ESPN ARTICLE ON RECRUITING

[Matt Cotcher]

What makes you believe the 2016 class is so full of talent that even if we get the top 25 in the state they are going to be able to walk on campus and immediately turn the program around? There aren't many kids who can come out of high school and immediately be impact players at the college level. Its absurd to believe the 29016 happens to be full of them and they aren't going to need at least one year of coaching to be able to be impact players. That makes 2017 the soonest to reasonably expect the program to get righted. 

You're changing your argument. Is this a discussion about Strong's ability to recruit and connect with HS kids, or are we discussing the length of time it will take Strong to win at a level that meets your expectations?

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

The argument we need to write off the next three years and be patient until 2017 when Charlie Strong will have gotten his 2016 class coached up is a crock. Making up excuses for losing and saying "but two years from now we are going to win a national championship" is for aggys. 

Football players these days want to smoke dope, blow off classes and just be athletes getting laid and paid. Sumlin knows that and so does the entire SEC. Charlie may have a sales pitch that works on kids who have no option other than going to Louisville and playing second tier conference ball, but at the highest level of college football, Charlie Strong's sales pitch is getting laughed at. 

You may be ok with making up excuses, but excuses aren't what built the UT brand. Winning is and right now, there are zero signs that Charlie Strong can win at the highest level of college football.  

I'd rather UT's program more closely resemble Stanford than LSU and Bama, but that's just me.  Naive, idealistic.....foolish?  I don't want my University associated with a bunch of dumbass thugs.

What "signs" are you and Big Mike harping about other than perceived sub-par recruiting?

 

[Lord Vader]

Talking to a recruit (not of either school). Made some good points about A&M being much like Miami was in 80s and 90s with the "swag" part. 

He also said UT just needs to get back to how it was under McCoy and VY. Just win. 

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Valid points assuming that the "Top 25 players" play to that level in college.

I honestly don't know how Sumlin continues to have the "success" he's had recruiting.  What is it?  Is it the hip hop DJ at practice?  The 'Swaggercopter'?  A&M's recent success on NFL Draft Day?

How does Sumlin look a recruit and parent in the eye and tell them he honestly cares about his education?  It's been documented and demonstrated by their off-field problems and online course work that he clearly does not.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/06/17/5907953/kevin-sumlin-talks-aggies-off.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/06/17/5907953/kevin-sumlin-talks-aggies-off.html

If coaching the aggies doesn't work out, Sumlin definitely has a future in sales...or politics.  He didn't have any system in place to ensure his student-athletes were going to class, but gosh darn it he cares!  Cue the violins.  Forget the fact that less than 2% of CFB players make it in the NFL. Sumlin knows how to make that happen, by God!

Let's just get Stong his own damn burnt orange and white helicopter already...that's what kids are going for these days.  And stop playing that old cracker, Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight", on the loudspeaker!  Get with the times, man!  Getting an education isn't that important.  It's all about "swag".  

I think it is pretty clear that you would rather have your share of top 25 guys then bottom 25 guys. Yes some will not work pan out but the fact remains teams who who have more top 25 guys win national championships those that don't do not. Look at VY 2005 team full of 4 * 5 stars. 

