‘Package deals’ and elite prospects — Isaiah Crowell, Stephon Tuitt, Da’Rick Rogers, others
This ran as an iPad exclusive last weekend . . .
If you’re recruiting one of the nation’s elite prospects who has a close friend or teammate who also is being looked at by colleges, then you may consider offering a “package deal.” The idea is to secure or improve your chances with the 5-star recruit while risking a second scholarship with a lesser-known player.
The two-for-one deal was the biggest issue on last year’s signing day after Rogers — the AJC’s No. 1-rated prospect for the state — reneged on his long-time Georgia pledge to follow his high school quarterback and best buddy to Tennessee.
Isaish Crowell's best friend since kindergarten is already committed to UGA (AJC photo by Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.com)
This year’s AJC No. 1 is Carver-Columbus tailback Isaiah Crowell, and there’s speculation that Georgia created a package deal involving one of Crowell’s best friends to gain inside position against Alabama before the Feb. 2 announcement.
“I’m personally not a fan of package deals, but I understand the logic,” Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. “If that’s going to be a college’s best way of getting their 5-star guy, then that makes for a good case for some schools to try it.”
Package deals are nothing new and have been around since recruiting was invented. In Georgia, it has only gained notoriety in recent years because dual offers may have influenced college decisions of the elite.
Now that Lamb has had a year to reflect upon it, he speculates that Rogers would have stuck with his original commitment had Georgia extended a late January offer to quarterback Nash Nance. However, the Bulldogs had plans to sign only one quarterback for the 2010 class, and Lassiter’s Hutson Mason committed in December.
While Georgia watched Rogers flee, it successfully completed or set up two other high-profile package deals last year. On signing day, Wilcox County wide receiver Lonnie Outlaw was both offered and signed by the Bulldogs in around the time span of an hour. Outlaw’s cousin and best friend is Wilcox County’s Nick Marshall, one of the state’s top prospects for this season who ended up committing to Georgia.
The Bulldogs also locked up last year’s AJC No. 2, Newnan safety Alec Ogletree, when they made a December offer to his twin brother that was accepted the next day. Fullback Zander Ogletree might have been Newnan’s best player, but he was overlooked by colleges because of his height. He committed to Georgia over Savannah State, West Alabama and Shorter.
Zander’s rapid commitment happened around the same time that then-Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin invited the twins for an official visit. Florida State also was considering the same ploy.
Da'Rick Rogers reneged on his longtime UGA pledge to follow his QB to Tennessee on last year's signing day (AJC)
“Alec was committed to Georgia and not really looking around … but did it seal the deal? Of course,” Newnan coach Mike McDonald said. “I know the family was ecstatic because they could go see both sons play at the same place on Saturdays.”
The twins both played as freshmen at Georgia this past season.
Georgia Tech appeared to be trying the same type of strategy this year with Monroe Area 5-star defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who committed to Notre Dame in mid-September, flipped to Georgia Tech on Tuesday, and then switched back to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Tuitt and his high school teammate, athlete Demontevious Smith, made official visits to Georgia Tech together last weekend, with Smith accepting a scholarship offer from the Yellow Jackets before leaving campus. He had also picked up a recent offer from Virginia Tech.
“This was absolutely not a package deal,” Monroe Area coach Matt Fligg said. “I’ve been pushing Demontevious on Georgia Tech for two years. After the bowl game, they met. Georgia Tech has some issues at quarterback, and I think [Smith] is the best quarterback I’ve ever coached.
“Georgia Tech never presented it to either player as a package deal, and they never looked at it as one. They were always both going to do their own thing. They are friends and teammates, but not like best friends.”
At Carver-Columbus, the same can’t be said about Crowell and defensive back Quintavious “Cootie” Harrow. They have been best friends since kindergarten. Georgia was the first …
To read the rest of this article, go here
– By Michael Carvell, AJC College Recruiting
Package deals — Smart strategy or bad business? What’s your opinion?
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119 comments Add your comment
D A DoubleU G
January 27th, 2011
12:08 am
CHIP TOWERS!!!!!!!
Go to sleep!!!!!!!
We appreciate your great work. But DO NOT let us see another post from you a minute earlier than 1pm tomorrow (hell, Today!)
Rest, Chip. Rest.
hipdawg
January 27th, 2011
12:13 am
just get it over with already.
Party at the Moontower
January 27th, 2011
12:13 am
The rest of you,
I see nothing wrong with this practice. When it works, not only does a kid who may not have had an opportunity to play for a school he truly wanted to, complete a dream, it also allows true friends to share the greatest years of their life side by side.
Kudos to Tennessee for realizing they could get Da’Rick by offering…. that other kid. And if Isaiah Crowell comes to UGA, then I am VERY happy he gets to share that experience with one of his lifetime best friends.
I hope you are a Dawg Isiah. And Cootie Harrow, whether Isaiah comes with you or not, WELCOME to Dawg Nation young man. Very glad to have you here.
GO DAWGS!!!!
Charlie
January 27th, 2011
12:21 am
Relax D A, the story was by Michael Carvell not Chip. But we do appreciate all your hard work Chip.
