IT'S GOOD TO SEE KIDS KEEPING THEIR WORD

Terry O'Keefe · Feb 8, 2007

Here's a good article on USC/UCLA recruiting.

Final drive for football recruits
USC, UCLA continue to pursue players, even those who've committed elsewhere, to the end.
By Gary Klein and Eric Sondheimer, Times Staff Writers
February 7, 2007

The black car idled outside Crenshaw High, waiting to whisk Brian Price to USC.

Price, a highly regarded defensive lineman, had committed to UCLA months before and had told USC coaches he was not interested in an official visit to their campus.

USC scheduled one anyway — and sent the conspicuous vehicle to deliver Price to Heritage Hall last month.

Price did not get into the chauffeur-driven automobile — a Lincoln Town Car, according to USC; a limousine, according to Price's father and other witnesses — but its arrival at Crenshaw was emblematic of the never-quit recruiting mentality that helped fuel USC's return to prominence and, according to some experts, has lately infused UCLA as well.

"Both schools are clearly among the programs that are trying to take away committed players from other schools — and they are very capable of doing it," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for Scout.com and publisher of SuperPrep magazine. "A lot of schools don't pay any attention whatsoever if a kid commits because that's when the recruiting really begins.

"It's a no-holds-barred free-for-all and you just better hope you're left standing because until those kids are signed, they could wind up anywhere."

After USC had shut out UCLA at the Coliseum in the Trojans' final regular-season game of the 2001 season, USC Coach Pete Carroll and his assistants had the streets of Southern California virtually to themselves.

As they mined the Southland for talent, Trojans coaches rarely crossed paths with their Bruins counterparts. South Los Angeles, in particular, was devoid of recruiters wearing UCLA's blue and gold.

But UCLA has made inroads. And spurred by the Bruins' upset of the Trojans last December, the weeks leading up to today's national signing day were rife with examples of a rivalry that has once again heated up.

Besides battling for Price, USC and UCLA vied for Verbum Dei High defensive end Akeem Ayers, who has committed to UCLA, and Long Beach Poly defensive back Donovan Warren, who last week reportedly de-committed from USC and committed to Michigan. Anaheim Servite linebacker Chris Galippo, who committed to USC more than a year ago, said UCLA had remained in constant contact.

USC began today with 16 commitments, UCLA 11.

Carroll declined to comment about recruiting against UCLA but acknowledged that the Trojans continued to pursue top prospects, locally and nationally, regardless of whether they had committed to other schools.

"It depends on the situation and the guy: How much work has been done, how well we know him, what the circumstances were of the commitment," Carroll said. "There is no set pattern to it at all."

Through an athletic department spokesman, UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said that neither he nor his assistants would comment for this story because they did not want opposing coaches to know their philosophy.

Last week, UCLA received a commitment from Verbum Dei defensive end Justin Edison, who had originally committed to Oregon State. Loyola High defensive back Chris Conte committed to UCLA after previously having committed to California. In both cases, the Bruins turned up the recruiting pressure after the prospect had committed.

Greg Biggins, director of recruiting for StudentSportsFootball.com, said the recruiting approaches at UCLA and USC were direct reflections of Dorrell's and Carroll's personalities.

"When a kid says no to UCLA, they will still recruit him, but not with anywhere near the passion of USC," Biggins said. "[UCLA] will politely make a phone call once in a while. SC is just a different breed."

Though USC is on track to land one of the nation's top recruiting classes for the fifth consecutive year, the Trojans are not immune to losing players who had given commitments. James Wilson, a lineman from Florida, committed to USC last August. But last month, Wilson changed his mind and said he would sign with Florida.

Camarillo High quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who committed to USC last May, said this week that he would sign with Arizona State.

"We know exactly how it works," said Steve Sarkisian, USC's quarterbacks coach. "We know the toughest two weeks are the last two weeks."

It was just more than two weeks ago that USC made its play for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Price, setting off a flurry of rumors on the recruiting grapevine.

