I'm really encouraged by what I've read and heard about hope's play so far. Particularly because Hope was one kid (the kid, really) that the Internet talent experts (Fish, mf et al.) we're most sure was not only not UM caliber, but nowhere near UM caliber. Now I don't want to crown anyone off a few practices, but the key comments are about his attitude, work ethic and willingness to hit (toughness), which were amongst the things some doubted about him.
Last year, Scott was a kid many of the same guys thought was a huge reach, and he seems to have stepped up.
Many of those posters, who are knowledgable guys on FLA HS FB, said they were concerned that AG didn't know what UM talent looked like, or what a "UM kid" was.
Time will tell, but I'm inclined to think right now that AG deserves the benefit of the doubt. Certainly as to kids that camped with him (Hope).
Curious for 1775's view if he's around here.
I sure hope you are using the word "expert" sarcastically. Bunch of unemployable mailmen and grocery baggers, trying to make a nickel sniffing HS jocks.
I guess you have a grudge against certain folks. I don't agree with your take in any case. Mfcanes coaches at Immokalee, IIRC. He has a lot of personal knowledge on the kids we recruit. Fish, whatever you think of him, legitimately makes a living covers florida recruiting. He is paid by college fb programs so obviously some folks think he provides value. Neither seems to be a mailman or grocery bagger, and both have been right on a lot of the kids we've recruited the past decade that I've paid attention. The irony of your comment is that Bakas is the least qualified of those three to evaluate prospects, and yet many swore by his views.
Bottom line for me is there are folks out there who have first hand knowledge and opinions that are worth considering. Doesn't mean they're always right. Doesn't mean they may not also have biases in some cases. But if you don't want to consider these guys opinions, then why follow recruiting at all? Because al golden sure as **** aint going to discuss recruiting while its on-going. And in either case, why take cheap ad hominem shots at them?
Not a stich of irony. I lump Bakas in there too. I haven't given Canestime a dime in years. It's a joke. And I don't think my "shots" are cheap, and I don't have a care in the world to hold a grudge. But have fun with your words. I am expressing my honest (and I think accurate opinion). After 16 years of subscribing at some point to every single pub there is/was, evaluating the data, getting to know some of these guys, I've come to the educated conclusion that their opinions don't mean much.
NFL scouts, head coaches, and GM's get to poke, prod, test and review 4 years of ESPN and ABC tape of fully developed men.. and THEY get the NFL draft wrong half the time. You think that some fanboys making $11k a year who aren't employable anywhere in the world as a real journalist, or god forbid, anywhere real in sports can "evaluate?" Lets agree to disagree there. Enjoy the lists, rankings, ratings and stars all you want. They mean very little to me. Do I still read and follow? Sure. Its the E! channel of college football. Its entertainment only.
Even if you think there is SOME merit to what they have to offer, you have to admit that calling them "experts" is laughable.
