It would be great if he grew up an LSU fan, but that is often unlikely with national recruits. He's from Indiana, right? Unlikely he'd be an LSU fan, but I think after visiting here and if he chose the program he'd end up loving the place. We've seen that repeatedly with kids who get on campus and just fall in love with the atmosphere. That love helped keep both Matt Flynn and Jarrett Lee here through some times they were tempted to leave. I don't see Gunner being a mercenary type like I always felt with JaMarcus Russell, but you never know. I want a kid who is passionate about football most of all, I think LSU will do its job working its way into his heart as long as that passion for the game exists.
Herb and Brian, both with good posts/points. Like you, Herb, I want people who are passionate and "want to be at" LSU. But, as Brian points out, that passion may not develop until you experience the campus, a game day atmosphere, etc. That was the case for me. Despite growing up in New Orleans, I had never even visited LSU until I was 18 and had no family members who had any ties to LSU. Subsequently, did not grow up an LSU fan, in fact, kind of despised them. All of that changed one November day in 1984 when, as a student at SLU, I visited the campus for the first time. I was completely blown away, and my blood changed color that day I transferred immediately, and have been hooked ever since Growing up in Indiana, he may need to acquire that passion like we all have.
Wow, you do realize that many of our best players, both in-state and out of state, have made their decisions very late in the process? Lord, just since 2000 we have had several All American and All SEC players that made their decisions very close or on signing day. I'll take great players regardless of when they make their decision or who they liked growing up.
Do you guys realize that a whole bunch of our 2-deep are from out of state? Sam Montgomery - SC Ryan Baker - FL Michael Brockers - TX Karnell Hatcher - FL Kevin Minter - GA Ken Adams - AL Ego Ferguson - MD Ron Brooks, TX Derrick Bryant -GA Alex Hurst - TN Josh Williford - AL Greg Shaw - FL Jarrett Lee - TX Russell Sheppard - TX JC Copeland - GA Spencer Ware - OH Kadrone Boone - FL
Very cool story! I think in the end it isn't how you acquire the passion for LSU, but rather that at some point in your life you do. It came for me in high school listening to Jim and Doug call games on the radio at the very end of the Hallman era right before DiNardo arrived. I've been hooked ever since.
