[FarmBoy]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

http://recruiting.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/0...la-vs-uga/

UCLA shenanigans.

[FarmBoy]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

http://recruiting.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/0...la-vs-uga/

UCLA shenanigans.

[Redrum]

Anything legal that weakens our main opponents is fine with me.  If UCLA loses its Defensive Coord. and a 4-star player...I don't care how bizarre the mechanism is.

[Redrum]

Anything legal that weakens our main opponents is fine with me.  If UCLA loses its Defensive Coord. and a 4-star player...I don't care how bizarre the mechanism is.

[chicard]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

http://recruiting.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/0...la-vs-uga/

UCLA shenanigans.

Very interesting story.  A few thoughts:

1) In contrast, both Reid and Meeks faxed in their LOIs hours before their official announcements.  If Smith had done the same, he would be stuck now.

2) A recruit obviously needs to factor in relationships with the coaches when deciding between programs.  But how much of a factor should it be when coaches -- especially assistant coaches -- can change at any time?  It's interesting that his HS coach said that if Ulbrich turns down the Falcons job, Smith will go to UCLA -- when there's no guarantee Ulbrich won't take the very next NFL opportunity that comes along.

3) Very interesting that UCLA was pressing for the LOI.  I imagine they knew about the Ulbrich news and were trying to lock in Smith before word got out.  That in and of itself should make Smith wary of UCLA.

4) It would be quite the coincidence if Ulbrich taking a job in Georgia results in this Georgia kid staying in-state.

[chicard]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

http://recruiting.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/0...la-vs-uga/

UCLA shenanigans.

Very interesting story.  A few thoughts:

1) In contrast, both Reid and Meeks faxed in their LOIs hours before their official announcements.  If Smith had done the same, he would be stuck now.

2) A recruit obviously needs to factor in relationships with the coaches when deciding between programs.  But how much of a factor should it be when coaches -- especially assistant coaches -- can change at any time?  It's interesting that his HS coach said that if Ulbrich turns down the Falcons job, Smith will go to UCLA -- when there's no guarantee Ulbrich won't take the very next NFL opportunity that comes along.

3) Very interesting that UCLA was pressing for the LOI.  I imagine they knew about the Ulbrich news and were trying to lock in Smith before word got out.  That in and of itself should make Smith wary of UCLA.

4) It would be quite the coincidence if Ulbrich taking a job in Georgia results in this Georgia kid staying in-state.

[TrumpCard]

3) Very interesting that UCLA was pressing for the LOI.  I imagine they knew about the Ulbrich news and were trying to lock in Smith before word got out.  That in and of itself should make Smith weary of UCLA.

That should make anyone wary of UCLA.  There are many different ways to sell.  Dishonesty often works, but being dishonest has costs.

[TrumpCard]

3) Very interesting that UCLA was pressing for the LOI.  I imagine they knew about the Ulbrich news and were trying to lock in Smith before word got out.  That in and of itself should make Smith weary of UCLA.

That should make anyone wary of UCLA.  There are many different ways to sell.  Dishonesty often works, but being dishonest has costs.

[Redrum]

If Smith is making his decision based on Ulbrich, this might make sense if Ulbrich were going to UGA and Smith wanted to play for him.  But Ulbrich ends up with an NFL team, say, the Falcons, he still would have no contact or involvement with Smith in college.  So it starts looking like some weird man-crush on Smith's part. 

Maybe Ulbrich is renowned for his creative and "feature" use of linebackers in his defenses. I dunno.  Otherwise, it looks like Smith's desire to play way out west for UCLA was just barely winning out against the pull of playing in front of the homies in GA...and Ulbrich's potential departure ruined the deal.

[Redrum]

If Smith is making his decision based on Ulbrich, this might make sense if Ulbrich were going to UGA and Smith wanted to play for him.  But Ulbrich ends up with an NFL team, say, the Falcons, he still would have no contact or involvement with Smith in college.  So it starts looking like some weird man-crush on Smith's part. 

