UCLA and Flournoy
I just got off the phone with a source who told me UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel recenlty had an in-home visit with receiver and USC commit DeVon Flournoy of Birmingham High of Lake Balboa. I was told the visit went well, but the source wasn't ready to say Flournoy was ready to flip away from the Trojans.
Will be interesting to see how this class turns out. Lots of interesting offers and meetings, so far no results from anybody other than the typical WAC Class athletes. So far the dream team is marginal at best. Will be interesting to see if Walker sticks around.
To "Not VB"...
A "typical WAC class athlete"... interesting.
Richard Brehaut, Todd Golper, Keenan Graham, Stanley Hasiak, Sheldon Price, Sheldon Price would argue otherwise... and that's only naming a few.
All were sought after teams outside of the "typical WAC class athlete."
It's unnecessary and not respectable to rip apart these kids who have given their word to UCLA by demeaning their talent.
I love the aggressive recruiting by Rick Neuheisel. He's basically saying, I dont care if you've committed to SUC and I dont care if you dont change your mind, but I will come into your home and let you hear what I have to say. He's basically saying that there are no kids that are hands-off as long as he's around. Get this kid or not, Go CRN!
I begrudgingly approve of the recruiting methods employed by Coach Rick Neuheisel. By going into the committed players' homes, he is in fact saying that he is not afraid to compete. That is good for this program and was sorely needed. To wit, just look at the recruiting classes from the last few years (excepting last years stellar class).
I hate to say it, but I think that Coach Karl Dorrell was afraid or unwilling to compete against Coach Pete Carroll. It may not be a popular opinion, but it is my opinion nonetheless. I believe that even Dohn Corleone alluded to Karl Dorrell's unwillingness to compete by stating the obvious:
"I can't say that was always the norm in years past, but Neuheisel seems to really enjoy the process rather than looking at it as a chore and necessary evil of running a college program."
The same WAC that destroyed the PAC 10 this year and has owned UCLA over the last few years??
Lest we forget that UCLA also beat BYU last year and was a finger tip away from beating them a second time. It's not a bad as you make it out to be. The 59-0 game was a fluke and before you mention Utah the score was 14-6 halfway through the 3rd quarter before it fell apart. Neuheisel is righting the ship and the results will start to show the next time they get on the field.
2008 Fresno St. L 31-36
2005 SDSU W 44-21
2004 SDSU W 33-10
2003 SDSU W 20-10
2003 Fresno St. L 9-17
2002 SDSU W 43-7
Seems like the WAC has thoroughly "owned" UCLA for this entire decade. Two close games against Fresno St.
Now, if you are referring to the MWC, yeah, the PAC 10 was pretty much dominated this year.
2002 New Mexico W 27-13
2004 Wyoming L 21-24
2006 Utah W 31-10
2007 BYU W 27-17
2007 Utah L 6-44
2007 BYU L 16-17
2008 BYU L 0-59
...and yeah, UCLA has underperformed against the MWC conference.
Owned?
The only people that got owned are the idiots that thought the MWC teams were in the WAC! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Let's get serious. The only argument that Rick has for a USC commit is that they'll start on UCLA while they'll sit on the bench at USC. So, in reality he can only court USC bench sitters, not USC potential starters.
Add to that they actually have to have an academic brain and the pool of potential recruits are very slim indeed.
Not really. Price would have started at SC and probably a handful of last years recruits. Last year's class was very key becuase alot of these current kids and next years kids looked up to the like of Milton Knox, Rahim "The Dream" Moore, Jonathon Franklin, Datone Jones, Antwon Moutra, etc. These were all city section stars. Flournoy knows what Knox is gonna do the next four years, so CRN is asking him to join his fellow Patriot in turning the tide in LA football. I would tell this kid "Why be the next steve smith/Reggie Bush at USC? You will always be in thier shadow. Be the Reggie Bush of UCLA, help turn this program into a dynasty."
to anon @ 8:02am
i agree with you, but would add that who can say which of these kids will start and which will be bench sitters? as deep as SUC is at every position, you could say every incoming freshman would be a bench sitter, so in that case every kid would be courtable.
Aren't the bench-sitters at 'SC four-star recruits?
Along with the Trojans, Flournoy said he's seriously considering UCLA and Cal and is talking with Oregon as well.
"I had home visits with UCLA, Cal and USC and they all went very well," Flournoy said. "Coach Neuheisal and the receiver coach, Reggie Moore came in for UCLA and I liked them a lot. The two main things I'm looking for in a school are strong academics and the chance to play early and UCLA offers both. I'm also close with Milton Knox and he talks to me about coming to UCLA every time I see him."