What happens to the rest
January 27th, 2011
12:21 am
In the mid 80’s, the best players from my team didn’t get offered a D1 scholarship. The player that did get a D1 offer though was probably the 8th or 9th best player on the team. I am wishing QH nothing but the best. Take advantage of the opportunity.
Egbert
January 27th, 2011
12:22 am
No problem with the Harrow offer. The Dogs had the last laugh with the Ogletree twins because Zander looks as if he can play some ball. And we missed out a few years ago by NOT offering Casper Brinkley and missing Jasper. Definitely worth the risk of blowing a scholarship-which we have certainly done before.
JT
January 27th, 2011
12:22 am
DA, this is a Michael Carvell article that I believe ran in this past Sunday’s paper. Chip hopefully is sound asleep.
What happens to the rest
January 27th, 2011
12:23 am
Grades played a major role.
jarvis
January 27th, 2011
12:24 am
This is a classic recruiting strategy. I was on campus at the same time as the Luckie (sp?) triplets. That was a three for one.
Can you Handle the Truth
January 27th, 2011
12:33 am
Back in the unlimited scholarship days it was common practice by schools to offer package deals to keep players from committing to their rivals. As scholarship numbers were reduced( directly related to Title 9) the practice was reduced dramatically, or slowed to a crawl. In most cases there would be a couple or three players worthy of the multiplayer discounts, but now with the emphasis on the type systems ran by schools, the lack of wiggle room on the roster and conference limitations on travel rosters that practice is not worth the extra offers.
Is Harrow worth it? Who knows, more than likely he will redshirt, play on special teams and if he bulks up and develops he will fall into a backup position. A great deal as to do with the Head Coach and where he emphasizes which side of the ball he is geared toward. As for example, a guy like Mike Leach would probably not offer an offensive scholarship to a player who is not going to see the field, a guy like Muschamp or Saban would not offer a defensive player add on a scholarship. But I will add the caveat that if the player was a Hershel, a Bo, Tebow type player and his buddy was standing there alot of coaches would bend their own personal rule to get the target player to suit up on Saturdays, but those guys would have to be sure hit players from the time they arrived on campus.
Maconbulldog.
January 27th, 2011
12:50 am
I have see the Video of “Cootie” and I like the kid looks like a real ball hawk. I hope that this young man comes into UGA ready to take heads off and shows everyone he is just not Crowell’s best buddy but can stand on his own. I dont see this being a wasted scholarship. I see this as a young man who worked to get his test scores up and now someone is giving him a shot…..the someone (or someones) just happen to be in the form of the University Of Georgia.
Maconbulldog.
January 27th, 2011
12:52 am
seen* sorry guys.
Carvell is Kirby's rentboy
January 27th, 2011
1:11 am
HURRRR DURRRR lemme rile up the locals with another BS hatchetjob and watch the hits pile up.
GFY AJC, no wonder your worthless rag has zero circulation anymore.
recruitnik
January 27th, 2011
1:14 am
good chip towers you need to let this crap go.. you are seriously being a total tool.
Can you Handle the Truth
January 27th, 2011
1:33 am
The Tiger boosters are turning on one another and we will get a sneak peek at the blacked out documents on January 31st.
A federal judge has delayed a hearing concerning new bribery allegations against Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley until Jan. 31, the day prosecutors said they are willing to release information that had previously been redacted from some evidence.
Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke the conditions of Gilley’s pre-trial release last week amid allegations Gilley had contact with and offered a bribe to former lobbyist and co-defendant Jarrod Massey in an attempt to limit Massey’s testimony in a state corruption case in which Gilley and 10 others were indicted in October. Massey entered into a plea agreement with the government in December and is now a cooperating witness.
Gilley and his attorney, Doug Jones, vehemently denied the allegations. Jones filed a subsequent motion asking the court to force prosecutors to reveal information that had been blacked out of documents turned over to the Gilley defense team. Jones claimed the information could be vital in his defense of the new bribery allegations, but prosecutors said the information pertained to an ongoing criminal investigation outside the scope of the current indictments and could not be released until Jan. 31.
Note the statement, “pertained to an ongoing criminal investigation outside the scope of the current indictments”.
Remember John Bonds statements, about players being bought and sold and the FBI. And why is i now that several others are now cutting deals to avoid harsher sentences and cooperating with the Federal investigation. The earth is not flat and as the Late Great Lewis Grizzard used to say about giving directions to Auburn: ” Drive south till you smell it, then go west until you step in it”. Oh so true.
Can you Handle the Truth
January 27th, 2011
1:35 am
By the way, this was posted in the DOTHAN EAGLE, and is there for further reading, with several more articles describing the melee surrounding the boosters from Auburn.
gomdawg
January 27th, 2011
1:42 am
CHIP, GET A REAL JOB THIS IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, GO LOOK AT THE FILM ON THIS KID HE CAN PLAY BALL AND IF HE BLEEDS RED AND BLACK .THAT’S THE KIND OF KIDS WE NEED PLAYING FOR US. GO DAWGS
NerdCentral@NorthAve
January 27th, 2011
1:46 am
Bullpoop fans,
Remember, you are a middle-tier team in the SEC, like Miss State or Kentucky. But then again, you lose to those teams don’t you? Say all you want about 9 out of 10 or whatever, but we’re not talking about that. This is about your misguided expectations. Tech fans know who they are. We are not pretending to be something we’re not. You insist you are on par with the likes of UF, Bama, LSU, AU, or even SC for that matter, but you are not even close. Fran Tarkenton has it right. Why can’t the rest of you get it right?
