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Question for (slightly) older fans
Posted on 10/24/16 at 11:39 pm
Posted on 10/24/16 at 11:39 pm
I heard a story some years back concerning Gene Stallings and his recruitment (or lack thereof) of Peyton Manning in the early-90s. As the story went, Stallings attended a QB camp sometime in 1992 or 93 at which Peyton Manning and Freddie Kitchens were both participants. Stallings came away more impressed with Kitchens and offered him a scholarship over Manning. The rest is history.
Is there any truth to that story as far as you know? I was but a child in those days so I didn't know what was or wasn't going on with recruiting at that particular time.
Is there any truth to that story as far as you know? I was but a child in those days so I didn't know what was or wasn't going on with recruiting at that particular time.
This post was edited on 10/24/16 at 11:40 pm
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Posted on 10/25/16 at 1:38 am to RollTide1987
Admittedly, I knew nothing about recruiting back then, but I don't think I've ever heard that Peyton had any interest either in Alabama or from Alabama.
Also, didn't Kitchens redshirt his first year, making him a year older than Manning (They both played through 97)?
Also, didn't Kitchens redshirt his first year, making him a year older than Manning (They both played through 97)?
This post was edited on 10/25/16 at 1:41 am
Posted on 10/25/16 at 7:29 am to RollTide1987
I was in school at Bama at that time and I've never heard that story, but do recall we didn't really recruit Peyton all that hard. I think most everyone assumed he'd go to Ole Miss. I want to say Ole Miss got hit with some NCAA sanctions which is ultimately what led him to commit to UT.
Going off a declining memory here though. And I never really followed recruiting all that much.
Going off a declining memory here though. And I never really followed recruiting all that much.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 8:21 am to RollTide1987
I've heard that before but think it urban legend.
Mostly because I believe Kitchens was recruited for class of 93 and Manning was a true fresh in 94. Unless, age is affecting my memory, it would have been John David Phillips, not Kitchens that CGS would have been evaluating against Manning.
Doesn't mean story is completely wrong as Phillips was supposed to be a world beater, too. And Peyton was going to take a lot of pursuing to steer away from Ole Miss and to a run oriented, game manager type of Stallings offense. Not sure CGS would have seen the juice as worth the squeeze with Phillips committed and Kitchens on hand.
Mostly because I believe Kitchens was recruited for class of 93 and Manning was a true fresh in 94. Unless, age is affecting my memory, it would have been John David Phillips, not Kitchens that CGS would have been evaluating against Manning.
Doesn't mean story is completely wrong as Phillips was supposed to be a world beater, too. And Peyton was going to take a lot of pursuing to steer away from Ole Miss and to a run oriented, game manager type of Stallings offense. Not sure CGS would have seen the juice as worth the squeeze with Phillips committed and Kitchens on hand.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 5:49 pm to RollTide1987
I've never heard that story. I doubt Bama even recruited him. There was no way a Manning was coming to Bama.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:09 pm to RollTide1987
I was in high school at the time, but I have no recollection of that.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 6:14 pm to RollTide1987
Doubt it's true but wouldn't surprise me. Gene was hard headed. He would of run the same offense even with Peyton. Worse than Les Miles. God bless him though.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 7:03 pm to RollTide1987
I've heard that story and I'm originally from the area where Kitchens grew up. I don't believe a word of it FWIW
This post was edited on 10/25/16 at 7:03 pm
Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:23 pm to RollTide1987
The rumor I remember from that time is that Kitchens' dad paid his was through school to save Bama a scholarship. No idea if that was true or not.
Don't remember Bama ever really recruiting Manning.
Don't remember Bama ever really recruiting Manning.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:39 pm to sunseeker
quote:
Doubt it's true but wouldn't surprise me. Gene was hard headed. He would of run the same offense even with Peyton. Worse than Les Miles. God bless him though.
Gene Stallings made Les Miles look like an offensive genius.
Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:42 pm to RollTide1987
Hell I didn't even know about the brick in Bill Curry's window for probably 20 years after it happened.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 8:21 am to 3down10
quote:
Hell I didn't even know about the brick in Bill Curry's window for probably 20 years after it happened.
It didn't happen. The window was broken by workers in his office accidentally. It was the week after the Ole Miss homecoming loss I believe, and someone joked about a brick being thrown through the window and it spread like wildfire.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:05 am to RollTide1987
quote:
Is there any truth to that story as far as you know?
I have never heard that...I don't think Peyton had any interest in Bama whatsoever....it was assumed he was an Ole Miss lock, but Fulmer flipped him to UT. Further, Archie obviously was never a fan of Bama.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:30 am to 14&Counting
Didnt realize that remembering the stallings' years made you old.. Manning was never a possibility for Alabama.
Kitchens was highly thought of bc of his arm. He was a highly recruited pitcher for baseball as well.
Kitchens was highly thought of bc of his arm. He was a highly recruited pitcher for baseball as well.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 12:10 am to RollTide1987
All I remember is that it was a minor controversy when Manning chose Tennessee over Ole Miss.
Many were expecting him to follow in his dad's footsteps to Ole Miss (as Eli later did) but people were surprised he went to Tennessee.
As the story went back then, Manning wanted to compete for championships and knew he never would at Ole Miss.
Many were expecting him to follow in his dad's footsteps to Ole Miss (as Eli later did) but people were surprised he went to Tennessee.
As the story went back then, Manning wanted to compete for championships and knew he never would at Ole Miss.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 12:49 am to IAmReality
I think what happened was everyone just figured that Manning was going to go to Ole Miss so no one really recruited him - no one but Phillip Fulmer. In the end Fulmer was able to convince Manning to carve out his own path instead of following in his father's footsteps.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 8:24 am to RollTide1987
peyton was never going to end up at lsu or bama. archie hates em both. he went to tennessee because of david cutcliffe and ole miss getting put on probation.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 8:36 am to BadAgg7
quote:
he went to tennessee because of david cutcliffe and ole miss getting put on probation.
This
Posted on 10/27/16 at 4:53 pm to Che Boludo
John David Phillips was a complete stud for Bama.. His talent and potential were never developed by our coaches at the time
Posted on 10/27/16 at 5:06 pm to UcobiaA
Bebes never really considered Peyton b/c he knew Archie would never allow that...in hindsight, it saved our female trainers from a ball sac in the face
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