College recruiting

By Paddy

February 8, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this

Kind of nutty, you are right. Like coach Johnson says, the scouting services can never explain why there are so many guys in the NFL from Abeline Christian. When you get right down to it, the 4 star & 5 star designations mean nothing when the classes are evaluated 4 years later.

By Sautee Dawg

February 8, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

Coach MR is right. Media is the ones keeping score, ofcourse Rival and Scout.com are really drumbing it up for the sale their website subscribtions. CMR tried to play down the importance of signing Marlon Brown but he will probably be more of an impact player than anybody else signed, whether he’s keeping score or not.

By The Past is Proof

February 8, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

CMR is absolutely correct in stating that its nutty to keep score with recruits. UGA supposedly has had top ten recruiting classes for a number of years now while both LSU and Florida have each won 2 MNCs. UGA still continues to struggle with teams like Vandy and South Carolina….. Yes its absolutely nutty!

By Huh?

February 8, 2009 1:53 PM | Link to this

The past is proof that Mark Richt is 13-3 versus South Carolina and Vandy. Only a complete and utter idiot would call that a “struggle” against those teams.

This is the part where some typical AJC blog moron accuses me of “bragging” about beating South Carolina and Vandy. Stupid people are so predictable.

By Nutty Professor

February 8, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

What is really nutty is one third of Richt’s top ten recruiting class can’t meet minimum SAT standards for admission.

By 63 Dawg

February 8, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

I’m only keeping score where it counts:

Good Guys—No Crystal Balls

LSU—-2 Crystal Balls

Florida—2 Crystal Balls

Richt, Blank the recruiting rankings. Let’s get some balls. I know you don’t have any.

By 63 Dawg

February 8, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this

Huh, If you are not posting this facetiously, then you have surely chosen the correct name. Florida has lost once to South Carolina since the 1930’s and once to Vanderbilt in last 25 years. Now, that is what I’m talking about.

By Recruiting

February 8, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

CMR keeps a recruiting board of prospects and committments just like any other coach so don’t be fooled by his statement about keeping score. He probably wasn’t sitting there saying oh my God, “We are 0 for 4 so far”. But he does follow the days announcements closely. He knows and expects that he will get his fair share of top tier recruits and in fact did with Marlon in particular and with some other recruits as well.

Paddy, you are a fool to say 4 and 5 star designations mean nothing. They are not exact predictors of future expectations but they come reasonably close. Various studies have shown that 4 years later a former 5 star recruit has a 40% chance of being an all american and going in the first 3 rounds of the nfl draft. The average 4 star has roughly a 15% chance of the same, the average 3 star its around 5 %, and the average 2 star has less than 1%. Sure, some 4 and 5 stars will be busts while some 2 and 3 stars far exceed expectations and go onto greatness. But this is the exception and not the norm. If you sign 5 5stars in a 2 year period you pretty much know that statistically speaking you will have 2 all americans a la AJ Greene who was freshman all america. You may also get 1 or 2 all americans out of your 3 stars over the same 2 years. The difference is that you had to sign 20-25 3 stars to get the expectation that 1 or 2 of them may become all americans like a David Pollack.

The bottom line is that while these services are not exactly right because you cannot measure heart, desire, character, work ethic, future development, etc. they are dead on as far as measuring current athletic talent. And they are reasonably accurate as far as the probability of future success.

Its no accident that the teams that consistently have the top classes like USC, FLA, OU also are consistently at or near the top of the standings. There will be one year wonders like Utah this year but on a consistent basis the recruiting sucess is usually mirrored by on the field success.

BTW, CMR had the highest average of top rated recruiting classes from 2004-2008 according to the 2 main services. This was in the AJC I believe a few days ago. He has had consistent success as far as 10 win seasons, winning %, a runnerup finish last year,etc. He has not and probably never will win a national title but he will have UGA as a consistently good team just through his recruiting success.

By Urbie Cryer

February 8, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this

Boo,hoo,hoo. One of your mean old Atlanta running back recruits accused my of lying to him,boo,hoo,hoo. I DID NOT! I just told him he was the only back we were looking at. NOT that we had already signed 4-5 more. What is this world coming tomboo,hoo,hoo.

By tony

February 8, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this

usc, fla and lsu win championships because their top recruits are well coached. if our top recruits were well coached, not only would we win championships, but a championship program would inspire our best athletes to stay in the state.

keeping score with recriuts are not nutty. if jarvis jones, greg reid, and bobby massie had signed with uga, richt wouldn’t have a problem with score keeping. they rank each program according to the number of top recruits they get to play at their schools. there is no way they can rank these shcools without a recruit scoring system.

