2011 College Football Offseason

[dew1679666265]

The Jim O' Brien/Ohio State ruling has really hamstrung schools with regards to reacting to coaches under investigation. Sampson stuck around at IU for another month or 2 after it was obvious he was going down, and now Pearl is doing the same at Tennessee.

 

They're probably waiting on Pearl to see what the NCAA decides. If Slive's 8-game suspension keeps the NCAA punishment minor, they may keep Bruce. If he gets a 1-2 year suspension, however, I think he's gone.

 

With Mike Hamilton's job in pretty big question, it's difficult to fire Pearl if it's not completely necessary.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think the NCAA is already a sham in most fans' eyes, but if they let Pearl off with an 8 game suspension while Dez Bryant got a season, they'll lose everyone. They rely above all else on their absolute power. To let Horshack off with an 8 game suspension for lying and then attempting to cover up the lie would be outrageous

[dew1679666265]

I think the NCAA is already a sham in most fans' eyes, but if they let Pearl off with an 8 game suspension while Dez Bryant got a season, they'll lose everyone. They rely above all else on their absolute power. To let Horshack off with an 8 game suspension for lying and then attempting to cover up the lie would be outrageous

 

I think they'll suspend him again, I just don't know that it will be a full season or two added on. I could see them tacking on a half season next year or something along with extra sanctions onto the school.

 

It could also be an extra full year or two suspension. I think Hamilton and Slive are hoping that the NCAA punishment is lessened – not eliminated – after Slive's 8-game suspension, however.

[SouthSideRyan]

Shouldn't a head coach be held to a higher standard than a 20 year old student?

[shnsajax]

Shouldn't a head coach be held to a higher standard than a 20 year old student?

 

That depends on who is worth more to the NCAA.

[dew1679666265]

Shouldn't a head coach be held to a higher standard than a 20 year old student?

 

Pearl is hurt pretty severely by sanctions being placed on Tennessee. His coaching job suffers because we can't bring in as many talented players, he probably gets fired and then he's working his way back up in the mid-major/D-II ranks again. There was no other way to punish Bryant than to suspend him.

 

Pearl can also be fined by the NCAA and have sanctions placed on him and his staff (much like UT already did) – a player cannot. Also, the Bryant suspension was ridiculously terrible and shouldn't be used as a gauge for what the NCAA should do.

[dew1679666265]

Shouldn't a head coach be held to a higher standard than a 20 year old student?

 

That depends on who is worth more to the NCAA.

 

That too.

[shnsajax]

Tate Forcier is heading to Miami.

[Tracer Bullet]

how does forcier going to miami make espn.com front page news?

 

oh, that's right. there is absolutely NOTHING going on right now.

[TheVolCub08]

How dirty and cut throat is recruiting? Not quite hoops/AAU level, but this story is from someone who knows new Tennessee signee Antonio "Tiny" Richardson, and these are his insights into news that Auburn coach Trooper Taylor called former Tennessee WR Gerald Jones and had him 3-way call Gabe Wright (who was silently committed to UT, but signed with Auburn on NSD.) Rumors have been swirling for the past 2 days, and this info sounds pretty concrete (and comes from someone who has posted pretty reliable info on Tiny from day 1.

 

"When people in the recruiting forum started to get worried I talked to the same people and said Tiny was all Vol. I have just talked to one of them and here is what I was told.

1. AR (Antonio Richardson) is the source and has no problems saying so. He has said let it be known and he will never forget this. To say that Tiny couldn't give a damn about Gabe and anyone who stabs UT in the back is a understatement. Tiny is a great kid , but this is one person you shouldn't piss off. I'm sure he would love to see Gabe and tell him in person. Yes , Tiny had fun with the recruiting game , but had been a Vol for a very long time.

2. Gabe told Tiny that he called the Vol staff to tell them he was a Vol. Several other players that were coming to Tennessee talked to eachother that day. Arnett and B. Moore also talked to Gabe. I am sure you remember the tweets from Moore about talking to Gabe.

3.Trooper called Gabe , Gabe didn't call Trooper. Gabe told him his decision and Trooper said something to the extent of , "That's fine , but I want you to talk to somebody first" and Gerald was on the phone. First off , Gerald is saying he got called. I don't believe a damn thing he said. I don't know if Gerald was with Troop or on a conference call , but I was told he was on the same line. This is how the person told me that there is no way Gerald would be on the line if Gabe was calling Trooper. So if that's the case that ends that , if this source is telling me the truth and I have no reason to believe I would be lied to. What was said was in favor of Trooper and Auburn. Nothing said was good about Tennessee. Gerald told him he feels like he didn't get enough love from Tennessee. I was told how he said things about D. Moore getting attention and him being mad about his upcoming draft status. He said he wouldn't be in this situation if Trooper was his coach. Joking with me , the person told me Gerald wouldn't need money either because Auburn is passing that around like paper in a classroom -lol continuing)

4. I have also been told that Trooper went to see Gabe and gave him that hat personally on NSD. You don't slap someone in the face that is proven and going to be a top pick of the school you choose unless Nick knew about it. This was all part of the recruiting ploy. Look for pictures of Trooper at the celebration for the BCS trophy. Trooper is wearing the same type of hat with the words 'The champ is here' embroidered on the back. Gabe and Tiny talked about this and the last time they talked about what happend and Gabe still told him he was a Vol. He didn't think Gabe was dumb enough to BUY this bs.