NerdCentral@NorthAve
January 27th, 2011
1:49 am
UGA fans are dorks.
NerdCentral@NorthAve
January 27th, 2011
1:53 am
You will lose on The Flats this year. I guarantee it. And that will get your classy coach fired. I feel bad that his own fan base does not support him. Sad.
Tweets that mention ‘Package deals’ and elite prospects — Isaiah Crowell, Stephon Tuitt, Da’Rick Rogers, others | AJC College Sports Recruiting -- Topsy.com
January 27th, 2011
2:32 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Currington and Andrew Bone, Chip Towers. Chip Towers said: ‘Package deals’ and elite prospects — Isaiah Crowell, Stephon Tuitt, Da’Rick Rogers, others http://bit.ly/he1Vv4 [...]
Why did I even bother?
January 27th, 2011
3:00 am
This is so d@mn stupid. You just won’t let this “package deal” stuff die will ya? When it comes to UGA, I don’t see how something can be considered a “deal” when you consider the fact that Harrow is already committed and Crowell could possibly go elsewhere. Where is the “deal” in that? Does Harrow lose his scholly if Crowell isn’t a Dawg? Of course not, so where’s the “deal”? I’d call it a package deal if the elite prospect said I’ll come if you offer my friend. That’s a DEAL. I just don’t see how something can be called a deal when there’s no deal being made.
Destin Dawg
January 27th, 2011
5:06 am
Chip, get a life and tell us something relevent… NERD @NorthAve… depression sets in as you are stuck in metro Atl… afraid to come out at night… crime, muggings, sirens all night…. depressing….
H-Town Dawg
January 27th, 2011
5:35 am
Why is the AJC so determined to make an issue out of this? How many times is Carvell going to write about the Harrow offer?
Paddy
January 27th, 2011
6:40 am
Chip did not write this piece. Pls re-read or have someone read it to you.
5150 P.O.A.D
January 27th, 2011
6:46 am
We will offer every recruit 4 Cokes and 4 hotdogs to every relative if they will only come to our games at Tech!
poopdawg
January 27th, 2011
6:48 am
A “package deal ” for a kid that runs a 4,4 forty and tackles well . UGA’s offer stands regardless of what his buddy does.
Prince of Alabama
January 27th, 2011
6:49 am
We own the media in Alabama..they write what we tell them to and nothing more!
Can I play also
January 27th, 2011
6:56 am
Hmmm…sounds like I need to get chumy with a stud football player. Never mind that I have my AARP card I want to play also
AmericusDawg
January 27th, 2011
6:58 am
@Nerdcentral@northave, Paul Johnson, 4 cokes 4 hot dogs, 25,000 fans(on a good day), that middle school offense,the ugly women, 9 out of 10! you are irrelevant. As Keyshawn, Berman, and Tom Jackson would say………………. COME ON MANNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NerdCentral@NorthAve' Top
January 27th, 2011
7:05 am
Get back to bed and grab the lube or I’m going dry on ya
Scott
January 27th, 2011
7:07 am
Thanks Mr. Chip for all your hard work putting these articles together. I enjoy them immensely…
AmericusDawg
January 27th, 2011
7:11 am
Yeah i get it. Just like Tuitt did you right!? this @#%$ is funny!
AmericusDawg
January 27th, 2011
7:14 am
it must suck to have a 40000 seat stadium, and only 25000(mostly the other team’s) fans show up. I mean DAMN!
Track coach
January 27th, 2011
7:28 am
I hear Cootie’s mother timed his 4.4 40. Really in the neighborhood of 4.65
What happens to the rest
January 27th, 2011
7:37 am
Blackout and Bigtime (and other Alabama fans); ESPN is doing a nice piece on their college football program running right now. Check it out if you have time. LSU up next on their next show. Does anyone know when UGA will be the focus?
Sleeze
January 27th, 2011
7:38 am
Once again, fellas, Chip Towers did not write this stupid article. It just looks like one of his normal stupid articles.
dap01
January 27th, 2011
7:38 am
Thanks for the objective free journalism by the AJC. I am personally glad that offering a scholorship to a player and committing to him for 4 years is a larger travesty than oversigning and telling a player to act like they are injured. No need to waste stories on little things like getting paid to play. Or especially no need to waste time on independant classes offered only to athletes at Auburn.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
January 27th, 2011
7:48 am
Da’Rick isnt worth two scholarships. I’d rather have Hudson than that Nash kid any day. GO DAWGS
What happens to the rest
January 27th, 2011
7:52 am
Wow! That piece on Alabama was impressive. The announcers also pushed their top 3 remaining prospects as well. They really pushed Crowell saying, Ingram, Richardson, Crowell – that’s a factory.”
