A Couple of Quick Thoughts

by Todd on Apr 17, 2008 7:19 PM CDT in Quick Hits

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, but I've just been swamped at work and haven't had enough time to really do anything properly other than eat a lot of junk food and not get enough sleep. There are a couple of things that have happened this week, though, that I want to comment on.

First, Auburn fans really shouldn't try and talk shit about the misspelling of Antoine Caldwell's name.

And that's not to mention Auburn having the king of all embarassing photos to their credit.

Second, the scholarship brouhaha just won't die, as Rappaport went and got Saban all riled up at the A-Day press conference over it. SMQ has a good post up on it, which naturally references the great Bama/Brian Cook kerfluffle of a few months ago, but even he seems to be missing the point here. Saban and his staff are not stupid. They are all great recruiters and they all know how to make the numbers work without negatively affecting their ability to be great recruiters, i.e. not screwing a bunch of kids over and getting a reputation for being unable or unwilling to live up to their word. I suppose we're all just going to have to agree to disagree about the "sketchiness" of greyshirting (personally, if they're upfront with the recruit about that possibility and he still signs, then it doesn't sound sketchy to me), but as far as I'm concerned this is a non-story until there's some sort of proof that shady dealings are going on to make room for the incoming class. And by shady dealings, I mean things like this, not being honest enough to encourage a kid that hasn't played and isn't likely to play more than a snap on senior day that seeking some playing time elsewhere might be a good idea. Is SMQ right in thinking that coaches should be more transparent with the public and, more importantly, their players and recruits on how they are doing this and that official steps should be taken to guarantee that transparency? Yeah, he is. But until there's a reason to single out Nick Saban as the poster child for what's wrong with college football recruiting then this is all a load of crap.

Update [2008-4-17 21:59:6 by Todd]:

Picture Me Rollin also has an excellent read on the perception of Saban by the national media that's worth checking out.

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

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Comments

well i agree with one sentance that Jay Coulter

wrote:

What would we do without Alabama?

In all reality what would Auburn do without Alabama. What is a little brother with no sibilings?

God I hate that blog.

Cause bama's pluck and gritt has writ her name in crimson flame.

by pluckandgritt on Apr 17, 2008 8:02 PM CDT 0 recs

awBarn will always be # 2...

the funny thing is you can even get some of the barners to admit it.
The boogs have beaten the TIDE 6 in a row and I still have no respect for their program.
The streak ends in T-TOWN!!!

tubbs sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

by BAMA PHREAK on Apr 17, 2008 9:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

New Commit

Offensive Tackle Kellen Williams from GA commits to the Tide. I'm sure OTS will have more info soon

To hell with Auburn!

by AndrewUA on Apr 17, 2008 8:30 PM CDT 0 recs

saw that commit...

seems like a beast on film, fast for his size, always finishing his blocks.
Hard worker, full qualifier, everything a coah wants.
Nicktator got on this kid before most. No worries of Williams changing his mind bc he is a LIFE long tidefan.

THE PROCESS CONTINUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tubbs sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

by BAMA PHREAK on Apr 17, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

God Auburn fans are idiots

I mean seriously. They are worried about a slight misspelling in ALABAMA when they have beaten us 6 years straight! Priorities, man, priorities.

Those guys are classless losers. They have a coach that nobody wants, a fanbase that is wishy-washy at best, and a tradition of getting their ass handed to them by the Tide.

Let's see what the next few years have in store...

"FAILURE" - When your best just isn't good enough

by BamaReturns07 on Apr 17, 2008 10:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Track 'Em Tigers

When you want to know what's going on with Alabama football, but are in the mood for something bitter.

by TideFaninTN on Apr 18, 2008 8:52 AM CDT 0 recs

I would love...

I would love to know what percentage of Auburn blog posts are spent talking about Alabama.

Roll Tide!

by Nico2.0 on Apr 18, 2008 9:35 AM CDT 0 recs

Ramblings...

I am not sure how I feel about the cut in scholarships. I think I would care a lot less if players were given the same rights as the programs. If a player could leave at the end of any year, and take another scholarship anywhere else (since scholarships are one year promises) it would resemble something at least similar to free movement. It is just incredibly hypocritical when you have coaches who will not let players transfer (Charlie Weis), and talk about how they expect players to meet their obligations.

I would also be incredibly disingenious if I said that I would not do the same thing in coaches places. The fact is that college football is a business, and you are not going to be successful unless you are winning. We all know that you have to have the players if you are going to succed, especially in the SEC. It would of little comfort to anyone if you were out of a job.

There is also the question that no one ever asks. Are the players doing what they need to do in order to maintain their scholarships? People have a tendency to talk about the poor children, and use anecdotal evidence of how a friend's friend got screwed over at some university. Is it not right to ask are the players doing everything the coaches are asking them to do (class, working out, and competition)? Is it okay for coaches to eliminate those players? I would think most people would agree that those are players that can be bad influences on the team, and should go.

In the end I have no idea how I really feel about this. The Libertarian in me feels like competition is a must in anything we do, and fostering that competion is a must for any program. I guess my biggest problem is how the NCAA creates such a double-standard for the athletes.

Sorry, for the incongruent ramblings. I guess we will see how this all ends up. I assume we may still see another medical scholarship (Ezekiel Knight), another player kicked off the team (Prince Hall), and some transferring. One thing we can be certain is that there will be tremedous scrutinity as to what happens to the scholarships.

by kennybk483 on Apr 18, 2008 10:30 AM CDT 0 recs

Welcome to the real world.

In order to work at my company, I have to sign an employee agreement that stipulates I will not go to work for a competitor or a customer for at least one year if I leave the company. If I leave of my own volition, or I am laid off, the agreement remains in force. This is standard practice in the technology industry, where intellectual property is a major portion of any company's investment.

The company can let me go at any time, for any reason. They are not beholden to me. Yet, I still have to live up to this agreement. Seem unfair? Yes. Is it standard practice? Yes.

So, why do they keep me onboard? Because I am delivering value to the company! If I am no longer valuable, I am gone. Why should they pay me if I am not delivering value?

Welcome to the real world, kids! Mommie's not here to cuddle you and wipe your tears. Grow up and be a man while you're in the relatively coddled life of a student-athlete. 'Cause if you don't, the real world is going to eat your ass alive.

BamaFrazier

by BamaFrazier on Apr 18, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fair is Fair

My daughter has an academic scholarship to UA right now. But in order to keep her scholarship she has to maintain her grade point average. Why should football players not have to play up to some level? And if a player get's injured he can get a medical scholarship.

And by the way, if my daughter got sick and missed a bunch of classes, and her grades went down, it would just be tough luck.

by 5026 on Apr 18, 2008 11:13 AM CDT 0 recs

Ian Rapoport

knows what pushes Coach Saban's buttons and likes to do it. It's a challenge for him to get a reaction. I wish Coach would just say "no comment" instead of being so predictable. With the negative impact it would have on recruiting to just throw players under the bus, there's no doubt in my mind CNS has a plan and knows exactly how to make the numbers work.

There will always be people who love things like the misspelling of Antoine's name because it makes them feel justified in keeping the stereotype going of us being "ignorant". One thing on Track 'Em Tiggers I thought was funny, though, was a guy called Coach "Sabear".

by bamavicki on Apr 18, 2008 3:07 PM CDT 0 recs