Other colleges recruiting with cash

[UFreak]

I know it happens on this board some each year during recruiting season. But this year more than ever it seems like each time a recruit goes somewhere besides UF, there is a larger than normal contingent throwing the "cash" complaint out there.
Two things strike me with that:
1) UF is our favorite school, but not everyone's. There are many factors that go into selecting a place to play your college football. The vast majority of the time it is not because someone is getting paid.
2) All those talking about illegal recruiting do realize how much we cheated in the 80s, right? We cheated A LOT.

[hgators]

We paid for it too, fsu, Clemson, 'bama and Auburn, nor scUM have paod like we did. They still are very guilty and still do it.

There are just times when there is no othe plausible explanation.

[UFreak]

There are just times when there is no othe plausible explanation.

Such as?

[G8RNTN]

What's the purpose of this thread??? Just curious...

[UFreak]

What's the purpose of this thread??? Just curious...

Fair enough, I guess it's to say sometimes you lose. Sometimes you just lose. And to read all the messages of impropriety gets old?

[hgators]

I agree, sometimes other schools are more attractive for legitimate reasons. For those kids, you have to be happy. I just hate the Ernie Sims, Tim Jernigan type deals, where the kids wants to be a Gator and his coach or parent is bought off.

[UFreak]

Ernie Sims' dad played at FSU. How outraged would we be if Kelvin Taylor had committed to the Noles. I don't accept that Tim Jernigan or his parents were paid off. I'm not saying it's not possible, I just don't believe it happened.

[DuPontGator]

I know it happens on this board some each year during recruiting season. But this year more than ever it seems like each time a recruit goes somewhere besides UF, there is a larger than normal contingent throwing the "cash" complaint out there.
Two things strike me with that:
1) UF is our favorite school, but not everyone's. There are many factors that go into selecting a place to play your college football. The vast majority of the time it is not because someone is getting paid.
2) All those talking about illegal recruiting do realize how much we cheated in the 80s, right? We cheated A LOT.

You know all this how?

[UFreak]

You know all this how?

What part?

[hgators]

Bobby got Ernie's brother, a convicted rapist I believe, to out the hammer down on Ernie. He paid him, plain ans simple. Ernie was devastated, he wanted to be a Gator. You can not deny the Jernigan"s recruitment is fishy and you're dealing with fsu, it is more than plausible.

[UFreak]

Bobby got Ernie's brother, a convicted rapist I believe, to out the hammer down on Ernie. He paid him, plain ans simple. Ernie was devastated, he wanted to be a Gator. You can not deny the Jernigan"s recruitment is fishy and you're dealing with fsu, it is more than plausible.

I don't know man. I'm just pretty sure many say the same about us. I'm sure there is a huge number of FSU fans who feel we did something fishy with Fowler and maybe even Fred Taylor.

[hgators]

I am sure they do. I know people say this, but believe me, and I can't say how, but am involved in this stuff and where there's smoke...

We definitely were guity as sin in the 80's.

But look at all of our competitors, they all say the teams I mentioned before cheat, there's a reason for it.

[stomp_and_chomp]

What's the purpose of this thread??? Just curious...

To me, the purpose of this thread is to stop people from saying stupid things about players not selecting UF because of money... Makes us all look dumb... and really, when people throw that out there, it's more of a whine than anything else.

I love Florida, I love UF, but I only _like_ the fan-base...

There's 30+ other big-time schools offering kids their #1, guaranteed starter - no competition AT ALL, spots.... Perfect example - Stefon Diggs. It's gonna happen every year, no matter what.

[stomp_and_chomp]

Bobby got Ernie's brother, a convicted rapist I believe, to out the hammer down on Ernie. He paid him, plain ans simple. Ernie was devastated, he wanted to be a Gator. You can not deny the Jernigan"s recruitment is fishy and you're dealing with fsu, it is more than plausible.

There's been plenty of Florida kids who grew up FSU fans but chose Florida in the long run.... Another example - The Pouncey's. A more recent example - Dante Fowler Jr... I doubt Champ and the other coaches went to his house that day near NSD with a sack of cash. Same goes with Urban and the Lakeland boys, he sold playing time and an opportunity to be competitors in the SEC.

Cash being tossed around happens a lot less than you think. It does happen though... but to a much smaller degree than you think.

[stomp_and_chomp]

Also, another interesting tidbit, while we are on the topic. The NCAA has watchdogs, a lot like secret-shoppers, who just blend in with the masses.... reading message boards, twitter, various websites... When they hear or read something, the NCAA knows.

I am willing to believe that the NCAA looks in on a bunch of kids, over a bunch of sports, all across the nation.... and their findings bring in nothing, thus we don't ever hear about it.

