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Perhaps the core of our issues stem from roster makeup
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:14 am
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:14 am
The 2009 roster had 55 players from the State of Alabama.
The 2015 spring roster has 36.
Coach always talks about the team "buying in," and we've noticed issues with guys not buying in lately. Perhaps it's because they're not of the state's culture.
The 2015 spring roster has 36.
Coach always talks about the team "buying in," and we've noticed issues with guys not buying in lately. Perhaps it's because they're not of the state's culture.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:19 am to stomp
I really doubt state of origin is why we haven't been as dominant lately
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:32 am to stomp
I talked with a HS coach from one of the state's top programs and he expressed the same sentiment. He said that the problem with these big prospects from out of state is they get to school and have to sit a year or two and they don't like it and want to transfer or get the "poor mes". Whereas with an instate player, you're more likely to have a prospect who is in love with your school and the idea of wearing that jersey.
I don't think it's a huge problem; don't believe in all the doom and gloom rhetoric. but it is an interesting trend and it is something that HS coaches are thinking and talking to each other about.
I don't think it's a huge problem; don't believe in all the doom and gloom rhetoric. but it is an interesting trend and it is something that HS coaches are thinking and talking to each other about.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:34 am to jbond
quote:
I really doubt state of origin is why we haven't been as dominant lately
It's certainly not the only issue, but there's something to be said when most of the team doesn't have to be de-programmed and re-programmed to give 100% for an out-of-state school.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:35 am to stomp
I would take a 4-star in-state kid over a 5-star OOS kid any day.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 11:41 am to stomp
McClain, Upshaw, Julio, Barron, Dareus, Nico Johnson, Fluker and many other core players were born and raised in Alabama.
Of course there are core players from other states, but your in-state guys are your bread and butter. Especially in the SEC.
Of course there are core players from other states, but your in-state guys are your bread and butter. Especially in the SEC.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:08 pm to stomp
First off, I don't see any major issues. We will be really good again this year. We won an SEC championship last year. Not only that, we OVER-achieved in 2014.
I just don't buy that it really matters. Furthermore, Saban has had plenty of good things to say about the current roster "buying in."
I just don't buy that it really matters. Furthermore, Saban has had plenty of good things to say about the current roster "buying in."
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:12 pm to stomp
Roster makeup is fine.
I just think we've been slow to adjust to the changing offenses in the league, if anything.
We still won the SEC last year with a QB nobody thought would get us there at the start of the season, so I really don't see the problem though.Can't win em all.
I just think we've been slow to adjust to the changing offenses in the league, if anything.
We still won the SEC last year with a QB nobody thought would get us there at the start of the season, so I really don't see the problem though.Can't win em all.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:20 pm to stomp
quote:
It's certainly not the only issue, but there's something to be said when most of the team doesn't have to be de-programmed and re-programmed to give 100% out-of-state school.
Lol... Wtf??? Elite athletes have been trained to do 1 thing, win. It matters none where you went to h.s. or grew up. For the record I grew up a lifelong Florida fan... both parents are alum, mom even coached some there. I had 0 issues telling my h.s./club coach to eat a dick, since he was taking the uf head coaching job my freshman year.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:23 pm to SECSolomonGrundy
quote:
r or get the "poor mes". Whereas with an instate player, you're more likely to have a prospect who is in love with your school and the idea of wearing that jersey.
Off of the top of my head, here are some in-state players that have left because of discipline/desire to transfer:
-Marvin Shinn
-Corey Grant
-Brent Calloway
-Tyler Hayes
-Jonathan Cook
-Dee Liner
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:34 pm to stomp
I think it is more of a mental thing. All of these recruits coming in now are coming to Alabama while it's at the top and have a sense of entitlement even though they haven't achieved a damn thing. They all think that they are at the top of the best conference in college football and can't be beat by a lowly big-10 team with a 3rd string qb....They can't beat us. We are Alabama. We have won 3 titles since 09.
FWIW I had a class with a few football players and after the Ohio State game that is basically exactly what he said was the problem. Whether that's just an excuse for losing or a very real thing idk but that's what he said when we spoke. sure as hell know it wasn't an issue of not enough talent. I had a few group projects with one of the players so we talked fairly regularly that semester about football.
We talked and basically agreed that it's a lot harder to maintain a dynasty than build a dynasty (not that that's easy) for exactly these reasons in college football. These are 18-22 year old kids. Because of the constant cycling of players players start to come in entitled thinking they can't lose because of past players acheivements...and this is what happens. We have enough talent alone just to get to the playoffs...but you could just tell we didn't want it as bad as Ohio State as cliché as that sounds.
Florida after a few years of championships got topped by us in 09 finally (look at that roster...i mean damn they were talented). You could tell we wanted it more we hadn't won there before at that point. We won 3 titles....Ohio State looks like they are here to stay. Lets hope we can shed this entitled mentality and go back to winning championships.