By hic

February 8, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

Let’s see. Top 10 recruiting classes 3 or 4 years straight. How many National Championships has UGA won over the past 20 years& And, how many has GT won? 45-42!!! 45-42!!! Top 10 recruiting classes!!! HA!!! HA!!! HA!!!

By beau vighn

February 8, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

The only score that matters is 45-42…

By Huh?

February 8, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this

63 Dawg, I must have missed the part where anyone said a single word about Florida. The moron said UGA struggles with Vandy and South Carolina. That simply is not true. I don’t care if Florida has never lost to any team in the universe. The moron’s statement about UGA is still FALSE. I’ll put you in the category of brainless idiots accusing me of bragging about beating South Carolina and Vandy. That is essentially what you’re getting at.

By UGA CLass of 81

February 8, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

Speaking of struggle……..I think UGA will struggle quite a bit…not only with South Carolina and Vandy……but also ASU, OSU, Kentucky, GT, and Auburn. Of course Florida will destroy UGA.

By 63 Dawg

February 8, 2009 4:44 PM | Link to this

Dear Huh, I would consider going 13-3 against two putrid teams as struggling. I have higher standards. Of course they are being diminished on a yearly basis.

By UGA CLass of 81

February 8, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this

63 Dawg….well said.

By 63 Dawg

February 8, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this

UGA Class of 81, Are you ready for some Crystal Balls or are you happy with Rivals and Scout Top 10 Recruiting Rankings?? I’m even contemplating if I make my 43 rd trip in a row to Jacksonville. Some would say that I’m a bad fan if I don’t go. I’m thinking if I go it is like watching your significant other get slapped around in an alley and not being able to intervene. Do I need to see that???? Again!!

By UGA CLass of 81

February 8, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this

Of course I want some NC’s. I was at UGA when Belue, Walker, etc were playing. I just don’t see a NC anytime soon. It’s frustrating. But, I always call it like I see it. Hope I’m wrong about the 09 season.

By Dadgumit

February 8, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this

63dawg and other fans,

UGA has struggled mightily against some small time teams like Vandy and South Carolina and don’t forget kentucky. We got lucky against UK this year and lost to them 2 years ago in Lexington and lost to Vandy that year also. We barely beat Vandy last year. The only thing that saved our butts was their fumble on our 5 or 10 yard line as they were about to put the game away. We’ve eked out a lot of close wins against some really bad teams this year. The year before we barely beat a Bama team that was terrible. We beat Tenn finally this year but the win wasn’t overly impressive against the worst Tenn. team in 20 years. We barely beat the worst team Auburn has fielded in a long, long time. And these barely won games were with the likes of Stafford and Moreno against teams that are in a downtrend. What’s gonna happen now that those 2 are gone? Lord knows Auburn and Tenn aren’t going to be any worse. They’ve pretty much bottomed and can only get better. We drop Bama thank god but we got a tough noncon opener on the road at Ok State. Everyone else we play will be better than last year, especially Tenn. and Auburn. If we dip to 8-4 this year with another blowout loss to Fla. then the seat may start getting a little hot for CMR

By UGA CLass of 81

February 8, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

Maybe a “hot seat” is what CMR needs. UGA has the most undisciplined team I have ever seen. Arrests, trash talking, dancing to “solja boy” on the sidelines, personal fouls, etc. I just don’t see that kind of behavior on other teams. All I see is CMR on the sidelines with that “what just happened” look on his face. Of course, I have never been a fan of recruiting “thugs” that couldn’t put together a 3 word sentence if their life depended on it. An A-CCPD friend of mine says that the UGA athletes are out of control and know that the coaches will take care of the problem if they get arrested. I see UGA leading the nation again in arrests and penalties. Great job CMR!

By dap01

February 8, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this

Nutty Professor: That kind of blanket statement is stupid.

I know of a certain technical school that prides itself on high standards who recruited and omitted a great football player out of my home town. He was not recruited by ANY other major university because of grades yet he received and committed and was admited into that great institution. Of course, he flunked out after the first year.

So believe it or not UGA has demonstrated high standards. Sometime other schools have not.

By 2BT

February 8, 2009 6:07 PM | Link to this

It’s been, what, a couple of months now? Shouldn’t there be another arrest on UGA’s campus any day now?

By TnTyson

February 8, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this

Yep, the choir boy Richt has a pretty good thug pipeline going. It’s pretty clear his recruits have to have a certain….complexion to be considered UGA material.

