Anyone just a little bit worried about the 2016 class ?

[utisdabomb12]

 I know recruiting analysts are saying it's a marathon and not a sprint, but we have the 53rd ranked class for 2016 on 24/7 sports. 

That's not a good thing whether its a marathon or a sack race and I'm just a bit worried. 

We were in worse shape last year at this time. At this time last year. 

Weathersby-eventually decommitted to LSU

Stevenson-decommitted to Wisconsin. Had qualifying issues, and is now at Nebraska

Omenihu-Horn

Major-Horn

Elliott-Horn

Johnson-Horn legacy

Houston-Horn

Gentry-Decommitted to Michigan

Thomas-Horn

Vahe-Horn

Lampkin-Couldn't qualify, at OU. 

Merrick-gray shirt

So at this time last year we really only had 7 commits (8 including Merrick's gray shirt). We are also in far better position for top tier recruits than we were at this time last year. 

Worrying about recruiting in August, with Strong's approach, is like worrying about which girl you are going to pick up at a bar at 3 pm. It's worthless. 

 

[Randolph Duke]

Duke, unlike quite a few posters on this board, I don't ever really find myself all that annoyed with your posts. With that said, this post is so ridiculous that I can't help but respond. Having a 53rd ranked class is what we're going to be getting used to? The 2015 class in which we pulled down many top commits and flipped a few at the deadline isn't something to be excited about? Changing the culture of a program that has been run over for the better part of five years isn't going to be a process?

Come on dude. You're passing realism with pessimism and it's overshadowing your sometimes insightful and more discussion driven posts. I say that not as one of the those posters who simply places you on ignore. But as somebody who found value in some of the more, again, insightful posts you've shared in the past.

The goal is not to sign players, but to get them enrolled and on the field in a game. By that standard, the 2015 recruiting class was extremely unimpressive. As I said, the team has 78 scholarship players and that is after moving Merrick up from a greyshirt.
The reality is that the football program is years away from competing at an elite level. Patterson's nickle and dime stupidity is eating into the foundation of the program on multiple levels. If Wickline gets stuck paying his buyout to OSU, what will that do to Coach Strong's ability to recruit coaches? Steve Patterson is among the worst bosses in all of college sports. Who really wants to work for him? I have admired Shaka Smart's coaching style for a while, but I sincerely believe he made a huge mistake signing on to work for Patterson. Quality control staff being paid less than Kansas isn't going to do much to help the reputation of UT for attracting the best and the brightest staff. I have long been a critic of Bellmont because nothing about Bellmont outside of volleyball, swimming/diving and Randa Ryan even come close to qualifying as highly competent. When athletes see the hypocrisy of being expected to exemplify excellence when the rest of Bellmont exemplifies mediocrity, there is no question they are going to understand UT athletics doesn't truly believe in excellence.

I understand the HS staff has to refrain from being honest and objective about UT sports or Patterson will jerk your credentials. I understand you can't ask the hard questions or press for answers on questions that make anyone inside Bellmont even slightly uncomfortable, but the reality is unless UT athletics attacks the uncomfortable truths, the major programs will remain mired in mediocrity.

Work out the numbers and see where the 2015 class that made it to campus ranked, as opposed to the one that was signed back in Feb. UT is so far away from being in the company of the elite programs it is sad. After a losing season with multiple humiliating losses, Vegas has the O/U on wins for UT as 6. It isn't just me with pitiful expectations for UT football, it is coming from a lot of professionals who are highly paid to consider such things.

UT football isn't on the verge of a renaissance. That is a hard truth we need to accept if we are going to get the program back to competing as a top 20 program, and even just aspiring to be a top 20 program is a humbling.

78 scholarship athletes going into the season is so far below the UT standard, we can only accept there is no real UT standard and we need to lower the bar to find one. Lowering the bar is not what UT is supposed to be about.

[And, for the record, I have long said some on the uncomfortable questions that should be asked are since Patterson obviously sees the need for expense reduction, considering the average expense level per athlete for a public university in the US is roughly $110k/athlete, that Stanford has won the Director's Cup for 20 years running on a level of $108k/athlete, that Patterson the ASU athletic department at an expense level of $135k/athlete and UT is now higher than $240k/athlete, what level of expenditures per athlete does Patterson believe would reflect a fiscally responsibly run athletic department and when does he intend to get it there?

Also, ask Patterson if he is willing to make the year end NCAA financial reports available online without a FOIA request, so UT athletics has a higher level of transparency than other programs.

Ask those questions and your press credentials will be pulled instantly.

UT athletics isn't ready to do what it takes to get to the next level. the athletes know it, the coaching staff knows it, the press knows it and the fans know it.

