‘GTI’ is right, Mike Thornton is on visit to Kentucky
“GA Tech Insider” was right and I was wrong. Mike Thornton did in fact go to Kentucky for an official visit this weekend.
A qualifier first.
I was right for a while at least. In fact, I was right twice. I was right when I wrote early in the week “don’t be surprised if Thornton ends up taking a visit to Kentucky this weekend;” and I was right last night when I wrote that Thornton didn’t plan to go anywhere this weekend. That was after I talked to the big defensive tackle from Stephenson after supper about the Southern Cal trip he plans to take Jan. 29. He told me straight out then he didn’t plan on going anywhere this weekend.
But like they say about recruiting, things can change fast.
Thornton accompanied four Stephenson teammates on a flight to Lexington Friday. Three Jaguars are already committed to the Wildcats — linebacker Jabari Johnson, running back Raymond Sanders and tight end Ronnie Shields. A fourth will likely join them if coach Joker Phillips comes forth with an offer this weekend. Defensive back Chris Sharpe, a one-time Louisville commit, is also made the trip. And I guess now they could get a fifth if they wow the AJC Top 50’s No. 3 player enough this weekend.
Corey Johnson, an assistant coach for the Jaguars who handles the majority of their considerable recruiting logistics, told me Friday night Thornton simply changed his mind.
“At the last minute he decided to go up there [to Lxington] with his friends,” Johnson said. “[Kentucky coaches] were down here Tuesday and they talked to him about coming up there then.”
Which meshes perfect with what “GA Tech Insider” kept insisting in the comments section of the Thornton blog late this morning.
“You might want to check your sources on that,” GTI wrote.
“I don’t know who your source is but mine is Mike Thornton,” I retorted.
About 3 Friday afternoon GTI came back with, “Have you talked to Mike since this morning?”
I didn’t see that comment until much later in the day. And I thought to myself, no I haven’t.
I tried unsuccessfully to reach Mike. Then I texted Johnson.
“Did Mike take the trip to Kentucky?” I rapped out quickly.
“Yes,” was the almost instantaneous reply.
Oops.
And, yes, I made sure Coach Johnson was not “GA Tech Insider.” He’s not. But I’m starting to have an idea who might be.
Ladies and gentlemen, college football recruiting season is at full boil!
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157 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
January 23rd, 2010
9:11 am
For all of our imperfections….at least we’re not Georgia Tech!
Bluedawg
January 23rd, 2010
9:15 am
Seems to me Thornton is just desperate for attention. As a 4 star recruit, he’s not good enough for folks to write about and talk about unless he creates the story by creating the illusion that everyone wants to recruit him. Having said that, its his 15 minutes of fame and I’d expect him to settle down once he enrolls in Athens.
GTDog
January 23rd, 2010
9:24 am
I warned you guys yesterday! Mess with GTI…welcome to the unemployment line. See ya later Chip, I enjoyed it while it lasted.
GTDog
January 23rd, 2010
9:25 am
Chip and I both know who GTI is. He’s so impotent, whups important, that we dare not say his name. You guys just wait until signing day, just wait. He knows all…
collegeballfan2
January 23rd, 2010
9:36 am
Every single thing GA Tech Insider posted on here yesterday was in Rivals, Scout, Sporting News, and Bleacher Report pay sections 2 days ago.
KiethB
January 23rd, 2010
9:38 am
You gotta love it! I can’t wait to go thru this with my son….in 14 years! Then again with my other son…in 18 years!! ; )
aggie54
January 23rd, 2010
9:38 am
When all has been said or told, Thorton will either land at UGA or Auburn.
Sam
January 23rd, 2010
9:39 am
What happens on signing day GTDog? Does Tech drop to #50+ ?
UGA=Dumb Redneck Fans
January 23rd, 2010
9:47 am
Can’t believe all the hating on the insider. Just goes to show dawg fans are jelous even when it comes to recruiting news. Just because a guy rights for a news paper doesn’t mean he’s smarter or has all the facts. UGA fans are so stupid to think that Tech was lucky to beat them in Athens last year and to think CPJ sucess has come only because of Gailey’s recruits. Nesbit, though has run the offense somewhat effectively, is not the QB for this offense. This offense must have a QB that can also throw the football. Also look at the defense. All Gailey recruits. CPJ has lost games because of Gailey as well. Tech’s on the rise and this scares UGA fans to death. CPJ is the perfect pill to cure Tech’s ill’s. Now that we have coach Groh on board with his pro style defense and NFL conections more quality recruits will come to Tech. Build a winner and they will come. The RIVALRY has been reborn. Oh and I almost forgot you UGA fans trying to quote scripture must really be satanist because no christian is going to use scripture names on a recruiting blog. How lame.