By 63Dawg

February 8, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this

The Rev. Mark Richt is not going anywhere. The Botoxed Beach Boy from Boca is there for the duration. His “missionairy positions” in Africa stand him in good steed as a humanitarian. If I wanted a neighbor or someone to adopt my child, I’m taking Richt. If I want National Championnships, I want that guy who we have all come to dislike.

By dallasdawg

February 8, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this

what is this 0 for 4 crap? stephen king was comitted elseware after getting buyer`s remorse.

By Stay Clear

February 8, 2009 6:19 PM | Link to this

Blank Charles!! I’ve heard he is just another Florida punk. Let the Gayturds keep him. In fact this fascination with Murray is getting creepy.

By EERIE

February 8, 2009 6:31 PM | Link to this

Stay Clear, I thought the same thing. When I was an 18 year old I never even thought of following a guy to a school. I might have followed a girl. Now if I had played in high school with Peyton Manning or Tim Tebow and I was a favorite target that might have been different. But for Aaron Murray?? I’m glad we got Murray but he ain’t no savior.

By XL Dawg

February 8, 2009 7:49 PM | Link to this

Let’s end all this crap until its time to tee it up in the fall. The nerds can talk agian when CPJ goes 81 and whatever over his first 8 seasons. See you in September!

By mercer

February 8, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this

UGA has the best record in the sec over the past 7 years. including florida, lsu, auburn, etc. look it up. We have won 2 sec championships also which tie lsu and florida. We just have not gotten lucky like florida or extremely lucky like lsu( 2 loss team in ‘07 and played in superdome for both mythical national champ. games). UF nor LSU has ever gone undefeated in a season. We were 13-1 in 2002 and just missed playing for NC and in ‘05 we were undefeated before florida game with hurt shockley and lost by 4. Two chances just barely missed. bulldog fans should settle down, relax and just worry about what we can control and that is winning the east and then the SEC in atlanta. and eventually we will get our shot. The coaches are doing a good job.

By dawgfan

February 8, 2009 8:35 PM | Link to this

Tech fans win one game by 3 points every 8 years and they have an orgasm. I thin Coach Johnson is a great hire for tech but next year it will be the same ole story, 7 wins out of 8!

By Mike

February 8, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this

The suggestion that UGA whiffed on Stephen Hill is completely retarded. He was offered a scholarship a week before signing day after being committed to Teck for months. We were trying to poach him and he stuck to his previous committment. That is not a whiff.

By Dawg Tired

February 8, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this

After having Chan Gailey for their coach, the Tech folks ought to be excited. I kept telling folks that one day Tech would get smart and fire Gailey. I just can’t believe it took as long as it did. I said the same thing about UT and Fulmer. I am very surprised it took so long for UT to get rid of Fulmer. I’m believe Tech has made a good hire in Coach Johnson. I’m think UT had gone from bad to worse in hiring Kiffin. That belief gets stronger every time Kiffin actually says something.

As I posted last week, I’m actually excited to see Tech get a good coach in that what used to be one of the greatest rivalries in the nation may become a great one again. That will ultimately be good for both schools.

As for UT, I think Kiffin’s track record and the immaturity he has exhibited in the last week alone indicate he won’t last long (although we did keep a coach who exhibited similar characteristics too long - that would be Donnan).

Bottom line - nobody really knows for sure what will happen, but that’s my view.

By Guyana Dawg

February 8, 2009 9:52 PM | Link to this

Mercer, thank you.

By serotta

February 9, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this

Hey you halfway did your job AJC blogger. Bama was ranked #1 by Rivals. People don’t care who finished ninth. LOL.

By DBCOOPER

February 9, 2009 5:02 AM | Link to this

Washington State, Wyoming, Northwestern, Kentucky, Duke, Georgia Tech…. Examples of SECOND TIER

USC, Ohio State, Georgia, Penn State, Florda State, Florda, Texas….Examples of FIRST TIER

Alott left out but you get the picture.

Check out recruiting year in and year out.

Alabama has emerged and UT has fallin off but these are the ones at top past 10 years.

By bull-gator

February 9, 2009 7:34 AM | Link to this

Florida and LSU lucky? Most teams get lucky at least once per season. A team has to get lucky especially in the SEC. I dare say that applies to Georgia as well.

By NCDawg

February 9, 2009 8:01 AM | Link to this

Coach Richt is absolutely right. If all 17 other commitments had waited till signing day to announce they were going to Georgia, the score woull be 17 of 21, which sounds a whole lot better than 0 for 4, so timing is everything. I applaud those 17 for not creating a spectacle and sticking to their words, which is what the word “commit” is supposed to mean.

