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AUBIGJOE
(68.220.225.28) on 2/8/2008 - 2:32 p.m. says: ( 34 views
, 2 likes
)
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"W.D.E. SENT ME THIS E-MAIL RE:RECRUITING"
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CONTEXT ADDED BY ADMIN:
END OF CONTEXT
FROM THE EDITOR OF LINDY'S------VERY GOOD LOOOOOOOOONG READ. . . .
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 4:30 AM
Subject: Fw: Good take on the "demise" of our football program....
FOUND THIS INTERESTING.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Pretty solid analysis from Lyn Scarbrough, director of marketing services at
Lindy's Sports Annuals, sent in a private email distribution to all the
panicky Auburn fans who flooded his inbox yesterday after buying in to
Sa6ear recruiting masturbation. Just remember that when those bammers come
up to talk recruiting smak all you've got to do is hold up 6.... And if that
doesn't work, tell them to go choke on a cock.
-War Eagle
Chris "Chip" Miller
c/o '03
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Folks --
Several people called or sent e-mail messages asking my thoughts about the
Auburn football recruiting class and if gloom-and-doom is just around the
corner.
Some sports guys have a blog . I don't since I don't know what that is or
how to do one . so I have to stick to the old e-mail method. So, for
whatever it's worth (likely very little) here are my thoughts about the
questions that were asked today.
The questions and answers are in the Attachment with this message. The
attachment is long ... actually took the time to answer the five questions
that I was asked today ... so I apologize in advance for the length. If you
don't have several minutes to read it ... or if you don't really care about
football recruiting ... just delete it or put it away for later.
And, a disclaimer . I have not officially talked to anybody with the
football staff, so I have no inside information. These are just my
observations.
-- Lyn
Question - Why was Auburn so unsuccessful in recruiting this year?
Answer - I'm not sure that they were unsuccessful. For sure, Alabama got the
vast majority of top-ranked recruits in Alabama, so from that Auburn
perspective, it's not good.
But the most important question is, did it meet Auburn's needs? With Cox
graduating and Field transferring, QB depth was needed. Auburn brings in a
top junior college transfer, along with the top QB in Alabama and in
Georgia, where Deron Furr's team went undefeated and won the state title. No
running backs needed . Tate, Lester, Fannin, Tristan Davis return . but they
signed the top RB in Alabama, along with the country's #4 fullback,
according to Rivals, plus 4-star McCalebb, who could also be a RB. Auburn
returns two tight ends and signed two more. There was virtually no need at
offensive line with nine of the top 10 returning, including two Freshmen
All-Americans. But, Auburn still signed arguably the top OL in the country,
Jermaine Johnson. Wide receiver? Returning next season - Smith, Hawthorne,
Billings, Dunn, Slaughter, Zachery (who am I leaving out?). But they still
signed at least three more, including possibly the fastest group ever
signed in any Auburn class. On the defe
nsive side, Auburn needs defensive line depth . returning quality is
definitely no problem. So, they signed four at DL including 5-star Raven
Gray, plus Savage and Henderson, two outstanding in-state guys. It would
have been good to get more linebackers, but if you can, watch film on LB
Spencer Pybus from Dothan. He is only ranked 2-stars, but after watching
him, you'll wonder why. Auburn signed four guys listed at DB, plus a couple
of guys called "athletes" that could play DB. There was no need for kickers
since the entire kicking team last season were freshmen and two of them made
second-team Freshman All-American. So, could this recruiting class have been
higher ranked . absolutely. Did Auburn get beat on several outstanding
players . for sure. Did Auburn meet its needs with good players? Looks that
way to me.
Question - Why is Auburn's class ranked so low? Doesn't that prove how bad
the class is?
Answer - Ranked low depends on what you're comparing it with. For sure, if
you compare it to Alabama's class, it will be low since they are in the Top
3 of every recruiting service. But, take an objective look at the class
rankings. The numbers below are from Rivals since we (Lindy's) partner with
them on editorial and marketing things.
Rankings of SEC Teams (with national ranking)
1. Alabama (#1)
2. Florida (#3)
3. Georgia (#6)
4. LSU (#11)
5. Auburn (#20)
6. South Carolina (#22)
7. Mississippi (#24)
8. Tennessee (#36)
9. Arkansas (#37)
10. Mississippi State (#45)
11. Kentucky (#57)
12. Vanderbilt (#89)
So, among SEC teams, Auburn is fifth. And, Auburn is in the Top 20, which
represents the top 10% of all teams nationally.
Don't just compare to Alabama and Florida. Compare to other traditional
national powers . Tennessee ranked #36 was able to get only 18 signees, none
ranked 5-star and only 15 ranked 3-star or above (by comparison, Auburn
signed two 5-stars and 22 ranked 3-star or above) . Penn State ranked # 42
signed only 14 players, none 5-star . West Virginia followed up its great
season with the #44 class, none 5-star . Nebraska ranked #30, Wisconsin
ranked #41, Georgia Tech #49.