This isn't a Charlie Strong problem or a Shaka Smart problem. Hell, it isn't even a Steve Patterson problem. Its a Greg Fenves problem and he isn't any more willing to make the tough decision than any credentialed reporter is willing to ask the tough questions.

Right now, the question is how low are we willing to lower the bar to say the status quo is the "Texas Standard." 53rd in the nation in recruiting at this part of the cycle is where this program is, literally and figuratively.]

 

[utisdabomb12]

I'm just so disappointed that I'm presumably missing Randolph's nonsensical rants. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

Duke, unlike quite a few posters on this board, I don't ever really find myself all that annoyed with your posts. With that said, this post is so ridiculous that I can't help but respond. Having a 53rd ranked class is what we're going to be getting used to? The 2015 class in which we pulled down many top commits and flipped a few at the deadline isn't something to be excited about? Changing the culture of a program that has been run over for the better part of five years isn't going to be a process? 

Come on dude. You're passing realism with pessimism and it's overshadowing your sometimes insightful and more discussion driven posts. I say that not as one of the those posters who simply places you on ignore. But as somebody who found value in some of the more, again, insightful posts you've shared in the past. 

At least he hasn't brought up Patterson yet. Granted, I have him on ignore so I can only see the posts you guys respond to. I thought for sure he would have brought up Patterson by now, even though it has absolutely no relevance to this topic. Maybe he's made a little bit of progress? 

His rant on the # of scholarship players was literally one of the dumbest I've seen. 

 

[Randolph Duke]

At least he hasn't brought up Patterson yet. Granted, I have him on ignore so I can only see the posts you guys respond to. I thought for sure he would have brought up Patterson by now, even though it has absolutely no relevance to this topic. Maybe he's made a little bit of progress?

His rant on the # of scholarship players was literally one of the dumbest I've seen.

re: Patterson - I just edited.
I said last week that if the team had suffered seven year-ending injuries at this point in the season and brought the number of available scholarship players to 78, there would be extreme angst. That fact that the 2015 recruiting class was pretty much seven players short of a success just shows how much UT fans are willing to lower the bar.

We will never get to an elite level as long as we continue to excuse mistakes and instances of misjudgment by those responsible for making senior managerial decisions. Last year sucked and this year isn't going to be any better. You don't build an elite program when your recruiting class leaves seven empty spots.

 

[primal defense]

At least he hasn't brought up Patterson yet. Granted, I have him on ignore so I can only see the posts you guys respond to. I thought for sure he would have brought up Patterson by now, even though it has absolutely no relevance to this topic. Maybe he's made a little bit of progress? 

His rant on the # of scholarship players was literally one of the dumbest I've seen. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Here's my advice to those who choose to panic over the current class.

Whatever you do, DO NOT go back and check to see how Charlie's normal recruiting habits are and whether or not this number would be considered a norm for him or out of line. Some of the doubt is innocent (such as the OP), I understand that.

But some is just part of an agenda (not the OP), which is beaten like a stray dog right in front of our eyes on a regular basis unfortunately. I don't know whether he's as tired of repeating himself as I am of hearing it. It's got to be close.

We have one year to look at. It looks eerily similar to this year. In fact, it's the exact same number. Yet, we're actually in on more higher ranked recruits than we were last year at this time. Someone hand me an oxygen mask. lol

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I said last week that if the team had suffered seven year-ending injuries at this point in the season and brought the number of available scholarship players to 78, there would be extreme angst. That fact that the 2015 recruiting class was pretty much seven players short of a success just shows how much UT fans are willing to lower the bar.

Jesus H.

I would go to battle with Charlie and 50 players much more eagerly than I would have marched in with Mack and 250 players.

It's not a lowered bar. It's confidence in a coach.

 

[Randolph Duke]

Here's my advice to those who choose to panic over the current class.

Whatever you do, DO NOT go back and check to see how Charlie's normal recruiting habits are and whether or not this number would be considered a norm for him or out of line. Some of the doubt is innocent (such as the OP), I understand that.

But some is just part of an agenda (not the OP), which is beaten like a stray dog right in front of our eyes on a regular basis unfortunately. I don't know whether he's as tired of repeating himself as I am of hearing it. It's got to be close.

