Recruits being treated fairly

[gainesvol82]

Can we please stop all of the complaining about how recruits haven't been treated well because they were encouraged to explore other options? The whining about Kiffin doing it a week before NSD is ridiculous. NSD is not a deadline for any recruit and is the first day they can sign a LOI. If the talent is as good as people think then they will have no problem finding room on a roster or can try their luck at UT because they still will have a scholarship and a free education. Kiffin doesn't owe them PT and most coaches would get the kid on the Hill and let him ride the pine(insert Fulmer reference).

Bottom line, CLK is being honest with these recruits and should be respected for it. It only makes sense that the more time our staff has, the better the prospects who will commit and the more you would expect the previous regime's recruits to lose chances at PT. Kiffin made it a point to keep the commits that he felt he needed and is setting a standard for going after the best players possible. His ability to keep the class so stable and have the luxury to turn away highly touted recruits is a testament to his abilities.

 

[ScVol$]

Amen

 

[erob3833]

agree

 

[volsgrad89]

The biggest problem is the timing of the issue. Unless, it is grades or some other underlying issue (possibly did something that showed bad character during his visit). Kiffin should have not waited 8 weeks to tell the kid. You don't fit the system. If, it is even what was said.

I am sure. The rest of the story will eventually surface. Until then, it is people's perogative to have an issue with Kiffin over waiting so long to inform this kid. Hopefully, it won't scare some other recruits away.

 

[First&Tenn]

The biggest problem is the timing of the issue. Unless, it is grades or some other underlying issue (possibly did something that showed bad character during his visit). Kiffin should have not waited 8 weeks to tell the kid. You don't fit the system. If, it is even what was said.

I am sure. The rest of the story will eventually surface. Until then, it is people's perogative to have an issue with Kiffin over waiting so long to inform this kid. Hopefully, it won't scare some other recruits away.

Perhaps something has changed. Kiffin thought the player might see time before, but he now sees a realistic chance that some recruits that better fit his system will sign with us.

 

[FLSTF-VOL]

Can we please stop all of the complaining about how recruits haven't been treated well because they were encouraged to explore other options? The whining about Kiffin doing it a week before NSD is ridiculous. NSD is not a deadline for any recruit and is the first day they can sign a LOI. If the talent is as good as people think then they will have no problem finding room on a roster or can try their luck at UT because they still will have a scholarship and a free education. Kiffin doesn't owe them PT and most coaches would get the kid on the Hill and let him ride the pine(insert Fulmer reference).

Bottom line, CLK is being honest with these recruits and should be respected for it. It only makes sense that the more time our staff has, the better the prospects who will commit and the more you would expect the previous regime's recruits to lose chances at PT. Kiffin made it a point to keep the commits that he felt he needed and is setting a standard for going after the best players possible. His ability to keep the class so stable and have the luxury to turn away highly touted recruits is a testament to his abilities.

I tell ya what, put yourself in this kids parents shoes and then tell me you feel the same way. Or better yet his shoes, five days before signing day! This is not good and regardless of how much anyone spins it, its not right.

If Kiffin's abilities are so great as an evaluator why did it take this long to tell the kid? Why stomp on the one kid that was a solid commitment throughout the process? Now his options are very limited with scholarship availability.

I was very much behind Kiffin, but this to me puts his integrity into question.

Slam me all you want but there is no way to spin this one.

 

[CaliVol]

I tell ya what, put yourself in this kids parents shoes and then tell me you feel the same way. Or better yet his shoes, five days before signing day! This is not good and regardless of how much anyone spins it, its not right.

If Kiffin's abilities are so great as an evaluator why did it take this long to tell the kid? Why stomp on the one kid that was a solid commitment throughout the process? Now his options are very limited with scholarship availability.

I was very much behind Kiffin, but this to me puts his integrity into question.

Slam me all you want but there is no way to spin this one.

Agree 100%. The timing is the biggest issue I have with the move.