Red
January 27th, 2011
7:52 am
UGA better focus on coaching UP some talent. They get great classes even in these package deals and then fizzle out. UGA – the career killer. Caleb King can score more points on his license than he can on the field. Such a waste. Maybe they need to stop focusing on packages and work on getting every single piece of talent they can and not let Mike Booboo touch them.
hiveredtech
January 27th, 2011
7:58 am
Chip
Thank you for putting Coach Fligg’s comments in there because I was not thrilled with the inference in the article that the Smith offer was to help with Tuitt. Virginia Tech offered Demon as a DB and they were not even recruiting Tuitt…as well as many others. I also love that he had an academic schollie offer from Harvard!! Demon is a legit athlete…the best athlete on the Monroe Area team. Added bonus….he already runs GT’s offense. He can come in and start out at QB and if things do not work out, he can easily play DB or WR.
Athletes like Demon are part of the GT recruiting strategy this year. We have commitments from EIGHT QUARTERBACKS! Only one of them will play QB….but we are going after the best and smartest athletes on their respective high school football teams.
Jacket Man
January 27th, 2011
8:01 am
GA Tech’s offer to Demon was to a player being recruited by several other high profile teams, such as Virginia Tech, and his previous scholarship offers to them had been on the table for a while so it’s not like this young man was an unknown. GA Tech offered late because they had an unexpeded scholarship open (attrition) in an area they think he’ll be able to help.
Can UGA say the same about their offers?
dawgfan365
January 27th, 2011
8:03 am
Why do tech fans enjoy talking about how other teams beat uga? dont ride off of another programs success talk about tech!
Bitter vince dooly in south beach
January 27th, 2011
8:08 am
“CAN you handle the truth” a great read, fact that “ROUGE” Auburn boosters think it is the early 1980’s and they are still recruiting “bo” noo’s, is a scary thing to think a “U” can in this day and age still act so stupid and out of control,
PS every herd of THE HAMMER GETTING READY TPO DROP!!!! SUCKERS/AU
nerds are funny
January 27th, 2011
8:13 am
It is sad how techies only battle cry is who UGA loses to. That shows two things, their program is a little above Duke’s and we own their as*ses and it just kills them. 4 Cokes, 4 hot dogs to watch a team on par with Duke and Virginia. No wonder only 25,000 show up. Who wants to show up for that package AND a possible mugging?
Blind in Humptown
January 27th, 2011
8:21 am
nerds are funny
Mugging? That would be by a member of the Fulmer Cup winning squad the Jawja Bull$*** Dogs.
Jabo
January 27th, 2011
8:26 am
Good grief, everyone knows Crowell is going to Georgia. The kid likes seeing all you idiots put his name in print everyday. It doesn’t matter, he’s a perfect fit for Athens with his wonderful attitude. I hope the Bulldogs get ten five star criminal athletes so we can rub your noises in it at seasons end. Roll Tide & War Eagle!
FLA DAWG
January 27th, 2011
8:29 am
Gotta give Richt credit for putting together a top notch recruiting class so far. Crowell would be a great fit – certainly needed by The Dawgs. Furthermore, he would not get the playing time at Bama because of their talent in place. Not too sure about Auburn either. UGA is clearly his best chance to start early.
But just what will Richt DO with this talent this time?
Andy in Blairsville
January 27th, 2011
8:30 am
Another batch of undisciplined kids with egos who won’t play as team.
Yay!
Too Easy
January 27th, 2011
8:31 am
JacketMan: As a matter of fact, we can. We just offered an OL because one of our OL’s retired and a scholarship opened up (does that make it ‘unexpeded’ like the one you describe?). The OL had been offered by other high-profile schools, but wanted UGA – and we got him. We had also offered to him earlier, but he didn’t take it, and we filled up.
You've been DaRicked
January 27th, 2011
8:32 am
Saban is a master in recruiting. He will some way out fox CMR which usually isn’t hard to do.
Ryan
January 27th, 2011
8:38 am
Why do we have to keep hearing about Package deals. NO ONE CARES! Package deals have always been around, always will be, and it isnt illegal. It is what it is. More reporting on oversigning would be better time spent because nothing is wrong, if you legitmately offer and dont revoke the scholarship if the person decides to go to the other school. If isaiah goes to bama, uga needs to still honor the scholarship and as long as it happens its ok.
GTfan2011
January 27th, 2011
8:41 am
I don’t have any problem with UGA offering Harrow, but hopefully this will put to rest those UGA fans trying to compare Harrow/Crowell to Smith/Tuitt. Clearly, there is no comparison.
GTfan2011
January 27th, 2011
8:44 am
Too Easy,
I’m pretty sure JacketMan was talking about UGA’s previous offers for PACKAGE deals, but whatever.
RxDawg
January 27th, 2011
8:49 am
“Fullback Zander Ogletree … was overlooked by colleges because of his height. He committed to Georgia over … Shorter.”
This made me laugh Chip.
RxDawg
January 27th, 2011
8:50 am
Ooops, I mean Michael. Sorry I didn’t realize some of your articles were being posted over here.