We have one year to look at. It looks eerily similar to this year. In fact, it's the exact same number. Yet, we're actually in on more higher ranked recruits than we were last year at this time. Someone hand me an oxygen mask. lol

We need to quit believing that UT is expected to recruit at the same level as Louisville. What Charlie Strong did at Louisville isn't how other elite D1 programs recruit. We need the coaching staff to actually bring a full recruiting class to campus six months after it is signed. No team that has won a national championship in the last quarter century had a recruiting class with seven unclaimed scholarships at the beginning of the season within five years of winning their championship. The 2015 recruiting class, although it had some great and some good athletes, was a borderline failure in that it has SEVEN empty spots.
The staff simply has to step up its recruiting. A second class with seven empty spots when summer camp starts is simply unacceptable. We aren't Louisville and we need to quit making that program our yardstick. Outside of one bowl game against Florida, the entirety of what Charlie Strong did at Louisville was again far lesser talent than UT faces on a regular basis.

And again, grab your oxygen mask and pat yourself on the back for the 53rd ranked class at this stage of the cycle, but the goal is to get players who make it on the field, not who fall aside between Feb and Aug. The "eerily similar to last year" comment isn't comforting. The staff needs to step up its recruiting.

 

[Brandon17]

We need to quit believing that UT is expected to recruit at the same level as Louisville. What Charlie Strong did at Louisville isn't how other elite D1

programs recruit. We need the coaching staff to actually bring a full recruiting class to campus six months after it is signed. No team that has won a national championship in the last quarter century had a recruiting class with seven unclaimed scholarships at the beginning of the season within five years of winning their championship. The 2015 recruiting class, although it had some great and some good athletes, was a borderline failure in that it has SEVEN empty spots.

The staff simply has to step up its recruiting. A second class with seven empty spots when summer camp starts is simply unacceptable. We aren't Louisville and we need to quit making that program our yardstick. Outside of one bowl game against Florida, the entirety of what Charlie Strong did at Louisville was again far lesser talent than UT faces on a regular basis.

And again, grab your oxygen mask and pat yourself on the back for the 53rd ranked class at this stage of the cycle, but the goal is to get players who make it on the field, not who fall aside between Feb and Aug. The "eerily similar to last year" comment isn't comforting. The staff needs to step up its recruiting.

Why are you flipping out? It is still 6 months from signing day!

 

[utisdabomb12]

Why are you flipping out? It is still 6 months from signing day!

You must not know Duke.

 

[primal defense]

We need to quit believing that UT is expected to recruit at the same level as Louisville. What Charlie Strong did at Louisville isn't how other elite D1 programs recruit. We need the coaching staff to actually bring a full recruiting class to campus six months after it is signed. No team that has won a national championship in the last quarter century had a recruiting class with seven unclaimed scholarships at the beginning of the season within five years of winning their championship. The 2015 recruiting class, although it had some great and some good athletes, was a borderline failure in that it has SEVEN empty spots.

The staff simply has to step up its recruiting. A second class with seven empty spots when summer camp starts is simply unacceptable. We aren't Louisville and we need to quit making that program our yardstick. Outside of one bowl game against Florida, the entirety of what Charlie Strong did at Louisville was again far lesser talent than UT faces on a regular basis.

And again, grab your oxygen mask and pat yourself on the back for the 53rd ranked class at this stage of the cycle, but the goal is to get players who make it on the field, not who fall aside between Feb and Aug. The "eerily similar to last year" comment isn't comforting. The staff needs to step up its recruiting.

 

[TeamMayhall]

I tend to not worry about things I have no control over but that's just me.

You are officially human...Sorry to tell you

 

[TeamMayhall]

Xanax + RD = Relax my friend.

 

[Jon Nemec]

At this point in time last year, we actually had like a commit or two less, also I am pretty sure Gentry was on board later than Shane deciding to commit. I'd not worry right now. Couple of kids are planning OV's as early as the Okie state game, (can't remember off the top of my head) I wouldn't worry. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

We need to quit believing that UT is expected to recruit at the same level as Louisville. What Charlie Strong did at Louisville isn't how other elite D1 programs recruit. We need the coaching staff to actually bring a full recruiting class to campus six months after it is signed. No team that has won a national championship in the last quarter century had a recruiting class with seven unclaimed scholarships at the beginning of the season within five years of winning their championship. The 2015 recruiting class, although it had some great and some good athletes, was a borderline failure in that it has SEVEN empty spots.

The staff simply has to step up its recruiting. A second class with seven empty spots when summer camp starts is simply unacceptable. We aren't Louisville and we need to quit making that program our yardstick. Outside of one bowl game against Florida, the entirety of what Charlie Strong did at Louisville was again far lesser talent than UT faces on a regular basis.

And again, grab your oxygen mask and pat yourself on the back for the 53rd ranked class at this stage of the cycle, but the goal is to get players who make it on the field, not who fall aside between Feb and Aug. The "eerily similar to last year" comment isn't comforting. The staff needs to step up its recruiting.