 

[TheVol]

I tell ya what, put yourself in this kids parents shoes and then tell me you feel the same way. Or better yet his shoes, five days before signing day! This is not good and regardless of how much anyone spins it, its not right.

If Kiffin's abilities are so great as an evaluator why did it take this long to tell the kid? Why stomp on the one kid that was a solid commitment throughout the process? Now his options are very limited with scholarship availability.

I was very much behind Kiffin, but this to me puts his integrity into question.

Slam me all you want but there is no way to spin this one.

Or perhaps by NCAA rule he is not allowed to comment on ANY recruit or situation and you/I have NO idea about the situation. Just wait until after NSD and all these questions will be answered. How can you possibly question the integrity of either player or coach with NO knowledge of the situation?

Also, his opportunities or in no way limited if he is such a talent with no strings.

 

[gainesvol82]

I tell ya what, put yourself in this kids parents shoes and then tell me you feel the same way. Or better yet his shoes, five days before signing day! This is not good and regardless of how much anyone spins it, its not right.

If Kiffin's abilities are so great as an evaluator why did it take this long to tell the kid? Why stomp on the one kid that was a solid commitment throughout the process? Now his options are very limited with scholarship availability.

I was very much behind Kiffin, but this to me puts his integrity into question.

Slam me all you want but there is no way to spin this one.

The only way to spin it is as a negative towards Kiffin right? I don't feel sorry for any kid who doesn't have a backup plan while being recruited by a school going through a coaching change. I'm sure that 4 or 8 weeks ago DT was a much more appealing recruit. Once again, the scholarship was not pulled so your biased argument that Kiffin acted without integrity is erroneous. Erroneous on all accounts!

 

[champyvol]

I tell ya what, put yourself in this kids parents shoes and then tell me you feel the same way. Or better yet his shoes, five days before signing day! This is not good and regardless of how much anyone spins it, its not right.

If Kiffin's abilities are so great as an evaluator why did it take this long to tell the kid? Why stomp on the one kid that was a solid commitment throughout the process? Now his options are very limited with scholarship availability.

I was very much behind Kiffin, but this to me puts his integrity into question.

Slam me all you want but there is no way to spin this one.

i agree with you. he should have told the kid along time ago. it's very iffy.

 

[gainesvol82]

There is also speculation that Thigpen was interested in playing RB and he definitely wanted to play WR. I really couldn't see him doing either at UT. He could have a bigger impact in the Big 10 or at ND than just special teams at UT. He has a lot of guys in front of him at every position and I'm not sure that 4.4 speed with that size is going to be successful in the SEC. He would get jammed by CBs and wouldn't be faster than most of them. The guys his size that play in the SEC run in the 4.2 to low 4.3 range.

 

[gainesvol82]

I love it that all of the Fulmer supporters would rather Kiffin take him and never let him see the field and have a chance at a good college career. How ironic that you guys are criticizing CLK's ethics while Fulmer knowingly played less talented upperclassmen and talented kids didn't receive the proper attention and coaching and basically wasted their talent. Ever wonder why so many underclassmen were getting in trouble? They weren't allowed to contribute. Kiffin will get this program on the same page and ready to compete with each other and the rest of the SEC.

 

[FLSTF-VOL]

The only way to spin it is as a negative towards Kiffin right? I don't feel sorry for any kid who doesn't have a backup plan while being recruited by a school going through a coaching change. I'm sure that 4 or 8 weeks ago DT was a much more appealing recruit. Once again, the scholarship was not pulled so your biased argument that Kiffin acted without integrity is erroneous. Erroneous on all accounts!

How is it any more biased than what you just posted? Back up plan? WTF are you talking about? He has been committed since the beginning and Kiffin has had an ample amount of time to tell this kid that he didn't fit. Why would he need a back up plan?

I would imagine that he felt that since no one has let him on this little bit of information that he didn't need a freaking back up plan.

This kid wants to play football not sit on the bench for the sake of a scholarship. What choice does one really have when your potential coach tells you "that you don't fit the system and you may want to look elsewhere"?

