My Take On Where the Program Is With Recruiting
I wanted to throw my two cents worth into the discussion that is happening in several other threads as it relates to this years recruiting class.
We all know this run will end. It's not even a dynasty anymore. It's whatever is past a dynasty. We need a knew name for it, and I think it will continue for at least a couple of more years, maybe more. The issue is the foundation will start to crack at some point, and the place it may do that is in recruiting. Bama brought in a really good class, and several of those guys are going to be difference makers, but it wasn't up to the usual standard from the past 10 years.
This class may be an anomaly, and I hope it is. There was the new early signing period that the staff and CNS may not have handled as well as they could have, and that is very correctable. We had a tremendous amount of staff turnover. Some of that turn over was regrettable. I would have loved to keep Pruitt one more year, and I think that was the thought around the program. I don't blame Pruitt for taking the Viles job. It's a big time job, and if he brings them back to some level of prominence he can write his own paycheck there or somewhere else. I've also read and listened to podcasts that say he left on good terms and did it the right way, and the on field performance of the defense in the play offs reflect that. This fact may even open a door for him to return at a later time. I wouldn't mind that at all if he shows that he can handle the big chair at a place like UT with Fat Phil looking over his shoulder that will be impressive.
I do think some of staff weren't great recruiters which is unusual for a CNS staff. I'm of the mind that if Dunbar dropped the ball on Langham then he may need to go. I don't know for sure if that happened, but CNS does know. Daboll may not have been as involved in recruiting as he should have been either. The staff has been overhauled now, and I'm really excited about the prospects of a young staff growing under CNS and staying intact for a couple of years. That too may help in recruiting.
Another issue is the overhaul of coaching in the SEC and even the ACC teams in the southeast. That scum bag Kirby is recruiting well. I hope he's cheating and gets busted on an Ole Miss level after what he did when leaving Bama, the recruiting board, negative recruiting, and flat out lying to recruits about Bama and CNS. That little sleaze ball wouldn't be where he is today without CNS and may God have mercy on him because I would have none. I'm not bitter or anything.
The other guys are flashy hires as well. They are younger than CNS and good recruiters. Pruitt falls into this category. I'm not sold Fisher will do anything, but turn A&M into a dumpster fire like he did at FSU. He wasn't liked by administration or boosters there, but he has shown he can recruit players to his program. I put Dabo in this category. He's been there a long time, but he's younger and very charismatic. Taggert at FSU may be a problem as well when it comes to pulling guys out of Florida and all over the southeast. Mullen at UF is to me the best hire of the offseason. I like it better that Kelly to UCLA. I may be wrong, but that guy did more with less at MSU. He got them to number 1, and they were fielding good teams with lesser facilities, history, and players. That guy can coach in my opinion. Richt seems reenergized at UM. He's always recruited well. He's just struggled to close the deal on the field. His recruiting could pull guys from us that have come out of South Florida. Muschamp is also doing a good job at USCe. I like the direction of that program right now. He may not sustain it, but he has it on the upswing at the moment. My point is it's gonna get tougher to bring in good players.
There are some bright spots. I think Louisiana is wide open and so is Mississippi, and instate recruiting is gonna be good next year as well. I think the Barn is on the way to a meltdown, and I'm not sold ole trashy Kirby is going to be able to keep the on the field performance where it is now. He was playing with Richt's players kind of like Tiny Terry Bowden at the barn with Dye's players. I want to see if he can coach up these players he's bringing in. He may do it, but it's not a certainty. Especially when other programs start raiding his staff. Like happens to CNS year after year.
My final thought is that the foundation of this program has been recruiting, and if that starts to slip it will be the crack in the foundation that will eventually see CNS retire to the lake and feed the ducks. I know it will happen at some point, and it will be sad, but what ride we are on as Bama fans. I can't thank CNS and Mal Moore enough for the joy they have made college football for me since '08. This year may be a blip on the radar and this whole thing rolls on for another 6 or so years. I hope that is the case, but if next year looks like this one when it comes to recruiting I think we will all look back to this recruiting class and say this was the moment it all started to come to a close for this Bama empire.
