A Recruiting Rant

[Cigaro]

I have noticed that a lot of people here aren't too happy with the current class, and our chances with other recruits. Well, Im here to say we wont be pulling a class like last years unless we actually play like a team that can regularly pull in classes like that.

For the first years of the Spurrier regime here at South Carolina, the main recruiting card was program building. We brought in a lot of top talent because of the promise of them being the building blocks of a future SEC empire. Despite our actual play not being on par with the big boys, our recruiting was, especially last year. Well it seems that fans here have come to expect that now.

But this is the Ole' Ball coaches third season. We've pulled the program building card, but now we have to back up what we say. Recruits know of last years class, in which we promised that they would be the ones who would finally push the Gamecocks over the hump. You cant do that every year. We cant just say we're getting there every year, because the recruits know we've said that the past couple years. Now the recruits want to see the actual program. They want to see how this program building's gone.

That's why they arent commiting yet. They want to see the coaching live up to what they've said about this season, that the Gamecocks will actually join the upper echelon of the SEC. If we go 3-5 again, they'll know that maybe that the promises made to other recruits weren't realized, and South Carolina was just masquerading as an up and comer.

So dont get your panties in wad because of our classes status. The big name guys arent gonna look our way until we prove what we've said. We've said the past couple of years that we are getting to the same level on the field as Florida, Auburn, Georgia, but this is the year we said things will happen. If we go around recruiting for three years saying were building towards an SEC championship and bring in good recruits, and end up 3-5 again, new recruits are gonna realize that. They're gonna realize that the Gamecocks arent what they said they'd be.

Thats why they're holding off. We either prove ourselves and be competitive in the SEC like we said we would for the past few years, or we pack up and move on. The biggest recruiters arent gonna be Steve Spurrier, Shane Beamer, Tyrone Nix, Brad Lawing, they're gonna be Blake Mitchell, Cory Boyd, Kenny McKinnley, Jasper Brinkley, the people who will be playing on the same field as potential new recruits, showing new recruits what South Carolina's capable of.

And so, the rant is over.

[TStone]

People aren't happy with what recruiting class? NOBODY has a solid recruiting class yet. Kids will change their minds.... most of the time the big named kids won';t have declared by now... many not until their own high school football seasons are over.

To anyone worried about recruiting right now: What the hell are you doing thinking about recruiting with the regular season starting in 10 days? Let's worry about beating Georgia and LSU. I guarantee you that if we do that the commitments, for whatever they're worth before signing day, will come pouring in.

As a fan it's too early to worry about next year's recruiting.

[lawdog100]

It's way too early. We haven't even seen the 2007 recruiting class play a single game. Why the hell should we be worried about the 2008 recruiting class at this point. There is still an entire season, bowl game, and then more time after the season before recruits commit.

Chill out.

[payindews]

It is way too early to judge this class yet..but I have noticed other schools (like Clemson) ahead of us at this point. I think that recruiting will be there when there are more wins. We don't have the booster support until we prove we can win.

[big cock fan]

yea it is way to early to judge our class, but lets not be ignorant. look at some of the other schools, its just rediculous. Alot more kids are committing early now a days, and 90percent will stick to it. thats like saying all or ours are probably going to leave soon. I think we will have a very nice class and i also think that it will be determined by the year we have. but all in all we will be fine.

[USArmyCock]

Why tell him to chill out? He said it was a rant, and he had good reason, there are a lot of people on here worried about recruiting, if you didnt like what he had to say, dont tell him to chill out, read it and move on....

[Cigaro]

People here arent too great at reading comprehension. I have a little rant about how people SHOULDNT be dissapointed at the moment with the class like quite a few are, and then I get a few comments about how I SHOULD chill out and not judge the class.

US Army Cock is exempt from the above comment though, as he obviously read it and understood it.

[doccock]

People here arent too great at reading comprehension. I have a little rant about how people SHOULDNT be dissapointed at the moment with the class like quite a few are, and then I get a few comments about how I SHOULD chill out and not judge the class.

US Army Cock is exempt from the above comment though, as he obviously read it and understood it.

Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurence on most internet boards.
I understood what you were trying to say and agree that the rewards will come when we do more on the field, as we are expected to do this year.
doc

[The Brice]

Spurrier knows what he wants. He doesnt always want the most recruited guys out there. He wants guys that he feels are going to fit into his system. He will get what he wants just like he always has.

[WayzUp]

I've been saying it here & there since the spring game and maybe even before...as long as we take care of business on the field, recruiting will take care of itself.

[Spurred]

we are losing alot of big in state players this year to other teams.

[yShalabi]

So far our recruiting class compromises of what... 5 3 stars...

Guys these kids are seniors in high school THIS YEAR. Their football season hasnt started yet... by the end of the season these 5 recruits could elevate to 4 or 5 stars.

Its way to early to say anything. Just look to the season, it will be the recruiter this year.

[Cigaro]

Im seriously doubting how many who have posted here have actually read my little rant. They seem to be repeating the same stuff I've said in the rant or calling me out for stuff I havent said.

That or im missing interpreting yalls posts.

[CockyDemon13]

Just to sort of back up what Cigaro said: Cincinnati has 13 recruits. How many of them will be worth a damn and help that program? Rhymes with nero...

[donbgamecock]

Im seriously doubting how many who have posted here have actually read my little rant. They seem to be repeating the same stuff I've said in the rant or calling me out for stuff I havent said.

That or im missing interpreting yalls posts.