Maybe Ulbrich is renowned for his creative and "feature" use of linebackers in his defenses. I dunno.  Otherwise, it looks like Smith's desire to play way out west for UCLA was just barely winning out against the pull of playing in front of the homies in GA...and Ulbrich's potential departure ruined the deal.

[BostonCard]

If Smith is making his decision based on Ulbrich, this might make sense if Ulbrich were going to UGA and Smith wanted to play for him.  But Ulbrich ends up with an NFL team, say, the Falcons, he still would have no contact or involvement with Smith in college.  So it starts looking like some weird man-crush on Smith's part. 

Maybe Ulbrich is renowned for his creative and "feature" use of linebackers in his defenses. I dunno.  Otherwise, it looks like Smith's desire to play way out west for UCLA was just barely winning out against the pull of playing in front of the homies in GA...and Ulbrich's potential departure ruined the deal.

Nobody likes making a decision that involves an unknown quality; it's just human nature (thus the expression "better the devil you know").  If he goes to UCLA, his defensive coordinator will be completely unknown.  One can understand some trepidation in stepping into such an unknown, even though the chances that even if Ulbrich had stayed at UCLA, he would have remained defensive coordinator for the next four to five years are slim.

BC

[BostonCard]

If Smith is making his decision based on Ulbrich, this might make sense if Ulbrich were going to UGA and Smith wanted to play for him.  But Ulbrich ends up with an NFL team, say, the Falcons, he still would have no contact or involvement with Smith in college.  So it starts looking like some weird man-crush on Smith's part. 

Maybe Ulbrich is renowned for his creative and "feature" use of linebackers in his defenses. I dunno.  Otherwise, it looks like Smith's desire to play way out west for UCLA was just barely winning out against the pull of playing in front of the homies in GA...and Ulbrich's potential departure ruined the deal.

Nobody likes making a decision that involves an unknown quality; it's just human nature (thus the expression "better the devil you know").  If he goes to UCLA, his defensive coordinator will be completely unknown.  One can understand some trepidation in stepping into such an unknown, even though the chances that even if Ulbrich had stayed at UCLA, he would have remained defensive coordinator for the next four to five years are slim.

BC

[CowboyIndian]

Are we talking about the guy who blew up at Mora on the sidelines during a game?

[CowboyIndian]

Are we talking about the guy who blew up at Mora on the sidelines during a game?

[CTcard]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

Somewhat amusingly, he already discussed his ambivalence towards UCLA in the interview forwarded in the thread "Our non-aggressive recruiting costing us?".
http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php/...686.0.html

He said he hadn't done any paperwork yet, and he was going to go home and if by the end of the day it's still feeling the same then he'll stick with it, and if not he may ... you know.

I guess we know it wasn't feeling the same.
Wonder if he had heard any rumors about the DC yet.

[CTcard]

It seems a coveted recruit in Georgia disappointed the hometown fans by choosing UCLA over UGA. But because the ceremony ran long and he met with so many fans and reporters, he delayed filing the paper work. UCLA started to call the school to find out what was the delay. Just as he was about to fax it in to UCLA, reports started to surface that UCLA's DC is going to the Falcons. Now he's put his decision on hold.

Somewhat amusingly, he already discussed his ambivalence towards UCLA in the interview forwarded in the thread "Our non-aggressive recruiting costing us?".
http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php/...686.0.html

He said he hadn't done any paperwork yet, and he was going to go home and if by the end of the day it's still feeling the same then he'll stick with it, and if not he may ... you know.

I guess we know it wasn't feeling the same.
Wonder if he had heard any rumors about the DC yet.

[StanFan88]

Are we talking about the guy who blew up at Mora on the sidelines during a game?

Yep same guy

[StanFan88]

Are we talking about the guy who blew up at Mora on the sidelines during a game?

Yep same guy

[FarmBoy]

Well, the saga ends with a nice loss for UCLA

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...57568.html

His commitment to Georgia would give the Bulldogs 29 signees once he enrolls.

