AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTop-rated TE may be Georgia’s next commitment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Arthur Fontaine of Dartmouth, Mass., one of the nation’s top prospects, will arrive in Athens on Wednesday for his second unofficial visit to Georgia.
Fontaine, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end, lists his four finalists as the Bulldogs, Boston College, Virginia and Maryland. Fontaine is ranked as the country’s No. 4 tight end by Rivals.
“I never really considered Georgia until I went down there the first time and was just blown away by the experience,” Fontaine said. “So my family and I want to go back and see if I feel the same way this time as I did the first time.”
When Fontaine was asked if he would consider committing if the Georgia trip met expectations, he said, “We’ll have to see what happens, how everything goes. I definitely plan on making a decision before my first high school game on Sept. 12, if not sooner.”
Fontaine said he plans to meet with some other Georgia commitments, including Oconee County quarterback Zach Mettenberger, and will watch practice on Thursday.
“During my first visit, we got to sit down and eat dinner with Georgia coach [Mark Richt],” he said. “He is such a great person. This time, I’ll get to meet some of the Georgia players. And I’ll get to see how the coaches interact with them at practice.”
Fontaine is excited to see the Bulldogs ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.
“It’s like a dream come true to be recruited by the No. 1 team,” he said. “Recruiting has gone very well for me, but I never thought I’d be in this position, to be wanted by the No. 1 team.”
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By unweaned lil pup
August 5, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
This should give Orson Charles something to think about.
By DeputyDawg
August 5, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Come on over to the DAWG nation!!! You will love the experience and become a part of something special. Goooooo Dawgs….sic em…woof woof woof….how sweet it is!!!!!!!
By Rimfire
August 5, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
If you wanna be a great TE, come on down!
By JB
August 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Boy, are we going National or what. Cherry picking the best players from All over the country, wow. sure beats the Donnan days of not even getting the best in the State !
By Paddy
August 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
With the recruiting dynamics changing so fast and players making early decisions, knowing how the game is played is critical. If Arthur likes UGA as much as they like him he’d better act quick. If Orson steps up he could be outside looking in like a couple guys last season. It is a really tough call for players and their families. Best of luck AF. I think you would look great in black and red. UGA football is about to enter another dimension. If you want to be a Bulldawg, “come on down”.
By gt45
August 5, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
While you’re down, how about save APD a little time, and go ahead and get your mugshot, okay?
By Observer_College
August 5, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
So I was reading about this guy, and saw that Georgia’s main competition is, wait for it, BOSTON COLLEGE!!??? What. A. Laugh.
Have you checked the preseason rankings for Boston College, this year or any other year? Where do they wind up? In “others receiving votes”, if anywhere. What they do during the season doesn’t matter—nobody pays attention to them so they luck their way into 8 to 11 wins every season.
Plus, we give an opportunity for early PT, as public pressure keeps forcing law enforcement to interfere with our depth chart.
Finally, have you heard of any REAL tight ends from Boston College reaching the NFL? That would be a “NO”. Marc Chmura doesn’t count because he was a Brett Favre creation—anyone could have played tight end with him. Pete Mitchell doesn’t count because he was really a H-back. Ryan Purvis is expected to be a 3rd or 4th round draft pick, but that doesn’t count because it’s just a pre-draft ranking and he doesn’t go to a SEC school. Sean Ryan doesn’t count even though he’s only played five years because he has only made $850,000 in a year, rather than the $1 million cutoff for tight ends I don’t care about.
Finally, Scott Gieselman certainly shows the failure of Boston College tight ends. Instead of making it to the League and, you know, doing something, he took the easy track and wound up a partner at someplace called Goldman Sachs. Wimp.
By Gadawg
August 5, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
AF come on an be apart of the best Team in the Country, The DAWGS are going to be something special for years to come.
By unweaned lil pup
August 5, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Observer College … The BC attraction is so high because that has prob been his “team” since he was in Pop Warner FB. Imagine growing up devoted to your home team with posters on the bedroom wall, etc. .. and then you develop in your own right to the point where you got a chance to pretty much play anywhere you want. Not an easy decision.
By 1CrazyKid
August 5, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Who cares if he chooses UGA or BC? The kid may be talented, but at this point, the Dawgs don’t need AF. If he goes elsewhere, CMR and Co. will sign someone as good, or better. It doesn’t really matter what AF does. If he doesn’t play for UGA, it ain’t no loss at all. Consider it a lateral move, if this young man says, “No thanks,” to UGA. Sorry if I sound like a broken record, BUT…UGA will get at least one top notch TE. It doesn’t have to be AF. In the end, he’s got to do what’s best for him. If he wants to be a Dawg, he might be wise to snatch that scholarship before Orson Charles, or someone else takes the offer.
Good luck Arthur. Go where your heart leads you!
By BC owns ND
August 5, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Observer College -
It’s interesting to find you on blogs all over the internet looking for a forum to bash Boston College. I am sorry that BC has absolutely owned Notre Dame over the last fifteen years - rendering Notre Dame totally irrelevant on the national football landscape. But I’m not sure what good having an imbecile like you as the Notre Dame front man will do for the crusty hasbeens in South Bend.
Fat Charlie is another 3-9 season (including Notre Dame’s 6th consecutive loss to Boston College) away from leaving that armpit in Nowhere, Indiana on his way back to the bountiful buffet tables of the NFL.
