Paul Jones Reopening Recruitment
Sadly, this is not another April Fools joke.
almost 3 years ago
BSD
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WTF
So let me guess…PJ performs well at some of these Nike Combines and everyone tells him that he could go to Ohio State or Florida so he reopens and wants to “look around”
please explain to me this….
Why do QBs we recruit never want to come when we have another great prospect (Kevin Newesome) in the fold but schools like USC get fucking Parade All-Americans (Mitch Mustain, Matt Barkley, and Aaron Corp) no problem?
PSU Softball
some reasons i can think of.....
- so. cal weather
- fun loving, laid-back, california-boy coach
- allowed to dance like a fool on the sidelines during the 2nd quarter
- winning their conference every year because the rest of the Pac-10 blows
- southern california women
- NFL’s love affair with $C
- Media’s love affair with $C
- our coach is old…..didn’t you know that?….i mean, like really old
- JayPa …..sorry it’s true. He can’t develop QBs.
"I was looking for four things. Honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness and a man of character. Joe Paterno has all of that." - Derrick Williams
by Stately NOVA Lion on Apr 2, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Good points, Nova, and I tend to agree... (I live in SoCal so what does that say?)
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member
by TheMightyErik on Apr 2, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
What's with his offers so far?
It doesn’t look like any real QB factories are offering him? Iowa? Northwestern? Pitt? Syracuse? Come to think of it, none of them is relevant, either – maybe with the exception of WVU and USF. But who the hell wants to play in the Big East? Puzzling.
Purdue used to be a QB factory, right?
Based on every other offer listed, it looks like Paul Jones either:
a) will attend at Penn State
b) will attempt to be a big fish at a small pond in order to make a splash for the NFL. (The Big East: The BCS STILL has to take our champion.)
Paul Jones doesn’t have interest from Florida or Alabama; I refuse to think that we’re losing him to Duke or Syracuse.
Well hold on
is he really decommitting? Or just admitting what we all already know, that 95% of these guys never really stop looking around until they sign?
Black Shoe Diaries
I BLAME IOWA.
that's what I think when I read this
hell, even if I got an offer from PSU, but I wasn’t able to sign a letter of intent yet, I’d still say, “I’m weighing my options, and receptive to what other schools have to say”.
I’m not too worried about this yet.
by The JuggerNitt on Apr 2, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
This
This is my take too. It doesn’t sound like a decommit at all. No “verbal committment” is actually a committment until pen is to paper.
Hopefully he doesn’t find anything he likes better, but it seems likely to me that PSU will still end up with his services.
I knew it was too good to be true
He used his combines to build interest, now he’s hearing from the big boys — of which we are not yet included.
It’s a sad thing, but if not for decommits we would not have Newsome.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up at Florida, Alabama, or otherwise — then again I’m still hoping he sticks.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
I call bullshit on the entire thing.
"Never. We would never shoot nuclear weapons at Decepticons." -- Gen. Jack Jacobs
by Run Up The Score on Apr 2, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions
Well, so much for my theory.
Okay, PJ seems like a good kid, but this is kind of ridiculous. Five-star kids aren’t just recruits, they’re beacons for other high-end recruits to attend the same school. Eric Shrive understood that.
If PJ wanted to be a leader and a guy who can bring in other great players, he just passed on the opportunity.
"Never. We would never shoot nuclear weapons at Decepticons." -- Gen. Jack Jacobs
by Run Up The Score on Apr 2, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Which...
brings us back to the debate we had 3 days ago regarding locking down PA prospects first. If we can’t land the top QB in our own state…that is a problem…a big problem.
PSU Softball
great point.. we need to slam the door on that garbage
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member
by TheMightyErik on Apr 2, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
self-defeating attitude
What gets me is the posts of guys like millzners who say that teams like Alabama (who has had one good year recently) are the big boys and we are not. We are a top program but if guys like you who are PSU supporters constantly downgrade us on our own message board you are contributing to our not reaching the pinnacle. Another guy chimed in on a different post a few days back where we produce good college players but not good pros. Crap like that encourages people to go other places. Penn State develops talent just about as good as any place in the country.
Have a more positive attitude. We were right in it until the end with UF and JJ. We are Penn State one of the best programs in the country and any stud athlete would be as lucky to sign with us as they would with UF or USC. Please stop the inferiority complex whining. It is tiresome to true Penn State fans.
perception
I’m not one of these ‘perception is reality’ people, but you have to be able to admit to yourself that when Florida or USC comes knockin’, it’s a different scenario for these kids. That’s where the perception of these programs being in a higher tier than PSU comes into play.
We are not recruiting like Texas, USC, or Florida — we do our own thing — and we do it right. We don’t coddle or play games like those three teams. That fills our roster with hard-working, team oriented, true-blue Penn Staters instead of prima donnas and egomaniacs. Think DWill instead of Pryor — I’ll take that any day of the week.
