gt4ever. You’re a perpetual complainer that never offers alternatives.
New Jack
January 31st, 2012
1:34 pm
Dawlasville –
Do us all a favor. The years Tek beat Vandy and Miss. St., please look up for how each of them finished and what bowls they played in. Thanks in advanced.
Gorilla Biscuit
January 31st, 2012
1:35 pm
I remember that Tech used to be successful recruiting in the Northeast and Midwest areas. Maybe ya’ll should forget Georgia and concentrate up there. You’ll have trouble recruiting this area. Until we get the Federal Govt. out of the education business you’ll have high school graduates who are not smarter than a 5th grader should be.
Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:35 pm
Johnson wins more games than Richt since he started. In 4 season, Johnson has won more games. That’s end of story.
Either Richt’s a bad coach, or Johnson’s great.
Buzz Belle
January 31st, 2012
1:36 pm
So the state of Ga. is ranked what… at the level of education in this country? If the state of California carried all the four and five star recruits in the nation, the article has a different meaning doesn’t it? The fact that we don’t get the big star recruits means CPJ takes recrutiing serious and goes after both talent and intelligence, something you don’t find much of in the NFL. Why that would bother any GT fan is beyond me.
Dacusville Bill
January 31st, 2012
1:38 pm
How many “Blue Chips” were on the 1990 team?
Dawglasville
January 31st, 2012
1:39 pm
George Stein – point well taken. I debated posting the basketball question for fear that it would be viewed as racist. (I actually questioned myself, “am I being racist?). I’ve always thought that Cremins was as self serving as any other coach or school president. I like the guy. Everything is not black and white as most bloggers paint it. Our age makes us comfortable talking about where life is really played, in the gray area.
I do agree with most of you. Tech’s offense is fine. The problem comes when they have to compete for the same defensive kids as everyone else. You guys are smart. Draw up some blue prints for a d-scheme that doesn’t require the kids everyone else wants.
GTBob finally makes sense
January 31st, 2012
1:39 pm
Actually GTBob, yes, GT should shutdown their embarrassing football program. Donate all your equipment and high school stadium to Ga. State so Atlanta can finally have a college football team they can support and be proud of for a change.
ZZSideways
January 31st, 2012
1:40 pm
Warehouse, smart guy, agree with you.
gt4ever
January 31st, 2012
1:40 pm
REdandBlack,
UGA BEAT nobody last year… The real teams they played beat them. Your DEFENSE sucked. Stats mean nothing unless you prove it by beating good teams.
ZZSideways
January 31st, 2012
1:40 pm
CPJ has 34 wins, so does Richt, CPJ doesn’t need 5 stars to do it, Richt does.
DrDread
January 31st, 2012
1:42 pm
Paul Johnson is a better coach than Mark Richt.
Here’s why.
Both are equal in wins in last 4 seasons.
Paul Johnson has done this without highly ranked recruting classes.
So, since Pasul Johynson has won as many games as Richt over 4 years, with less tsalented players, Paul Johnson is a much better coach than Mark Richt.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:43 pm
I’d say you have enough credibility as a reasonable guy to ask almost any question, Dawglasville.
I do think the fact that the elite players know that they can leave after a year makes Tech a more viable option. The other thing I’d add about hoops players is that a lot of them are recruited via the relationships with AAU coaches and it seems the AAU teams exist more in urban areas, which helps Tech. There doesn’t seem to be a parallel in football.
lance manion
January 31st, 2012
1:44 pm
Mark, another of your typical hatchet jobs on Tech. Seriously, you write this trash (or steal it from another writer) just before signing? Come on, how biased can you be. Tech football may have its faults, but having lived through the early 1980’s, this has been a great run for the past 17 years. Consistently entering the top 25, having 14 straight winning seasons, winning an ACC championship (under review) and playing in 15 consectutive bowl games is a success for any program. All you dog fans who consistently make ugly comments about Tech, are jealous of a school that you or your kids likely cannot attend. For must of us die hard jacket fans, alumni or just friends of the institute, we are proud of our school. Worry about your own damned program, which does not compete for the top of the SEC. We are perfectly happy with our world class institute and students!
@Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:44 pm
While in reality Richt is 3-1 vs. Johnson and plays in the SEC. That’s really the end of the story.
DrDread
January 31st, 2012
1:46 pm
Mark Richt is supposed to be a passing guru.
CPJ pass offense has a high passer rating than Mark Richt’s in 2011.
CPJ is a better coach.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:47 pm
Isn’t there an element of relativity, @Warehouse? I mean, you can’t say that coach X is better because he’s in a tougher conference if he has better players, right?
Think of it this way: if Richt coached at Georgia Southern and played Tech, he’d lose 100 times out of 100. By your rationale, that would make Johnson the better coach
Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:48 pm
Excuse me? End of story? No way.
