Hearns

[The_Graygator]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

Not to mention impressively perverse.

Or imperverssively pressive. Either way.

[The_Graygator]

If there was anyone else in this class I feared we could lose, it was Hearns with him being right up there in the midst of nolie territory.

I'm not sure he'll jump ship though. There's a small chance, But I'd say the odds are a lot better for UF that he sticks to the Gators. He's looking at early PT at UF anyway.

[Speedofsand]

Why is he visiting OSU Jan 11th?

James Hearns, a 4-star out of Tallahassee committed to Florida, was expected to play in this one but will miss the game due to a quad injury. He was thought earlier this fall to be a possible flip for Ohio State. And while an Ohio State visit January 11th is still in the cards for Hearns, he tweeted as recently as yesterday that he's still looking forward to being a Gator. We'll have to see what Kerry Coombs has to say about those plans.


James Hearns ‏@JamesHearns21
Its crazy.. The next football helmet I put on will be a Florida gator helmet
10:03 AM - 29 Dec 12

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by Speedofsand

Why is he visiting OSU Jan 11th?

He's never seen snow?

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Yeah, it's never a good thing when a committed prospect takes a January visit to Columbus. Meyer is as good as it gets with high school seniors. I don't care what Hearns tweets about, this won't be over until he signs.

[GATORAZ]

tOSU will get two LB commits this weekend I would not worry about James. James will also visit Florida on the 18th.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

James will also visit Florida on the 18th.

That is key. If a Florida commit takes his last visit to Gainesville, indications are pretty good he sticks.

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

He's never seen snow?

He might be disappointed. Don't know what's up in Columbus, but there is virtually no snow in here in Chicago. We've yet to have more than a fraction of an inch fall. If Columbus weather this weekend is anything like it is in Chicago, Hearns will be anxious to get back home. It is cold and bleak. Lows are in the teens. The sun has not been out in days. The midwest in the winter is just ugly without snow, nothing but dead grass and leafless trees.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

He might be disappointed. Don't know what's up in Columbus, but there is virtually no snow in here in Chicago. We've yet to have more than a fraction of an inch fall. If Columbus weather this weekend is anything like it is in Chicago, Hearns will be anxious to get back home. It is cold and bleak. Lows are in the teens. The sun has not been out in days. The midwest in the winter is just ugly without snow, nothing but dead grass and leafless trees.

Hopefully he doesn't run a razor blade across his wrist while he's up there.

[ametcalf]

^^haha.....we're not worrying about osu recruiting...we're just worrying about our kids making it back alive.

Cold weather just sucks to play in. You smack your hands on a facemask and you'll quickly be singing a different toon. One comparable to a small child crying..ha

[UGator]

I guess the days are gone when a player chose a school they loved from childhood and wanted to represent on the field.

The John Theus family in JAX (John played at Bolles) used to love the Gators, but John's older bro (marginal player) either didn't get an offer from UF or chose the Dawgs for earlier playing time? John then committed to them also. So much for loyalty or playing for their long time favorite school.

We need Hearns and hopes he told Muschamp he just wants some fun time away but is solid to UF and won't let Meyer change his mind. However, 17-18 yr. olds flip for the strangest things sometimes, so his taking visits is a concern.

I don't trust a commitment unless it's 100% and no other visits will be taken! Even then, buyer's remorse can affect a player at the last minute. How about those guys in the last class who flipped the last week and on NSD?

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by UGator

I guess the days are gone when a player chose a school they loved from childhood and wanted to represent on the field.

The John Theus family in JAX (John played at Bolles) used to love the Gators, but John's older bro (marginal player) either didn't get an offer from UF or chose the Dawgs for earlier playing time? John then committed to them also. So much for loyalty or playing for their long time favorite school.

We need Hearns and hopes he told Muschamp he just wants some fun time away but is solid to UF and won't let Meyer change his mind. However, 17-18 yr. olds flip for the strangest things sometimes, so his taking visits is a concern.

I don't trust a commitment unless it's 100% and no other visits will be taken! Even then, buyer's remorse can affect a player at the last minute. How about those guys in the last class who flipped the last week and on NSD?

I'm ok with a player taking trips while committed. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and they've worked hard for it. It's basically sightseeing for them so let them enjoy it.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by Tebowism0823

I'm ok with a player taking trips while committed. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and they've worked hard for it. It's basically sightseeing for them so let them enjoy it.

A prospect should take all five of his visits. I would never bang for depriving a kid of seeing what's out there. Even if he grows up a Gator, has family that went to UF, and can't picture himself being anywhere else, I'd STILL encourage him to see what else is out there. There may be better opportunities out there than what Gainesville has to offer. You only get that opportunity once.

Just do all that before you throw the word "committed" around. These coaches are constantly trying to squeeze 25 hours of work into a 24-hour day, trust that a "committed" prospect is going to keep his word (that's what a "commitment" is), and relies on that kid's word to fill a need. So, when a coach thinks he has three linebacker spots filled early in the summer, then deals with one or two prospects backing out a month before signing day, well...that's not right. Now all the other top prospects that you backed off of are down to just a couple of schools, and it's hard to get into the mix with any of them. So, now you're scrambling to find "fillers".

Coaches have gotten smart, though. They can sense who really is on board; and know who really isn't all that firm. They were honest with Powell about recruiting other prospects, and there was nothing wrong with that.

Take all your visits, enjoy the process, and have fun with it. Just don't commit to a school, give everybody your word that you're going to be on campus, and then decide in January that you want to take all your visits. It's not right.

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

A prospect should take all five of his visits. I would never bang for depriving a kid of seeing what's out there. Even if he grows up a Gator, has family that went to UF, and can't picture himself being anywhere else, I'd STILL encourage him to see what else is out there. There may be better opportunities out there than what Gainesville has to offer. You only get that opportunity once.

Just do all that before you throw the word "committed" around. These coaches are constantly trying to squeeze 25 hours of work into a 24-hour day, trust that a "committed" prospect is going to keep his word (that's what a "commitment" is), and relies on that kid's word to fill a need. So, when a coach thinks he has three linebacker spots filled early in the summer, then deals with one or two prospects backing out a month before signing day, well...that's not right. Now all the other top prospects that you backed off of are down to just a couple of schools, and it's hard to get into the mix with any of them. So, now you're scrambling to find "fillers".

Coaches have gotten smart, though. They can sense who really is on board; and know who really isn't all that firm. They were honest with Powell about recruiting other prospects, and there was nothing wrong with that.

Take all your visits, enjoy the process, and have fun with it. Just don't commit to a school, give everybody your word that you're going to be on campus, and then decide in January that you want to take all your visits. It's not right.

That's a great theory and in a perfect world it would work. But what if the school you are favoring is filling up fast? Sometimes you have to pull the trigger early to get your spot. There are only a handful of players who can wait till february and select any school they want.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

That's not necessarily true, and coaches will almost always hold a scholarship for a player they truly want.

Look, the word "commit" doesn't mean anything these days. A divorce rate of nearly 50% of couples in this country means that half the people that say "I do" at the altar do it in vain. And no, that's not comparing apples to oranges. The value of giving somebody your word has diminished, and recruiting is merely a reflection of what goes on around us. The media actually encourages prospects to pull off bizarre stunts on signing day, and coaches get screwed when committed prospects put another hat on their head on signing day.

I'll put my soapbox away, and I'm not saying anything else about this. It's just a joke sometimes.

[gator7_5]

I agree with that. Just like life, nothings firm until the paper is signed. I've had plenty of clients commit to a project and end up signing with another company.

[ametcalf]

true story

anyone not guilty of changing their minds might indeed be Jesus...and I'd like for you to turn my water into wine.....I mean, options! Recruiting reminds me of sales....and I love it!!

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by ametcalf

true story

anyone not guilty of changing their minds might indeed be Jesus...and I'd like for you to turn my water into wine.....I mean, options! Recruiting reminds me of sales....and I love it!!

I'm not GOD.

[newdad]

If he flips, we flip one back. We will get ours. I do believe he is solid though.

[ametcalf]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

I'm not GOD.

...maybe not, but you're Noah!!