29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

[FarmBoy]

Well, the saga ends with a nice loss for UCLA

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...57568.html

His commitment to Georgia would give the Bulldogs 29 signees once he enrolls.

29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

[rudruff]

Spurrier had a good zinger about always wanting to play Georgia early when all their starters were still serving suspensions.

[rudruff]

Spurrier had a good zinger about always wanting to play Georgia early when all their starters were still serving suspensions.

[CTcard]

29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

Exactly what goes into handling the numbers over 25 is complicated.
It is typically a combination of:
a) enrolling guys in the spring which allows the option of counting them vs the previous class if spots are available.
b) academic casualties.
c) legal casualties.
d) telling kids their scholarship will be delayed (grey/blue/other color shirting). Sometimes this is agreed upon ahead of time, sometimes last minute.
e) convincing kids that their lifetime dream was actually to attend directional-state U, which has scholarships available.
f) just telling the kid they have no scholarship when they go to enroll in the fall.

Over the last several cycles Georgia has signed (counting backwards - according to Scout): 29, 21, 33, 19, 26.
That's an average of 25.6.
It's not completely impossible that all, or almost all, of these folks ended up on scholarship at UGa - but I doubt it.

[CTcard]

29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

Exactly what goes into handling the numbers over 25 is complicated.
It is typically a combination of:
a) enrolling guys in the spring which allows the option of counting them vs the previous class if spots are available.
b) academic casualties.
c) legal casualties.
d) telling kids their scholarship will be delayed (grey/blue/other color shirting). Sometimes this is agreed upon ahead of time, sometimes last minute.
e) convincing kids that their lifetime dream was actually to attend directional-state U, which has scholarships available.
f) just telling the kid they have no scholarship when they go to enroll in the fall.

Over the last several cycles Georgia has signed (counting backwards - according to Scout): 29, 21, 33, 19, 26.
That's an average of 25.6.
It's not completely impossible that all, or almost all, of these folks ended up on scholarship at UGa - but I doubt it.

[Mick]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=11692.msg113110#msg113110 date=1423845354]
29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

Exactly what goes into handling the numbers over 25 is complicated.
It is typically a combination of:
a) enrolling guys in the spring which allows the option of counting them vs the previous class if spots are available.
b) academic casualties.
c) legal casualties.
d) telling kids their scholarship will be delayed (grey/blue/other color shirting). Sometimes this is agreed upon ahead of time, sometimes last minute.
e) convincing kids that their lifetime dream was actually to attend directional-state U, which has scholarships available.
f) just telling the kid they have no scholarship when they go to enroll in the fall.

Over the last several cycles Georgia has signed (counting backwards - according to Scout): 29, 21, 33, 19, 26.
That's an average of 25.6.
It's not completely impossible that all, or almost all, of these folks ended up on scholarship at UGa - but I doubt it.
[/quote]

I imagine they find a way to get non productive players off the squad.  I notice every other year is a "light" year.

[Mick]

[quote author=FarmBoy link=topic=11692.msg113110#msg113110 date=1423845354]
29 signees? Yikes, do they forecast 5-10 attrition from each class for academic or behavioral issues?

Exactly what goes into handling the numbers over 25 is complicated.
It is typically a combination of:
a) enrolling guys in the spring which allows the option of counting them vs the previous class if spots are available.
b) academic casualties.
c) legal casualties.
d) telling kids their scholarship will be delayed (grey/blue/other color shirting). Sometimes this is agreed upon ahead of time, sometimes last minute.
e) convincing kids that their lifetime dream was actually to attend directional-state U, which has scholarships available.
f) just telling the kid they have no scholarship when they go to enroll in the fall.

Over the last several cycles Georgia has signed (counting backwards - according to Scout): 29, 21, 33, 19, 26.
That's an average of 25.6.
It's not completely impossible that all, or almost all, of these folks ended up on scholarship at UGa - but I doubt it.
[/quote]

I imagine they find a way to get non productive players off the squad.  I notice every other year is a "light" year.