And when we do hear about it, it's a big story because they busted someone... a la Reggie Bush.

The only big-time player, recently, who I believe got money from someone to attend a school was Cam Newton... Not saying that because I dislike him, I really don't... But when you wake up one morning and hear a grainy recording of his dad asking for money over the phone... RED FLAG. And, it was the NCAA who got that recording.

The NCAA is powerful.

[xenythx]

In most cases it's sour grapes, but Clemson is definitely dirty and everyone knows it.

[stomp_and_chomp]

In most cases it's sour grapes, but Clemson is definitely dirty and everyone knows it.

Nahh, UF fans throw that out there against Clemson fans because every year they manage to get a kid that we really want.

If Clemson was throwing money around, then they would have landed Mike Davis last year.

The only schools with any type of swag (for Football) in all the ACC is FSU, Clemson and Miami.... All 3 schools are major competitors with the recruits we target.... Also, I am willing to say that those 3 schools gives us more competition for recruits than MOST SEC schools.

[hgators]

Coaches know, they don't rat each other out. Those stories will shock you.

[LimeyGator]

I think the thread is completely valid.

I also wonder, in a highly litigious environment, whether posting stuff like this leaves people open to legal action. I don't know much about law but if these comments about buying recruits is inaccurate, it sure looks like libel to me...

[fubar1]

The sad part for UF is we cheated in the 80's....but prob weren't cheating as much as Bama, Auburn, Georgia and the rest of the SEC.

It wasn't but a few years later that Eric Ramsey walked into Pat Dye's office and recorded him offering him cash. B

We were just the ones to get busted.

[bullish]

NCAA looks the other way on illegal recruiting. How about Julio Jones, Trent Richarson, Cam Newton. If they wanted to investigate, they would live in the backwoods of Alabama and be a fly on the wall. No way this is going to happen. It doesn't make the Alabama myth that they are football and there is the rest, story comes to rest. They don't won't that. There is too much money for the NCAA fat cats to spend. Which they do nicely. Yes they may come to the state of Florida where everybody wants to vacation, but Alabama where you send your Nuclear Waste! Come on

Illegal recruiting at Alabama is on their list of classes at their school just like African studies at North Carolina. Money, Cars, girls, you name it, Alabama has no shame when it comes to recruiting. Spurrier was frustrated with the recruitment of a lineman from Brunswick, Ga. near the Florida line, he was committed to the Gators and the weekend before signing went to Alabama for a weekend and came back driving a new red pick-up truck. Spurrier was furious and wanted action on this and our admin and the NCAA all looked the other way. This was part of Spurrier being frustrated with being the coach at Florida. Urban knew the same thing, when you go up against Alabama you aren't going to win many if the recruit doesn't have any morals or needs the cash, clothes, car/truck, girls, jobs for his parents or rides for them. Tim was the only one.

So on signing day, we will have a great class, but look at Alabama's, everybody they want, they get. Saban knows he can win there without even coaching. Why leave he would be exposed. LSU and recruiting, don't get me started.

[nflgator]

I say, NCAA waits for infractions, then takes 2 to 4 years to take action.
There are 4 to 6 schools that should be analyzed closely. I think NCAA should have
a couple of investigators in an area to catch the guilty on a timely basis.

Look at HS/College coaches relationship and paying cash.
Mu wife is calling .. must go.

[candymanfromgc]

Cheating takes place in many ways. Boosters who will offer benifits beyond the free ride. Yet the smart ones will operate through a third party such as paying for the tickets each player is given. This I know happens because I was told how, by a person who was involved in the ticket for cash deal although it was many years ago.

Bama cheats and most know they do. Clemson has the same rep without the results. FSU had many players driving rides everyone knew they could not afford back in Bowdens prime years. I've heard stories from former players, if they know you they will tell you more.
UK in BB is without a doubt giving extra benifits-although mostly through outside agents etc. One player who really like UF and was from the state, signed with UK and his mother got this great job in Lexington-go figure.

[og8trz]

Leopards don't change their spots. Unless the leopard is severely punished like we were.

Clemson was no factor on 5-star recruits unt they hired a Bama assistant.

Reinhard Wilson was written up in the Flambeau, the F$U student newspaper for having a handicap sti Ker on his new gold Lexus. There is history between F$U and Lake City kids.

Google Michael Gibson/Bobby Bowden and you will see just how slimy Warden Bowden was. Gibson broke into a coed's apartment raped her, shot her twice, and ste her Christmas presents on his way out. Bowden wrote a letter to the parole board asking for a lighter sentence for this monster to get his step brother, Ernie Sims.

