re: Cooper Bateman pledging to be a gump!

Saban doesn't need to open any recruiting doors to any state or region. Bama can go anywhere and land a player if they want. Granted some places are harder than others but that pipeline/open door stuff is very overrated unless you're talking a particular school. Each case is it's own separate little scenario. Bama has enough power to fight against anyone, anywhere for a prospect. People said the same about Ohio when Bama got Depriest and while Bama can still battle in Ohio, they don't typically and will not win out typically. It's a case by case thing. Utah isn't exactly a boom state anyway. It's always solid and always will be but the great majority of them stay in Utah at one of the Mormon schools. No recruiting door is going to stop that. Religion trumps football particularly when it comes to Utah and Mormonism. In a situation like Bateman, who isn't a Mormon, Bama can go head to head with anyone. Again it's case by case.