Why did BAMA not recruit Michael Oher?

[TidenLA]

Who was the coach at OM to get Oher?

 

[uaintn]

Coach Yaw Yaw Yaw Yee Yaw was the Mississippi coach that Oher dropped in the lap of. And I agree with those who say the chances of Oher going anywhere other than Mississippi were very, very slim. And I do not mean anything disparaging or that there was anything underhanded about it. If the book is even 75% true, their is no way these folks took this kid in thinking "won't he be great at my alma mater?"

And though it pains me a little to say it, I do have to wonder if our o-line prospects wouldn't have panned out a little better if they'd had coaches Pendry and Cochran from the beginning. You never know, but I can't help but wonder.

 

[Dallas4Bama]

That really wasnt working out for us towards the end of the Stallings era or from the end of Dubose through probation. We got a few good recruits and god bless em they kept Alabama competitive but look at all those sub par seasons between Stallings and Saban. 7 seasons with records 7-5 or below. That is not Alabama football and 1 ten win season by Dubose, Franchione and Shula doesn't make it all better it just makes it amazing.

When CGS left we sure didn't have the greatest facilities, that's for sure. The weight of the first NCAA investigation was coming down on us and that was a really ugly time for our program. Who could have ever imagined it could get worse?

Bayou you are right, we as fans can never thank the really good athletes that played here during that time enough. The really good athletes we got that had other good offers, especially during the Shula years, really showed their love for the university. You had to really love BAMA to sign up to be a part of the mess that was here.

 

[teeitup]

Alabama did recruit Oher. Read the book, it is awesome, although it doesn't paint Bama in a very good light. Shula practically promised Oher the moon. Oher, not impressed with Shula. It doesn't say Shula just Alabama recruited him. Well anyway, Fulmer was so ....ed that he didn't come to TN that he turned them into the NCAA, said the family was alum of Ole Miss and they influenced him to go there. No surprise there, but I am surprised they asked ole fat phil to be in the movie since he turned on them. Really read the book, it is awesome.

 

[rhYno]

If we cheated as much as the Barnies claim, then I'm surprised Oher didn't end up at Alabama!

 

[DiamondDust]

Coach Yaw Yaw Yaw Yee Yaw was the Mississippi coach that Oher dropped in the lap of. And I agree with those who say the chances of Oher going anywhere other than Mississippi were very, very slim.

Very much like our recruitment of Tim Tebow. There was no way he was going to be anything other than a Gator, and it was ridiculous for anyone, coaches included, to think otherwise.

 

[fireater]

If we cheated as much as the Barnies claim, then I'm surprised Oher didn't end up at Alabama!

Yea, why didn't the REC get involved, showed he was 3 years past his HS graduation date, and get him drafted straight into the NFL?:wink:

 

[rgw]

Shula wasn't a bad recruiter. He wasn't quite the "finisher" for which Saban is known, but he did bring in some quality players that have turned out quite nicely for Alabama under Saban. Lorenzo Washington, Brandon Deaderick, Corey Reamer, Javiar Arenas, Marquis Johnson, Justin Woodall, Eryk Anders, Mike Johnson, Drew Davis, Preston Dial, and Greg McElroy. And that's only the starters who came from a full "Shula class." There are other guys who Shula had a part in selling the program to for the 2007 class which Saban gets credit for signing. Vlachos, McCullough, and McClain come to mind.

We wouldn't have the team we have today without those players. Shula's problem was always in regards to player development and gameday management not recruiting. I thought in early 2007 that we were 3 years away from SEC-title competitiveness. It is a credit to Saban and his staff as developers of talent that we went 12-2 last year and are 10-0 this year because the core of this team is still largely based in Shula's 2005 and 2006 classes. You can't understate the talent infusion that the 08 class brought in critical areas...but you don't build consecutive 10-win teams off a single class of athletes!

 

[BocaLance]

If we cheated as much as the Barnies claim, then I'm surprised Oher didn't end up at Alabama!

That's RIGHT! If you ain't cheatin,' you ain't tryin' dadgummitall.
One more knock against Shula, I guess.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

And though it pains me a little to say it, I do have to wonder if our o-line prospects wouldn't have panned out a little better if they'd had coaches Pendry and Cochran from the beginning. You never know, but I can't help but wonder.