The coed lived and she and her husband, both F$U grads were outraged at Bowden and their school, but the press mostly ignored them to preserve Bowden's reputation.

I don't pretend to know how often, but it happens.

[UFreak]

So for those who are posting on this thread and saying that shady tactics are used by the above mentioned schools, do you think that those schools illegally recruit all the players they offer scholarships to. Or is it just a few here and there in a class. I'm just curious as to how replete you think these various schools are with handing over cash or other material perks to secure an LOI.
So say in a class of 30 from Alabama, FSU and Clemson, how many were recruited with cash and/or material perks?

[DoctorGator]

"So for those who are posting on this thread and saying that shady tactics are used by the above mentioned schools, do you think that those schools illegally recruit all the players they offer scholarships to. Or is it just a few here and there in a class. I'm just curious as to how replete you think these various schools are with handing over cash or other material perks to secure an LOI.
So say in a class of 30 from Alabama, FSU and Clemson, how many were recruited with cash and/or material perks? Today 09:36 AM"

Freak, I don't know if you are serious or just yanking peoples' chains. If you are serious, this is the subject of Paul Davis' interview with Terry Bowden, dated April 24, 2001. The interview was conducted at Bowden's Loachapoka Ranch. I got a copy of the interview off this very site within the last 10 days or so, so you can find it. It can be found by itself, or as part of a collection of such documents entitled "As The Plains Burn." Hope this helps.

[UFreak]

"So for those who are posting on this thread and saying that shady tactics are used by the above mentioned schools, do you think that those schools illegally recruit all the players they offer scholarships to. Or is it just a few here and there in a class. I'm just curious as to how replete you think these various schools are with handing over cash or other material perks to secure an LOI.
So say in a class of 30 from Alabama, FSU and Clemson, how many were recruited with cash and/or material perks? Today 09:36 AM"

Freak, I don't know if you are serious or just yanking peoples' chains. If you are serious, this is the subject of Paul Davis' interview with Terry Bowden, dated April 24, 2001. The interview was conducted at Bowden's Loachapoka Ranch. I got a copy of the interview off this very site within the last 10 days or so, so you can find it. It can be found by itself, or as part of a collection of such documents entitled "As The Plains Burn." Hope this helps.

Not yanking people's chains. I will give it a read. I remember when that interview came out. I was working at an Alabama paper when that interview came out. The general consensus among people in my sphere was that Terry always embellished and this was just another instance. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I just don't think every time we miss out on a player to Clemson or Bama or FSU it is because the player received illegal perks during recruiting.
I think the vast majority of the time it is because the player wanted to go there for reasons unrelated to illegal recruiting.

[UFreak]

That said, Auburn was cheating at the time. It is documented. I just don't believe everything Terry Bowden says. He has a desire to exaggerate everything for attention.

[superman2318]

Its kind of obvious when you have broke kids posting pictures holding tens of thousands of dollars shortly after their visit/commitment

[SwampKing1]

F$U RB Greg Allen received $70,000 to play for BB.. I know this because he admitted it in an article in 1988 I believe.. Current DL coach Odell Haggins drove a brand new Ford Explorer off the lot in Bartow his senior year (received scholly) in August to drive up to Tally.. A former DB - (forget the name) had a BMW purchased by an attorney in Clearwater and when asked why - he stated the player's mom was an employee and he was taking the car payment out of her check (right).. Anquan Boldin was a UF - scum battle until Mark Rhict showed up @ a hoops game a few weeks before signing day.. An "uncle" show up on signing day and they had a prayer meeting.. AB's dad even called the UF coaches office stating they were Gators early on signing day... He flips a few hours later...And on & on & on.. As a side note - I knew a few of SOS's asst coaches and they said to a man that IF they broke the rules they were gone on the spot!!! No questions.. SOS hated the way the conference and the noles were doing pretty much anything they wanted..

[Speedofsand]

Tressel was dirty at YSU and didn't change at OSU. From Ray Isaac to Clarett to Pryor & friends he was filthy dirty.

[dadx4]

The reason why cheating is so rampant in college football is because the NCAA has no balls. IF they ever hand down the death penalty (Miami should get it) these schools will continue doing this and it will progressively get worse each year until they do. They need to do the death penalty to about 5 schools in order for it to slow down at least temporarily.

[ofmgator]

When you say we cheated back in the 80's I'dlike to k now specifically what cheating took place. We all know about Charlie Pell and then how Galen Hall was targeted...but what specifically are you talking about? I agree that some fans say the wrong things but then again I'm not sure what grade they are in in HS. Every player has his favorite school but their choices are often interrupted due to academics, how soon they can play, coaching changes, scheme changes.... However , there is no need by a Gator fan to bring Florida into the cheating conversation for any reason whatsoever.

