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

[HUGEGARNETCOCK]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

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

Agreed! 2014 is stacked with talent. And when we look back at this class and say dang that was an awesome class thanks to Mitch........ Just saying we have to wait a year or 2 to really see if this is a good class!

[ac_lanham]

Here's my opinion about fans who “freak" out if it counts for anything and why I don't think it's a bad thing. Granted, we as fans are happy with the best stretch of football that Carolina has ever seen but at the same time, wouldn't you at some point want to see more than just a solid (but not great) recruiting class or a great (but not perfect) football season or are you content with getting to Outback or Capital One bowls and never taking that step forward to a BCS bowl? Wouldn't you want the coaches and players to strive to take things to the next level, or should they be content?

I equate this to being a fan of a good playoff caliber football team that gets there every year but never makes the Super Bowl. At some point, just once, isn't that something you want to see them strive for and achieve.

I'm not upset about this recruiting cycle at all, but at the same time I think we and the coaches would agree that they could've done better considering that they had a very good season.

[USCBASEBALL1]

Our Coaches have assembled a top 20 class in a very down year in SC. You all should be happy with where we are instead of crying about a 18 year old who you have no clue - regardless how high they are ranked - will or will not pan out. Seriously, I hate to see how you handle real adversity in everyday life when it strikes you.

[LegalCock]

I would blame the linebackers coach, but we weren't really doing a great job on signing day with the LBs basically since shaq and reggie bowens and those guys signed up. Must be a system thing.

[MillerTime843]

Like C2 said previously. We will never be that team to sign multiple 5* guys and such. We don't go outside our recruiting territory, simply because we don't have many connections outside of SC, NC, GA, FL and a couple others. We have just recently made a name for ourselves and that will show dividends in the 2014 and 2015 class. As you already see with in-state talents we're either leading heavily or tied. And you also see us in Hands top 5 earlyyy! Now how many Top National players with numerous big offers have you ever seen USC in the top 5 unless they were in-state? Also look at the RB from NC, #1 APB in the nation and we lead BIG. So just give it time, we don't need stars we need our evaluation of talent and if we hit a couple big time guys then that adds more flavor. But just give it time and you will see these last two seasons make headway in the new classes.

[gripitandripit2007]

Originally Posted by HUGEGARNETCOCK

Agreed! 2014 is stacked with talent. And when we look back at this class and say dang that was an awesome class thanks to Mitch........ Just saying we have to wait a year or 2 to really see if this is a good class!

EXACTLY!!! ^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

Some of our best classes as far as 5 star and 4 star rankings go have turned out to be DUDS....where as some of our worst LOOKING class as far as getting 3 stars have turned out to be great classes. Like ETG is saying...our coaches know what they are doing...don't feed in to this 4 and 5 star crap! Yeah...yeah...yeah...i know...Clowney was a 5 star...so was Latti (according to some boards he was a 4 star)...but some of our best players we have ever had were 3 stars who our coaches have turned in to 5 star talent...they know what they are doing

[CharlotteGameCock]

As long as we keep landing coachable talent that develops, I am happy.

I would much rather win on the field than on the rivals/ESPN/247 rankings.

I think there just tends to be a lot of people on here that like to put themselves in situations where they 'win' no matter what. If they are negative and we lose a game or a recruit, they can say 'I told you so' to the optimists. If we win or land the recruit, they can say they're glad they're wrong.

I just want a lot of these people to go back and read their posts from the Na'Ty Rodgers thread. So much negativity was thrown out at our coaching staff for a player we actually landed. If you want to meltdown, shouldn't you at least wait until Ngakoue or Bryant or Moore or whoever the hell else actually publically commits to another school? It just makes you look like a tool if they surprise you and become Gamecocks.

[CockaThaWalk]

Of course, everyone is overly eager for the next step. SEC east, to SEC, to BCS, to NCG. But Spurrier could finish 120th in recruiting and I'd still wake up a Gamecock fan the next day. Chill. The worst is behind, next year will be solid. Many of these 3 star guys will blossom. Looking forward to a clean sweep on Clemson for the rest the HBC's career.

[Garnet girl]

My husband said there is a link on Gamecock Central that leads to the story about Matt Rolin. He felt neglected by our staff after he hurt his knee. Florida cuddled him more. I guess our staff felt he was committed to us. Kids think strange things. Some guys are very needy. I guess we don't cuddle enough for some guys.
When I look at next year I see more talent here.

[CockTail]

We should not lose multiple recruits, that we specifically target to schools like Maryland and USF, ever. We should never lose a recruit who was one of our first commitments and recruited for us, and had Gamecock ties, ever. Those are glaring losses that should not happen.

That being said, with the limited number of scholarships that we have, it may work in our favor next year when we have more high ranking in-state kids.

I will accept that this year simply wasn't in the cards, but there should be no excuse what's so ever not to have a top 5-7 class next year. Anything less is not acceptable.

Our window is open to really be a national contender and a powerhouse in the SEC, if we don't recruit while we have kids like Latimore and Clowney, when will we?