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

#1
Malik Jefferson
LB
Mesquite, TXPoteet Last ranking: 4 Debut ranking: 4
5 stars
6'2"
218
list
#2
Kendall Sheffield
DB
Missouri City, TXFort Bend Marshall Last ranking: 6 Debut ranking: 3
4 stars
6'0"
165
list
#3
DaMarkus Lodge
WR
Cedar Hill, TXCedar Hill Last ranking: 5 Debut ranking: 13
4 stars
6'2"
187
Texas A&M
#4
Kris Boyd
DB
Gilmer, TXGilmer Last ranking: 12 Debut ranking: NR
4 stars
6'0"
180
list
#5
Daylon Mack
DT
Gladewater, TXGladewater Last ranking: 1 Debut ranking: 1
4 stars
6'0"
309
Texas A&M
#6
Ronald Jones II
RB
McKinney, TXMcKinney North Last ranking: NR
4 stars
6'0"
185
Oklahoma St.
#7
Kyler Murray
QB
Allen, TXAllen Last ranking: 10 Debut ranking: 9
4 stars
5'11"
170
Texas A&M
#8
Jarrett Stidham
QB
Stephenville, TXStephenville Last ranking: 37 Debut ranking: NR
4 stars
6'2"
183
Texas Tech
#9
Soso Jamabo
RB
Plano, TXPlano West Last ranking: 2 Debut ranking: 2
4 stars
6'3"
200
list
#10
Deionte Thompson
DB
Orange, TXWest Orange-Stark Last ranking: 7 Debut ranking: 5
4 stars
6'2"
174
Alabama
#11
Maea Teuhema
OL
Keller, TXKeller Last ranking: 3 Debut ranking: 14
5 stars
6'5"
335
LSU
#12
Kemah Siverand
WR
Houston, TXCypress Ridge Last ranking: 18 Debut ranking: NR
4 stars
6'1"
190
Texas A&M
#13
Larry Pryor
DB
Sulphur Springs, TXSulphur Springs Last ranking: 9 Debut ranking: 6
4 stars
5'11"
192
Texas A&M
#14
Jordan Davis
TE
Houston, TXClear Lake Last ranking: 8 Debut ranking: 7
4 stars
6'4"
250
Texas A&M
#15
Bobby Evans
OL
Allen, TXAllen Last ranking: 49 Debut ranking: BR
4 stars
6'5"
255
Oklahoma
#16
James Lockhart
DE
Ennis, TXEnnis Last ranking: 23 Debut ranking: 20
4 stars
6'3"
247
list
#17
Chad President
QB
Temple, TXTemple Last ranking: 16 Debut ranking: 12
4 stars
6'3"
195
Baylor
#18
John Humphrey
WR
League City, TXClear Falls Last ranking: 50 Debut ranking: 32
3 stars
6'0"
160
Baylor
#19
Toby Weathersby
OL
Houston, TXWestfield Last ranking: 94 Debut ranking: 68
4 stars
6'4"
294
Texas
#20
Aca'Cedric Ware
RB
Cedar Hill, TXCedar Hill Last ranking: NR
3 stars
5'11"
189
list
#21
Cameron Townsend
LB
Missouri City, TXRidge Point Last ranking: 15 Debut ranking: 15
3 stars
6'1"
206
list
#22
J.W. Ketchum
ATH
Houston, TXLamar Last ranking: 22 Debut ranking: 24
4 stars
6'1"
190
list
#23
Tyreik Gray
RB
Houston, TXLamar Last ranking: 38 Debut ranking: 65
4 stars
5'11"
182
list
#24
Darrion Daniels
DT
Dallas, TXBishop Dunne Last ranking: NR
4 stars
6'4"
284
list
#25
Bryson Oglesby
RB
Sugarland, TXFort Bend Austin Last ranking: NR
3 stars
6'0"
190
list
#26
Prentice McKinney
DB
Dallas, TXSouth Oak Cliff Last ranking: NR
4 stars
6'1"
180
Notre Dame
#27
Carlos Strickland
WR
Dallas, TXSkyline Last ranking: 78 Debut ranking: 57
4 stars
6'4"
197
list
#28
Connor Lanfear
OL
Buda, TXHays Last ranking: 39 Debut ranking: 34
3 stars
6'6"
270
Texas A&M
#29
Zach Rogers
OL
Lewisville, TXHebron Last ranking: 13 Debut ranking: 29
4 stars
6'1"
300
Arkansas
#30
Rodney Anderson
RB
Katy, TXKaty Last ranking: 11 Debut ranking: 10
4 stars
6'0"
200
Okl
So what all of you're saying is that we are a better football team without any of these players? 

 

[Lord Vader]

So Strong should be able to land kids he never really got in on because of his work at Louisville, but he cant coach because he came from there......makes total sense.

The blame for burning the 15 class and season is on Mack Brown and his stable of enablers. 

 

[Lord Vader]

Crabtree praised Strong for keeping Bruce Chambers, a guy who cant get a commitment from  ham sandwich. Seems legit. 

 

[Lord Vader]

So what all of you're saying is that we are a better football team without any of these players? 

Texas landed top classes from 09 onward. How did they turn out?  Was Texas a better football team? The results on the field the last few years say no. 

I'll ask you this. What do you want to do Mike? Fire him and start over again? Give me a viable solution to the perceived problem. 

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Remember when everyone believed the LHN was going to be a game changer in recruiting. it is pretty clear kids/recruits could careless about it. 

 

[Lord Vader]

It might have been had anyone got to actually see it early on. Horrible rollout but a discussion for a new thread.

So...whats the fix? 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

It might have been had anyone got to actually see it early on. Horrible rollout but a discussion for a new thread.

So...whats the fix? 

Apparently, the "fix" entails begging the $EC to take UT and compromising any pretense of academic integrity by promising 4 & 5*s that their road to the NFL starts in Austin.

Or am I missing something?