NCAA rules forbid the use of limousines or helicopters to transport recruits during official paid visits, but luxury sedans, such as Town Cars, can be permissible, according to NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson.

Price said he had told Trojans assistant coach Ken Norton Jr. on Jan. 18 that he would not make an official visit to USC. Price said he was in his fourth-period class at Crenshaw the next day when he was informed, "there's a limo waiting outside for you to come to USC."

Price's father, Frank, who works as a softball coach at Crenshaw, said he then called Norton to tell him his son would not be getting into the limousine.

Asked if he knew the difference between a Town Car and a stretch limousine, Frank Price said, "That limo was long. That was no Town Car."

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from speaking about recruits until they have signed letters of intent, so Carroll declined to comment specifically about Price. He said, however, that office staff made transportation arrangements for recruits and that he did not know the name of the car service that USC used.

Speaking generally, Carroll said, "We would anticipate that when you send a car to pick someone up, they will be picked up in a Town Car. That's standard operating procedure. That's what we expect."

A USC athletic department spokesman said the school's compliance office had requested a receipt from the car service and that the receipt showed a sedan had been ordered and was sent to Crenshaw.

The spokesman said compliance officials were satisfied that no violation had occurred and were no longer investigating the matter.

He declined to provide The Times with the name of the car service.

USC planned to unveil its recruiting class on the Internet this afternoon, offering fans biographies and highlight videos of every signee.

Trojans coaches said they would keep pushing until the signed letters were received. UCLA coaches will probably do the same.

"It's like marriage," Todd McNair, USC running backs coach, said. "Until they walk down that aisle and say, 'I do,' you stay after it."
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GaterzFan · Feb 8, 2007

After having "recruited and signed" guys who were verbally committed from UGa (Greenlee), UF (Reed), Clemson (Jones), and West Virginia (Rain), Bobby Bowden has this to say:

"I think that's probably getting worse with [the] times," Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said. "Now, a kid commits, and to some of them, it means nothing. My generation is not used to that. I'm used to, [if] you tell somebody something, that's what you're going to do. We end up getting some, and we end up losing some that way."
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If anyone wonders who took the "recruitment" of guys committed to other schools to the "next level", Bobby's your man. This guy somehow gets his silent commits to also give verbal commitments to other schools, case in point being DJ Norris, Antonio Cromartie, and Patrick Robinson. I gues he feels it sorta screws up the other schools recruiting process.

Gator Bill · Feb 8, 2007

Again my opinion is that until signing day and the prospects signature is on the bottom line then it's ok for him to change his mind. Much of this period is for the kids protection.

I would have no problem with an early signing period, especially for early entries.

Another side to this is that the coaches never ofically release the list of players commited, in fact I don't think they are allowed to discuss the players in much detail. So it falls to recruiting guru's and reporters to seek that information out. I'm sure that unoffically coaches release the information.

But until the paper is signed it's ok for the kid to change his mind and I have no doubt a lot of that is for the players protection.

Stu Ryckman · Feb 8, 2007

My opinion;

Recruiting is extremely important (obviously).

Ranking of recruits and recruiting classes is an exercise in fantasy and is about as scientific and accurate as the preseason polls...probably less so.

My first reaction was that verbal commitments are non-binding and mean nothing...having said that, I started thinking that if a kid and a university have a verbal commitment to each other, then that school is pretty much obliged to hold a place for that athlete, or rightfully be pilloried for not doing so. That being the case, then it stands to reason that if the athlete continues to entertain other offers and changes his mind, it does a lot of damage to that school that was holding the place for him.

JO'Co · Feb 8, 2007

re: Brian Price to UCLA

Brian Price was on TV tonight. His daddy is the JV football coach at Crenshaw and he's had two brothers murdered by the locals while he was growing up in the Crenshaw District. If I was his father, I would have sent him to college as far away from Los Angeles as I could...