I agree with your statement, Penn State has an inferiority complex — but I wasn’t trying to play that angle even if it did sound like it. We are never going to be Florida and I that’s why I love Penn State. If a kid really likes Florida, or USC then they aren’t right for Penn State — and we shouldn’t be upset if they go there instead.
The ‘big boys’ are the sexy programs that the prima donnas flock to, and we don’t want most of those kids anyway. If PJ shows himself to be that kind of kid, best of luck b/c there’s always going to be a kid like DClark who will make us proud.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
How is Alabama a big boy after one good year and we are not? And I don’t think Penn State has an inferiority complex, just some of it’s fans who are holding us back with posts like the one you made earlier.
?
How is my rantings on a message board holding anyone back?
If you don’t want to believe that Alabama is among the first choice for many blue-chip recruits in the country, I can’t help you. But they are. They and Florida and USC are the programs kids wait for an offer for, they are the programs who make kids like PJ think twice about their committment to Penn State.
Penn State never has, and probably never will play that role in recruiting. That’s part of Joe’s legacy, and his ‘grand experiment’. You can’t have your cake and eat it too — you’re either build a program on tradition and team-first, or you build a program on sexiness and individual-first. We are the former, and that is why we are not a ‘big boy’.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
"Penn State never has, and probably never will play that role in recruiting."
I agree this is currently the case, and accept that is has been as long as Penn State has been competitive in football. But I think, and to a degree I expect, this not going to be the case in the post-Joe future.
(Not saying I am looking forward to that time because I’m not, but despite what’s been observed over the last ~20 years, one day someone else will be the head coach.)
How about a few years ago when there was talk of Schiano being the future head coach? Wasn’t it to a large degree how great of a recruiter he is? LJ Sr. has a great track record of producing great d-linemen, but I would be surprised if a lot of the support for him as a future head coach prospect is not due to his recruiting cache.
The most successful college programs in the country are the ones that are the most successful at recruiting (however you may want to measure that). Penn State fans and alumni believe Penn State should not settle for anything less than being one of the most successful programs in the country. Sooner or later we are going to have a coaching regime that puts us in that “first choice” group.
After Joe, I just hope its the “sooner.”
you’re probably right, but Joe’s ‘grand experiment’ was exactly what you’re referring to: winning without compromising the values and traditions of a university. Joe wins with high-character kids, kids that we’re all proud of, and teams that live forever because they not only won but they did things right. no showboating, egos, etc.
Joe’s “grand experiment” may get a facelift, but I hope the fundamental idea is not shaken even after a coaching change. Simply putting a young vibrant coach in there (I like LJ) will make a huge impact without really changing what we’re all about.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Alabama
Alabama is major player in recruiting for the same reasons as Notre Dame: historically successful programs with coaches that blue chip recruits perceive to prepare them well for the pros. The difference between Notre Dame and Alabama is that Weis (He coached Tom Brady!) sucks and hasn’t translated recruiting success into on-field success. Saban has done so, but even if he hadn’t, Alabama would get the players because of his name and tradition.
While our on-field success has helped reinvigorate our brand amongst the type of recruits we have traditionally recruited (i.e. Hull), under Paterno, we are never going to recruit like U$C, Alabama and Florida. That’s just a fact, and I’m OK with it.
by Nittany Lawyer on Apr 2, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with your statement, to a degree.
PSU “IS” a top program. We are consistently solid. A quality coaching staff. Excellent facilities. (and here comes the downside) How many quality QBs have been produced for future NFL sucess. Currently, Kerry Collins holds the torch. We have had good QBs in the program, but limited NFL success. IMO, these “kids” all have the opinion of themself that they are the next Peyton Manning. Until PSU produces a SUPERSTAR QB and these children are taken off their pedistal, we will continue to have these discussions.
Settle it on the field!
How many quality NFL QB's does *any* program produce?
USC? Fine. Miami? About 15 years ago. Ohio State? None. Michigan? None since Brady that I can think of.
"Never. We would never shoot nuclear weapons at Decepticons." -- Gen. Jack Jacobs
by Run Up The Score on Apr 2, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
All during the NCAA Tournament
They have gone out of their way to air those commericals that show athletes doing something else in their life other then sport. Less then 2% go pro in Basketball or Football.
Penn State and Joe Paterno do a great job of preparing our kids for life after sport. We have Doctors, lawyers, agents, teachers, etc. Our players typically do not become a statistic. that is what we can offer to an 18 year old. yes, every hot shot kid thinks he is going to go pro when he comes out of YOUR NAME HERE High School, but the truth is, they don’t and Penn State does a great job of preparing kids for the real world
PSU Softball
That's why all the moms and dads love Penn State
They understand real life.
Just ask any of my 4 kids, I know what’s best for them!!
