… was convincing the world that this kid existed.
My two cents: one, jeez, that’s beyond embarrassing and, two, I’m surprised it hadn’t happened before. And to think people shell out money for that. Well done, Rivals.
… was convincing the world that this kid existed.
My two cents: one, jeez, that’s beyond embarrassing and, two, I’m surprised it hadn’t happened before. And to think people shell out money for that. Well done, Rivals.
Filed under Recruiting
“Those 13 jerseys are going to be around a long time.”-- Brock Bowers, The Athletic, 1/10/23
It actually did happen before. Steve Patterson at ugasports.com back in the late 90’s strongly suspected the rival site was copying their recruiting info, so he invented Montego Powers, a freak 4-5 star athlete from a small, rural south Georgia HS. Sure enough, the rival (scout?) quickly listed him on their site as a 5 star recruit.
Even better, coaches started writing letters to the HS listed. Lou Holtz even said he was impressed by his film and wanted him to visit. Oh, there was another fake recruit from Miss, also back in the 90’s under similar circumstances, and coaches even visited the school to recruit him, only to be turned away by the amused HC.
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I obviously don’t follow recruiting closely enough. A point in my favor… 😉
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Tech actually graduated a fake student once–George P. Burdell. Shows how impressive a degree from Tech really is.
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Arthur McDuffy, out of Mississippi, was another player you had to see to believe!
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Yep, that’s the guy. I think the HS they had him listed at didn’t even have a team, yet all these coaches were showing up to see him.
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Well done, mischievous high school kids.
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Sid Finch nods in appreciation.
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I remember Sid! Heck of a fastball. Too bad his career was cut short by that awkward delivery.
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Russ: You beat me to it with Sid Finch
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There is a great story on this at
https://blutarsky.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/the-greatest-trick-the-recruiting-service-devil-played/
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Plainfield Teachers College says “HI”
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Maybe somebody heard me on the radio with the Packman.
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This made me think of a Lewis Grizzard column that had capsule reviews of fake prospects, including one nicknamed Scoot. “If want to get the Scoot, you gotta bring some loot” – or something like that.
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Just goes to show ya can’t believe every thing you read on the internet, conversation in the ladies restroom, what your waitress says…but brutha, what i see on GTP, gotta be the gospel…..
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Nothing new here. Just journalism majors doing what journalism majors do best. Copy each other without checking the facts. I.E. fake news.
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