DC
January 27th, 2011
8:51 am
I have no issue with package deals…whatever it takes to get the quality player…I just hope that the kid that is going in for the package deal knows that these scholarships are only 1 year at a time..they can cancel it in any year…
Heck, sometimes packages work out better than you expect it to. Alec and Zander were great pickups for you guys (UGA)…
But, I hope people dont make this kid to be the next Walker or Jackson…your big asset in this recruiting will be Drew…he is the only kid that has a chance to start his freshman year.
jerry
January 27th, 2011
8:55 am
This tactic could well esculate into offers to girl friends, grandmothers, blow up dolls, probation officers, who knows what.
BIG DAWG FAN SOUTHERN BRANCH
January 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Whether crowell comes or not don’t you think Cootie is going to work his tail off and may end up being a good player because he got this opp. I may be wrong but wasn’t he listed on rivals as a 3 star ? if he was could it have been grades all along that kept schools away from him ?
Boy George Dawg
January 27th, 2011
8:59 am
yes jerry ! …even offers for significant others to participate on the Gym team ! I’lLL Tumble for ya !
Clem and Son
January 27th, 2011
9:01 am
Ray Drew gonna be a TIGER !
DC
January 27th, 2011
9:02 am
You might be right Big dawg fan…kid is very fast and seems to have athletic ability…
Some reason I still think Crowell is going to bama though…those dreds make me leaning that way haha
sandman053
January 27th, 2011
9:02 am
RxDawgs…yeh him picking UGA over Shorter made me chuckle too
Pat
January 27th, 2011
9:03 am
What happened to drew. Goin to the U.
Down South Jacket
January 27th, 2011
9:08 am
BIG DAWG FAN- Yes, Harrow has 3 stars; however he had ZERO stars until he signed with UGA. He is the 135th ranked player at his position. Those who think this offer had nothing to do with IC still think the world is flat.
Nobody has much of a problem with the Buy One Get One Free policy, but UGA fans were constantly berating RockyTop for doing the same thing last year. the only exception being that at least there was a college that wanted Nash Nance.
This year, UGA fans are berating Saban for oversigning. Next year, UGA may do the same thing.
Dawg Man
January 27th, 2011
9:08 am
Good morning
Kettle
January 27th, 2011
9:15 am
NerdCentral@NorthAve:
“UGA fans are dorks”
Yeah, Athens and UGA has always been known as a “dorky” place. So uncool. You nailed it. Wow, you are soooo smart. maybe when you graduate from high school you can go to TECH. Now TECH, THAT is a super cool place – incredible surroundings. You’ll love it.
layinlow
January 27th, 2011
9:18 am
Why are so many jacket fans concerned about UGA offering package deals? It’s legal and Richt is one of the few coaches in the SEC who would never revoke a scholarship of a kid without cause. So it’s not like harrow’s scholly will get yanked if crowell goes elsewhere. Say what you want about Richt and the UGA program but Richt is above the sleeze when it comes to honoring scholarships. He doesn’t oversign and he never forces kids out fo the program without cause like some others do-SABAN.
Down South Jacket
January 27th, 2011
9:19 am
layinlow- I was speakin more of some UGA fans being hypocritical. Making fun of Kiffin for doing this last year. This year, it’s OK.
Dream Weaver
January 27th, 2011
9:21 am
O Herschel said he’s tired of seeing UGA in this slump and he would be willing to do anything to help. How bout hiring him to coach running backs (instead of a guy who played DB) and also be the strength and conditioning coach. I bet the players would disrespect him either!!
Pago Pago Dawg
January 27th, 2011
9:21 am
Here we go again…another Top Ten recruiting class….but nothing happens.
RRTDawgs
January 27th, 2011
9:23 am
I am hearing that UGA will be visiting John Jenkins on Friday hey Clem and Son Ray Drew eliminated Clemson he was up there recruiting for UGA .
RxDawg
January 27th, 2011
9:25 am
Down South Jacket, if you can’t beat em join em. I think Richt watched a high priority recruit get taken away by this method. Instead of whining about it, he decied to learn from it and use it. Besides, it’s not like these secondary offers are to water boys. They’re still decent football players and in the case of Zander, very good football players.
chickenman
January 27th, 2011
9:26 am
old news lol
Robert
January 27th, 2011
9:35 am
Nash Nance is a loser.
Spike
January 27th, 2011
9:35 am
How is Nance and Rodgers working out for UT? BWHAHAHAH
layinlow
January 27th, 2011
9:37 am
Down South Jacket, I think your misguided. Richt didn’t change his policy on package deals because he did one last year too with the ogletree brothers. The problem with offering a package deal in the case of Rogers/Nance was we wanted and had already offered mason at QB. Nance being a QB was never going to see the field and therefore going to contirbute nothing to the program, ever. With guys like zander ogletree and harrow they can become great special teams players. In fact zander was awesome on special teams last year. Richt understands this concept and thats why zander and harrow were offered and nance was left out.
