I wish there were more consistent rules on the scholarship situation. The Gators are forced by our administration to not go over 85 even if we know someone is going to transfer, I think that is pushing it to far. However............we have a perfect example here Notre Dame is on the list presented by a Notre Dame fan. However several Notre Dame fans dispute that number. Regardless there it is in black and white, not very meaningful in my opinion but there it is. Gipper gives us a blow by blow account as to how Alabama gets to 85, the word link appears a lot but I don't see how to link. While I do think Saban pushes the issue a bit I don't see anything on that list to be alarmed about and in fact see a lot of transfers from other schools for similar reasons. So I am not sure I get the point. Also if we are going player by player with Alabama how about what happened with the 2 Notre Dame players who were on that list that aren't there any longer? I find myself in agreement with Terry as usual. Something needs to be done. Four year scholarships seems like a good place to start. Some schools are doing that now. But in the meantime to knock another school when yours is on the list also rings kind of hollow to me. And by the way it's not even what the article was about.
Bill one of those 2 players who put us over the 85 player limit is Eddie Vanderdoes a highly recruited DL who signed a LOI and then later changed his mind. He was able to convince the LOI people that he deserved to be an exception, and he enrolled at UCLA. So instead of the 24 that are listed on that chart we only had 23. The other player who is listed on the 63 man part had to be Gunner Kiel, that list is Feb 19th and Gunner did not announce he was transfering to Cincinnati till April. The only other player expected back was Cierre Wood who opted for the NFL and annoucned in Jan so he's unlikely to be on a list made up in Feb. I know this is controversial and there is a lot of talk about it and I would like to see changes. But truth is no matter what Saban's motivations are be the good, uncaring about the kids, whatever. They are within the rules. I'm pretty sure that if the rules changed and he couldn't use the rules to his advantage then he'd still find a way to win. He's the best coach in college football right now.
Terry Grant had graduated and quit. To quote him "I just didn't want to do it anymore – it felt like the love for the game was gone,” Grant said. “I didn't think they needed me and I wanted out.” I guess that translates into "Scholarship not renewed" Travis Sikes had graduated, decided not to return and never really talked about it. I guess that translates into "scholarship not renewed". At least they weren't denied their education. Rod Woodson was kicked off of the team. He was expected to be a starter the season he was let go. Saban doesn't go into detail about disciplinary matters so I guess that falls under "Scholarship not renewed" as well. Grant and Woodson were being counted on to contribute at the time of their departure. Especially Woodson.
Deion Belue graduated from Alabama. He transferred from NE Miss Comm College to Alabama but he graduated from Alabama. ???
Well I guess I'm just a little skeptical. Unlike some here, I find it somewhat surprising that players who were recruited by Alabama at the top of the college football pyramid all of a sudden were willing to play for North Alabama, Holmes Community College, E. Miss Community College, California U of Penn., Miss Gulf Coast CC, and Ga. St. But hey, if you think that that is normal, lucky you. It would have been nice for these kids to have gotten a degree from UA but Miss. Gulf Coast CC is almost a good.
Gipper, I haven't gone back and checked all of the players on the list that you posted, but what I am saying is that at least parts of the list you posted is not true. If you think that is normal, lucky you. Sid, Yes it is that Ron Woodson. Junior had had some problems before getting to Alabama and His dad and Saban had connections, so Saban offered him a chance at Alabama. Junior screwed the pooch, Dad and Saban tried hard to get Junior to come around with no luck. My understanding is that Senior was in full agreement with Saban on kicking him off of the team, but again Saban won't disclose details about disciplinary actions so I don't have any facts to back that up.
Well the original topic was football in the south. While this is not just about football it is about the south and football is mentioned. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/chrEsZffie8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0"></iframe>
At least we have a "limit" of 85 establshed. How about in the good ole days of Bear and Bammer when their #115th player was probably better than your #15 player on the roster. 8)
You know scholarship limitations was one of the best moves the NCAA ever made. It gave all sorts of kids the opportunity, whether they wanted ti or not , to play. When the big schools could recruit 50 kids a year if they wanted it kept a lot of kids from going to then next level. Somebody once asked Daryl Royal why he recruited so many QB's, and I think his response is that if they were on his bench he didn't have to face them.
Terry, That was one of the accusations against Coach Bryant as well. He signed guys he knew wouldn't play for him just so they couldn't play for Auburn, Tennessee or LSU.
:idea: A friend of mine was recruited by the Bear. He said that the Bear locked him and his uncle (his guardian) in a classroom and wouldn't allow them to escape until they both signed a letter promising that he would never play for any SEC team except Alabama. They signed and he let them leave. My pal eventually played his college ball at Cal...
Corey, Who cares? Finebaum puts out so much BS that he has to be right sometime. All he wants is for you to click on his links.
There wasn't any discussion about Finebaum being right or wrong, just an article that quickly took off in another direction.
KP, Noted. I was just suggesting that, while the author is both troll and asshole, that doesn't mean he's wrong. Sheesh, I'd think you SEC guys would be happy I'm agreeing with something about the SEC being the top conference annually. I'll be interested to see how the playoff system goes.
Corey, That's where I disagree with a lot of people concerning Finebaum (and other writers, I have no respect for), I really believe he is an entertainer that is only interested in selling his stuff. Sometimes that means he writes stuff I agree with and most of the time he writes stuff I don't agree with, but I believe he always writes and now talks about stuff to just generate controversy and thereby attentention. By listening or clicking on his articles I would only be cooperating in his "show", so I stopped participating in his charade several years ago. 8)
KP, I actually agree. If you've ever heard him when he's called on the carpet (and I presume you have), he's got quite a knowledge of the game and the intricacies of the SEC. It's a shame he's a bomb thrower, but he makes a lot more money being a bomb thrower than he does a responsible journalist.