Losing to Oklahoma and Ohio State sucks but I think it will help us this next season. Hopefully players will realize that we aren't going to win every game just because we are Alabama and coached by Nick Saban. It could be a serious reality check for some of those guys.
So yeah. I don't think it has anything to do with where these players are from. It's the mentality they have when they come to Alabama. Talent is talent. I don't think it would change much if we started recruiting in state more.
FWIW I had a class with a few football players and after the Ohio State game that is basically exactly what he said was the problem. Whether that's just an excuse for losing or a very real thing idk but that's what he said when we spoke. sure as hell know it wasn't an issue of not enough talent. I had a few group projects with one of the players so we talked fairly regularly that semester about football.
We talked and basically agreed that it's a lot harder to maintain a dynasty than build a dynasty (not that that's easy) for exactly these reasons in college football. These are 18-22 year old kids. Because of the constant cycling of players players start to come in entitled thinking they can't lose because of past players acheivements...and this is what happens. We have enough talent alone just to get to the playoffs...but you could just tell we didn't want it as bad as Ohio State as cliché as that sounds.
Florida after a few years of championships got topped by us in 09 finally (look at that roster...i mean damn they were talented). You could tell we wanted it more we hadn't won there before at that point. We won 3 titles....Ohio State looks like they are here to stay. Lets hope we can shed this entitled mentality and go back to winning championships.
Losing to Oklahoma and Ohio State sucks but I think it will help us this next season. Hopefully players will realize that we aren't going to win every game just because we are Alabama and coached by Nick Saban. It could be a serious reality check for some of those guys.
So yeah. I don't think it has anything to do with where these players are from. It's the mentality they have when they come to Alabama. Talent is talent. I don't think it would change much if we started recruiting in state more.
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:39 pm to Funky Tide 8
quote:
First off, I don't see any major issues. We will be really good again this year. We won an SEC championship last year. Not only that, we OVER-achieved in 2014.
You don't see the issue with a 12-2 season being listed as "over-achieving?"
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:41 pm to chattabama
Yeah I don't think in-state culture/pride is that big a factor though I do think locker room chemistry/cohesion is an under-rated factor in determining team success and that could be affected by number of in-state players.
We go out and try to get the best talent from across the nation because there's no substitute for talent. However, with talent comes a unique set of issues primarily in terms of ego and attitude. Its no coincidence that CNS has gone on several rants the last few years lamenting the fact that young highly-rated players come in with unrealistic expectations. I have no doubt that's a problem but it's what he signed up for by recruiting almost exclusively highly-ranked players.
We have the talent and coaching to win it all any given year IMO. The wild cards are chemistry, leadership, and luck. Intangibles that even great coaches like CNS can't control.
ETA: also agree with what hambone said about entitlement
We go out and try to get the best talent from across the nation because there's no substitute for talent. However, with talent comes a unique set of issues primarily in terms of ego and attitude. Its no coincidence that CNS has gone on several rants the last few years lamenting the fact that young highly-rated players come in with unrealistic expectations. I have no doubt that's a problem but it's what he signed up for by recruiting almost exclusively highly-ranked players.
We have the talent and coaching to win it all any given year IMO. The wild cards are chemistry, leadership, and luck. Intangibles that even great coaches like CNS can't control.
ETA: also agree with what hambone said about entitlement
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 12:44 pm
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:47 pm to stomp
quote:
McClain, Upshaw, Julio, Barron, Dareus, Nico Johnson, Fluker and many other core players were born and raised in Alabama.
Of course there are core players from other states, but your in-state guys are your bread and butter. Especially in the SEC.
Fluker was born and raised in Louisiana but later moved to Bama. You also have guys like Barrett Jones, Warmack, Cooper, Hightower, Lacy, Richardson, etc. who were give it their all while at Bama. Out or in state doesn't matter, it's about their attitudes and work ethic. Some of these 5* guys do have a feeling of entitlement though.
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:48 pm to stomp
Could you point out which players haven't bought in?
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:52 pm to Patton
Saban mentions it all the time.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:59 pm to 3moredays
Right but which out of state player hasn't bought in?
Posted on 6/30/15 at 1:37 pm to stomp
quote:Fluker was a Louisiana boy, displaced because of Katrina.
Fluker and many other core players were born and raised in Alabama.
quote:
Born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, Fluker and his family left the city in the final hours before Hurricane Katrina roared ashore.[3] They moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, and later Mobile, Alabama, where Fluker attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 1:40 pm to 1BamaRTR
Mark Ingram was born and raised in Michigan, but he's still a big Bama supporter.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 1:42 pm to stomp
Here's a very good story about Fluker's life...
The house D.J. Fluker bought
Chargers tackle overcame adversity to provide family the ultimate gift
The house D.J. Fluker bought
Chargers tackle overcame adversity to provide family the ultimate gift
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