Roquan Smith's coach slams player's internet critics
Roquan Smith's coach Larry Harold tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that recruits are sold on coaches, so when coaches don't reveal they're leaving a school, recruits have every right to be upset.
“When you get recruited by Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Oregon and all these top schools – when you go visit them, they all have nice football facilities. They have good academic centers and beautiful campuses. Everything is basically the same everywhere. So what separates them? You know what the coaches sell those kids on? ‘That it’s about the people and the relationships.’ That’s all they sell the kids on."
He also slams internet posters critical of decisions by Smith and other recruits.
“I’m really, really, really getting upset because there are grown men sitting behind a computer commenting on stuff that they know nothing about."
And he's absolutely right. About all of it. It's an interesting read. The article also mentions similar situations from this year's NSD, including Mike Weber's committment to OSU.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:44 AM ^
Smith and other recruits should realize that they can't expect that every person they encountered during the recruiting process will be at a school forever. Sure, they should be able to expect that said people would still be there 48 hours after signing day, but college football is a business in which people are moving from job to job all the time--especially assistant coaches. You're signing to a school. The coaches come and go.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:53 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 5:40 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^
I'd unravel every riddle
For any individual
In trouble or in pain
With the thoughts I'd be thinkin'
I could be another Lincoln
February 8th, 2015 at 8:51 AM ^
I am sure Urbz is also keeping these kids in the dark about the fact that even if they have great grades and are saints on campus they can be cut due to his oversigning if they don't perform well on the field.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
That's the key point. It's not that coaches don't change jobs, they do it all the time and it's perfectly fine. All of us have changed jobs.
It's knowing that you are gone, while you are purposely lying to a 17 year-old's face that is relying on you. That's despicable. And Urban Meyer - the head coach - knew it too and was in on the deceit. That's slimy.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:47 PM ^
absolute BS...All schools go through this and you know it. UM wouldve done the exact same thing. You sit on your judgemental high horse and come down on Stan Drayton and OSU because THIS time it isn't your school. To make matters worse you are privy to zero information on this topic. You were not in the meetings with OSU and Weber, you haven't personally spoken to Weber and yet you think you have all the answers.
Was it unfortunate that Stan took the job? Sure. Was Weber a little hurt? Sure. He committed to URBAN MEYER and OSU,however, not a lesser position coach. What did Urban do to rectify this? He went out and got a better RB coach.
You hate the Bucks, I understand that. You do not have ANY moral high ground in which to pass judgement after the last few "incidents" with Mich players like Gibbons, Clark, and Lewan.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:29 PM ^
You do not have ANY moral high ground in which to pass judgement after the last few "incidents" with Mich players like Gibbons, Clark, and Lewan.How does the actions and honesty of coaches at OSU in the recruiting process have anything in common with the actions of individual football players on the team over the last few years? One has nothing to do with the other. No one is happy about those player issues, but they have nothing to do with this discussion.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:01 AM ^
It's a business for everyone but the players. For them, it's some stype of servitude. I'm a little disgusted by the idea that players need to know this. What happened to youth and innocence? Oh, right, $.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:02 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:09 AM ^
Meh I kinda find what Mora n UCLA did worse than what OSU did. UCLA actively tried to get Roquan's LOI earlier in the day so their DC could leave ASAP.
February 8th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
what are the chances OSU would have been doing the exact same thing?
February 8th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
to be much more disgusting than Mora at UCLA---Meyer (and Drayton) took advantage of Mike Weber's good intentions and used them against him.
According to several pieces I've read over the last few days, one of the factors that weighed heavily upon Weber, in the final days before commitment day, is that he made a commitment several weeks ago and felt that being honorable and honest were important parts of the decision-making process. Here we have a kid trying to grow up and conduct himself like an adult, and Meyer and Drayton take that and use it to their advantage, all the while concealing from Weber that Drayton was NOT going to be his position coach. Do you blame Weber and those close to him, especially his parents and Coach Wilcher at DCT, for being upset with those in charge of his recruitment for pulling such slimy s***?
I hope, as the situations continue to evolve for both Mike Weber and Roquan Smith, that the two of them share their ordeals with each other, compare notes, and form a bond over what they've both gone through. Whether or not doing so helps Michigan immediately in any way in their efforts to sign Smith, it would very likely hurt both Meyer and Mora in the future to have their reputations sullied over their recent actions.
Recruits (and their parents and coaches) from the upcoming classes of 2016, 2017, 2018, and beyond need to be fully aware when dealing with such slimeballs.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:35 AM ^
But why shouldn't coaches be expected to be honest? Don't they have a moral obligation to be up front about their status as a coach? Since that's what they're selling, they should be expected to be responsible for the promises they make.
February 8th, 2015 at 9:46 AM ^
stand up guys; guys that will make you better, guys you can trust, guys you'd want over you. Certainly not guys that are lying to your face or really couldn't care less about you unless you are helping them win a championship.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
Who's suffering in this case? Seriously... Weber is still going to OSU, which last time I checked was still a fantastic opportunity for him. Is it shady? yes. Is it some life disaster that he won't be able to recover from? no. Let's keep this in perspective.
Last time I checked, Harbaugh is veering down the path of all those other schools by hiring moms and coaches of potential transfers and recruits. We're doing the same stuff now that we would criticize other schools for except hopefully we can be more hoenst about it. Lets just relax a little bit.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:02 AM ^
Then the coaches should be up front about whether they already have taken another job and are planning to leave once the signee has executed the LOI.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:24 AM ^
Sure, blah, blah, blah, we're adults sitting behind computers. Here's the problem: you can't be news and expect adults not to pay attention. Sorry. but "best of all worlds" only works out in fiction. For most of us, we have to take the bad with the good. I hope Smith's coach doesn't turn him into a bitter, entitled athlete.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:46 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^
The nerve of that kid!
February 8th, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
you're okay with grossly deceiving an 18 year old; but being pissed about, not so much.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:47 AM ^
It not about a coach being there even 2 seconds after NSD is over.
It's about lying to a kid and telling him you're going to be his coach, his mentor, his parent...while knowing you're already out the door and you're just waiting until the ink is dry on the NLI before you leave.
Coaches can leave any time they want. No one is mad about that. But don't lie to a kid and get him to sign while knowing the only reason you're still on the job today and you haven't left is because the binding agreement between the player and the University is not yet complete.
Drayton and the UCLA coach had both accepted their new positions before signing day, but both kept it quiet so they could trick these kids.
That's the problem.
I would have the same problem if Greg Mattison retired the moment after signing day while telling all these kids he'd be around for another 4 years.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:38 PM ^
What kind of deception is acceptable for a university employee? The president/chancellor or provosts should be reviewing this, not the NCAA. If they would not accept a coach deliberately deceiving them, they should be very clear that they will not tolerate it at al!
February 8th, 2015 at 9:40 AM ^
You're making a ridiculoulous straw man argument. They know coaches move on. They don't like being lied to. That kind of behavior isn't acceptable anywhere, inside or outside of business. Yet some people somehow find a way to blame the kids that fall victim to it.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
I'm not about to blame high school kids for falling victim to emotional manipulation. It's extremely easy for you to offer armchair hindsight.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:48 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 5:53 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 6:57 AM ^
AGREE!!! I LIVE HERE NOW AND I TOO CAN ATTEST THAT THEIR CAMPUSE IS A SHIT HOLE COMPARED TO MICHIGAN.... Personally, I believe recruits are afraid to go to Michigan because of fear of not passing classes. There is no fear of that at THE OSU for certain. I work with many grads from OSU and I don't think many of them could graduate from Henry Ford CC in Dearborn. It's such a huge school and its so easy for people to cheat. I doubt that's happening at Michigan...
February 8th, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 7:20 PM ^
I think a sense of entitlement is part of it. As a grad student, I picked up a little cash by proctoring exams. Another proctor and I saw suspicious activity one afternoon and arranged for handgrading of an entire row of students. This was over 40 years ago at an Ivy League university.
They were SA's, mostly freshmen and sophomores.They failed the exam, the course, and did not place out of a language requirement, but they were not expelled for cheating. But if it could happen at a school without athletic scholarships or freshman eligibility, it could happen anywhere.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
THAT'S NOT TRUE!
February 8th, 2015 at 3:13 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 4:14 AM ^
The NCAA could require that any coach actively in discussion with anoher program, either in the NCAA or NF, disclose that fact to the recruit. The name of the team that is being talked to need not be mentioned.
Failure to provide this notice will result in loss of scholarships.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:33 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 8:01 AM ^
One problem that the NCAA has is that it has no subpoena power, so enforcement is voluntary. I would change that and require member institutions to agree to be bound to the same type of discovery rules that are used in civil litigations. Alternatively, and much more simply, would be an opt-out clause in the LOI that allows the recruit to void his LOI and reopen his recruitment process if his position coach/recruiter leaves the institution the recruit has selected within a stated period of time.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
opt-out clauses are the answer. coaching change within x days of recruit y's signing results in that LOI becoming null and void.
the ncaa will never gain that type influence such as subpoena powers, presidents wont let it happen - psu just paid 50 million to terminate all sanctions from coach raping kids and the entire program / administration covering it up, now psu has full scholarships again, etc and that god joepa has his wins back
February 8th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^
There is no way to prove it.
So the answer is to change the rule so that if there is a coacing change that impacts a recruit within N days of his LOI, he can walk away. Just like his coach walked away.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
Agreed. A quick draft:
- N = (first game of season). For a freshman starting practice in July, his position coach leaving in June is really no different than leaving the day after LOI signing.
- This ensures the kid at least one fall's worth of practice under the recruiting position coach.
- Since a kid's opportunities would likely be limited mid-summer/fall, give him the option to transfer after the season w/o having to sit out a year.
- Extend the signing window to accomodate such situations.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 4:39 AM ^
Absolutely Agree.... sure the players would like 4 year scholarship, added food bonus, travel for their family, diabiltiy insurance etc. But just as much, I think these players deserve to be informed to make a major life choice.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:13 AM ^
Every time I think about the NCAA I'm brought back to South Park and the Crack Baby Athletic Association episode. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are incredible.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:20 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:25 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:34 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:59 AM ^
between knowing your position coach could get a better job offer at any time and bold, and having him ALREADY have a better job offer that he is taking and yet be telling you he is going to be coaching you. AKA LYING TO YOUR FACE.
Eveyrone knows that a guy might get a better job and be gone. But when they are ALREADY gone and still recruiting you, well that is massively dishonest. Hell, I'm pretty sure one of the reasons our recruiting suffered in the very last few years of Carr is that he refused to promise to the kids that he wasn't going to retire. AKA, he wouldn't lie.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:47 AM ^
I would like to see the NCAA add an opt-out clause but I don't see it happening. One of the major schools needs to add their own clause to their LOI's saying that if your position coach, DC/OC or head coach leaves within X amount of time you can opt out. This would pressure other schools to follow suit.
I think it is possible you see the Power 5 pass something but still not very likely.
You might get a decommit here or there but overall I think you would see the overall commit talent go up as more kids wouldn't be hesitant to go there.
I think if Michigan had this clause Weber signs with us and then feels a huge sigh of relief when he sees osu's coach bolt, pure speculation though.