So, is Auburn's class really that poorly ranked? Maybe you will think so if
you insult yourself by listening to Finebaum and similar things. You know
what they say . Perception is reality. The anti-Auburn media will do its
best to create the perception that Auburn's football program is about to
collapse because Alabama got good high school players. You can buy into that
if you want to, but perception is NOT always reality.
Question - Why did Auburn get beat on so many players this year?
Answer - Auburn faced the perfect storm of recruiting challenges. First, the
defensive coordinator leaves just a few weeks before signing day when
relationships had been solidified. Several players listed that as a primary
reason. Second, the offense coordinator changed in late December bringing a
new system. Again, relationships had been built and at least two indicated
that the change to the spread was important in their change. Third, the
Tuberville-to-Arkansas/Texas A&M non-controversy, which the media did its
best to foster in order to hurt Auburn recruiting. It was used against
Auburn by other coaches. Fourth, the power of what Alabama has to sell this
year. Here's the pitch . Come here and you can play quickly. Our team has
lost 13 games the past two years and has a losing SEC record over the past
five years. Surely, you can beat out some of these guys. We used to have
tradition before you were born and you can be a part of bringing it back.
We are getting great media covera
ge, so you'll be on television and in print a lot. Come and be a part of
something great, bringing back a program. Or would you rather go to Auburn
or LSU or Georgia or Florida where they are already loaded with quality
depth and you won't get to play as often or as soon? Now, if somebody can't
sell that to players, they need to quit their jobs. Surely, if you pay
somebody $4 million and he loses six games, including to Louisiana-Monroe,
you should expect him to be able to succeed with that sales pitch. If you
couldn't sell that this year, when would you ever be able to sell it?
So, there were a lot of factors working against Auburn. There is a
difference in an "excuse" and a "reason." There's still no
"excuse" for
losing so many head-to-head considerations with Alabama, and losing several
last minute defections to other schools, but it does give some "reasons"
that contributed.
Question - Does this mean Alabama will start dominating on the field, too?
Answer - It hasn't happened in the last 25 years, so why should it happen
soon?
From Auburn's perspective, look back at the first answer for the returning
quality depth for next season. Auburn still has Coach Tuberville and the
core staff that has been with him since the beginning at Auburn. The
schedule turns in Auburn's favor with LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas
at home, plus Bama in Tuscaloosa where they've never won.
From Alabama's perspective, they return fewer players than Auburn, which
could be a good thing since they are 13-13 in the last two seasons. They
play on the road at LSU, Georgia and Tennessee. Do we think any of those
teams are going to roll over and play dead because Alabama recruited good
high school players? They open against Clemson, which also signed a great
recruiting class. If you watched Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and watched
Alabama in the Independence Bowl, do you really think Clemson should lose
that game?
In the long run, if Alabama continues to dominate in-state recruiting like
this year and Auburn again loses defections of good players at the last
minute, it could make a big enough impact that the balance of power could
turn. Auburn coaches need to realize the recruiting threat posed by this
renewed Alabama situation and not let this happen again to this magnitude.
Alabama will probably finally start winning a few against Tennessee, LSU and
Auburn . they are 4-20 against those three teams this decade . but I don't
think it will happen consistently for a while, if it happens.
Question - Are you losing confidence in Coach Tuberville and his staff?
Answer - No. I think this Auburn staff is the best in the SEC in evaluating
talent, then getting the most of it when it gets on the field. How many
under-ranked all-stars have been at Auburn during Tuberville's highly
successful time at Auburn? It has been a common thing. I think they put a
high priority on getting players that really want to come to Auburn, not
arm-twisting players that are stringing Auburn out. I trust that this staff
will continue to put a high priority on good behavior and citizenship. I
don't think Auburn will have many players arrested in bars or in fights or
have our team captains arrested in the middle of highways. And, if that does
happen, I'm proud that based on past history, the consequences will be swift
and firm and made public, even if it is your best linebacker and you're
getting ready to play a national championship contender. I'm glad that the
coaches are willing to take a chance on guys that may not be the
greatest students in high school, giving
them a chance to prepare elsewhere and then come to Auburn . and that when
players do enroll at Auburn, they demand satisfactory academics and have
consequences if that fails. I'm glad that our coaches won't lie to players,
virtually guaranteeing them freshmen playing time in order to sway their
decision. I'm glad that this coaching staff conducts itself in a way that
makes Auburn proud and requires that same thing from its players. Let other
coaching staffs be investigated for improper recruiting contacts. Let other
coaching staffs have to continually apologize for the actions of their
players. I'll take what Auburn people get from their coaching staff any day.
Until I see evidence to the contrary, I see no reason to begin doubting the
Auburn coaching staff's judgment about players and their relationship with
them.
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THE HEAD COACH,
AND THE Q.B., 
TO MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT IN THE LAND OF OZ.