Re: Julio Jones, Robert Lester, and B.J. Scott are officially visiting OU together
Keep in mind that Saban encourages assistant coaches to interview for jobs that they don't necessarily have any intention of seriously pursuing. Part of this is that it reinforces that those who are with him are there by choice. Rather than being an obstacle, Saban sees the value in making sure those in his care are prepared to take another opportunity, if that is what they want/is better for them. This communicates several things:
1. a confidence that what you offer is highly competitive
2. that the value of what you offer stands on it's own, and is not the result of manipulation
3. that Saban is looking out for your best interests, even if that might cause short term inconvenience for him
Based on this, I would venture to guess that Saban views committed recruits taking visits very differently than some around here. Let's even set aside the benefit of having a commited recruit at the side of a deciding recruit on another campus. It would not shock me if Saban even encouraged recruits to take other visits.
This eliminates some of the urge to wonder during tough times if (x) would have been a better fit. It reinforces that the choice was one's own, which more often than not will lead to an individual taking more responsibility for the success of that choice.
Whomever the recruit, if they go elsewhere and really feel that is the place for them, fare them well and move on. Remember that these are kids, and it's just petty and small to wish them anything other than growth and success, regardless of where they have to go to find that. If they go someplace else, it's hopefully because they chose that, not because they rejected this.
Just saying: if I had the kind of gifts to go pretty much anywhere I wanted, that would be the kind of supportive environment that would attract me.
DT_mpr:
