Banner favoring Oklahoma
Banner says he currently likes OU the best. He praised Stoops' recruiting efforts, and also said they seem like they are really ok with the whole basketball thing.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
What is the Hoke/ staff opinion of the dual sport athlete? Does anyone know? This can't be the dealbreaker for Mr Banner, can it?
October 27th, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^
I am guessing the many other OL in the class is the deal breaker... or MAYBE some kids like Oklahoma over Michigan... just a hunch.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
I thought about reading this post, but seeing that His Dudeness wrote it was the dealbreaker.
October 27th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
Impossible. Every kid prefers Michigan over any school in the country. If they don't come to UM it's because they couldn't qualify or the other schools cheated to get them.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
Don't quote me on this, but I seem to remember them being OK with it, and that Beilein was actively recruiting him on the basketball side of things.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^
Beilein surprised him on his football visit, and they met and talked for a bit. That's as much as I remember, but I do remember it happening
October 27th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
But in the article it says that Stoops personally drove him to the basketball facility to speak with the bball coach. He just gets the feeling that OU is totally ok with it. His words give the gist that other schools are saying its ok, but might just be saying that to get him to come there.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
As talented of a player Banner is I would prefer the last three spots to go to skill position players. 2 WRs and 1 top RB ... Dunn ... We've got some great recruits at the OL already in this class
October 27th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
Yeah, man.. I'd tend to agree, but I believe we have five open spots left.
2WR's
1RB
1OL
1 elite, any position. (Yuri Wright, anyone?)
October 27th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
I think there are 5 spots left, not 3.
We really could use another OL, someone that can play early.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
Has anyone in recent memory actually done this?
I remember Terrelle Pryor said he wanted to play football ans basketball in colllege. I've heard of other recruits saying they want to play two sports, but it's just too difficult today, I think. Can anyone provide an example of someone who has done it at a major program recently?
October 27th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
Pretty sure Matt Trannon did it at State fairly recently (mid-2000s). Reaching a little further back, Julius Peppers and Tony Gonzalez played both. Those are just off the top of my head.
October 27th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
But the last football and basketball player I can think of is Matt Trannon from MSU. He did pretty well on the football field (was MSU's career leader in receptions until this year) and was a little less successful on the hardwood, but I would say WR is an easier position to make that happen than OL.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
Quite a few guys do multiple sports with a Fall/Spring scheduling, but I dunno about the others. The only ones I can think of are Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates I believe
October 27th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
I don't think Gates ever actually played college football. Was apparently going to play both at MSU but when the football coaches demanded he do football only, he left and went elsewhere because he wanted to play basketball.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
The other Julious from UNC was Curry. Starting QB and starting PG. Went on to play WR in NFL. Many football players have played baseball at high levels. There was a Bo somebody for Auburn back in the day.
October 27th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
Ronald Curry, not Julius.
October 27th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
I believe Adolphus Washington has talked about suiting up for Thad Matta.
October 27th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
Tony Gonzales played football and basketball at Cal. Charlie Ward did the same at FSU.
You also have a bunch of guys who played minor league baseball either at the same time or before/after playing college football (Henson, Weinke, Russell Wilson, etc.).
October 27th, 2011 at 9:44 AM ^
Interviewer question:
So is it fair to say that Oklahoma is currently the leader and Washington and USC will have to show him something that surpasses what he saw at Oklahoma?
Banner answer:
"Yeah," he said plainly. "All five of them are going to be completely involved but I'm still taking my USC and (Washington) visits but if you were going to ask me who I'd bet on, Oklahoma has a good chance."
---
Is he saying "yeah" to "is it fair to say that Oklahoma is currently the leader" or is he answering the embedded question "will UW and USC have to show him something that surpasses what he saw at OU"?
Based on the way he answers the question, seems like he's saying OU's got a good chance, and that UW and USC will need to show him something. At no point does he say outright, "OU is my leader".
October 27th, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
Wait what? So when the kid himself says "...but if you were going to ask me who I'd bet on, Oklahoma has a good chance." That doesn't mean "they are my leader" to you?
That's some thick denial there.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
At no point do I suggest that Michigan is his leader, but I do think the OU Rivals site is playing up their hand.
Perhaps I'm just a little more skeptical about what "good chance" means. Banner's been very even-keeled throughout his recruiting, but hasn't shied away from saying what he thinks.
If he thinks OU is his clear leader, based on his prior commentary, I'd expect him to say so clearly. "Good chance" doesn't seem to do that.
I'll allow the possibility I'm misreading his comments, but with all due respect, nothing in this interview is remotely unequivocal.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^
"At no point do I suggest that Michigan is his leader, but I do think the OU Rivals site is playing up their hand."
Yep, it's a pay site for OU fans... seems pretty logical.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
I believe we are in agreement then.
Apparently, I'm not the only one who sees these quotes as equivocal, but possibly favoring OU. Ace on the front page:
If you head over to Oklahoma's Rivals site, you'll see (at the moment I'm writing this, at least) a big fat headline proclaiming "Sooners On Top" linking to an article that claims Oklahoma leads for Banner($, info in header), with extensive quotes from the recruit about how well his visit went. While I usually don't blockquote from premium articles, there's been genuine debate about how to interpret this quote, which comes off as a bit of a leading question from the interviewer but also seems to point to Oklahoma leading...
October 27th, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
ND is snaking Payton from us, OU looking good for Banner, please let the longest most depressing bye week end with a dominant win over purdue
October 27th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^
It's not depressing to me. The football class is rated #1 in the country by some, and you can't get them all. Due to the amont of kids on a football team, one or two guys going elsewhere isn't really a problem.
Besides, if a major recruit like Mitch McGary were to sign with the basketball team, it would trump any feelings of loss for two football recruits going elsewhere. At any rate, both cupboards are looking pretty full right now.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
Maybe the coaches were getting a vibe on this. Hence the late Alex Kozan offer.
October 27th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
about the Heisman trophy winner Charlie Ward who actually got drafted by the Knicks. I hope Banner chooses Michigan though.
October 27th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^
We need some wide receivers and a highly touted running back. I think the problem with getting a running back is that Denard runs so much no RBs want to come here, but now that Denard is going to be a senior next year, we should be able to get a stud RB.