 

[drgilbert]

You won't get a valid answer to the Fix because we have to let this year play out to find out if the coaching is broken. If CS coaches his 3* players up to 4 & 5* status then all is great, if not then we can discuss what needs to be fixed

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I'm not sure this tweet helps either...  :blink:

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[beevomav]

In a comment to another similar article I chimed in about Strong not being a very good recruiter, but then I forgot this.

18th Pick in the Draft
 


Calvin
Pryor
S 6-2 213 Louisville
 
 
26th pick in draft
 
 
Marcus
Smith
LB 6-3 252 Louisville
 


32nd Pick in the Draft

 


Teddy
Bridgewater
QB 6-3 218 Louisville
 
 
All recruited and developed by Charlie Strong. The Aggies also had a good draft, but I don't believe any of those recruits were recruited by Sumlin? 

I along with others need to step back a bit. Coach Strong hasn't coached a game and he is a bust? We might as well face the reality that the Aggies got a huge bump in recruiting by going to the SEC. Right now that conference rules college football and until we put out a consistent product, it is going to remain that way. 

Charlie put up some great numbers while coaching at Louisville and I might remind all, including me, that Louisville would have killed our ass last season. 

 

[LinuxHorn]

There's a lot going on right now at Texas and it's not hard to see why we are failing in recruiting. Take a look at the following:

1. Regime Change (which equal a lot of relationships lost)

2. New HC who may be exactly what we need, but not as big a name as we probably could've gotten

3. Texas has been on a downward spiral the last 4 years

4. Well documented rules for CFS isn't what a lot of kids these days are looking forward to (lots of discipline involved)

5. Some kids wouldn't have chosen Texas anyway

Let's be honest, A$M is perceived as "hip" right now, has a better perception of a winning program the last couple years, play in the SEC, and play in an exciting offense. A$M also has A LOT of discipline issues, egos to deal with, a HC who doesn't seem to have a lot of control, and play in a conference where they were mediocre at best with their greatest player ever. 

CFS was always fighting an uphill battle. There are a handful of people who could've come in and provided a recruiting miracle. Because this is CFS first foray being a HC at a program like Texas, it will have to be a "show me" type of thing going forward. While he might not be what we want right now, he may be just what we need long term. While some are getting their panties in a bunch, it's very possible A$M can implode. Coaching makes a huge difference. Heck, KState kicked our behinds multiple times when we had a boat load of talent. No reason to hit the panic button yet. Sit back and enjoy the show. 

 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

This is a good discussion. Let's keep it focused on points and not the people making them.

 

[streettopeschel]

I'm pretty sure you were one of the experts who was calling for Mack Brown to be fired too.  So I guess its ok to be a message board expert as long as you agree with the topic.

do better. that's a stupid comparison. mack had a 4-year, and counting, run of mediocrity. at best.

Strong hasn't had so much as a fall practice, much less coached a game, and his perceived failing to this point consists of not securing non-binding commitments from kids who can't sign for 8 more months. nothing more. 

but keep the panic button at the ready.

 

[Randolph Duke]

do better. that's a stupid comparison. mack had a 4-year, and counting, run of mediocrity. at best.

Strong hasn't had so much as a fall practice, much less coached a game, and his perceived failing to this point consists of not securing non-binding commitments from kids who can't sign for 8 more months. nothing more. 

but keep the panic button at the ready.

No, Strong's perceived failing at this point is his failure to articulate a vision for the program and a scheme on offense or defense that recruits believe in. The recruits are hearing what he is saying and not wanting to risk their prospects on the vision he is articulating. They are rejecting his vision and his scheme and instead going to programs they believe will succeed in the next four years and where the head coach can give them an opportunity to reach their individual goals. They are overwhelmingly rejecting Charlie Strong's leadership and coaching abilities, lock, stock and barrel. 

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

No, Strong's perceived failing at this point is his failure to articulate a vision for the program and a scheme on offense or defense that recruits believe in. The recruits are hearing what he is saying and not wanting to risk their prospects on the vision he is articulating. They are rejecting his vision and his scheme and instead going to programs they believe will succeed in the next four years and where the head coach can give them an opportunity to reach their individual goals. They are overwhelmingly rejecting Charlie Strong's leadership and coaching abilities, lock, stock and barrel. 

Ding ding we have a winner. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Duke, are you and MB French? Y'all are waiving the white flag of surrender awfully early. 

Let's talk in February. If we're coming of a lousy season, and signing day sucks I'll declare you guys right. But the angst over all this is June is just wasted energy.

You of course have that right, i just don't get it. We were all giddy when we got 5* guys like Gilbert and Allen. And suicidal when we missed out on Perriloux and settled for a 2-3* from Tuscola.  I just can't get worked up over this s**t like y'all can.