"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza
rivals article
There is an article on bwi.rivals.com, it seems like it has quotes from him, if anyone is a subscriber can you read it and give us the details…fucking a
by GoingDeep on Apr 2, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah
“I’m just looking around to make sure that it’s the best place for me to go, that there is no other better place,” he said. “I’m just making sure that I find a place that I like as much as my mom and my dad, to make sure it’s good fit.”
He’s visiting Pitt and WVU, but will still be here for the B&W game.
by PizzaDelivery on Apr 2, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Translation
“i’m looking for a place where i can play right away and not have to wait because i don’t want to compete for a starting job and want it handed to me.”
PSU Softball
I wouldn't be too critical
I mean it would be pretty dumb to not at least keep your options open, I’m not saying to start doubling crossing everyone, it’s a big decision, not just for football, and while I hope we land him I want it to be because he’s excited about the opportunity and not because he didn’t have any other options.
Black Shoe Diaries
I BLAME IOWA.
Totally Agree
I just think it is dumb when kids give a verbal and then want to look around. That is why verbal commits are dumb. they mean nothing. No one’s word means anything these days. Everything is all about money and what have you done for me lately.
i’m all for an early signing period that would be for one day in August, before high school football starts. It would rid college football of this commit/decommit stuff.
PSU Softball
Not a fan of early signing periods
All it will do is move everything up. Pretty soon you will be getting verbal commitments from 8th graders.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Apr 2, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you hear
bout that 3 year old down in florida? I heard he crawled the 40 in 19.4, that’s BLAZIN! He seems to be leaning toward Miami but Meyer just offered so you never know.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Just make verbal "commitments"
an actual “commitment”
Perhaps make it so once you make a “verbal” then you can no longer be contacted by other schools, and you can no longer go on official visits.
That would at least make kids actually think about their “commitment” as an actual commitment, and not just a way to save their place in line while they look elsewhere.
Kids would then be free to sign wherever they want on actual signing day, but without the aid of any extra info from other coaches/official visits.
Of course the problem would then be how do you define a “verbal commitment”.
by The JuggerNitt on Apr 2, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
The Saban's
of the world would just find another loop hole like Twitter or something else dumb to get around the rule of no contact.
PSU Softball
but that would require the kids to be actively watching for the Twitter, or whatever
in which case the kid was probably gonna move on anyway.
But my real line of thinking was that if a kid realizes there are actual consequences in a verbal commitment, and it wasn’t you could just throw around as you please, then they would be more reluctant to actually give one, and you’d only have the rock-solid kids giving them. Anyone who is likely to still be shopping around wouldn’t want to give up their freedom and wouldn’t give the verbal to begin with.
by The JuggerNitt on Apr 2, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Star system
PJ got that extra star from Scout and now he wants to see if any other ladies want to dance…in the end i’m sure he will make the right choice and stay.
PSU Softball
No need for panic
We’ve got DC, we’ve got KNew, and we’re still #1 on PJs list. He’s a kid, and I actually prefer he makes his intentions known now and not on signing day.
If we’re still the best fit for him in a year, awesome. If not, we’ve still got Newsome and you can’t hold it against the kid. He’s at least making an informed decision, which is more than you can say for some of the high schoolers.
I did find that quote above interesting: “I’m just making sure that I find a place that I like as much as my mom and my dad, to make sure it’s good fit.” That sounds to me that his parents love one school and he doesn’t necessarily feel as amped as they do. And we have a history of making parents fall in love while not connecting with the kids.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
Recruiting:
The art of grown men getting worked up over a teenager’s whimsy.
"They ain't got the tradition to hold our nuts." - Deon Butler
It's messed up, but vital.
"Never. We would never shoot nuclear weapons at Decepticons." -- Gen. Jack Jacobs
by Run Up The Score on Apr 2, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
It's would be smart of him to look elsewhere
If a top tier team starts him earlier, it would be only beneficial to his career. I’d say with Newsome in the line up, who has a one year head start, he’s gonna explore other options. We’re hoping, of course, that he follows his heart.
As for schools like USC and Florida getting five star recruit after five recruit, it’s all about location for some jocks. I’m not saying there’s not any girls at PSU, but places like USC and Florida swell with women.
Like this:
Location, location, location.
Like we said in a previous post somewhere – about a San Diego pipline I believe – some players have PSU personalities, and some don’t.
and this:
"I was looking for four things. Honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness and a man of character. Joe Paterno has all of that." - Derrick Williams
by Stately NOVA Lion on Apr 2, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Women
I think that’s waaaay overblown. Go out any night in State College and tell me Penn State doesn’t have tons of hot girls.
My issue
Jones had some quotes on BWI or FOS about not having anything to do at Penn State. What are his expectations exactly? Here’s the life of a college athlete: practice, class, food, sleep, some partying, some girls, repeat. And what does he expect to do in a more urban environment that he can’t do in State College? Someone needs to give some of these kids perspective.
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