Your a highly rated 4 star recruit that turned down every major college that recruited you because of your commitment to the University of Tennessee, took no official visits because of your commitment to the University of Tennessee, stuck with your commitment even after all of the turmoil and get told 5 days before signing day that you "may not fit the system". This is not some scrub, this kid has serious potential and could have went anywhere he wanted but he chose to stick with UT.

Yeah honor his scholarship. They might as well have pulled it out from under him because they really didn't give him a choice but to look else where.

So you wouldn't be one of these posters that crucify these recruits when they start de-commiting because of a coaching change? Or change their mind because of a visit they took? Just a back up plan right? yeah-right.

 

[champyvol]

I love it that all of the Fulmer supporters would rather Kiffin take him and never let him see the field and have a chance at a good college career. How ironic that you guys are criticizing CLK's ethics while Fulmer knowingly played less talented upperclassmen and talented kids didn't receive the proper attention and coaching and basically wasted their talent. Ever wonder why so many underclassmen were getting in trouble? They weren't allowed to contribute. Kiffin will get this program on the same page and ready to compete with each other and the rest of the SEC.

please don't label me as a fulmerite. everybody knows i was one of the first to call for fulmer's job, and one of his harshest critics. also kiffin was my first choice to replace fulmer. there is noway you can say he did right by this kid, he should have told him this when he told boyd. it was a bad move by kiffin there is noway you can justify it, he did the guy wrong. i mean it maybe better to find out late than never, but it's still wrong anyway you look at it. kiffin looks bad on this one.

 

[gainesvol82]

How is it any more biased than what you just posted? Back up plan? WTF are you talking about? He has been committed since the beginning and Kiffin has had an ample amount of time to tell this kid that he didn't fit. Why would he need a back up plan?

I would imagine that he felt that since no one has let him on this little bit of information that he didn't need a freaking back up plan.

This kid wants to play football not sit on the bench for the sake of a scholarship. What choice does one really have when your potential coach tells you "that you don't fit the system and you may want to look elsewhere"?

Your a highly rated 4 star recruit that turned down every major college that recruited you because of your commitment to the University of Tennessee, took no official visits because of your commitment to the University of Tennessee, stuck with your commitment even after all of the turmoil and get told 5 days before signing day that you "may not fit the system". This is not some scrub, this kid has serious potential and could have went anywhere he wanted but he chose to stick with UT.

Yeah honor his scholarship. They might as well have pulled it out from under him because they really didn't give him a choice but to look else where.

So you wouldn't be one of these posters that crucify these recruits when they start de-commiting because of a coaching change? Or change their mind because of a visit they took? Just a back up plan right? yeah-right.

Why did David Oku and Je'ron Stokes have backup plans? Stokes was committed even longer. Realistically, where would DT get on the field other than ST? Every recruit should have multiple options in case their first choice falls through. Their coaches and parents aren't doing right by them if they don't encourage them to explore their options.

You will never see me express more than disappointment if a recruits decommits or chooses another program. The comments criticizing the kids are ridiculous and make the program look bad. This is just a game and is not personal but it is these kid's futures. They have a right to be told if that future at the university will involve getting PT no matter how late in the process. DT could take the opportunity to garner more attention for himself and choose where he goes based on who has open positions where he thinks he would have a shot. The VA connection was falling apart anyway.

 

[gainesvol82]

please don't label me as a fulmerite. everybody knows i was one of the first to call for fulmer's job, and one of his harshest critics. also kiffin was my first choice to replace fulmer. there is noway you can say he did right by this kid, he should have told him this when he told boyd. it was a bad move by kiffin there is noway you can justify it, he did the guy wrong. i mean it maybe better to find out late than never, but it's still wrong anyway you look at it. kiffin looks bad on this one.

No, he looks brutally honest. That's not always a likeable trait but it is respectable and shows he means what he says. We picked up Oliver who is a bigger version of DT. DT probably had a better chance at PT until that point. He didn't tell him that he wouldn't get a scholly. Things change. This is a good lesson on the real world for Thigpen and Kiffin was more honest with him than most would have been.