As for Fontaine, he seems like a good kid who has narrowed his search down to several top notch schools (notably, Notre Dame is not in the running).
Just remember, Eat Like a Champion Today
Go Falcons!
By Jack
August 5, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
Mr. or Ms. Observer…It was either 2003 or 2004 that B.C. beat the Dawgs in a bowl game. Not bad for a school that is about 1/5th the size of the U. of Ga. & has high academic standards along with a top 3 senior graduation rate % in the country every year.
Coach Jags (& Coach’s Logan & Bicknell…B.C.s Offensive guru’s ) will change in a positive way B.C.’s NFL TE’s draft prospects in the near future to match B.C.’s success in year’s past with offensive lineman. Head Coach Jags is the 1st B.C. head coach to come out of the NFL (Green Bay Packers). Oh, yea, I almost failed to mention that Matt Ryan will add a touch of class (in addition to being a winner) to the Falcons franchise…and you & many other college fans will start enjoying pro football in big A again.
Full disclosure. Fontaine’s mother is a Boston College alumni. Hopefully the “rock the cradle” philosophy will take 1st position over her son’s short term thinking & immature comment “a dream come true to be recruited by the #1 team”. He needs to talk to Matt during his visit to Ga., who has his ego in check.
An Atlanta B.C. guy.
By Greg
August 6, 2008 1:50 AM | Link to this
It was the friggin’ MUSIC CITY BOWL in Richt’s first year. We’ve come a long way since then if you haven’t noticed.
BC’s football program compares to UGA’s in no way, shape or form and he can get a fine education as well. Why freeze your a* off and by an also-ran in a 2nd rate conference when you can come south and play for titles every year? No brainer.
By Mark
August 6, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Play for titles at Georgia? Maybe
Win titles at Georgia? No so much.
BC played for the ACC championship just last year.
By Wendell
August 6, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
Fontaine should go to UGA if he wants to be a criminal justice major. What better place to go for practical experience then UGA as a member of the football team?
Thuggery 101.
Stay classy dawgs.
By T.J.
August 6, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
BC has beaten UGA the last two times they have played - once under Richt and once under Dooley.
By Paddy
August 6, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Observer…we are not sure who you are but finish your COCO PUFFS, the bus will be there any minute. BC is a fine school with a well respected football team and coach. AF is a first rate te and the DAWGS would love to have him playing in our great state.
By Paddy
August 6, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Observer…we are not sure who you are but finish your COCO PUFFS, the bus will be there any minute. BC is a fine school with a well respected football team and coach. AF is a first rate te and the DAWGS would love to have him playing in our great state.
By Bob
August 6, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Might Observer_College be putting you on? I think partners at Goldman Sachs tend to BUY football teams rather than just play for them.
By Jack
August 6, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Athens, Ga is a great college town and UGA has a wonderful campus, etc. The atmosphere for a football game is fantastic.
Having said that, it all depends on the young man and his family and their expectations. Boston is also a great college “town” in a different way. The networking possibilities are endless and a young player can really set himself on track for a great career after or instead of pro football. BC prides itself on its networking and providing a strong foundation for athletes to excel after graduation. In terms of sports, it’s a professional town and that can be seen as exciting rather than a drawback. And the Boston hockey rivalries among, BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern are fantastic - plus all the other college sports. Just trying to point out that Boston is absolutely alive all year!!!!
As for freezing one’s butt off - it’s true that the weather in Boston is an issue for some - but certainly not all. But if a player’s goal is playing professional football, consider how many top teams play in cold climates. They had better get used to it. The worst weather in Boston on gameday would be a soaking rain day. The cold is not an issue for the BC players in November.
Why would a player choose Athens, GA over Boston, MA, or vice versa? It all depends on personal preference. Both offer tremendous opportunities.
By Jack
August 6, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Athens, Ga is a great college town and UGA has a wonderful campus, etc. The atmosphere for a football game is fantastic.
Having said that, it all depends on the young man and his family and their expectations. Boston is also a great college “town” in a different way. The networking possibilities are endless and a young player can really set himself on track for a great career after or instead of pro football. BC prides itself on its networking and providing a strong foundation for athletes to excel after graduation. In terms of sports, it’s a professional town and that can be seen as exciting rather than a drawback. And the Boston hockey rivalries among, BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern are fantastic - plus all the other college sports. Just trying to point out that Boston is absolutely alive all year!!!!
As for freezing one’s butt off - it’s true that the weather in Boston is an issue for some - but certainly not all. But if a player’s goal is playing professional football, consider how many top teams play in cold climates. They had better get used to it. The worst weather in Boston on gameday would be a soaking rain day. The cold is not an issue for the BC players in November.
Why would a player choose Athens, GA over Boston, MA, or vice versa? It all depends on personal preference. Both offer tremendous opportunities.
By NigelDawg
August 6, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
UGA = Cincinnati Bengals of College Football
By bb
August 6, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
UGA = Cincinnati Bengals of College Football
By Kevin
August 8, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Jack, Aka Atanta BC guy, the first Head Coach at BC from the NFL is not Jags but Dan Henning which for a number of reasons didn’t work out so well. Funny how BC is never rated rated high in the pre season which is ok since we just use it for motivation . Go Eagles, Kevin
By BroklynEagle
August 8, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
You forgot Ernie Hefferle, BC head coach circa 1958-61. Came from the Steelers. Had little success, but upset Clemson (1960).