FSU and Michigan were cherry picking top LA talent when we were losing and they were at the top of the heap. Those days are gone. B2B 11 win seasons topped off by demolition of supposedly top programs does a lot to sway impressionable 17 and 18 year olds. As far as Nick's phone call, it wasn't to McKnight. But, he did give a ringy dingy to JT Curtis. And that's a SabanFan verified fact.
I would not consider that playing dirty to show kids what kind of man Saban is. Saban will certainly play dirty though - he has already started. He announced on the day of our Sugar Bowl game that he would be our division rival's new coach to get as much exposure as possible. Then in his press conference, he talked about how he won the SECCG in his 2nd year at LSU and how it was his players playing in this game. He will likely come in & try to take a few coaches...
Again, this is a dead period for recruiting. Saban (or anyone else, for that matter) is not allowed to call players until this weekend.
That's a done deal. Word has it Jimbo going to FSU, not UA. The Steele to UA is fact, the Jimbo to FSU is heresay.
IMO, it would seem hard for Saban to come in an make that much of a difference this year with all the negative PR he has gotten in the last 24 hours. The kids (and parents) are on the ESPN site and see the title 'The Lying Game' under his picture. Trust is important in the recruiting process. Sure, he may be able to sway a few kids who were considering Bama anyway. I just have a hard time believing that he will change some star player's mind who was headed somewhere else. He only has a month. Next year will be the key. And I think that depends on how the bama does on the field. I believe most of their tough games are at home next year.
We'll see what happens this year, but I think we are focusing a little more long term. He'll likely make things interesting with a few recruits - maybe not even with LSU, but AU or someone this year. I think in the end, he'll get a couple guys that make the class better, but not amazing. Yes, Nick is getting some negative press right now but you have to believe he's going to talk to the families and give his side of the story, which of course will make him look like a great person. As for next year, I don't think the W/L column matters as much as how the team looks in their losses. If they look like they were close, that will be enough for many recruits to give them consideration. The sad thing is, Bama is going to be better next year almost regardless of who the coach is and Saban is going to get way too much credit.
I hated hearing that piece of crap talk about his LSU years earlier this morning in his press confernece. Id hope that he has trouble recruiting, but lets be honest here. These big time kids dream about the NFL. Saban has NFL ties and while at LSU put a ton of players in the league. People have a short term memory, they will forget how worthless a man he is. I hope Im wrong. I hope it all bites him in the a$$. I also go a lot to a MMA board(like the UFC, for those who dont know), board. A Ohio St fan asked me why I hate Saban so much right now. I said because him coming into our conference to coach a major rival is a serious slap in the face to the LSU program. Especially considering he left us just two years ago because he wanted the challenge of the NFL.
ESPN and the talking heads will change to another subject once one comes up, and all will be forgotten. Not everyone hates Nick like the media and LSU fans do. Look at Bob Huggins, he has an 18 wheeler of trouble with him and he is one of the best recruiters in college basketball. HS players could care less about Saban leaving the Dolphins.