5. Tiny loves Tennessee. He loves Dooley. He isn't going to just play for his position coach. I was told to remember how Trooper acted in the Auburn game last year. He was taunting certain players. Eric Berry was one of them. Berry nearly ran into Trooper on the sideline and Trooper was running his mouth until Eric stopped and stood infront of him. Then he hugged Berry , just like the ***** he is. Players on the team are pissed , aswell as former players like Berry. Many have said stuff via twitter and facebook. Gerald is acting like he didn't do anything , but he did and this damage control is NOT going to work.

 

I asked this person what Tiny has said about Gerald and he laughed. He said 'Not alot but Gerald better get faster.'"

 

We knew Trooper was a turd when he was here, but to call a current (or just graduated) Tennessee player and have him talk to a recruit (ON NSD... a violation) is below what I thought he'd do.

[TruffleShuffle]

i love when fans of big-time SEC programs accuse other big-time SEC programs of playing dirty in recruiting.

[shnsajax]

I have no idea if this is true, but if so its fucked up.

 

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/06/sources-thomas-went-to-oregon-over-safety-concerns-for-him-family/

 

According to an e-mail sent to ConquestChronicles.com, Thomas, a Los Angeles native, witnessed a murder while at a party and helped police identify the gang members in question. As a result, a hit was reportedly put on Thomas and his family by members of the accused gang.

 

Thomas then decided to commit to Oregon over his hometown university for fear of his own safety. There has been no official word about what his family will do. The e-mail reads:

 

He actually isn’t a punk. He is a good kid. What happened is, he was at a

party and some gang bangers killed a guy. He did the right thing and

cooperated with the police and they arrested the murderers. As a result

of his cooperation, the gang bangers put a hit on him and his family. The

hit is credible and they truly fear for their lives. As a result, he shot

up to Oregon and decided to go there to get away from the threat. That is

why he was crying when he made the announcement. He was the kid in the

class that was actively recruiting other recruits to come to USC. He did

us a tremendous favor by recruiting kids to SC and forestalling his

announcement until after we had our 30 guys.

 

The kid is heartbroken.

[Guest]

I believe that's false.

[TruffleShuffle]

how could that be false? i mean, it's not like it leaves unanswered what his family would be doing while he's at oregon, and clearly a gang in los angeles could not track a high-profile athlete to a state just north of california.

 

and oh yeah, oregon still plays road games in los angeles.

[TheVolCub08]

(Thanks to the Music City Bowl?) the NCAA is considering several new rule changes, including a 10-second runoff at the end of the half on an offensive penalty:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/10/10-second-runoff-one-of-several-recommended-rule-changes/

[Magnetic Curses]

how could that be false? i mean, it's not like it leaves unanswered what his family would be doing while he's at oregon, and clearly a gang in los angeles could not track a high-profile athlete to a state just north of california.

 

and oh yeah, oregon still plays road games in los angeles.

 

yeah, if i had a hit put out on me i think i would go as far away from california as possible, like maine.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how could that be false? i mean, it's not like it leaves unanswered what his family would be doing while he's at oregon, and clearly a gang in los angeles could not track a high-profile athlete to a state just north of california.

 

and oh yeah, oregon still plays road games in los angeles.

 

yeah, if i had a hit put out on me i think i would go as far away from california as possible, like maine.

or Europe

[dew1679666265]

(Thanks to the Music City Bowl?) the NCAA is considering several new rule changes, including a 10-second runoff at the end of the half on an offensive penalty:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/10/10-second-runoff-one-of-several-recommended-rule-changes/

 

The 10 second runoff is badly needed.

[E.J.]

Houston Nutt really enjoys signing players and then disappearing them.

 

A week after inking a 27-man recruiting class that put coach Houston Nutt squarely in the sights of the "oversigning" critics, Ole Miss released an official roster earlier this week freshly shorn of seven scholarship players. With those departures, the Rebels' returning scholarship count falls to somewhere between 55 players (my count) and 58 (beat writer Kyle Veazey's count), just enough to fit in the new recruiting class under the 85-scholarship limit. And to intensify the charges of oversigning, of course.

Whatever his motivations, the wholesale roster reduction is par for the course under Nutt, as it was for his predecessor, Ed Orgeron. Not including the latest class, Ole Miss signed a whopping 92 players to letters of intent over Nutt's first three seasons (2008-10). Fifty-one of that number remain on the current roster for 2011, an attrition rate of roughly 45 percent.

 

Signing 92 players over 3 years with only 55% of the players still on the team today is mind boggling. Hell, signing 92 players in 3 years is crazy enough itself.

[shnsajax]

Houston Nutt really enjoys signing players and then disappearing them.

