Ladies and gentlemen, presenting a bullish Tom Lemming:
“If they get those guys they will finish somewhere like third, fourth or fifth, maybe higher,” said Lemming, who has Drew and Rome No. 1 at their respective positions and Crowell number four. “Alabama, who is already No. 1, is going to be tough to beat, especially if they end up getting Jadeveon Clowney. Texas already has a great class, even though they recently lost their best player to Auburn. Florida State and LSU have good classes. Then there’s USC, who was supposed to be limited with 15 scholarships but is loading up because of their NCAA appeal. But Georgia’s going to be in that mix.”
The Bulldogs’ class currently ranks No. 8 by Scout.com, No. 9 by Rivals and 11 by ESPNU/Scouts Inc.
“A lot of it has to do with Mark Richt,” Lemming said. “He probably doesn’t get enough credit for being a great recruiter. And it’s Georgia itself. It’s the state school. I’ve been driving through there for 32 years and kids grow up wanting to be Bulldogs, no matter what the situation is.”
Boom.
This is (one of) the reason why we should never have a losing season. Folks can make all the excuses they want, but this program (imo) hasn’t hit its stride yet. A sleeper in some respects. All the resources you could ever want – major $$, fan passion and dedication, top facilities, a committed AD with brains and red and black blood, and talent out the ears.
Those things alone do not make us unique at all, but it’s rare to find the combination of resources that we possess. That DOES make us relatively unique and potentially very special. The ingredient (of course) is the right coach. That is TBD.
I agree. By those measures (resources, fan passion, top facilities, committed AD — where “resources” includes being the flagship program in extraordinarily rich recruiting grounds), we are comparable to Texas, Ohio State, and Florida.
Call me crazy but didn’t Texas just go 5-7?
which is why many believe Mack is washed up.
Just a year after playing for the championship…
If this trend hols up, watch out Oregon, Chip Kelly is just about washed up.
Indeed, which is ludicrous. But Texans believe Mack has fallen short of potential. They may be the one fanbase more spoiled and delusional than Florida. But yes, the are questioning Mack Brown.
And didn’t FLA just go 8-5? And their coach quit?
Well said, Jax. Some day, some coach is going to capitalize on all of UGA’s assets. Just wish it would come soon.
I look at us and see Florida circa 1990, but with more success (obviously). Some hits and misses but everyone (and I mean everyone) sees the potential just lying there waiting to be exploited.
The right coach combined with the focus and commitment of the AD and Pres could lead to heights never seen in Athens. And I’m 39 and understand what that means.
Don’t really get why Lemming, or our fans, care about the rank of the class. It is much more significant to fill your needs with specific positions and good class spacing. I don’t care if Bama is ranked first in recruiting with UGA anywhere in the Top 15. Just get the right kids and work with them, and win SEC championships. I want to pass TN as 2nd in the number of SEC titles, and we need one more to catch them..
I’m guessing you’re not that old guy in the red windbreaker standing out front of Butts-Mehre at 8am on NSD?
If my phone still isn’t ringing, is it still not you? I hope every Dawg is excited Tuesday (Lord knows we need some positive feelings around here) but I just will not let 18 year olds play me like a violin. They have to think adult fans are just goofy.
Exactly. Couldn’t have said it any better.
The Tom Lemming tag may be my favorite one ever.
I will admit that I was a doubter about how the coaches would close on this class. Whether the rank of the class means anything or not, I at least have the feeling that the momentum of the program is headed in a much different direction than it was a month or so ago. I may be slightly influenced by the Hoke hire at Michigan. DO NOT WANT.
For those that missed it, Florida’s recruiting coordinator is leaving for OSU – Stan Drayton, RB coach. I would love nothing more than to see their class completely crumble. F em and their new coach.
Yes, especially if some of the crumbs went our way. Go Dawgs!
That’s nice to hear. Hopefully they all won’t be redshirted.
Kill it with fire!!!