 

[govolsman]

i agree with you. he should have told the kid along time ago. it's very iffy.

maybe things have transpired over the last few weekends that lead kiffin to believe that he will no longer be able to contribute substantially where he once thought he might, ie he feels very good about a few recruits. We don't know because Kiffin can't comment.

Regardless of how late in the recruiting season it is, if I were a recruit I would appreciate the coach letting me know so that I could explore my options instead of riding the pine because I committed to a school that picked up some great recruits at my position(s) after commitment.

And before someone says something about why would he take a chance on a recruit that he might get over a recruit that is committed I say this...a commit is no more a sure thing than any other recruit that a coach feels good about. kiffin may feel just as good about a recruit that hasn't come out and committed as he does about one that has. Neither is a sure thing until the signature is on the papers.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[FLSTF-VOL]

Why did David Oku and Je'ron Stokes have backup plans? Stokes was committed even longer. Realistically, where would DT get on the field other than ST? Every recruit should have multiple options in case their first choice falls through. Their coaches and parents aren't doing right by them if they don't encourage them to explore their options.

You will never see me express more than disappointment if a recruits decommits or chooses another program. The comments criticizing the kids are ridiculous and make the program look bad. This is just a game and is not personal but it is these kid's futures. They have a right to be told if that future at the university will involve getting PT no matter how late in the process. DT could take the opportunity to garner more attention for himself and choose where he goes based on who has open positions where he thinks he would have a shot. The VA connection was falling apart anyway.

You can spin it how ever you want and its not gonna make a difference. You don't tell a kid that has been committed for months that he may not fit the system five days before signing day. Three weeks ago he could have had his pick of schools, not so much now.

Now if you get your head outta Kiffins rear and open your eyes you may be able to see it.

And by the way I have never said that I wasn't a Kiffin fan or that I wouldnt support him. Yes I did like Fulmer, thought he was a good coach, but I also thought it was time for a change. Didn't like how it was done, but whats done is done.

I like Kiffin's chances, but this was wrong and it cast a negative shadow on the program.

 

[champyvol]

No, he looks brutally honest. That's not always a likeable trait but it is respectable and shows he means what he says. We picked up Oliver who is a bigger version of DT. DT probably had a better chance at PT until that point. He didn't tell him that he wouldn't get a scholly. Things change. This is a good lesson on the real world for Thigpen and Kiffin was more honest with him than most would have been.

and it still isn't right and i have a bad feeling it will hurt him next week.

 

[champyvol]

maybe things have transpired over the last few weekends that lead kiffin to believe that he will no longer be able to contribute substantially where he once thought he might, ie he feels very good about a few recruits. We don't know because Kiffin can't comment.

Regardless of how late in the recruiting season it is, if I were a recruit I would appreciate the coach letting me know so that I could explore my options instead of riding the pine because I committed to a school that picked up some great recruits at my position(s) after commitment.

And before someone says something about why would he take a chance on a recruit that he might get over a recruit that is committed I say this...a commit is no more a sure thing than any other recruit that a coach feels good about. kiffin may feel just as good about a recruit that hasn't come out and committed as he does about one that has. Neither is a sure thing until the signature is on the papers.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

may be true but still doesn't make it right. i hope the kid lands on his feet. i'm afraid it is going to comeback on kiffin next week.

 

[Blood Runs Orange]

You can spin it how ever you want and its not gonna make a difference. You don't tell a kid that has been committed for months that he may not fit the system five days before signing day. Three weeks ago he could have had his pick of schools, not so much now.

Now if you get your head outta Kiffins rear and open your eyes you may be able to see it.

And by the way I have never said that I wasn't a Kiffin fan or that I wouldnt support him. Yes I did like Fulmer, thought he was a good coach, but I also thought it was time for a change. Didn't like how it was done, but whats done is done.

