People that think the sky is falling and our coaches are awful at their jobs:

[EveryThingGreen]

Read this. There is more to a football program than recruiting website rankings. Such things like:

Did we fill our needs?
Did we recruit high character kids with a good work ethic?
Did we recruit players that fit the system we run?
Did we develop the guys that were identified as potentially being able to contribute down the line?

From ESPN

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-f...llege-football

5. South Carolina Gamecocks
Average program recruiting rank: 16th
Three-year record as less talented team: 12-6 (.667)
The Gamecocks aren't an obvious candidate to be called an overachiever since Steve Spurrier has been consistently signing top-25 classes since 2009. But six other SEC teams rank ahead of South Carolina in our program recruiting ratings, and annual rival Clemson has a recruiting profile edge, as well. That adds up to 18 games played in the past three seasons in which the Gamecocks lined up against a more talented team, and they've been winning the majority of those showdowns.

South Carolina dominated Georgia last season in a thoroughly convincing 35-7 victory, a win that highlighted the defensive efficiency that has been key in performances against more talented opponents. The Gamecocks ranked fifth in opponent-adjusted defensive efficiency last season and ninth in limiting opponent explosive drives. Georgia was the nation's best in producing explosive drives last year, but superstar defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney and the rest of the South Carolina defense limited the Bulldogs to 3.3 yards per play, by far their worst performance of the season.

We are not and never will be a Bama, UF, SoCal, or Ohio St - that means we are never going to consistently go all over the country and cherry pick the absolute top talent in the country. Our recipe is keeping the best players home, making good in-person evaluations, and coaching/developing these kids when they get on campus.

Do I wish we got a few kids that decided to go else where? Absolutely but everyone needs to chill out - none of us know more than the coaches do and they are the ones that have this program going in the right direction and now nationally becoming respected.

[Gamecock1983]

Agreed. It's not all about filling the board with 4 and 5 star players. They certainly help when you pick them up! But, it's about finding young men who demonstrate character on & off the field...have a solid work ethic...love and can adapt to the culture at Carolina...and fit the system.

Back away from the cliff. No wins or losses are recorded on the recruiting trail.

[ReadR00ster]

I think we are getting guys that "get" the opportunity they have before them. Unfortunately a good number of the guys we wanted did not "get it." Not a great recruiting year, not bad, but we'll be fine.

[Evilchicken2]

Originally Posted by EveryThingGreen

Read this. There is more to a football program than recruiting website rankings. Such things like:

Did we fill our needs?
Did we recruit high character kids with a good work ethic?
Did we recruit players that fit the system we run?
Did we develop the guys that were identified as potentially being able to contribute down the line?

From ESPN

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-f...llege-football





We are not and never will be a Bama, UF, SoCal, or Ohio St - that means we are never going to consistently go all over the country and cherry pick the absolute top talent in the country. Our recipe is keeping the best players home, making good in-person evaluations, and coaching/developing these kids when they get on campus.

Do I wish we got a few kids that decided to go else where? Absolutely but everyone needs to chill out - none of us know more than the coaches do and they are the ones that have this program going in the right direction and now nationally becoming respected.

That's all fine and dandy if it weren't for the fact that our coaches are going after many of the high profile guys that our SEC and ACC foes are going after and they are either failing to convince or failing to close. You make it sound like our coaches are laser focusing on certain character players to fill needs, stars be damned. Baloney! We're casting a wide net and going after the same pretty girls at the dance that all the other guys are chasing too. Fact of the matter is, after back to back 11-win seasons, our cache is not where it should be, we definitely shouldn't be taking a backseat to Vandy, and we are striking out on good players. Did I miss anything? Not many rational fans are blaming the coaching staff in terms of their work ethic....that's just dumb, but clearly we may not be as convincing as other recruiting staffs. It's a strange day when we're having trouble pulling in guys after tremendous program firsts. Bring on 2014 already!

[Cocks and Canes]

Originally Posted by Evilchicken2

That's all fine and dandy if it weren't for the fact that our coaches are going after many of the high profile guys that our SEC and ACC foes are going after and they are either failing to convince or failing to close. You make it sound like our coaches are laser focusing on certain character players to fill needs, stars be damned. Baloney! We're casting a wide net and going after the same pretty girls at the dance that all the other guys are chasing too. Fact of the matter is, after back to back 11-win seasons, our cache is not where it should be, we definitely shouldn't be taking a backseat to Vandy, and we are striking out on good players. Did I miss anything? Not many rational fans are blaming the coaching staff in terms of their work ethic....that's just dumb, but clearly we may not be as convincing as other recruiting staffs. It's a strange day when we're having trouble pulling in guys after tremendous program firsts. Bring on 2014 already!

[Evilchicken2]

Originally Posted by Cocks and Canes

Yeah. Go face palm your own posts! Have you seen those duds? Lol

[cofcgamecock9]

smh, The same posters that freak out about recruiting are the exact sames one that freak out when a player gets in trouble. They are the same ones that freak out if a coach leaves. They are the same ones that freak out after a loss.

