- Joined
- Nov 3, 2011
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- 5,872
I think a lot of people get confused this time of year between expectation and information as regards recruiting. I've seen a lot of posts about losing McFarland and the flakiness of Henderson and Edwards blaming the coaches, blaming [MENTION=3894]Peter Ariz[/MENTION], blaming the fans, blaming the kids, blaming everybody because our "expectation" was "They Comin."
First off, Pete and every other reporter can only relay information - what they've been told and allowed to release to the public by the coaching staff and UM administration. In other words, at one point in time, all those recruits probably did in fact tell the UM coaches that they were committed. Information changes - sometimes in our favor, sometimes not. Less than a month ago Mike Harley had "shut down his recruitment" in favor of WVU. We didn't even know who Jeff Thomas was. Herbert was going to UF to play with his boy Slaton. Henderson and Edwards were both locks to UF. McFarland was locked in to UM. Pouncey would be our 4th WR if Devonta Smith changed his mind... The list goes on.
After getting sucked into the 'crootin game year after year for the last 15+ years I'm slowly starting to understand that there really can be no "expectation" in recruiting - there's only information, and that information changes daily...or hourly. Now don't misunderstand having NO expectations with having LOW expectations. Regardless of the situation, we NEEDED a 2nd RB in this class, we also desperately need quality help at DB, WR, and OL. Those things haven't changed. But we can't sit here two days before signing day and say we "expected" so-and-so in our class based on what somebody posted or tweeted a week ago. That's just a recipe for ulcers and long-term liver damage. (Trust me.)
This is a bottom-line game. Will I be disappointed if Henderson and Edwards both choose UF? **** yes. But only because it would be a failure by our staff to land two exceptional DBs from our backyard, not because Pete said "Watch the Finish." I'll also be thrilled if one or both choose UM - because they can help us win immediately, not because it validated a mythical recruiting prediction.
One thing I do expect though - this will be one of the most meaningful/eventful signing days in recent memory. We now return me to my regularly-scheduled bourbon.
First off, Pete and every other reporter can only relay information - what they've been told and allowed to release to the public by the coaching staff and UM administration. In other words, at one point in time, all those recruits probably did in fact tell the UM coaches that they were committed. Information changes - sometimes in our favor, sometimes not. Less than a month ago Mike Harley had "shut down his recruitment" in favor of WVU. We didn't even know who Jeff Thomas was. Herbert was going to UF to play with his boy Slaton. Henderson and Edwards were both locks to UF. McFarland was locked in to UM. Pouncey would be our 4th WR if Devonta Smith changed his mind... The list goes on.
After getting sucked into the 'crootin game year after year for the last 15+ years I'm slowly starting to understand that there really can be no "expectation" in recruiting - there's only information, and that information changes daily...or hourly. Now don't misunderstand having NO expectations with having LOW expectations. Regardless of the situation, we NEEDED a 2nd RB in this class, we also desperately need quality help at DB, WR, and OL. Those things haven't changed. But we can't sit here two days before signing day and say we "expected" so-and-so in our class based on what somebody posted or tweeted a week ago. That's just a recipe for ulcers and long-term liver damage. (Trust me.)
This is a bottom-line game. Will I be disappointed if Henderson and Edwards both choose UF? **** yes. But only because it would be a failure by our staff to land two exceptional DBs from our backyard, not because Pete said "Watch the Finish." I'll also be thrilled if one or both choose UM - because they can help us win immediately, not because it validated a mythical recruiting prediction.
One thing I do expect though - this will be one of the most meaningful/eventful signing days in recent memory. We now return me to my regularly-scheduled bourbon.