National Signing Day Quotes
By Kyle Kensing
The frenzy that is National Signing Day has past for another year. A new cycle of wooing teenagers begins for coaches nationwide today, but yesterday the country’s sideline generals could reflect on what ensued for 2012.
"“[SEC officials] said they didn’t want anybody to over sign, but the fact of the matter is, if you only have 20 scholarships to give and you sign 25 guys, you’re still over signing. But when you have a large class of seniors like we did and have a lot of scholarships available, it’s a little more difficult management.”"
Alabama head coach Nick Saban (per Daily Bama Blog
Oversigning and grayshirting were somewhat off-the-radar before the last year (give or take), but the uproar against these tactics has forced even the usually tight-lipped Saban to speak. Alabama is one of the more notorious programs that routinely oversign, thus Saban has drawn the lion’s share of scrutiny.
"“This could be one of the best offensive line classes in modern football history. It’s rare that you get this many guys who can play this well.”"
Stanford head coach David Shaw (per The San Jose Mercury News)
Stanford landed what turned out to be the Pac-12’s most impressive recruiting class, and in true Cardinal form, it began with the offensive line. Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy are both blue chip prospects, either capable of contributing immediately. Stanford is sending two linemen into the 2012 NFL Draft. Both David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin should be selected in the first round. Obviously, there’s a trend developing.
"“The recruiting at Notre Dame, it’s coast-to-coast. We have to be able to take our staff, and make sure they’re in all areas of the country because Notre Dame has that presence throughout the United States. We signed kids from the West Coast, the East Coast, the South.”"
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly
There may be no fan base that hand-wrings quite like the Irish (outside of the SEC, of course). Notre Dame landed yet another impressive recruiting class, adding to the building Kelly is already undertaking. However, the surprising decommitment of wide receiver Deontay Greenberry sent message board inhabitants into tizzies.
What UND faithful should recognize is in his two years as head coach, Kelly has compiled two stellar signing classes. Greenberry may have headed elsewhere, but the Irish welcome the nation’s No. 1 quarterback, Gunner Kiel, scored in ND’s own coup. Kelly and Co. also exercised the program’s national profile to snag signees from all corners of the nation.
"“I would argue that there’s not been a better time where there’s been more publicity for the University of Houston football program than right now. With the success we had this past season – I don’t want to take College Game Day coming here for granted. That was huge nationally. Winning the (TicketCity Bowl) game, moving to the Big East, getting the new football stadium, all of that combined – there’s more of a buzz nationally right now for the University of Houston football program, in my opinion, than ever before.“Now you couple that on the other end of it with getting a recruit to come here with his national prominence. What that does – and I’ve seen it before when I was at the University of Louisville – is, a year from now, one or two or three more say, ‘He came here and look at the success he’s had. He made the decision to attend the University of Houston. Why can’t I?’ It goes both ways and will really help us moving forward.”"
Houston head coach Tony Levine (per FOX Sports Houston
UH’s 13-1 campaign certainly turned a spotlight onto the program. The move to the Big East and signing of one of the most ballyhooed wide receiving prospects in recent years only amplifies the good going on at a once-proud program, regaining its prominence.
"“When the No. 1 player in the United States of America puts on a Mizzou hat, we’re making strides,”"
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel (per FOX 4 Kansas City)
Dorial Green-Beckham helped Missouri score its first major victory as an SEC member. In passing on Arkansas, DGB helped MU announce that this is a program conference foes must take seriously both on the field, and on the recruiting trail.
"“We do feel like we will be much further along at the quarterback than we were last year. We feel like those two guys [David Ash and Case McCoy] should have strong springs, and we will let [Scottsdale, Ariz. signee] Connor [Brewer] get in that mix and work this spring and see how he does.”"
Texas head coach Mack Brown (per Horns Nation)
Texas won eight games in 2011, an improvement from the program’s disastrous 2010 campaign. However, with a stout defense, the Longhorns could have been better. The most glaring problem was inconsistent quarterback play. Both David Ash and Case McCoy return for the ’12 season, but Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) High prospect Connor Brewer seems to be having an immediate impact as a standout on an impressive UT haul.
"“I’m actually…surprised we’re ranked as high as the rankings and all that goes, because so many of [the recruits] came from the [Miami] camp and were under the radar. [Golden’s staff] has never been catalog shoppers. I’m not going to tell you we didn’t get crushed by our opponents in [NCAA investigations], and we fought back. OUr coaches did a great job, and our student-atheltes did an even better job. I want to thank them for making sure when they hosted [recruits], they knew what we are about, and that was the difference.“Whether we’re five, six, 15 [in recruiting rankings]…if we’re in that range, and we’re getting that kind of kid every year, and we’re tough, smart, disciplined, we’ll be a very good football program.” ”"
Miami head coach Al Golden
Al Golden faced an uphill battle becoming Miami’s head coach. Luckily for Hurricane fans, he’s a man who has proven he can handle adversity.
Miami’s situation is unique from what Golden faced at Temple, but in Philadelphia he may have had a more arduous task. Temple was never a good football program. He had to sell recruits on building, whereas Miami has some of the most rich recent tradition in the sport.
The U. will overcome the impending NCAA sanctions, and sooner than later. Golden’s calling card has long been his ability to recruit local talent. The talent pool in Southern Florida is so deep, Miami should return to national prominence in the next half-decade.