OldDawg
January 23rd, 2010
9:51 am
Some of ya’ll take this wayyyy too seriously…not recruiting, because it is the life blood of any college football program….BUT the nature of recruiting!
Imagine that…an 18 year old kid taking a free trip to Lexington for the weekend…with his friends..to be wined and dined! Even if he knows for a fact that he is going to UGA..who can blame him..I mean come on guys…geeeeze!
As to GTI and what he may or may not know…….There is ONE thing and one thing only that matters to me, that I KNOW for a fact that he knows: Tech has been UGA’s b!tch in football since 1963 and will be long after he is dead and gone!
30-24
8 of 9
14 of 18
and counting
Tech Nerds
January 23rd, 2010
10:07 am
UGA=Rednecks,
You are a riot. You might want to check your intelligence when you “write” about a “guy who rights for a news paper”. Nice one there numb nuts. I suppose the Constitution contains a Bill of Writes. Also news paper is one word. Great job questioning someone’s intelligence when you are obviously lacking……LMAO.
Doug Edwards
January 23rd, 2010
10:09 am
When Paul Johnson doesn’t choke at the end of every season then I’ll believe. To be honest winning the ACC, losing to UGA, and getting stuffed by Iowa just doesn’t seem that impressive.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:13 am
All this arguing between UGA and tech makes me miss my days of arguing with FSU fans in florida.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
January 23rd, 2010
10:18 am
There are dumb posting threads and then there is this one. What a waste of time.
The Grinch
January 23rd, 2010
10:19 am
Wow, GTI got one right.
His last prediction – and he was laying odds – was that the tech 5pm meeting one day was to announce the new DC. He was wrong, of course.
Here’s my “inside scoop” – the sun will set in the west tonight.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Wolfdawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:22 am
Techies stop worring about this. Thorton and or Whitaker will be going to UGA. so we will have a great class.
U Nerds need to be working on building Groh a Cyber-Body so he can walk on the sidelines and not have to be wheeled out in a wheelchair. Its gonna be hard calling schemes though with metal arms. =(
Stephenson High Insider
January 23rd, 2010
10:26 am
I can tell you where Mike won’t be going. The kid is very close to the Ball family if that tells you anything.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:38 am
Please, somebody explain to me how GT’s defense expects to get better, even with the hiring of DC Groh, if they have to practice against the triple option everyday?
shinman
January 23rd, 2010
10:39 am
Mr.Thorton will be a wildcat! After seeing the campus and football complex he will cancel his trip to califorina. There truly is a reason there is blue in the grass in Kentucky.
UGA 2010
January 23rd, 2010
10:42 am
ACC/and all you other stupid @$$ GT Fans: Im pretty sure ALL of the SEC is tired of hearin ur mouths talk as if you had the right. YES…GT sucks and got lucky last yr in beating UGA BY THREE!!! IN THE 4TH QTR!!! YES…GAY Johnson is having success because of Gaileys recruits. AND YES, NOV. 29th YOUR @$$E$ WILL BE HANDED TO YOU BY UGA!!!!!!! NOTHING BUT TRADITION
Huntergt13
January 23rd, 2010
10:45 am
Ole yeller, the defense practices against whatever the opposing team that week runs.
Gt4ever
January 23rd, 2010
10:55 am
I would have to agree somewhat, that CPJ has done nothing to talk about yet…. I mean, it sounds foolish, even after the ACC championship, and winning 11 games. I will say this, I’m not a believer in his offense, and nobody is a believer in the defense. We have yet to recruit competitive, but CPJ has only been there 2 years. I for one, will give him the benefit, he has addressed a glaring problem with the defense, and there is some life in the recruiting process. Next year will be a pivotal year, I will submit that CPJ needs to beat UGA and CPJ needs to win a bowl game…. We play in a soft ACC league, and quit frankly winning the majority of our games is a gimme. His remark about the importance of the UGA game was ABSURD, and anybody who is a GT alum understands that we must be competitive against our state rivals. Time will tell, but as much as it pains me to say, we are TERRIBLE when we play good competition. This has to change. Period!
