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 > 2008 > January > 29
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Don’t sweat the 11th-hour recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ah, football recruiting. It’s that time of year again… . Actually that’s not right. It’s recruiting time all year around nowadays. But now, in late January, is when it reaches fever pitch.
Those of you who come here regularly know where I stand on recruiting. Don’t get me wrong. I realize its importance. It truly is the lifeblood of any program. What really humors me, though, is the attempts to quantify it. To me it’s kind of like trying to catch water in your hand. You know whether it’s hot or cold but really not a whole lot else.
I say this to reference the relatively recent concern among many Georgia fans about Florida passing the Bulldogs in the recruiting rankings. Or at least in one of the recruiting ranks. If I’m following this right, that recent adjustment in the rivals.com rankings had mostly to do with the defensive tackle from Buford, Omar Hunter, signing with the Gators rather than Georgia.
Hunter’s decision continued a mythical trend of late-deciding prospects choosing other places other than Georgia. The truth is, the Bulldogs have been maxed-out for a while on scholarships. Sure, there were one or perhaps two recruits they would have considered taking in right there at the end. But they weren’t putting a ton of time and energy into that because they had already filled their quota and, more importantly, their needs.
And isn’t that what recruiting is all about, filling your needs? Georgia had long since done that. That’s what’s crazy about ranking recruiting classes. Some teams need to sign 15 prospects while others go over 25. Some, like Georgia last year, need a lot of offensive linemen, while others need to load up on skill players. It’s apples and oranges and there’s no accurate way to compare.
Here’s what I like about what Georgia is doing: The Bulldogs are working far ahead in recruiting. One of the things that allows them to do that so well is the stability of the coaching staff. I’m sure you saw where they got three commitments just the week for the 2009 class, which won’t likely be very large. The best players in the state want to play for Georgia and Coach Mark Richt and, as we saw this year, if the Dogs come forth with an offer you’d be well-advised to take it because they’re not going to wait around while you play the look-around game.
That is the philosophy of Richt and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner. The logic is that not only do you get focused and committed players who can concentrate on doing what they need to do to get ready for college, you get players that are more deeply devoted to Georgia.
So I don’t know if the Dogs are first, fifth or 100th in the recruiting rankings. But I’m impressed that they filled their needs early and have devoted their energies to next year’s recruiting needs.
What do y’all think?
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