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I disagree on that order (as mentioned lower in the thread), but I'll also reiterate that it doesn't "all" make it here for free. The big news does, but not a lot of tidbits. There are 3+ pay sites dedicated mostly to football recruiting news, and MGoBlog has a site with a lot of football content, but also splitting time with softball, baseball, soccer, Baylor, Muhammad Ali, the 49ers, etc. I realize there are some OT threads on the premium boards, too, but the truth is that the information doesn't all leak to here.
Right. You can get NFL scores by watching ESPN. Or you can pay for the NFL Network. It's fine if you just watch SportsCenter, but you're not getting as much insight, film, etc. as if you have NFL Network.
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It's pretty hard to write a weekly (?) column and have every one be a gem consisting of nothing but original, important and insightful information.
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No one is more of an insider than Sam Webb, but I'm not a fan of Scout's layout. 247 looks clean and easy to use, and are def. better than Rivals, which is seriously lagging at this juncture.
The best "inside info" comes from Scout. There's a lot of filler on Scout as well, stuff that is very tangential to our recruiting interests/realistic recruiting opportunities, so I'm not sure if they are the site with the greatest proportional amount of info. However, nobody is better connected or respected than Sam Webb and he has a really good team. If you hear something from a Michigan guy at Scout you can bank on it, just have to weed through the extra stuff sometimes.
Edit: And we can obviously all agree that reading smoke signals from a distant Chippewa chief would be a more efficient endeavor in getting good information than going to Rivals.
I currently have a poll up on my site that asks for people's favorite site. 247 Sports currently has 67% of the vote with Scout and Rivals splitting the other 33%.
247 and Scout are pretty even as far as information goes, but I think Lorenz works 25 hours a day. Rivals has fallen behind, but I think the new guy, Brandon Justice, is a step up from both Tim Sullivan and Brandon Brown already. I don't know how much access he has to the program itself, but he's on the ball when it comes to recruits.
Wait, you mean I shouldn't totally shut my day down when Brandon Brown tweets a couple Bee emojis??
I've only subscribed to 247, but Lorenz is fantastic. Has good info, keeps it real regarding who is actually interested, and makes a concerted effort to interact with subscribers and answer any questions people have.
I used to think similarly to the people who say don't subscribe because it all leaks here anyway, but seeing the work these guys put in, I want to support them. And as you mention above, there's a bunch of detail that doesn't leak out.
Aquaman
You could say similar things about any industry that includes teenagers. Hockey leagues, the entertainment industry, tennis, the National Spelling Bee, newspapers interviewing local children about whatever, etc. Is Rolling Stone creepy for interviewing a 16-year-old pop singer? Is Scott Hamilton creepy for interviewing a 16-year-old figure skater from Ukraine? If the answer is yes and you think news about anyone under 18 is out of bounds, then at least you're being consistent, I guess.
If kids don't want to be involved and/or if their parents don't want them to be involved, then they can say no to the interviews and such.
WORD
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As others have said, Sam Webb, regardless of Scout's crapiness.
I've been a member of Scout off and on for about 3 years. At the beginning, it was probably better. Sam had more time to post and interact. Since he's become the publisher (I think that's his title now, someone else can correct me if need be) of TMI, he's stretched himself wayyyyy too thin. He barely posts now and it's been tons of filler articles as mentioned above. I wouldn't be surprised if Scout loses a lot of its memberships because a lot of members are already complaining. He went MIA for what seemed like most of a couple of weeks and when he came back, started a thread saying he was back and asked for any and all questions that people had so he could catch them up. I don't think he ever responded to the thread. I don't think he did it intentionally, it's like I said...he has other responsibilities other than his radio show and covering recruiting now.
I joined 247 about a year and a half ago and they've been far more consistent with their content. I don't think they necessarily give as much in-depth info as the Sam-related content does on Scout. However, 247 has been scooping Scout on a pretty consistent basis over the last 4 or so months.
Rivals? I've never been a member, but their reputation has been pretty much shit over the last year or so. Fabricated stories, only ranking kids that go to Rivals camps. No thank you, I'll pass.
#1 - 247
#2 - Scout
#3 Rivals
Left Out - Ace Williams
This x100. Sam Webb has far and away the best Michigan sources in the industry and he works his ass off. Unfortunately he is spread too thin and doesn't post with any regularity. The user experience at scout is awful and the boards get slow real quick. I feel bad for Sam because he's a great guy with the best info, but he's only one man and he can only do so much.
247 has the best website and Lorenz is really doing a great job lately. He has direct sources on the coaching staff I believe. Their national and regional guys also chime in more than any other site, which I think is something that is intentional. The whole operation there works together.
Rivals is complete shit, and I can't believe I'm saying that given their place in the industry not too long ago. Balas bans anyone who dares to be critical or goes against the group think mentality of many of its posters. Sullivan (good riddance) and Brown have no sources. Justice is a 19 year old kid and while I think he is doing a decent job all things considered, just last week he was saying Alabama had a chance to sign CMH. Meanwhile Sam Webb was out there issuing gut feelings and had been hinting for MONTHS that Michigan was in the best shape for him. Even Helmholdt's info isn't what it used to be. They still do occasionally get good bits of info that the other two sites don't and I do like the Inside the Fort feature but I'm always left wondering how much of it is accurate.
Too bad Lorenz and Webb can't join forces.
Just last night received an email from Scout stating, "7 Day Free Trial," Try our website free for seven days. Simply follow link and hit on 7 Day Free Trial." Well that's pretty simple I thought. At least it's not one of those "Take the money and then IF you aren't satisfied we'll gladly refund your money." Well that's exactly what it was.
I thought Hell they should know better than that. Duplicity and misleading information never work in promotional strategies. In fact it's pretty much a guarantee that you'll piss people off enough they'll not only give you a silent, "Fuck You," which I'm certain I was not alone in doing, but it assures they'll never bother to hit a link from your site again.
However, now that I look at all the good words about 247 which I use to look at like the Florida teams, "Johnnys come lately," thinking there was simply no room for another pay for site. They've proven me wrong apparently. The news about Rivals is only fitting. They got too big and could not handle it. Their arrogance, I knew quite some time ago, was going to be their downfall. Couldn't happen to a more deserving group of peckerheads, in my opinion.
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