1) Richt has much more highly ranked recruiting classes than Johnson
2) Johnson has more wins than Richt over last 4 years
3) Johnson is a greater coach than Richt
Either
hahaha!!!!!
January 31st, 2012
1:48 pm
gt4ever,
At least you are finally admitting your program is a nobody
DesignerJacket
January 31st, 2012
1:49 pm
George Stein, I think that might be because of cultural differences. In urban areas high schoolers are pushed toward basketball and in rural areas high schoolers are pushed more toward playing football. A good urban athlete could be more likely to dream of the NBA (since that’s almost exclusively an urban league) while a rural athlete might dream of playing at a certain college or the NFL (since in rural areas that is what people seem to care more about.)
Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:49 pm
So, since Johnson has more wins than Richt voer last 4 seasons
Does that mean Richt’s a bad coach?
or Johnson’s a greaT COACH?
Gorilla Biscuit
January 31st, 2012
1:50 pm
DrDread, way to many holes in your logic.
Scottie
January 31st, 2012
1:51 pm
Only Tech fans are delusional, bitter and shamelss enough to attack a coach that is 10-1 against them. Too funny.
Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:52 pm
Relativity? No. Head to head, the margin of victory has historically been close between Johnson & Richt.
How could games be close in 2008, 2009, and 2010, if Richt has much more highly ranked recruiting classes than Johnson?
Either Johnson’s a great coach?
Or Richt’s a bad coach?
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:52 pm
There might be some of that, DesignerJacket. I think there might be more practical reasons for that, too – i.e. there just isn’t the space to play football in urban areas so the kids tend to play hoops. Space is less of an issue in rural or suburban areas.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:54 pm
It doesn’t have to be so black and white, Warehouse.
K
January 31st, 2012
1:56 pm
Recruits are starting to realize that it’s not worth playing for UGA’s poor coaching staff in a boring city.
Yet somehow they send more players to the league than, who was that….GT? Or just about anyone else for that matter. Maybe you have a point about the coaches to some degree, but as far as getting that talent prepped to a level where NFL teams are willing to sign, you lose. Surprised?
slydog
January 31st, 2012
1:57 pm
Where is UGA ranked?..lol. The longer Chizik and Saban stay in the state of Alabama and CMR continues at UGA, then I’m sure UGA will be near the bottom in about 5 years…lol. Anyway, back to the Techies. This is not about stars. ESPN’s director of recruiting said as much yesterday when discussing the disparity between ESPN’s recruiting rankings as opposed to Rivals or Scout. It’s about filling needs and the overall quality of each class. With that said, I bet this stat is a big part of their findings:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Friday-night-stars-California-and-Texas-produce?urn=nfl-272416
To me, if guys don’t want to go to UGA, Tech offers a clear alternative. Stop whining about fairness. Stop proclaiming how much money y’all make when you first get out of school. It’s about money. Simple as that. GA Tech, as an institution (not placing blame on any one group), simply is not committing the money to have a national-level football program. If so, then CPJ wouldn’t be flipping recruits from Tulane, SMU, or gulp, Memphis. Yea, UGA did it too. So what does that mean? UGA needs to spend more money in recruiting and their football program too.
K
January 31st, 2012
1:57 pm
Cracks me up that GT is still prattling on about margin of victory etc. Have they made the “our uniforms are prettier” yet?
Warehouse
January 31st, 2012
1:58 pm
talent goes to Richt against Johnson, not even close.
Yet, wins are even over last 4 season, and head to head, margin of victory has been close.
So, it has to be either Johnson’s a great coach, or Richt’s a bad coach.
slydog
January 31st, 2012
1:58 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Friday-night-stars-California-and-Texas-produce?urn=nfl-272416
No more excuses for GA Tech or UGA. They both need to put more money into recruiting and their football programs. Nuff said!!!
Ramblinwreck83
January 31st, 2012
1:58 pm
Same old thing with you Bradley. It seems as though you go out of your way to find something about TECH that is NOT good and write a damn article about it every week. Get a life you Georgia homer.
George Stein
January 31st, 2012
1:59 pm
Can we agree that it’s fundamentally stupid to say that school X “gets players to the NFL?” It has absolutely nothing to do with the uniform or logo a player wears and it’s getting to the point where the system a player is in has little to do with his draft slot, too.
Nativebird
January 31st, 2012
2:00 pm
Not trying is only salt in the self-hating wound that we call Coach Paul Johnson. He….is….a….joke. Unless you can at least play in top 150 recruiting…you have no shot…NONE…..of ever competing at the championship level. What’s sad is that The GT leadership knows this…..the AD and Prez have effectivley surrendered by keeping this joke of a coach in place.
DrDread
January 31st, 2012
2:00 pm
If Mark Richt’s an offensive guru, why does Paul Johnson’s rushing offense always outperform Mark Richt’s every year? It clearly means, Paul Johnson is undoubtedly a better coach.