I could be the title of your post. Other than that, recruiting is not all about a winning season. There are recruiters and recruitees. I don't care how much a great player wants to be recruited, SOS and gang have a big say so. And, if the staff doesn't think that person is going to fit in the overall strategy (not tactical) then they won't get recruited. Also, how many of these kids that are rated by the recruiting agencies won't make the next cut in their senior year and will get thanks but no thanks invites from the schools they committed to so early? Granted that a winning season has a lot to do with it but it is only part of many factors that are going to be considered. How about parents? school mates? coach chemistry? etc.

Go Cocks!

[lawdog100]

Why tell him to chill out? He said it was a rant, and he had good reason, there are a lot of people on here worried about recruiting, if you didnt like what he had to say, dont tell him to chill out, read it and move on....

I can't respond to a rant??

That's the purpose of message boards. One person responds to what another posts.

[USArmyCock]

I can't respond to a rant??

That's the purpose of message boards. One person responds to what another posts.

yea but read what he wrote, he was telling people not to worry about recruiting, and yet you tell him to chill out...

[ConwayGamecock]

the number of commitments we have this time this year are not far off the number we had at this time last year.....we have 1 or 2 less recruits this season for a class that mostly will be 10-12 players smaller than our '07 class. Plus if you add in the 3 that are going to Fort Union as commitments ( after all, they are basically until they change their minds), then we are just fine. And 1 - maybe 2 - of those 3* will move up to 4* before it's over. King may be a 5*.

We are also expected to hear from a number of other recruitments around the start of the season, or midway through at the latest. I think we'll be fine....

[willy]

It's way too early. We haven't even seen the 2007 recruiting class play a single game. Why the hell should we be worried about the 2008 recruiting class at this point. There is still an entire season, bowl game, and then more time after the season before recruits commit.

Chill out.



Totally agreed.

[d20636]

I agree with all here that it's to soon to worry about the 2008 class. I would, however, like to raise the red flag about the 2012 class. These kids have been in high school 4 days (at least in my school district) now and we still don't have any commitments!
</chicken little mode>

Neither ESPN's nor Scout's nor Rival's ranking of our recruiting classes, nor their * rankings of our commits win games or confernece championships. The number of commits and their standing with any agency or service is not what determines their ability to play at this level and win. I think we all know this deep down inside.

If SOS brings in a class of 5 2-stars and 10 1-stars, I'll have the same expectations and butterflies in my stomach before football season as I do right now. With another coach I might not, but Steve Spurrier knows what he's doing, and how to do it.

Concern over stars and class ranking, in my opinion, is only for those that either don't totally understand this, or need a number to bounce against another number to judge whether they are ahead or behind someone else. It's nice to get your name in the papers when someone rates you high on some scale, but if they don't, who cares.

Hash marks and what we do between them are what matter. Not stars. End of my overrated $0.02 rant response to a really good recruiting rant from Cigaro.

[mjmiller]

I dont think you guys would be saying its too early too judge this years class if you had Miamis class. Miami is killing it so far.

[WayzUp]

I dont think you guys would be saying its too early too judge this years class if you had Miamis class. Miami is killing it so far.
Filling your allotment earlier doesn't make the class automatically better. At this point in time last year, no one had even heard Melvin Ingram's name. We don't have as many schollies to give out so we're bound to be a lot more selective with who we offer & who we pursue.

And there's bound to be a decommit or twenty between now and February....

[FinchMcCrunkNasty]

I dont think you guys would be saying its too early too judge this years class if you had Miamis class. Miami is killing it so far.
i think you need to start pulling for miami and get off of this site, we don't want you

[blaze]

OK, I think the staff is being VERY selective with who they are recruiting, I hear nothing but good things from the people that seem to know what the staff is up to.

I think that they may be looking for talent, but also character, which definately increases the level of difficulty with some of these guys.

I have noticed that this staff is more particular about who they are offering than our previous staff, for this I am thankful. It was an embarassment what happened three years ago, I would hate to see that happen again.

The staff is doing some things behind the scenes that the insiders don't even know, Six Stars has mentioned that we will be very pleased with how this class turns out on the field, Six seems to be in the know somehow, so I am holding onto that.

The guys who have committed to the other schools may have something that our staff is not willing to overlook, I would think of that as a good thing.

I hope we are able to get Womble and some other guys who are on this board frequently.

[mjmiller]

i think you need to start pulling for miami and get off of this site, we don't want you

Calm down buddy. You sound real mature. I was stating that miami has a good class so far.

[CoverTwo]

Miami's situation and ours are totally different..First, the reason Miami's class is as good as it is is because Randy Shannon is going back to the formula that got them the success they had 4-5 years ago..Put a boarder around "The State of Miami"..There are more D1 prospects in that area than there are in the entire state of South Carolina, and why wouldnt they go to Miami? Its home, there is a minority coach, its a good school, and the area is beautiful.

Our recruiting will pick up when we show results on the field..The "be the first to win a championship here @ USC" pitch is played out with this wave of recruits..Most of them want to see us back up the talk before they get serious with us..Win games and this class will take off.

Also, you have to rememeber that we are being very selective on who we accept a commitment from..Dont have that many schollies to give..There are also players out there that will pop up on our radar that arent there now..Just..be..patient.

[SpurFan]

I think we have plenty of time between now and Feb 2008 for SOS to get the recruits he wants. I also think this class will be a lot bigger than everyone always mentions. SOS will take 20-25 recruits.

[ConwayGamecock]

The number of commitments that we have now is comparible to the number that we had this time last season. And we can only recruit 2/3 of the class we recruited last season. We will be fine with this class. If we can have a solid 8 or 9-win season, I believe our class this year will be stronger pound-for-pound than our class last year....just not as many numbers, but we can't help that, as we have a limit. Just relax...we got the right people on the job!