Big Dawg
January 27th, 2011
9:38 am
http://www.macon.com/2011/01/26/1425148/tereshinski-aims-to-change-the.html#storylink=omni_popular
Good article about Coach T. for all my fellow dawg fans!!
Aggie54
January 27th, 2011
9:46 am
Chip Towers,is always a day late with the news. He should have been writing about Auburn. dropping their offer to Ray Drew. Auburn, filled it’s DE slot with Sigler’s committment yesterday. We wished him well, an now we will finish in the top slot.
RTR22
January 27th, 2011
9:46 am
Justify the pack deal anyway you like, but it is a wasted scholly. I guess the difference between Al/Ga is bama is at a point where one player does not make or break a recruiting class. Last yr CNS
lost a 5 star WR Keenan Allan to Cal when CNS would not give a scholly to his half brother, a QB transfering from Buffalo. Both are at California. Bama has 4 TB’s that could play for JawwJa right now.
not hard to understand
January 27th, 2011
9:51 am
Comparing Dawgs offer to Harrow to UT’s offer to Nance last year is not quite an even comparison. Da’prick was committed to UGA for a long time. Crowell isn’t committed yet. Last year, Dawg fans felt good for a full year that Da’prick was coming to Athens. Obviously the last minute change was shocking and frustrating. (And it’s hard not to think there might be some other incentives offered – a la Scam newton).
Who are the ELITE bowl winners?
January 27th, 2011
9:52 am
Alabama with 37 wins
the real USC with 32 wins and
PN State with 27
UGA with 26 wins and that includes the UCF loss, as do the others above, all up to date.
My point?? Well, um, ah, UGA IS in the company of the big boys, according to this ESPN quote about all time bowl game winners. ALL TIME greats ……………….ALL TIME.
Go Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogs. Sic em! Woof, woof!!!
WHo is Darick??
January 27th, 2011
9:54 am
Rodgers is a UT man. So is his pal. UT HAS a QB of the future and it is not Nance. His name does not even come up with the three on campus QBs.
Rodgers? What has he done? he will be gone in two more years, if not in jail. Last year when UT needed some men, he did nothing special. He was over rated.
Go Dogs.
layinlow
January 27th, 2011
9:56 am
Big Dawg, I have never questioned that Joe T wouldn’t push these guys to the limit and there would be zero tolerence for not working hard. But my question with the hire of Joe T and staff is are they up to date on the new training techniques and nutrition to get the most out of their time in the weight room? Are we advanced enough?
1eyedJack
January 27th, 2011
9:57 am
A lot of times in recruiting we as fans get caught up in the measurables such as height, weight, and forty times. What we fail to see, and is often hard to measure, is the size of the heart, the love of football, and what’s between the ears.
Sometimes you have to take a chance on a player such as a Zander Ogletree because of those immeasurables. And sometimes a guy can grow an inch or two, but unlike the Grinch, his heart ain’t going to grow two sizes.
An upcoming package deal
January 27th, 2011
9:58 am
There is a deal being formulated right now over at The Flats. If CPJ does not win big next year, he will be in a package deal with ALL of his assistant coaches to leave town.
Chan Gailey is the reason that CPJ won in his second year. CPJ cannot recruit. GT will continue to be a 6-6 or 5-7 team with CPJ.
1eyedJack
January 27th, 2011
9:58 am
I think a lot of our anger last year over the Da’Rick situation was because he jilted us on NSD, not giving us time to recruit a decent replacement.
layinlow
January 27th, 2011
10:03 am
UT’s best young receiver is justin hunter and not rogers anyway. Both are from Georgia and it just goes to show you how all the ranking and recruiting services are wrong most of the time. Roger’s was ranked the number one prospect in the state last year but as it turns out he wasn’t even the number one receiver. Bad route runner and poor attitude and work ethic and has already been arrested in a bar fight. He will make a play occasionally because of sheer speed and athletic ability but will never be one of the top receivers in college footbal IMHO.
still@the bar
January 27th, 2011
10:06 am
DA double
Why don’t you give it a reat? Do all of US a favor and stay off the blogs for 5 days with your childish crap. You go on Tech blogs to poke fun then on UGA blogs you complain abiut other teams fans picking on UGA.
DA double UG
PLEASE GIVE US ALL A REST from YOUR CRAP.
Best of Two Options
January 27th, 2011
10:07 am
CPJ should consider using 2 QB’s in every game. Demontevious Smith / Jamal Golden for the option attack and Vad Lee to stand by in the pocket and throw the ball. Then, periodically let D. Smith throw long and Vad Lee run the option. It will keep defenses on their heels and with a little misdirection/switch-up we’ll light up the scoreboard.
layinlow
January 27th, 2011
10:08 am
I’m mistaken hunter is from virginia. But still he was not nearly as highly ranked as rogers and is the better player. And rogers is certainly not the best football player form the state of georgia last year.
roughrider
January 27th, 2011
10:10 am
Tuitt probably wants to play for a team that can win a bowl game more often than once a decade.