They do want you to help them "feel better" about anything because then what would they do? They are happy being miserable if that makes any sense.

So nothing you say or do is going to change their perception. If four five stars committed to us today out of left field and we ended up being ranked in the top 5 in the country in recruiting, they would just shift their focus on to something else to be negative about. Williams Brice would suck and it would mean that our whole program is going down the tubes because their is too much concrete.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by cofcgamecock9

smh, The same posters that freak out about recruiting are the exact sames one that freak out when a player gets in trouble. They are the same ones that freak out if a coach leaves. They are the same ones that freak out after a loss.

They do want you to help them "feel better" about anything because then what would they do? They are happy being miserable if that makes any sense.

So nothing you say or do is going to change their perception. If four five stars committed to us today out of left field and we ended up being ranked in the top 5 in the country in recruiting, they would just shift their focus on to something else to be negative about. Williams Brice would suck and it would mean that our whole program is going down the tubes because their is too much concrete.

Hey, there is ALWAYS going to be room for improvement. We got to keep pushing this program by always demanding more. It's our duty.

[BeatBamaTwice]

A fan forum, clearly there should be tolerance for a wide array of views and opinions without discussions deteriorating into name calling. The problem is that we're more than a fan forum. And no forum crystallizes that point more than here at the Proving Ground.

Gamecock Nation sites such as CockyTalk are magnets attracting prospective recruits, their friends and families. It's human nature to want to know what people are saying both about you and the team you're considering. Sadly, they're also fertile ground for opposing teams to harvest negative comments that aid in luring our recruits away. So while I'm free to anger a recruit by falsely declaring them a silent commit, suggesting character issues, or that they are otherwise unworthy or unqualified, doing so isn't without cost.

[Cocks and Canes]

Originally Posted by Evilchicken2

Yeah. Go face palm your own posts! Have you seen those duds? Lol

[MikeTrainNC8]

^ lame.. Just Luke Maryland and Miami.. Two **** programs

[sc455]

This whole thread is premature. We still have 1 or 2 solid commits to land. we have just over 20 solid guys. guys that big name schools also wanted. the days of us consistently battling lower tier teams are over. the offer sheet are very good. wait til next week to bitch.

[The Yancey]

What ETG said.

[pitchcock]

Originally Posted by Evilchicken2

That's all fine and dandy if it weren't for the fact that our coaches are going after many of the high profile guys that our SEC and ACC foes are going after and they are either failing to convince or failing to close.

That happens every year.

It explains why we can have a Top 15 class Nationally, yet only rank 8th in the SEC.

You take the best kids you can get that buy into the program, give them the best coaching you can, and settle it on the field. SoCal has a class full of 4 and 5 stars every year, how'd that work out for them this season?

We played in a Florida Bowl, they got dopeslapped in San Somewhere Texas by a piss poor ACC team that had to get a waiver to even go to a Bowl game.

[jfbreb94]

Panic attacks before NSD. The new normal.

[FanofCarolina1]

I figured there wasn't a need for this thread then I read a few posts and then realized
"OK, maybe there is"

[PageUSC]

I don't think this is a bad class at all. I think it is a good to decent class, no where near great though. Lots of kids to be excited about like Mitch, Bryant, Cooper, griffen and David Williams and 5 solid O linemen! Also some high character guys that can play like devin Washington. Truth is we really won't know until 2-3 years from now.

Facts are facts though. We lost Rolin and Langley to SEC East rivals and we are closing weak by missing on 3 Lb prospects and 2 dt prospects. We whiffed on several kids that the staff wanted regardless of their star rating. No other way to sugar coat it. But I'm not gonna freak out but it does sting. Oh well Spring practice is on the way and it really sounds like the guys are killing it in offseason workouts. On to next year!

[jayceecock]

Originally Posted by EveryThingGreen

Read this. There is more to a football program than recruiting website rankings. Such things like:

Did we fill our needs?
Did we recruit high character kids with a good work ethic?
Did we recruit players that fit the system we run?
Did we develop the guys that were identified as potentially being able to contribute down the line?

From ESPN

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-f...llege-football








We are not and never will be a Bama, UF, SoCal, or Ohio St - that means we are never going to consistently go all over the country and cherry pick the absolute top talent in the country. Our recipe is keeping the best players home, making good in-person evaluations, and coaching/developing these kids when they get on campus.

Do I wish we got a few kids that decided to go else where? Absolutely but everyone needs to chill out - none of us know more than the coaches do and they are the ones that have this program going in the right direction and now nationally becoming respected.

Great post, ETG!

[HUGEGARNETCOCK]

Originally Posted by Gamecock1983

Agreed. It's not all about filling the board with 4 and 5 star players. They certainly help when you pick them up! But, it's about finding young men who demonstrate character on & off the field...have a solid work ethic...love and can adapt to the culture at Carolina...and fit the system.

Back away from the cliff. No wins or losses are recorded on the recruiting trail.

I agree and disagree! Getting guys like Latt and Clowney are wins IMO!

[CoverTwo]

Guys, we have TWO LOIs to give out. It's not the end of the world if they are carried over to 2014.