I like Kiffin's chances, but this was wrong and it cast a negative shadow on the program.

Anyone who can't see the obvious truth in this statement....there is truly no point in trying to reason with that person.

 

[gainesvol82]

You can spin it how ever you want and its not gonna make a difference. You don't tell a kid that has been committed for months that he may not fit the system five days before signing day. Three weeks ago he could have had his pick of schools, not so much now.

Now if you get your head outta Kiffins rear and open your eyes you may be able to see it.

And by the way I have never said that I wasn't a Kiffin fan or that I wouldnt support him. Yes I did like Fulmer, thought he was a good coach, but I also thought it was time for a change. Didn't like how it was done, but whats done is done.

I like Kiffin's chances, but this was wrong and it cast a negative shadow on the program.

The steady stream of negativity mixed with your liking of Fulmer made you seem bitter. I doubt this will have much of an impact on our program just like Kiffin doubted that DT would have much of an impact on our progra. Obviously, we don't want to make this our normal operating procedure but Kiffin is having to work under tough circumstances and this is normal in the 1st class for a coach. You can't please everybody and Kiffin is doing an amazing job of building good inroads for future recruiting. Things are looking so up for the future of recruiting that this is very insignificant. I can understand it leaving a bad taste in your mouth if you choose to see it that way but most will see his honesty as refreshing. I'm sure DT would rather it happen this way than not be told at all and the fact is that the decision changed based on factors we don't completely know.

 

[gainesvol82]

and it still isn't right and i have a bad feeling it will hurt him next week.

may be true but still doesn't make it right. i hope the kid lands on his feet. i'm afraid it is going to comeback on kiffin next week.

Saying it isn't right implies that Kiffin owed DT something more than honoring the scholarship. He did that. This is no different than if Kiffin recruited a better player at the same position next year and DT never got to see the field because of it. Instead, DT got the benefit of that happening before he signed and he has other options, albeit more limited than previously but still some good options. I wouldn't call going to ND too bad of a deal for him or UCLA. He would help either of those teams more than he would UT.

 

[govolsman]

may be true but still doesn't make it right. i hope the kid lands on his feet. i'm afraid it is going to comeback on kiffin next week.

Then please tell me what is right about this...Kiffin has two straight weekends of big recruits coming in. He feels really good about several of them, and a couple of them that he feels that way about plays the same position as DT. He feels that DT is probably now going to get lost in the shuffle if he comes to UT. Instead of telling the kid, he decides that even though he probably won't play a lot, he will honor the scholly offer and let the kid ride the pine.

Exactly who does that benefit? Not Kiffin, because now he has a highly recruited player that he can't get on the field and is taking up a scholly. DT? Obviously not, because he wants to play ball but can't because he is stuck behind others on the depth chart.

Kiffin did the best thing he could do if the kid wants to play ball, and I assume he does. He tells him the scholly is his if he wants it, but it will be an uphill climb to get on the field. He can look at other options, or he can come here. The ball is in his court.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[Blood Runs Orange]

Then please tell me what is right about this...Kiffin has two straight weekends of big recruits coming in. He feels really good about several of them, and a couple of them that he feels that way about plays the same position as DT. He feels that DT is probably now going to get lost in the shuffle if he comes to UT. Instead of telling the kid, he decides that even though he probably won't play a lot, he will honor the scholly offer and let the kid ride the pine.

Exactly who does that benefit? Not Kiffin, because now he has a highly recruited player that he can't get on the field and is taking up a scholly. DT? Obviously not, because he wants to play ball but can't because he is stuck behind others on the depth chart.

Kiffin did the best thing he could do if the kid wants to play ball, and I assume he does. He tells him the scholly is his if he wants it, but it will be an uphill climb to get on the field. He can look at other options, or he can come here. The ball is in his court.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

This theory of course rests on a very large assumption...that is that Kiffin is going to get the guys he's "feeling good about."

In my mind, can't quite see the reasoning behind not wanting solid, all-purpose athletes on the roster.