 

A week after inking a 27-man recruiting class that put coach Houston Nutt squarely in the sights of the "oversigning" critics, Ole Miss released an official roster earlier this week freshly shorn of seven scholarship players. With those departures, the Rebels' returning scholarship count falls to somewhere between 55 players (my count) and 58 (beat writer Kyle Veazey's count), just enough to fit in the new recruiting class under the 85-scholarship limit. And to intensify the charges of oversigning, of course.

Whatever his motivations, the wholesale roster reduction is par for the course under Nutt, as it was for his predecessor, Ed Orgeron. Not including the latest class, Ole Miss signed a whopping 92 players to letters of intent over Nutt's first three seasons (2008-10). Fifty-one of that number remain on the current roster for 2011, an attrition rate of roughly 45 percent.

 

Signing 92 players over 3 years with only 55% of the players still on the team today is mind boggling. Hell, signing 92 players in 3 years is crazy enough itself.

 

I really hate the practices in the SEC. The NCAA really needs to step in on this issue.

[Jon]

Ole Miss really kicked ass in the Oversigning Cup. They even put Alabama and LSU to shame. But that's what happens when coaches get hired and paid mostly on recruiting rankings.

 

For a point of comparison, Northwestern signed 52 over the last 3 years.

 

It essentially is a professional system. They get to stash players in the minor leagues (junior colleges) and make roster cuts whenever they want.

 

Oversigning.com makes a great point when they talk about how SEC schools like Georgia and Florida should be going crazy and forcing the SEC to make changes. It's not going to come from the NCAA, though it definitely should.

[TheVolCub08]

More SEC smoke...

SportsBy Brooks

A very wild, blind item that I have NOT confirmed: A certain very, very high profile SEC football assistant is under fire and may be asked to resign. Rumor has it he's been told to 'find another job' and has been calling boosters at some of his previous stops for employment help.

SportsBy Brooks

Re: SEC asst coach blind item: I've heard that rumor from multiple sources, but not confirmed it myself. For that reason I won't say who it is. For now. I'm not saying anything will happen, just pulling back the curtain on some underground media chatter that's been making the rounds.

 

There is no one very high profile at most SEC programs, leading me to believe this is Trooper Taylor. I doubt it's any of Saban's coaches, and have heard nothing about Tennessee. SoCar, Ole Miss, Miss St, Arky, UK, and Vandy don't really have any high profile assistants, and Florida's are too new for this to be their staff. That leaves Auburn, Georgia, and LSU.

 

Unless it's a coordinator, none of those teams have an assistant with a higher profile than Taylor, who is being accused of a violation (contacting a recruit and a player from another school on National Signing Day.)

[dew1679666265]

There is no one very high profile at most SEC programs, leading me to believe this is Trooper Taylor. I doubt it's any of Saban's coaches, and have heard nothing about Tennessee. SoCar, Ole Miss, Miss St, Arky, UK, and Vandy don't really have any high profile assistants, and Florida's are too new for this to be their staff. That leaves Auburn, Georgia, and LSU.

 

Unless it's a coordinator, none of those teams have an assistant with a higher profile than Taylor, who is being accused of a violation (contacting a recruit and a player from another school on National Signing Day.)

 

Would Trooper be considered "very, very high profile"? That kind of emphasis makes me think it'd be somebody very well known, even by casual fans. Charlie Weis, for instance (though it being him would be rather strange).

[TheVolCub08]

There is no one very high profile at most SEC programs, leading me to believe this is Trooper Taylor. I doubt it's any of Saban's coaches, and have heard nothing about Tennessee. SoCar, Ole Miss, Miss St, Arky, UK, and Vandy don't really have any high profile assistants, and Florida's are too new for this to be their staff. That leaves Auburn, Georgia, and LSU.

 

Unless it's a coordinator, none of those teams have an assistant with a higher profile than Taylor, who is being accused of a violation (contacting a recruit and a player from another school on National Signing Day.)

 

Would Trooper be considered "very, very high profile"? That kind of emphasis makes me think it'd be somebody very well known, even by casual fans. Charlie Weis, for instance (though it being him would be rather strange).

 

For an assistant, Trooper is very high profile. And the article talks about boosters at previous schoolS, which makes me think it has to be someone who's been at multiple schools in the NCAA.

[Tracer Bullet]

There is no one very high profile at most SEC programs, leading me to believe this is Trooper Taylor. I doubt it's any of Saban's coaches, and have heard nothing about Tennessee. SoCar, Ole Miss, Miss St, Arky, UK, and Vandy don't really have any high profile assistants, and Florida's are too new for this to be their staff. That leaves Auburn, Georgia, and LSU.

 

Unless it's a coordinator, none of those teams have an assistant with a higher profile than Taylor, who is being accused of a violation (contacting a recruit and a player from another school on National Signing Day.)

 

Would Trooper be considered "very, very high profile"? That kind of emphasis makes me think it'd be somebody very well known, even by casual fans. Charlie Weis, for instance (though it being him would be rather strange).

 

Can't be Weis based on the description - calling boosters at his previous stops for help finding a job. If Weis wanted to find a job, he'd tell his agent to let the NFL teams know he was interested and a handful would have offers to him within 24 hours. He wouldn't be calling ND boosters (ha!). Makes no sense.