Living in this state, I've often wondered why Jimmy Barnes came to Alabama from Southern California. Now hear me out. This isn't a 'this area is better than this area' sort of subject. From the time he signed, I've listened to local media hounds and sports shows that just didn't seem to 'get' why the HS AA came all the way across the continent to play for Alabama. They seemed way more excited about their own Brody Croyle who was the QB at the time, and of course the Hoover HS super star John Parker Wilson. Its almost like they had this viewpoint of 'hey neat! we got one of them big armed kids from the west coast' and then case him off to obscurity. IMHO, the kid was destined to sit behind Croyle, the Wilson and then whoever is the next 'great' Alabama QB to come along in state. I had done a lot of asking around about the kid, and no one seems interested in even talking about him. "Big" and "Goofy" are often the terms passed around. To a person, most people I had spoken to, or listened to, thought the kid should just transfer in his best interest. Well, against some God aweful directional school this weekend for homecoming, the kid got in the game when JP Wilson got hurt. Now I am hearing some sports shows saying 'hey, for a kid who doesn't get much attention, he sure did look pretty good.' Now whether or not this kid is good enough to be the starter at Alabama, I'll leave to Coach Shula's discretion. My point/question is, 'why the skeptical cold shoulder?' One could make the arguement that Tennessee has done quiet well for themselves with Clausen and now Ainge. Both kids are West Coast products. (Clausen CA and Ainge OR). Both seemed to be received with much more fan fair in their state's than Barnes did with Alabama. IMHO, this is something that could be used against Bama in the future while looking west for a 5star QB prospect. I guess time will tell. This just seems like a weird situation to me. Its almost like he bothered them by coming to Bama. Maybe I'm wrong, but I sure do see a lot more hype about '3star' in-state kids than I do Barnes.
Corey, I think Mike Price recruited Barnes as a drop back, stay in the pocket qb. Good arm, not very mobile. As a freshman he wasn't going to get into the lineup while Croyle was still at Bama, and lets face it as bad as our offense has been Wilson may be the only bright spot. Mobile and strong accurate arm. I think if Price was still here Barnes might be the starter and Wilson might be playing somewhere else. As far as making it hard to recruit West Coast players, we don't go after many and we get fewer, in the future if Shula goes after one it will be one that suits his offense. I'm not sure if that's good thing but there it is.
Corey, I am hearing alot of positive comments on Barnes performance Saturday. You're not listening to Finebaum are you? He is now #2 behind Wilson as a redshirt freshman right? :wink:
I wish Feinbaum was still on XM Radio, I can't keep up with SEC football very well since he's not there! Terry
nope <t>I don't listen to the show. At work, I can't even have cell phones (hipaa laws etc). I do most of my checking either on the phone with people after work, or in person, or I listen to some shows out here in the Shoals area on the weekends when doing the weekend driving with my son. I dont really put a lot of stock into what I hear on the radio/tv, but a lot of that opinion is starting to match up with what I'm hearing in person or on the phone talking with people.<br/> <br/> It just seems like a potentially bad situation to me. Of course, the cure all is to just win. JP Wilson is a Hoover boy and they will love him so long as they win their 8+ games a year. I'm just struct by how cold the reception for Barnes is/was. As you said, however, people who know what talent is are starting to ask questions though. Even those who don't are starting to take notice as well.</t>
Corey, In all honesty, I didn't even remember where he was from. I just knew he was supposed to be a pocket type qb that was pretty slow. Also as a red-shirt freshmen I expect he will compete for the starting job every year. I can't imagine that any coach would not play him just because he was from California.