Rabun Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
11:01 am
To the fellow calling all of us from UGA rednecks, I do believe that jelous is, in fact, spelled JEALOUS, and that the last time I checked, news paper is really all one word, that being NEWSPAPER. Now, about being called a redneck by an elite TECHSTER, well, I pass on that comment!!
GA Tech Insider
January 23rd, 2010
11:02 am
Like I said; go back to before Paul Johnson was hired – WELL BEFORE he was hired; BEFORE ANYONE ELSE had a clue who/when the name was going to be and when the announcement would be. Check the archives. See if who “scooped” all of the paid sites you referred to, etc. by a WIDE margin.
Sticks and stones, my friends; sticks and stones. You can believe my posts or not. I’m trying to provide some current information to some people who may not have access to it otherwise. If you aren’t interested in reading it, feel free to skip over my posts.
Dap01
January 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
If Tech has 4 national titles, that means that Tech has managed to get 10,000 fans per NC to attend the home games.
Heck, I guess that is where the 4 fillups for a free ticket comes from.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
UGA 2010, I agree; the 2 best ACC teams got whacked by 2 teams from the SEC East. Tech will never win a bowl game with their gimmick offense. The only thing that makes it effective is everyone else’s unfamiliarity with it. Give any decent Coordinator more than 2 weeks to prepare and he kills it!!!!
GT Steve
January 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
Just STFU poser. If you were a real “insider” you wouldn’t be in here defending like some little 12th grader playing that did too did not thing. Truth be told the only thing you’re inside of is some guy’s short. Get a life poser. Is your self esteem that low guy?
Gt4ever
January 23rd, 2010
11:09 am
GTI, Just focus on the important issues and not some of these armchair QB’s….. If you are as close to the program as you profess, what do you care about what anybody says, especially a mutant UGA fan! The problem is a lot of these comments about GT are true, and we can’t dispute that we are beating weak teams and still under performing when it comes to real competition…. Again, TIME WILL TELL!
jagcount
January 23rd, 2010
11:14 am
AJC bloggers are funny. you will attack a kid because he is not visiting your school of choice and then congratulate him when he signs with your school of choice get a freaking life. Mike Thornton is a standup kid with great grades and comes from a great family. mike is having fun and travelling on recruiting trips please allow a 17 year old kid to have fun. attack some of the bloggers that say dumb sh_t abot kids they dont know, as for mike being flaky or unfocused he is focused enough to have you having on his every movement. GO JAGS
wiley
January 23rd, 2010
11:16 am
Stephen Hill was a freshman last year!! Most freshman aren’t going to catch 40 balls….its just part of being a freshman….and playing back up to one of the most prolific receivers in GT history. We are going to put a receiver into the league this year, and other recruits are noticing.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
11:18 am
jagcount, I agree with what you have said. Many fans from every school say crap about kids they dont know going somewhere else. These kids are very impressionable, thats why the young make such good soldiers.
Rabun Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
11:18 am
Oh, another thing, Tech Elitist, I do believe that the fellow writes for the newspaper. WE all have rights, but when one “pens” something, he writes!! All this about Mr. Thornton, so what if he wants to visit UK. I cannot blame these kids for looking them all over, after all , that’s where they will spend at least three or more of their future years. And, if none of you have ever been up there, UK is not such a bad place and Lexington a nice city. Get inside Rupp Arena when the Cats are playing, and a youngster could get “snowed” by that atmosphere. Who knows, Joker Phillips might just make the football version of the Cats stronger going forward. They did not look too bad to us at UGA this past year!
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
Rabun Dawg, I agree, Ky is going to be a program on the rise. They have always played us tough up there and something else I predict; there seems finally to be a rise on minority coaches and they are going to start bringing in more and more top recruits. A lot of inner city kids have no loyalty to home programs and want to go to schools that will help them the best in getting to the next level.
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
This is hilarious.
GT fan...
January 23rd, 2010
11:42 am
Looks to me like there are lots of GA fans posing as GT fans with their negative GT comments.
I will say it is hilarious to see how GTI’s inside knowledge, which appears to be accurate, has stirred the GA hornet’s nest. I see so many of these comments as being ‘lash-out’ responses, which smacks of insecurity and fear.
I don’t know what surprise or two that will be coming from GT on Feb. 3, but just imagine all the negative comments from dog fans if the Thornton kid was to choose GT.
Just Sayin'
January 23rd, 2010
11:48 am
Miller Grove HomeBoi -
What a lame attempt at impersonation. Your post is like an actor using a really bad (fake) southern accent in a movie.
GT fan...
