it will never help, and those that think it would help also assume everyone loves obama. there would be a lot of texas businessmen that would have kids going to a&m in a heartbeat if this idea was true.
George Wallace wasn't the Alabama football coach; Bear Bryant was. And the fact remains that he was the first SEC coach to sign a Black player to a football scholarship. Furthermore, most SEC states had racist governors back then: Orville Faubus (Arkansas), Lester Maddox (Georgia), Ross Barnett (Mississippi), etc.
I'm not saying that everyone supports Obama. Half the country will vote for McCain. All I'm saying is that most of the parents of the 1st team USA-Today All-Americans support Obama. See for yourself. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/graphics/2007_allusa_team/flash.htm
All that link shows are recruits who have all signed letters of intent already, except for Pryor. It says nothing about who they support in the presidential race. I do not see how you have come to a conclusion that next year's recruits 1) have knowledge of Mack even visiting with Obama 2) and if they have, will likely remember it a whole year for now. :huh: I assure you that will not come anywhere close to being one of the deciding factors for any recruit. It comes down to loyalty, coaches, playing time, etc...
Im not sure I learned anything here. I clicked it. There was not a section for presidential preference.
Did you click on the names? Obama has been getting over 90% of the Black vote against Hillary. Against McCain, it'll probably be 95%. Look, I'm not saying parents will encourage their kids to make a decision strictly because of Brown's photo-op with Obama. All I'm saying is that a coach wants to have as many things in his plus column as possible. Every little thing helps. I have a cousin who was an NFL first round draft pick and a first-team Pro-bowler. And I can tell you for a fact that he was headed to LSU before an issue just like this caused him and my aunt to lean towards another school. Kellen Winslow, Sr. flat-out refused to let Kellen Winslow, Jr. sign with Washington because of a subtle racial issue just like this. And since Junior was only seventeen at the time, Senior had total veto power over where he could sign. Every little thing helps.
It's no big deal. Obama and Clinton were on campus for the debate last night. They offered both a tour of the facilities and wanted the players to have a chance to meet two senators running for president. Obama accepted to meet with them, Clinton did not. To make a political statement out of it and/or to suggest it may help/hurt them in any way is silly.
Players sign for about 1000 different reasons. I'm betting the "politics of the coach" is somewhere just below "coach's hair color" and just above "coolness of school mascot." How many of these kids even understand or care about politics? About 2%. Because they're YOUNG and CHASING TAIL! How many of their parents view the coach as a political mentor? About 2%, and I bet those kids aren't 4-5 Stars. All pure speculation, but what the hell. It's Friday.
i'll say it again. it is the candidates that are the ones that want these photo ops. they are the ones that it is gonna help. in states where fb is king, the univ(s) fb coach is god. even if he doesnt endorse you, the perceived support of a photo-op is votes. if there is an endorsement, that is gold. votes in the bank. book it. in the 2002 govs race here, switzer (who, why i dont know, is still worshipped by the ou faithful) early said he would not endorse any candidate. VERY late in the game, he endorsed the candidate who won. that endorsement was a major pick up for our now governor. i believe that endorsement is what turned things for the candidate who had been the underdog, and up until that time was trailing greatly in every poll.
He's in Austin which is probably the only other city in America that can give San Fransisco a run for it's money as the nation's most left-meaning town. This is pure $$$$ PR-wise for Mack Brown.