[UFreak]

When you say we cheated back in the 80's I'dlike to k now specifically what cheating took place. We all know about Charlie Pell and then how Galen Hall was targeted...but what specifically are you talking about? I agree that some fans say the wrong things but then again I'm not sure what grade they are in in HS. Every player has his favorite school but their choices are often interrupted due to academics, how soon they can play, coaching changes, scheme changes.... However , there is no need by a Gator fan to bring Florida into the cheating conversation for any reason whatsoever.

It's pretty easy to do a google search to find out what we were popped for. It was a long time ago and I think we are now running a squeaky clean program. However, we certainly aren't immune to getting into trouble. It's not a question of being anti gator. Remembering the past is a great way to prevent future mistakes. I'm a very proud gator fan, but also an objective and realistic one (for the most part, I typically think our seasons will be successful always).
Nothing wrong with have an eye to the future while respecting the lessons of the past.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I get you, UFreak.

I think there's money changing hands at schools but we (and other fan bases) tend to get very petty and either unrealistic or hypocritical. If money is truly driving every recruit that switches AWAY from UF, how is it not the same when we flip a recruit?

[Jupgator]

Coaches know, they don't rat each other out. Those stories will shock you.

Seems like the honest coaches would "rat out" the bad guys, and may do it. But according to your statement, either they are all cheating and fear reprisals, or none are cheating. My guess is that there is some cheating and coaches do rat out other coaches, although if so, why don't we hear more about it?

[NoahBeanBizzel]

So for those who are posting on this thread and saying that shady tactics are used by the above mentioned schools, do you think that those schools illegally recruit all the players they offer scholarships to. Or is it just a few here and there in a class. I'm just curious as to how replete you think these various schools are with handing over cash or other material perks to secure an LOI.
So say in a class of 30 from Alabama, FSU and Clemson, how many were recruited with cash and/or material perks?

We'll never really know. Look, the names Reggie Bush and Joe McNight obviously can't be ingored. With all the recent scandals popping up at schools like Miami, Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Ohio State, etc...it's not unrealistic to assume that some coaches look the other way. I mean, nobody really believes that Cam Newton was entirely innocent during the recruiting process. Do you really think Auburn was? I have burning questions about the garbage Saban resorts to at 'Bama. Is there really a difference between bending the rules as far as you possibly can, and breaking them?

The SEC is widely regarded as the dirtiest conference of them all. Tennessee, 'Bama, Florida and Auburn have all been nailed at some point over the last 25 years. Don't forget the documentary HBO did about Auburn. You can't just say that all of that was a publicity stunt.

No, I'm not saying that every player who flips from Florida is getting it in under the table. An objective observer could've logically argued that it was odd for Florida to sign three defensive linemen (Floyd, Powell and Easley), from out of state, and all of them were among the best in the country. However, recent history suggests that there's a lot more going on during the recruiting process than we know about.

[MaceoP]

I know it happens on this board some each year during recruiting season. But this year more than ever it seems like each time a recruit goes somewhere besides UF, there is a larger than normal contingent throwing the "cash" complaint out there.
Two things strike me with that:
1) UF is our favorite school, but not everyone's. There are many factors that go into selecting a place to play your college football. The vast majority of the time it is not because someone is getting paid.
2) All those talking about illegal recruiting do realize how much we cheated in the 80s, right? We cheated A LOT.

I've been a member since the mid 90's, I just don't see the 'cash card' being played more this year than in years past. Coach Boom seems to be doing the same thing in recruiting that he does during a game... That would be grinding his opponents into submission. I have to say from my personal point of view, I have more confidence in this staff, which equals less anxiety, than I've had since I can remember.

[grant1]

I know it happens on this board some each year during recruiting season. But this year more than ever it seems like each time a recruit goes somewhere besides UF, there is a larger than normal contingent throwing the "cash" complaint out there.
Two things strike me with that:
1) UF is our favorite school, but not everyone's. There are many factors that go into selecting a place to play your college football. The vast majority of the time it is not because someone is getting paid.
2) All those talking about illegal recruiting do realize how much we cheated in the 80s, right? We cheated A LOT.

We may have cheated a lot, but it was a lot of mickeymouse stuff. A lot of free t-shirts and cheeseburgers. Of the hundred or so items that the NCAA nailed us on, only a couple involved cash and I don't remember any of subsantial amount. It seemed like Lomas Brown got a $100 "signing bonus" or somemthing like that.

It's not like Herschell signing late, then showing up with a brand new camaro.