By rogerl

February 9, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this

Okay, just stop all this and start a real needed conversation. No more Jacksonville only. I’m tired of this so called neutral field. Its absolutely not fair. Lets alternate from now on in Atlanta and Jacksonville. Not a single florida fan will support that because they like the way is it now. Forget the tradition of cocktail party and get real. Florida is hard to beat even alternating but at least its fair. The win losses will even out then. Count on it.

By SEC fan

February 9, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this

Rogerl, What makes you think Fla would ever agree to fair. After Ole Miss kicks their tails at Miss this year, they will drop them from their schedule. Fair, you gotta be kidding, from Urban Crier. Get real.

By GetOverIt

February 9, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this

Hmmm, looks like a team from the second tier beat two of those first tier teams. I’ll let you figure out who I am referring too and keep your “tier”s out of your beer! Also, was it fair when UGA was winning those Jacksonville games in the 80’s? Didnt hear bulldawg fans b*&^ing and moaning then.

By FalconUGAFan

February 9, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

TnTyson Get your RACIST A$$ off our board. No room for that kinda crap here. And I’m white BTW….

By Jared

February 9, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this

CMR is a class act, and it never ceases to amaze me how Georgia fans start calling for their coaches head if they loose a couple of games to one of their rivals in a given year. Alabama and LSU both brought in coaches with national championships under their belts, Urban Meyer proved he was a top flight coach by playing at top levels with a Mountain West school, with recruiting classes far below the SEC powerhouse schools. When Georgia hired CMR they were still paying salary to Donnan and perhaps Goff. I believe that those payroll committments as well as the gauntlett schedule we play had something to do with the fact that we hired a top assistant instead of a coach with a national championship. Let’s say you are Pete Carroll, would you leave USC (playing in the weak PAC 10) to come to UGA?

CMR is consistently a good coach, this years OL was hurt and young, without that one problem, Georgia would have played much better, and would have crushed Tech and possibly beaten Bama.

I don’t believe that Richt is as good a coach as Miles, or Saban, but until GA can pony up for a Marquiss name that has a national championship under their belt, 7 10 win seasons and two SEC championships playing in this league is better than any coach in Georgia’s history (in my lifetime) not named Dooley.

More than likely though, you whinners who are complaining about CMR will get louder and louder until we fire a very good coach, and then hire who, while we continue to pay the remaining portion of his salary? Schitcic? (Sp?).

By what past?

February 9, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

you guys are pathetic fans.. and you Gt losers who have to gloat after finally beating Georgia after 7 tries. LSU got BEAT by Kentucky when they won the national title.. Florida has never one a national title with an undefeated season.. UGA went 13-1 in 2002.. but they didnt get to play in the national title game..their SEASON was just as good as florida or LSU’s national title seasons. Vandy had Florida beat in Gainesville with Cutler but the refs gave the game to Florida, everybody knows it. Florida has been beaten by Mississippi state a couple times within the past several years. what bunch of crap.. Here is some history for you

Georgia leads all time vs Florida and its not even close vs Georgia Tech.. Georgia has the best record in the SEC since 2000 season..then LSU, then Florida. Top ten recruiting classes do mean something. without other teams losing, you cant get in the national title from the SEC. Florida and LSU had the right teams lose at the right time.. end of story

By dan

February 9, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this

Listen folks, if Mark Richt can go 8-4 with this team in 2009, then that’s a good coaching job. From an X’s and O’s standpoint, Mark Richt( himself) is just as good if not better than any coach out there. But he’s assistants are not good coordinators, period. Personally I’m of the opinion that most of the coaches in college football aren’t really as good as they claim to be, and let these kids coast on their athletic ability. Hence the undiscilined play. But a good coach does know how to recruit well. With that being said, I think UGA has done a much better job of assessing their needs this year. I think Mark Richt is to UGA what Pat Dye and Terry Bowden were to Auburn. He’ll win you some SEC championships and a few top 5 finishes. But not an National Championship. Of course to me a National Title means nothing in college football, b/c of the politics( and yes I’d say that even if UGA won one). But it is bothersome when Florida and LSU can elevate their play and do it on a regular basis and we can’t. That’s why I think that IF Uga ever does win a National Title, it will be in a year when no one expects it and with a squad that is not as talented but plays well togther.