GaterzFan · Feb 9, 2007

Orlando sports writer responds to "Zook must cheat" assertion:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...907feb09,0,6605595.column?coll=orl-sports-col

As somebody who once went on a recruiting trip with Zook, I can tell you how: Because the guy works harder and cares more. I still remember that 13-day span during the May recruiting period before his first UF season when Zook jumped in a car and visited 71 high schools in the state (an average of almost six per day) and gave speeches to 12 Gator Clubs. I'm just guessing Charlie Weis isn't driving alone at midnight through the back roads of Indiana, gulping down convenience-store coffee to try to stay awake.

That's what Ron Zook once did at Florida, and it's what he's doing now at Illinois.

As an assistant coach, Zook was one of UF's best recruiters and brought in many of the players who helped Steve Spurrier win the national title in 1996. As a head coach at UF, Zook recruited 20 of 22 starters his successor, Urban Meyer, used to win the national championship last month. Now, after more than two decades as a college coach without a single surreptitious smudge on his record, we're supposed to believe he's suddenly turned into a cheating scumbag?

I don't buy it.

Until somebody comes up with more proof than just some disgruntled former coach blowing smoke, the only thing Ron Zook is guilty of is doing his job too well.
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Bobdawolverweasel · Feb 9, 2007

GF,

Good article. It is pretty clear that Zook is a very hard-nosed, works-around-the-clock recruiter. What is going on in the Midwest is that you have coaches and fans of other schools with their nose out of joint because of the success he has had recruiting. Nearly every B10 board & the ND boards are in hyseria filling the threads with dark accusations accusing the Illini of cheating. So far, nobody has come to the table with any proof.

I agree with Sid's post suggesting that Zook is a great salesman who is using the "you can help build a program and play right away" as his mode of convincing blue chippers to come to Illinois.

The thing to emember about Illinois is that it is the only major state school in one of the largest states in the Midwest. The opportunity is there for someone to build a good program, especially if they can convince the top Chicago prospects to stay in state. For years, Wisconsin secured top drawer talent from Chicago to build its program.

GaterzFan · Feb 9, 2007

I'll be surprised if Zook is doing anything improper.

But while we're on the subject of recruiting tactics, etc .... UF was really trying to sign WR Terrance Toliver out of Texas. It came down to UF and LSU and TT picked LSU on 2/6/07. Later, Toliver alledged UF coaches engaged in "negative recruiting" by "talikng down" LSU's academics and academic support programs for football players. Apparently, Toliver's coaches road tripped to LSU this past weekend to get to the truth as to what LSU's academics are all about. Satisfied they were sufficient, I guess they told TT it was okay to attend LSU.

Earlier today, it was announced that LSU's WR coach has resigned to take a position with the Jacksonville Jags. What's interesting about this is ...... UF coaches fielded queries last week from the Toliver camp concerning "rumors" he was hearing that UF's WR coach Billy Gonzalez had taken the Jaguar's job. Wonder where he heard those rumors?!!

Gator Bill · Feb 9, 2007

Bobda, as usual you come through right to the point and with an accurate point of view!

I would also be very surprised if Zook is cheating and I've had the same thoughts about Illinois, that they are a program waiting to wake up again with the right coach. I hope that Zook is that right guy because I have always felt he was not given a fair chance at Florida. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade Meyer for Zook, not in a million years, but I think he was not given a fair shot by many Gator fans and I hope he suceeds at Illinois.

George Krebs · Feb 9, 2007

Talking down LSU's academic standards for athletes is not the toughest assignment an opposing coach will ever face. I think they rank among the lowest in grad rates, somewhere in the 30-40% range. That's pathetic.

As far as Zook goes, he must be the greatest salesman since Ron Popeil. Selling that program to the quality recruits he was able to pull in was no mean feat. I don't buy the playing time enticement for moment; he has three or four guys there who would start most anywhere right away.

Speaking of which, his top recruit Martez Wilson reportedly spouted these two gems on Rivals radio on signing day. I guess you could chalk these up to nervousness or immaturity but they are interesting....

1st he said - "It wasn't the money that got me to sign with Ill."
Even better was this one - "Chicago is a great football state"

Makes you wonder how Notre Dame could get him academically qualified in the first place. What were his chances staying elegible for three years? :lol:

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