Frostbite

January 5th, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^

There comes a moment where you start to feel like you're being trolled...

(not that I don't deserve it for checking back here every 15 minutes while I should be working)

Joined: 05/18/2015

MGoPoints: 436

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^

We'll probably never know, but I'm legitimately curious if bowl performance had an effect on this decision. My position before the season was that recruiting was a big deal and that was one of the reasons progress had to be shown this year.

Our OL looks like trouble next year and could barely block FSU; Alabama did whatever it wanted on the ground. Even as the second guy next season he is going to look good. Maybe that tipped the scales for him?

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^

I biffed the sentence. I meant, the performance of the team this past season was vital for recruiting, to demonstrate the upward trend. We are competing with teams that are already making the playoff almost every season, so top end kids know they will succeed there; they need to see that the same will be true here.

I think the end of the season was a bit of a step back in that regard. Our first realistic shot at the playoff now appears to be 2018.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

1974

January 5th, 2017 at 4:00 PM ^

If that (performance of the team, near-term outlook for the offensive line, etc.) is what influenced his decision, fine. I get it. I can understand why he'd rather run behind Alabama's line. I mean, I can understand choosing Alabama, full stop. But, he had all the data he needed a relatively long time ago. I find it hard to believe that the "flight change" (if true) was based on a decision he made just a short time earlier.

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

TIMMMAAY

January 5th, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^

Okay, I'm done following this saga. Everyone extolling Sam Webb's words as the gospel should maybe reconsider next time around (or just keep quiet). Unless this turns out to be bunk, but there is just too much chatter in Bama's favor for that to be feasible IME.

Joined: 09/08/2008

MGoPoints: 56323

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^

Why the dig at Webb? He never had a gut feeling and he is pretty straightforward about what he knows. People at the school believed he was coming, probably with good reason (that is, Najee probably was in touch about transportation and housing arrangements, that sort of thing, surely doing the same at Bama) and on that basis he projected Najee to Michigan.

As far as I know, Webb didn't say this was a sure thing, and granted that there were limits to his knowledge. He's still the best source for this kind of thing out there. What's the trouble?

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

TIMMMAAY

January 5th, 2017 at 3:18 PM ^

Admittedly, I'm being a bit reactionary. But it wasn't so much a dig at Webb as it is a dig at the people here who kept parroting the "trust Sam, not SEC fanboys" trope (you know who you are). I'd rather not go further than that, as I don't want to name names (don't want to be black listed from Hop Sing's).

Joined: 09/08/2008

MGoPoints: 56323

OwenGoBlue

January 5th, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^

Either A) legitimate indecision, or B) intentional myth making. Just showing up somewhere (even though he has been committed forever) will be a headline everywhere and announcers will mention it for years. It's something other kids haven't done and actually fairly media savvy if that's the case. Probably in the best interest of the hamsters he doesn't come here. This blog backend can't even handle the speculation posts.

Joined: 04/03/2016

MGoPoints: 31525

Brown Bear

January 5th, 2017 at 3:04 PM ^

Why didn't he just tell a reporter "I'm sticking with Bama." If he doesn't want attention I really don't get it, seems quite opposite of that. A simple one sentence quote to a reporter would have ended it all at the start of the week and he wouldn't have had to dodge questions all week. Just don't get it. Weird. But this is all weird. Can't wait for the next weird twist that is bound to happen.

Joined: 01/10/2011

MGoPoints: 38025

Mr. Elbel

January 5th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^

this is generally true. I feel like I'm sort of that way. I get all nervous and uncomfortable if any recognition is thrown my way and yet most of the time I'm striving for the attention. I think that's pretty normal to most non-famous people.

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 21404

DavidP814

January 5th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

I was thinking the same thing.  Many of the recruitniks claim that this kid is quiet and doesn't seek out attention.  If that was really true, then, why did he drag the speculation out so, so long?  It seems to me if he was leaning this way the entire time, he could've avoided all of this by simply reaffirming his commitment.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with an 18 year-old enjoying all of this.  It's his life and we're the people commenting on a thread about his college choice.  It's just... seemingly contradictory actions if a kid really does want to avoid the spotlight.

Joined: 07/13/2012

MGoPoints: 5242

stephenrjking

January 5th, 2017 at 3:14 PM ^

What's wrong with a guy being a soft commit, but still needing to make up his mind? What's so implausible about him not making up his mind until after the bowl games?

The guy is the #1 recruit in the nation. He is going to get attention. Media requests. National news stories when a head coach drops by one of his games. That sort of thing. 

In that environment, there is no way he cannot make some waves, but what's wrong with taking him at his word that he's trying to keep things close to the vest? 

This section reads like serious sour grapes to me. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

Brown Bear

January 5th, 2017 at 3:30 PM ^

I have no sour grapes. I was just genuinely curious. There is no way he didn't know at the beginning of practices this week if what his friend Tua has been saying is correct. So if he knew and was leaking info, because I doubt his good friend would without permission, why not just come out and end it. End the media attention he doesn't want supposedly.

Joined: 01/10/2011

MGoPoints: 38025

snarling wolverine

January 5th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^

Normally when a kid is committed to a program, there is no "process".  At a bare minimum, he did nothing to dispel the rumors that he was looking around. 

We don't need to rationalize this.  The kid had some fun with his recruitment and played us and some other schools.   It's not the worst thing in the world.  It's just annoying that we were on the business end of it.

Joined: 12/14/2011

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