I wouldn't have helped to have Cochran. When the position coaches won't back up S&C and police the situation and the HC won't police the assistants, there's not much help...

 

[bamabryan]

Who was the coach at OM to get Oher?

Orgeron.

 

[CrimsonJag]

Very much like our recruitment of Tim Tebow. There was no way he was going to be anything other than a Gator, and it was ridiculous for anyone, coaches included, to think otherwise.

With all due respect, you don't know what you're talking about.

A lot of people will never know just how close Tebow was to committing to CMS and Alabama.

In the grand scheme of things I'm glad he didn't. But, the truth is, he just about did.

 

[hollisx4]

I agree with Diamond, Tebow might have said some complimentary things about Shula and how tough of a decision it was for him but we never really had a shot.

 

[Bama1970]

I have a lot of respect for xCMS for coming back to his AM when we were facing the darkest period in UA history. With that said, I'm glad he is gone.

 

[CrimsonJag]

I agree with Diamond, Tebow might have said some complimentary things about Shula and how tough of a decision it was for him but we never really had a shot.

OK :rolleye2:

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

And besides, it's pointless to turn this one into a "Bash Shula's recruiting" thread. Think about it... Saban couldn't get Oher to LSU when they were defending national champions and he was the first coach to enter the fray. No one, Shula or anyone else, could have gotten him to Alabama with that set of circumstances. He was going to go to Ole Miss regardless.

Judging from the book, and somewhat from the movie, had Coach Saban not left for the Dolphins, Oher would have signed with LSU. It seemed Ole Miss was given a fair chance, even with the late start for Coach O, after LSU left the picture.

 

[Mystical]

We were barred by NCAA from recruiting Memphis for a while. don't know if oher's recruitment was during that time frame.

So if an Alabama booster adopts a five-star recruit, do we get put on probation if the kid signs with Bama? I think maybe 25 families need to step to the plate! :conf2:

LOL count me in you know any needing adoption hehe

 

[hollisx4]

OK :rolleye2:

OK right back at you...

 

[Mamacalled]

As I said, he got our recruiting rankings up at the end of his time, but we were never higher than 10th overall, I believe (correct me if I am wrong)....but he lost out on a lot of quality players.
The episode with Tebow was a prime example...even though everyone on the planet knew Tebow was going to UF, MS spent the whole of signing day at the guy's house only to be dropped like a bad habit. To his credit, Tebow did say that MS was the classiest guy he ever met, but he just couldn't get enough BC's to sign, and ultimately that is recruiting.
Heck, even GMAC is his recruit...but where would our team be this year without a few young players that CNS signed (even on defense)?

We were on probation with limited scholarships. Some of you need to get over the hatred of Shula. He came when we needed someone to steady the ship and he did that under difficult times. The man is gone and yet some of you act like he is franchionne.

 

[DC Tide]

Alabama did recruit Oher. Read the book, it is awesome, although it doesn't paint Bama in a very good light. Shula practically promised Oher the moon. Oher, not impressed with Shula. It doesn't say Shula just Alabama recruited him. Well anyway, Fulmer was so ....ed that he didn't come to TN that he turned them into the NCAA, said the family was alum of Ole Miss and they influenced him to go there. No surprise there, but I am surprised they asked ole fat phil to be in the movie since he turned on them. Really read the book, it is awesome.

That's my recollection of the book as well. It's been a few years since I read it, but here's what I vaguely recall:

1. Alabama did recruit Oher but merited very little space in the book. I think Andre Smith was already starting at left tackle (or was being recruited that year), so that, alone, probably ruled out Bama.

2. I think it was Cutcliffe that did most of the early recruiting of Oher for OM. Orgeron inherited Oher.

3. Saban was highly regarded by the family, particularly the mom. He put LSU at a close second in Oher's recruitment.

4. Fulmer was painted in an extremely negative light. I can't recall the exact words used in the book, but it was something to the effect that the family regarded his behavior as redneck. When I learned that he was going to have a cameo in the movie, I was astounded.