You say in post after post that LSU is infamous for drastically oversigning. In 2009 (Garrett's signing class), LSU signed 25 players. The NCAA limit at the time was.....25. This number, because of the 25/85 rule, put LSU one - one! - player over the limit. Yet LSU is hung out to dry by ESPN when other SEC schools routinely sign 30 or more, something LSU has not done in recent history, or at least as far back as 2006, according to ESPN's own recruiting website. Glad you mentioned this. The biggest reason schools oversign is that they expect at least some of their recruits won't qualify academically. Yet in 2009, the reason LSU ended up one over is because every single one of LSU 25 signees made their grades. Yes, they were a class of true student-athletes. Its unfortunate that one player got caught up in the numbers game, but if ESPN truly wanted to do a story about how recruits are exploited, they could have chosen a school where true student-athletes get brushed aside while the school offers schollies to large numbers of athletes with questionable work ethics in the classroom.
mctiger it's not a big conspiracy nor does anyone say LSU is the only one. From what I heard ESPN is far from over on this. Whether your want to believe it or not LSU and Alabama are known for this... of course Ole Miss with the 37 was a biggie as well and also Auburn. I don't feel like LSU was singled out, it was an example, it's a story. They provided context with numbers as well. They are not going to interview 50 people for a 10 minute spot, it's a story to show what can happen because of this. The solution is simple, stop doing it. I fail to see the problem with the story. It was accurate as far as I could tell, and really the only contested facts that might be possible is the situation around some of the Garrett situation. I have to go for today. If LSU has a problem with the story I would suggest they look at their current strategy of signees for 2011 and actually take the 1 minute it takes to do the numbers. 23 signees means there is going to be plenty of Porter and Garrett stories by next Fall. I really have no idea what the problem with the story is, if LSU doesn't like the story stop doing the oversigning. LSU can't control what Auburn or Ole Miss or Alabama does or doesn't do but they can control what they do.
I think when it really becomes a problem they just might. But an example of 1 or 2 scholly athletes, in one yr isn’t a problem for LSU. I also, don’t think many have any issue with the story, just the means that they came about the story. Do some real journalism, take a larger sample than 1 kid in 1 yr 1 program. Especially when the story is based off of some disgruntled ex player who by all accounts couldn’t cut it, not even at the DII level.
You can keep saying this, but it doesn't make it true. The kid was asked to wait one semester for a scholly because there was less attrition than estimated. He elected not to wait. He was given a full release from his LOI, signed with another SEC program, and lost nothing. It's not like he ended up flipping burgers.
Did Porter do a story with ESPN? I did not watch the link because I hate the bias media (all of them). I think if you are willing to over sign then take your criticism. But this is definitely an issue of sour grapes. To put Miles in a bad light is just not fair to him. To pretend petty stuff does not go on at the college level is naive. There is too much money involved to think no one ever crosses the line a little. But Miles seems to have enough integrity to keep the program and LSU on the up and up. This is a small potato compared to what others are doing. And ESPN employs Craig James so what leg do they have to stand on when it comes to ethics.....Talk about the pot calling the kettle.
Sure it is. Even the walk-ons can quote you the rule. The 25/85 formula makes it inevitable that players will lose scholarships if natural attrition is low. Natural attrition at LSU has been low in the last three years and this year every single signee qualified. It was clear to all observers that Les was going to have reduce the roster to meet the 85. No insider has gone on the record, but there was apparently bad blood of some kind between Garrett and his head coach. This is never good for a player. A year when the coach is oversigned to meet the 85 is just not a good time for a fourth-string player to be in the coach's doghouse.
I did NOT see the ESPN piece, but I will say this.... 1 look at LSU's QB play over the last 3 years should tell anyone with half a brain that Miles didn't cut a "budding star". Coach cut Garrett and that's that. The kid moved on the Northwestern State (FCS School) and barely played. Miles has a lot of pressure on him to win, have outstanding recruiting classes, run a clean program, etc. If coach decided not to renew a kid's scholarship, especially a QB.... I trust his decision. Period. Garrett got cut because he wasn't good enough or wasn't working hard enough or because he got in the coach's doghouse.
If I read '85=85' one more time on this screen, I'm headbutting it into orbit. Long story short, we're pissed about LSU and Les Miles, specifically, being tarred and feathered by a practice that happens at every major player in D1 football. I honestly don't care whether people think its the right way to handle it, that is how it is currently done, at least by the universities looking for continuing success. Les is being made out to be robot only consumed with expectations with a total disregard for the well being of the player, which any tiger fan knows couldn't be any further from the truth. I really don't think this is even up for discussion. And the players? They love him, they bleed for him, they play damn strong football for him. They don't seem like they think they are getting a bad deal, do they? You wanna play with the big dogs, compete for championships, or spring board your career into the limelight of the NFL? Jump in the deep waters. Otherwise stay in the kid pool if you aren't confident enough to ensure your success. That's how the real world works. Hope everybody is enjoying the holidays, I miss this place.