By Lou Vales

February 9, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

I really don’t know if you guys are being facetious. I do know many Florida fans will be EXTREMELY aggravated if Florida goes 12-2 this year. Is that a bad thing?/ I don’t know. That is for others to decide. I do know I’ve gone to two highly significant BCS games in the past 3 years and I had the same feeling going into both. It’s the same feeling a team playing in the World Series or Super Bowl has. JUST GETTING THERE is not good enough. You MUST finish!! They don’t remember who lost National Championship Games. The winners provide memories and moments for a lifetime. Once you have that feeling, it is natural to want to sustain. AND by having people in charge who DESIRE to sustain it is how you pull it off.

Georgia IS an elite football program. I refuse to believe you are happy with the coaching job done this year. If you are happy going 9-4 with a Potential #1 pick and arguably the best runner in the game—Something is wrong. Once you go down the road of diminished expectations, it becomes an increasingly slipper slope. As a Florida grad, I have a selfish reason to be thankful that you BELIEVE 9-4 was ACCEPTABLE. The objectivity in me refuses to let it pass. Even though I would be better served allowing sleeping DOGS to lie.

By Drama Queen

February 9, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

This Orson Punk is again shooting his mouth off. Why don’t we tell him to keep his scrawny frame in Florida or Southern Cal. We have OUR Tight end and do not need a pompous PUNK.

By jim

February 9, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this

I agree with Richt. Bama lost 3 recruits to other schools on signing day however was ranked #1 and was 17 out of 18 going head to head with Chezdik. You will never win them all but it really about what you end up with as a class.

Also we should all be happy we do not have Lame Kiffin as our spokesperson.

By route66

February 9, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this

Georgia will never win a NC because we cannot put away the lesser teams in the SEC and cannot beat the better teams in any given year on a regular bases. Say what you will,but style points matter and we(MR)will not run the score up.

By route66

February 9, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this

Georgia will never win a NC because we cannot put away the lesser teams in the SEC and cannot beat the better teams in any given year on a regular bases. Say what you will,but style points matter and we(MR)will not run the score up.

By Orson Is A Little Boy

February 9, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this

I just read that story Drama Queen was discussing—Orson Charles IS A PUNK, and an extremely scrawny PUNK better off playing with some GAYTURDS. We are GEORGIA. We don’t need your PUNK A$$.

By Gator Dude

February 9, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

As long as the GatorNation keeps the money rolling in we can afford to keep getting the best recruits. It’s all about what you give them under the table, baby! Go Gators!

By 1953 dawg

February 9, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

Once again Richt can’t face reality. And that is where the problem begins with Richt, and that is where it will end. He goes not 0-4, but how about 1-7 and counting. Any coach that sits there and says he isn’t concerned about losing top talent in state and out of state is eating dream cookies. Just as any coach that says there isn’t a problem with UGA’s defense after Alabama, FL, Kentucky, and Ga.Tech meldowns. When will this man face the facts?? It looks like he never will, and it looks like UGA fans are stuck with this loser for as long as D.E. lets him stay around. Which judging by Evan’s lack of balls, UGA will become 3rd or 4th best in the SEC east before that happens.Wonder how all of UGA’s fans will like that. Forget about Fl., RIcht is intimidated by Meyer, and he proved that this year with the stupid on side kick. So, keep eating your dream cookies RIcht, and UGA fans will continue to believe anything you say, cause you won 2 sec titles when Fl. was down, and you will never win another one as long as Meyer and Saban are there to make you look like the clown most UGA fans already know you are. Let me just list the 7 recruits in case UGA fans ate one to many cookies(Hill, Kenney, Massie,Jones,Reid,Starling,and Brown) #8 will be Charles. How many other coaches would be satisfied with that closing ratio. None.

By Bottom Kissing Mark

February 9, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this

This guy is a PUNK. You think Meyer promises kids NUMBERS. Kids see how desperate he is. You think Bear Bryant would have promised some 17 year old sleeze his own number.

By Glenn

February 9, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this

It sounds like UGA is out of the Orson Charles Sweepstakes. Based on the interview, it sounds like it’s down to Tennessee and Southern Cal.

By CPJLIIT2H

February 10, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this

Who cares about recruiting rankings…..but you can make a case that players have not gotten better at UGA…….some players have started out strong and have gotten worse esp at the WR position….of course UF will destroy UGA this year they have everyone back and UGA will still have a poor D and awful special teams…..

By Jacketsfan

February 12, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this

Hah i like what Richt said. It really is pointless to judge a team’s ability by who it signs and who it doesn’t, just like its pointless to look at pre-season rankings where SOMEHOW Notre Dame keeps making it into the top ten every season. In the end it all comes down to how a team plays on the field through the season.