Big Dawg
January 27th, 2011
10:13 am
LayLow…agreed…but the interesting point was the complacency with VanHalanger. Its clear in the past we didnt maximize on training and techniques. But it seems thats what they’re implementing now. From my understanding, T. Brown is a certified nutritionist. So the pieces are falling into place, but still it starts from the top down. I, for one, have been complaing of the S/C program for the past 3 yrs. When its broke, fix it. Will this be enough? Probably not for one season, but might get Richt another season after next year. My biggest gripe…the overall tone and attitude of the team starts from the top!! Richt!! You show me HC who expresses fire and passion…and you’ll find a group of young men who embrace the same energy!! Too much complacency the past couple years. It all started around the time Stafford and Moreno came to UGA..and has grown into a larger issue. But i agree with you…are current changes enough? its a start…but i dont think its enough.
dawgster
January 27th, 2011
10:14 am
@1eyedJack…you know that is still a possibliity with Crowell, although supposedly he has not committed to us silently or has he…i guess we will know on NSD…go dawgs
Jacket Man
January 27th, 2011
10:18 am
Yes, I WAS talking about the “package” deals.
Update; Al Groh didn’t meet with Cooper last night as planned (weather), should be today or tomorrow. Tre still looks good for the Jackets right now; FSU is still trying to play games with him but Tre’s Mom isn’t having much of it. Miami is out, that trip was cancelled. Miami has 5 offers out to D-Linemen, including Tre, one having a higher ranking, and Tre didn’t like being put in the position of heading down with a 20% chance of a scholly and losing his at Tech. He also felt like he was being played a bit by Golden.
"Rouge"??
January 27th, 2011
10:25 am
Quick question for ya “bitter vince”, what exactly is a “rouge booster”? Does he wear mascara and lipstick as well? Maybe you meant “Rogue” ? Where did you get your ed-ur-murcation at? LoL
BullDawgMike
January 27th, 2011
10:30 am
GT has a real good package program in place I hear. Every prospect who will just come to the Tech campus for a couple of hours will recieve a ten dollar gift card from the Varsity…
DeanH
January 27th, 2011
10:32 am
What ths lastest on GA Southern recruiting?
tony
January 27th, 2011
10:32 am
When the news 1st broke I thought Harrow “Cootie” was a non-star recruit. He’s a 3 star recuit so why are people making a big deal out of this?
Every School Does It
January 27th, 2011
10:39 am
Why does everyone insist that Auburn is doing anything different than the rest of the SEC? Everyone forgets that the first school involved in the Newton PFP scheme was Miss. St. Just goes to show you that the entire SEC is bending and breaking the rules, it’s just a matter of who gets caught and when. And of course how well boosters cover their tracks when they do pay players. If you guys think that this goes on ONLY at AU, you have lost your mind. Alabama had 3 MAJOR violations in a 7-year period! Just look at the list of schools with major infractions: Auburn has 7, UGA has 6, MSU 5, Florida 4, Bama 4( All since 1995), Arkansas 4, South Carolina 4, Tenn. 3, etc. Every program in the SEC breaks the rules, why do you folks insist on piling on AU? Because they are on top right now and everyone wants to bring them down.
Buckeye
January 27th, 2011
10:40 am
Still at the Bar,
Man, I admire your endurance. I don’t think you’ve left since the Liberty Bowl. Ah, losing the Liberty Bowl…..what a memory.
collegeballfan
January 27th, 2011
10:40 am
Recruiting story from the 1960’s. Tennessee, in order to sign a major prospect, handed out academic scholarships to a best friend and a girlfriend. The prospect became a Volunteer.
Chip Towers
January 27th, 2011
10:41 am
collegeballfan: That was not an uncommon practice in the 1960s.
Blitz
January 27th, 2011
10:44 am
If GT offered an unrecruited, unranked player to get his 5 star friend, all of you would ROAST every GT fan that you could find.
In other words, we have some cowardly hypocrites in our midst. Isn’t that right, dog fans?
Every School Does It
January 27th, 2011
10:47 am
I would post the whole list but it’s way too long (I also forgot Kentucky who has 6 violations). The SEC is #2 in violations. Here’s a link:
http://blog.al.com/bn/2008/03/sec_no_2_for_most_ncaa_infract.html
Every School Does It
January 27th, 2011
10:50 am
Sorry to cut and paste, but you have to read this passage:
When Gerry DiNardo coached the Indiana Hoosiers in football, he rarely heard rumors of wrongdoing in the Big Ten.
For good reason.
“When you’re at Indiana or Vanderbilt, it’s like you’re not at the same table as the big boys in Vegas,” DiNardo said.
“I heard the most stuff when I was at LSU, partly because there was so much interest in the program and, especially, recruiting. At LSU, you feel you have as equal a chance as anyone at signing a player, so when you lose a kid, you tend to say, `So-and-so bought the kid.’ It’s an easy out.”
Yet DiNardo said the only time he saw the makings of an infraction first hand, it was when he was an assistant at a school out of the SEC.
“Maybe I’m naive, but I’ve never seen the money floating around that you hear about in recruiting,” he said. “I do think you get tested more in the SEC, however. Alums want to get involved in the process because the game’s more important to them. That’s the danger.”