I don’t think Saban really cares where his class ranks, as long as the class meets his needs. I think he has done that with this class. As Georgia fans, I don’t see how you guys don’t keep from pulling your hair out. Georgia has so much talent, and over the last couple of years, little to show for it. Well, at least Smart will have the cupboard full when he takes over in 2012.
Is that envy and arrogance I see creeping in? Goodness how soon you forget the decade long dumpster fire after Stallings and your subservience to Auburn in that time frame which became Alabama football. Mind your manners. You could be the next Texas if Satan bolts in a couple years. Smart ain’t Bama’s gift to Georgia. To be sure.
The only people who think Georgia fans want Smart are Alabama fans.
Well done, sir.
“As Georgia fans, I don’t see how you guys don’t keep from pulling your hair out.”
Dawg fans would be justified if they tarred & feathered coaches after last season.
As an Alabama fan, your grammar is lousy.
Also: With all that talent, the Tide still dropped 3 boners last year.
Ugh. My kingdom for an edit button.
LOL.
I tend to agree with you on most points, Georgia recruits year in and out out have been top 10 classes in Richt’s era. Results, not what you would expect. Richt is fine football coach with class and morals second to no coach in the SEC. Killer/dominant football instinct, Richt doesnt seem to have that instinct needed for the SEC. Michael Adams may get tired of coming up short and hire Kirby Smart. Smart would inherit a talented bunch of football players, indeed.
IF CMR WOULD STAY ON AS A RECRUTER AND WE GOT A FIRST RATE COACH WE WOULD BE IN THE TOP 10 EVERY YEAR.
FRED (or can I call you Fred?), it’s comments like this that make me glad I blog.
F*cking LOVE IT!
“Laaaaadies and Gentlemen, give it up for FRED!!!!!”
Fred, please put down the crack pipe and back away slowly.
Boom! FRED4AD.com.
Seriously, that’s just crazy talk. Like saying we ought to hire Donnan to come back and be OC. Or Ralph Freidgen-he’s available. Just crazy ideas like that which could never hap- Wait, what?
Yeah, the guy adds so little to the program. It is genuises like you that make everyone proud. Such depth of thinking.
Lemming must be jonesin’ for some UGA subscribers.
can you consider UGA the most underachieving team over the past 5 years? I mean, at least Mich was changing head coaches. What excuse do we have?
wardrobe malfunction?
trailers for sale or rent?
Rooms to let fifty cents.
Kevin, that excuse is no excuse. Poor Defense.
When you can not weekly count on your Defense to show up, you lose a lot more than you should.
Lemming must be on the outs with the Domers. He knows that a kid can’t get a good education in Fla, or anywhere in the South. An enemy suddenly coming over to my side really kicks my natural paronia into high gear. Listen up for the black choppers guys, I am putting on my foil cap to block the Lemming rays.
With respect to “Grantland Rice”.
When the one great scorer comes to write against you , he writes not whether you won or lost but how you coached your players. The wins will come if they are coached to their maximum potential.
So now we are the most underachieving team in the last 5 years? The last two yrs are well-deserved.
But the three prior years were not underachivements. 3 yrs ago we started the year #1 but finished 10-3 (just like Bama this year by the way.) 4 yrs ago was a BCS appearance and a #2 finish. 5 yrs ago we finished 9-3 with 4 straight wins over ranked opponents with a true freshman starting QB.
Most of the blogging world – Senator is an exception – or blogger commenter world – has no sense of perspective and use of rational facts.
Fred does.
You mean FRED DOES.
FRED!
I don’t know about any of you guys, but with all this recruiting talk, coaching talk, etc, etc. I just watched a few youtube videos of Mr. Ken Malcom. And from hearing comments from current players, he’s the real deal. Coaching is always easier with great players. So yes, recruiting is important…. and sometimes, not so much. Sorry, I’m a Libra.
That would be Malcome.
I didn’t find malcome’s you tube videos particularly impressive. However, Crowell’s are stunning. You dont see balance and tackle breaking ability like that too often. Who knows if it will translate to college but he was nearly impossible to bring down in H.S.