UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 24
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Football recruiting entering stretch run
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the Georgia basketball team enters its biggest week this season, it’s fitting that the football team will enter its biggest week of recruiting.
The recruiting game has certainly changed a lot in the 20 years I’ve been covering college athletics. It used to be that a weekend like this in late January, teams would have 20-30 players in for official visits.
That made for a zoo-like atmosphere during big basketball games. I remember when Garrison Hearst and Andre Hastings were being recruited, Georgia was in a fierce SEC basketball battle, yet half the people in the Coliseum were peering down behind baseline to get a look at the Dogs’ two hottest football prospects.
At least nowadays most of the work is done at this point. I don’t think Richt and his staff get enough credit for the early determination of talent.
Of course, as every one knows, Allen Bailey and Cameron Heyward will be in the Classic City this weekend. The Bulldogs’ recruiting efforts have pretty much boiled down to those two. Landing both would be a major boon.
Or so it seems.
I still marvel at how much emphasis and attention is put on recruiting these days. Look no further than my own newspaper and time and effort it exerts to bring coverage to our readers. Certainly it’s interesting and fun to follow from a hobby-like standpoint and it’s definitely important to the long-term sustenance of an athletic program.
But I think a lot of people get way too caught up in it. Even in this age of instant feedback, it’s as inexact as ever.
Remember Joey Hester? Mike Fredenberg? Jasper Sanks? Mudcat Elmore? What was the D-lineman’s name from Washington, Matt Storm I think, who was singlehandedly going to turn around Georgia’s defense? Whatever happened to him?
Let’s hear some more. Tell me some big names you recall that didn’t excel on the field. Not just at Georgia. It happens everywhere.
I tell you what I don’t like about modern-day coverage of recruiting: Stories like we have up today pointing out that so-and-so, big-time prospect is taking the SAT this weekend. Aren’t these kids under enough pressure to succeed without having everybody in the world know they’re two points shy of getting the minimum ACT score?
Before you know it, the team-forum sites will have a reporter camped outside the testing facility with video camera in hand asking “Allen Allstar” if he thinks he pulled up his verbal score today.
But I digress.
I’d hazard to guess that most of the folks who weigh in on this forum probably follow it pretty closely and put a lot of stock into it. So let’s hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to include your biggest busts!