January 23rd, 2010
11:56 am
GT’s academic curriculum will be the best recruiting tool for GA as long as they are both running the same 3-4 defense.
Both schools are in BCS confs., both have DC’s with solid NFL ties, the ACC send as many, and in recent years more, kids to the NFL, but the academic requirements at GT is GA’s only real advantage with recruits.
Yeah, you SEC pundits can “bark” all you want about “he’s in the SEC, not the ACC” but like I said, they are both BCS confs, and the ACC sends just as many kids to the NFL as the SEC. Heck, by SEC fans’ opinion of their league, a kid might benefit his bank acct substaintily better by playing in the weak ACC. Because he will appear to be WAY better than he really is by playing & excelling against weaker competition.
And when it all boils down … these kids are looking to get to the NFL, and make they “papers”, “bling”, “benjamins” etc., etc.
AC in Boulder
January 23rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Who cares about being an “insider” for georgia tech? That’s like being an “insider” for georgia st. or valdosta st. The University of Georgia is the only school that matters nationally and we all know it. It’s amusing to argue with fans from a lesser school like tech, but they will always be second tier in this state. Look into your hearts gt fans and you will admit this truth. Sorry, Reality hurts sometimes. It’s good to be the king.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
12:15 pm
Huntergt13:
So your # 1 defense practices everyday against your “Scout” or practice squad offense which emulates the offense of the team for the upcoming game, Spread, Pro I, etc. Would I be wrong to assume that the “scout” team would consist of “walk-on” and maybe true freshman players mixed in, or is it the 3rd and 4th string players?
That means your # 1 triple option offense is practicing everyday against your “Scout or practice squad defense, which will try to emulate the defense the up coming team will use to try and stop the triple option. (not their normal defense)
The point here is that your practice squad is never practicing the same scheme of offense or defense that your team plays! A team is only as good as its depth of players. Where does your team depth come from?
In my opinion by running a different offense from everybody else, you are only hurting yourself!
Josh
January 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm
GTI your info is the exact same and its posted on premium boards before you put anything on here. No real insider would come post on the worthless AJC blogs, its pointless for someone close to the program. Just like you scooped everyone saying about the 5pm meeting to announce the DC, which didn’t happen, most knew the meeting was for the players to discuss end of the year things. You got that info from the insider guy on Stingtalk as well as the others on the premium boards.
Its pathetic someone comes on here just so they can act important with info they get from elsewhere and claim it as their own.
Josh
January 23rd, 2010
12:41 pm
Miller Grove Homeboi- You’re an idiot, Stephen is happy at GT. He knows he becomes the man next season with BayBay gone, its what he wants and what sold him on going to GT, being the main target. If he went elsewhere he probably wouldn’t of stepped on the field this past season. Now he’s ready to burst on the scene next year with some experience.
South FL Chapter of the Bulldog Nation
January 23rd, 2010
12:42 pm
GTI…sounds like a fortune teller with that..there may be a surprise or two come signing day for GT. Well darn..that’s pretty damn good! HA! I’m sure there will be a surprise or two for a lot of schools come Feb 3rd. Good luck to all players! Now let’s get it on! GO DAWGS!
GA Tech Insider
January 23rd, 2010
12:47 pm
Here are some names that will jump ship to play for the jackets:—– fred forrester– Demarcus brown– Deandre sampson– David Voles — Damian Oroku– and Chance Sutton. Look them up on rivals .com you can bet on these they may be more.
Luke Skywalker
January 23rd, 2010
12:51 pm
GT Insider is my father.
Poser Like GTI
January 23rd, 2010
12:56 pm
LoL! They’re not jumping ship if nobody else wants them!
ecco
January 23rd, 2010
1:38 pm
A guy earlier in this post said, “all uga has to do is win the sec, which richt has done 2 times already, and they will play for a national title.” Was I in a coma for those 2 NC game appearances????
macrotech
January 23rd, 2010
1:50 pm
“The University of Georgia is the only school that matters nationally and we all know it.”……THAT, about sums up how delusional mutt fans can be. Thank you AC in Boulder…..I know the Flat Irons are lovely this time of year, but you need to remove Devils Thumb out of your pooper! That thin air is proving to be more than your can handle!
the good word
January 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
why do you let them get to you GTI?
Dan
January 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
If Tech sucks so much, then why do UGA fans seem to spend so much time on our blogs and measuring themselves against us. At least measure yourselves against what you believe to be a worthy adversary (which apparently Tech isn’t).
the good word
January 23rd, 2010
2:25 pm
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