[SpurProsecutor]

Originally Posted by Garnet girl

My husband said there is a link on Gamecock Central that leads to the story about Matt Rolin. He felt neglected by our staff after he hurt his knee. Florida cuddled him more. I guess our staff felt he was committed to us. Kids think strange things. Some guys are very needy. I guess we don't cuddle enough for some guys.
When I look at next year I see more talent here.

If true, then we didn't want Rolin anyway ... or any other recruit that needs to by cuddled for that matter. Sounds like an episode of 'Tantrums and Tiara's' (not that I have ever watched!!).

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by Garnet girl

My husband said there is a link on Gamecock Central that leads to the story about Matt Rolin. He felt neglected by our staff after he hurt his knee. Florida cuddled him more. I guess our staff felt he was committed to us. Kids think strange things. Some guys are very needy. I guess we don't cuddle enough for some guys.
When I look at next year I see more talent here.

I have long said that Matt Rolin can do whatever he really wanted to do, but to say he was neglected by the staff when he is from Virginia and the team Doctor for USC ended up doing the surgery is a little silly. Yes, his insurance paid for it, and yes, that doctor has a private practice. But there is a reason Matt Rolin went to him.

[Goofyboy]

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

I have no problems with disappointment or criticism of either coaching or recruiting. Calling a group of recruits "duds" is a little beyond a laugh, however. Many who follow recruiting have little idea about the intricacies and factors involved in targeting, wooing, and landing a recruit. Some programs recruit with little integrity. Some go after stars and end up with poor team balance. Some target others' recruits. Some hire coaches and then "poach." I feel generally good about the integrity and results of the recruiting at Carolina, but overall, as in many endeavors, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. With recruiting, the pudding often needs a couple of years to brew before the results are known.

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

I have no problems with disappointment or criticism of either coaching or recruiting. Calling a group of recruits "duds" is a little beyond a laugh, however. Many who follow recruiting have little idea about the intricacies and factors involved in targeting, wooing, and landing a recruit. Some programs recruit with little integrity. Some go after stars and end up with poor team balance. Some target others' recruits. Some hire coaches and then "poach." I feel generally good about the integrity and results of the recruiting at Carolina, but overall, as in many endeavors, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. With recruiting, the pudding often needs a couple of years to brew before the results are known.

In all fairness, while I heartily disagree with everything the guy you are referring to has said about recruiting, I think he was calling your posts duds, not the recruits themselves.

[keegthecock]

Important to remember a couple of things

1. We recruited heavy this year on Offensive line, rarely do you see 5* offensive linemen
2. We did not recruit heavily on wide receiver, usually a hotbed for 5*
3. We are filling needs this year with good talent
4. Long time SC commitments rarely move up in star rankings for some reason


There is more, but I will let the recruiting GURU's fill in the blanks.

[Smashies_AC30]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

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

Frankly, 2014 is the cycle to be amped about and have the LOI's ready for, if you ask me. They say cut your losses and move on, and I feel like 2013's losses are about to be 2014's gains.

[Smashies_AC30]

Originally Posted by keegthecock

Important to remember a couple of things

1. We recruited heavy this year on Offensive line, rarely do you see 5* offensive linemen
2. We did not recruit heavily on wide receiver, usually a hotbed for 5*
3. We are filling needs this year with good talent
4. Long time SC commitments rarely move up in star rankings for some reason


There is more, but I will let the recruiting GURU's fill in the blanks.

True statement. I agree that star rankings are NOT as great of a guarantee as many people think they are.

If I had to pick a reliable quantifier that showed how good a recruit is, I would sooner look to their rank-by-position than their star count. This is ESPECIALLY useful when you're looking at positions that rarely bring 5* status.

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by CockTail

We should not lose multiple recruits, that we specifically target to schools like Maryland and USF, ever. We should never lose a recruit who was one of our first commitments and recruited for us, and had Gamecock ties, ever. Those are glaring losses that should not happen.

Agree with the 2nd part, disagree completely with the 1st part. If you were talking about an instate kid, I would say absolutely but Ngakoue and Senat are players in those respective school's backyard. Any school is going to have an uphill battle on their hands if the recruit entertains the idea of staying home and playing in front of family. Its rare you get a kid that is dead set on going out of state.

[CoverTwo]

If USC finishes with Skai Moore, this class is money. Do you guys realize that we have THREE instate commitments? You know how many instate kids we offered? 7. (Park, King, Turner, Williams, Terry, Hill, Durant). That tells you all you need to know about the state this year. The fact that USC put together a probable Top 15 class built almost solely on out of state talent, is borderline amazing.

For reference, you know how many instate offers USC has out for 2014? 12. And the evaluation period hasn't even started.

They've already offered 4 for 2015.

Soak it in.

[trapper82]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

If USC finishes with Skai Moore, this class is money. Do you guys realize that we have THREE instate commitments? You know how many instate kids we offered? 7. (Park, King, Turner, Williams, Terry, Hill, Durant). That tells you all you need to know about the state this year. The fact that USC put together a probable Top 15 class built almost solely on out of state talent, is borderline amazing.

For reference, you know how many instate offers USC has out for 2014? 12. And the evaluation period hasn't even started.

They've already offered 4 for 2015.

Soak it in.

This post should be required reading.