Imagine how short this post would have been had you not manufactured your own panic? LOL

1. We're not recruiting the same athletes that were recruited at LV. You're arguing against history and there's no mistaking what took place with the LV program under Charlie's watch. It's comical just watching you try.

2. The 2015 class is missing four athletes, not seven. (Cherry, Lampkin, Clarington, Johnson)  Removing those from the class would only lift the average star rating for the class as all were three stars anyway. In fact, you have to add one to your number because Merrick was not a part of the 2015 class until now.

Now, if you just want warm bodies taking up scholarship spots, you might have a point. But you also talked about standards so you really don't have a point, unless you mean both, which I won't doubt.

The class numbered 29. Remove four and you have 25. Add one and you have 26. That's a full class, even with defections.

Either way, I got two words for you. Edorian McCollough. There were a number of them. Two more – Jason Barron. The Jason Barron news is what should have sent you into a fanatical tailspin like you're on now. But I digress. .. . 

3. I'm sorry, but you're the one reaching for a mask here with the panic of a lifetime. I'm sure you feel cheated that there's not a Patterson involved somehow. The deal is – classes aren't measured by what they look like in August. They are measured by what they look like in early February. Your point is nothing more than a tantrum that things aren't done on your timeline. Well, what does your timeline even mean?

The entire charade is based on ridiculous and misplaced expectations that at the end of the day – mean absolutely nothing.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Someone needs to start an "Oh Randolph Duke" thread like the "Oh Aggy thread."

 

[utisdabomb12]

We need to quit believing that UT is expected to recruit at the same level as Louisville. What Charlie Strong did at Louisville isn't how other elite D1 programs recruit.

1-Strong's '11 class at Louisville was one of the most successful classes in recent years across college football. If we land anything like that class, I will be pumped. 

2-Strong landed a top 10 class in his first real recruiting class. So again, not sure what your point is? I don't care how Strong recruits or how other "elite D1 programs recruit", if Strong gets productive players in the system. 

We need the coaching staff to actually bring a full recruiting class to campus six months after it is signed.

Almost every D1 program has attrition. So again, not sure what your point is? 

No team that has won a national championship in the last quarter century had a recruiting class with seven unclaimed scholarships at the beginning of the season within five years of winning their championship.

We aren't winning a national championship this year, so not sure what your point is once again? It's a process, Strong is trying to build his roster. We have very few seniors so in order for Strong to take the # of players he wants in the '16 class we need some scholarship wiggle room. Just to give you a heads up Randolph, we will see some more attrition. If Strong wants to take 25 players in the '16 class we need to lose a few more players. 

The 2015 recruiting class, although it had some great and some good athletes, was a borderline failure in that it has SEVEN empty spots. 

1-You have no clue how recruiting works. The success of a recruiting class isn't based on how "full" it is. It's based on how many productive players you get out of a class. Strong only had 22 commits in his '11 class and 11 were drafted. 

2-You always leave wiggle room in a recruiting class. That allowed us to add a punter and give Merrick a scholarship. 

3-Taking over 28 in a class never works out. There always ends up being attrition. Go and see A&M's '13 class. In other words, I don't give a damn that we had seven empty spots. You don't reach on players that likely just end up as attrition candidates. This is the same type mindset Mack Brown had. There's a net cost to every decision in recruiting. If you can't land a top tier recruit in a specific class you wait until the next class, especially when you are in rebuild mode to begin with. 

A second class with seven empty spots when summer camp starts is simply unacceptable.

You have absolutely no understanding of roster management and how recruiting works. If  you end up with 35 players in a class, that creates problems on the roster. You need some type of separation between FR, SO, JRs, and SRs. There was no reason for Strong to reach on players in the '15 class when we have roster space for the '16 class. When you take a high volume of recruits in a specific class there will inevitably be a good bit of attrition. If Strong took "7 more commits" in the '15 class they would likely have been gone in a couple years.I'm just glad you aren't managing the roster because you have absolutely no understanding of roster management. Strong could have landed 5 or so more commits last year if he wanted too, he understands roster management. 

 

[TeamMayhall]

Someone needs to start an "Oh Randolph Duke" thread like the "Oh Aggy thread."

I literally laughed out loud just now

 

[Danny Hale]

Duke, I`m happy we are only 7 players short. for 5 years we seem to have been 50 or so players short. some of those empty scholarships are because of players leaving Texas after 2015 class was signed. the 2015 class brought in much needed talent. it also is a foundation class. most buildings have foundations don`t they? the 2016 class is light years ahead of the 2015 class and Charlie is still trying to wash the Mack stench off the program.