When Sonny Smith coached basketball at Auburn and heard something was amiss, he picked up the phone. “I wouldn’t turn them in. I’d call (a rival coach) and ask them if (a rumor) was true. I got one of those calls myself,” Smith said.
The gentlemen’s agreements of the 1970s and 1980s to keep issues among coaches began to give way. Auburn landed on football probation in 1993 after former standout Eric Ramsey made audiotapes of a coach offering inducements.
Alabama was found guilty of three major violations in a seven-year period – the last one after a rival SEC coach led NCAA investigators to a recruiting analyst who knew of a Memphis businessman’s involvement in Crimson Tide recruiting.
Sometimes mere finger pointing is enough to raise a red flag.
“The SEC is probably no better or worse than any other conference, but it’s gone through cycles where the infraction process runs through the league like a virus,” Marsh said.
“It’s easy to understand how that happens. All you have to do is hear an NCAA investigator question someone because, invariably, the next question is, `What other schools recruited you?’ If a high-profile kid is questioned about recruiting, he’ll often drop a dime on another school.”
All 12 current SEC schools have run afoul of the NCAA at some point. Even Vanderbilt lost six scholarships in 1992 for unethical conduct during an investigation into the women’s basketball program.
Coach Smith
January 27th, 2011
10:52 am
Drew, Jenkins, and Crowell have been silent commits to Georgia for a while, in fact Drew and Crowell (especially Drew) have been trying to recruit other players like Antonio Richardson and Xzavier Dickson to flip and come with them to Athens for a while
http://uhearditherefirst.com
Every School Does It
January 27th, 2011
10:57 am
There used to be a “gentleman’s agreement” between coaches not to blow the whistle and snitch on another school, even if they are your rival. All that went out the window about 25 or 30 years ago. Even the legendary Bear Bryant said “If your not cheating, your not trying”. In this age of the internet and the 24-hour news cycle with rabid fanbases, every little allegation gets reported as fact. The problem now is that you have wealthy alumni and boosters who are more than eager to shower cash and gifts on these kids, sometimes without the knowledge of the coaching staff or the Athletic Department. It’s almost impossible to control these “rogue boosters” and it has corrupted the sport to it’s core.
Rooster
January 27th, 2011
11:13 am
Spin it any way you want to, it’s like buying a player. You pay for the other kid’s scholly, just like giving money to get the kid you want. What say you?
Down South Jacket
January 27th, 2011
11:21 am
tony
January 27th, 2011
10:32 am
When the news 1st broke I thought Harrow “Cootie” was a non-star recruit. He’s a 3 star recuit so why are people making a big deal out of this?
______________________________________________________________
Tony, he was a ZERO star recruit. When he signed with UGA, he magically gained three stars.
Delbert D.
January 27th, 2011
11:46 am
Let’s clear things up for the NCAA and demand that they stop calling these free rides “scholarships.” They have very little to do with scholarship. They have very much to do with entertainment. The money involved, costs, revenues and donations to athletic foundations should be taxed as purely entertainment.
In the case of the package deals, that is a clear indication that there are too many “scholarship” positions available. A good first step would be to cut the maximum number to the FCS level.
MadisonDawg
January 27th, 2011
12:04 pm
It may have been a package deal but Zander played alot as a true fresh and will continue to gain playig time…. Nance on the other hand will never see the field…. Harrow looks like a steal to me…
dawgfacedboy
January 27th, 2011
12:11 pm
There are plenty of scrubs on those sidelines that never see the field. Might as well make one of those scrubs the best friend of a top recruit. It’s not as af ploys and tactics haven’t been used to recruit players for years. This is just the latest. It’s not illegal so what’s the big deal?
Pacific Dawg
January 27th, 2011
1:11 pm
Vasi “Tonbstone” Papulu is also pushing a package deal. He has a best friend that he has been playing football with his whole life. They even spear fish togather. His name is Manny Noonealulu. He is a 5′4″ and 290 lbs wr. Word is that he has great hands but is a little slow. 11.2 in the forty.
FlaDawg
January 27th, 2011
2:04 pm
NerdCentral .. that is funny .. it was hilarious actually. Funny that you as a tech fan feel you have something to stand on to crack on ANYONE! God forbid you mention the the 4 SEC East Championships and 2 SEC Championships in the last 10 years in THE toughest conference in football. Obviously, being a tech fan, you’re not going to be able to formulate much of a real knowledgeable opinion on football being stuck watching UNC, Duke, NC State, Virginia and Miami.
FlaDawg
January 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
wow Rooster, doesn’t every player get bought then? They are all given scholarships which cost the school money. The logic doesn’t add up.
FlaDawg
January 27th, 2011
2:10 pm
Blitz, there is something unbecoming about a tech fan calling a dawg fan a hypocrite. In fact, that in itself is hypocritical. Just check out some of your fellow techies statements on here.
Old Boy
January 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
Although Zander was offered a scholarship as the twin’s were visiting other schools, I think the timing had more to do with other LB targets commiting to other schools (if memory serves right, I think it was Luc specifically). UGA needed an LB and they felt Zander was near the top of the available list. Based on the fact that Zander contributed as a true freshman, he was a scholarship well spent.