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Published Friday, April 17, 2009 6:05 AM

By ROBERT CESSNA
robert.cessna@theeagle.com

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Posted by: Pablo On: 4/25/2009

Comment Title: Been doing some reading... on 3-4 and "Jack" position
Does anyone know or am I right in assuming we are running a variant of the 3-4 similar to the Steeler's 3-4, made famous by Dick LeBeau? As I have found it on the MileHigh Report, they employ a "Jack" LB and utilize the Zone Blitz.. quite effectively I might add.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 4/25/2009

Comment Title: Good point
Anonymous (uh..) you raise a good point about NFL talent that has come up through the college ranks. I haven't looked, but I'll try to make some time to see what their specs (size & speed) were as compared to when they came into college. I am guessing there may have been some improvement? I don't know, I've always heard that you can't teach speed. But what about the other areas (strength, mind, character)?

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Posted by: On: 4/20/2009

Comment Title: defensive lineman 40 times
Please note Miller that per the 2008-2009 NFL combine results the top 10 times in 2008 for DT's was 4.88 to 5.32 and for 2009 4.80 to 5.4. For DE's in 2008 4.45 to 5.03 and in 2009 4.59 to 5.4. These numbers are directly from the NFL combine results and the players were the top ten at their postion (look it up). Your comment that only a 4.6 to 4.7 is worthy at that position is just a joke. DT's should not be running 40 yards down field and probably 95% of the time they are running at most 10 yards. Explosion off the ball is key. If we recruited a DT that runs 4.9 than we fall right into the what the NFL draft prospects are running. If he can actually play is yet to be determined.

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/18/2009

Comment Title:
It is evident that recruiting is trending downward at least in the national evaluation process. In 2008 we had the hype. The new pro coach who may deliver us from the depths and make us contenders at the conference and national levels. Some of us were excited and some recruits were excited about the future. We signed, in two short months, 7 four/five star players ( 3 top 100, 2 top 250, and 1 JC top 100). Then a season went by. More time to recruit and more time to showcase your program. Interest seemed to fall. A 2009 clas with only 5 four/five star players (only 1 top 100 and 1 JC top 100, 0 top 250). It is way too early to evaluate this class but initial indications are that it could be potentially worse. I understand about character, integrity, and grades but those three qualities do not reside solely in the 2/3 star ranks. In the past few years there has also been a higher percentage of 2/3 stars leave the team than 4/5 stars so that is not an issue. And if you have the ability to evaluate diamonds in the rough and mislabled kids, use those skills in the 4/5 star groups instead of the 2/3 star groups. You do NOT have to win to recruit. It is proven across the nation every year. I hate to use specific names because they can be subjectively argued but, for example only, if Pete Carroll were named head coach tomorrow do you think we would see a rise in recruiting? If so then it only legitimizes the argument that you do not have to win to recruit. (and who do you think pro scouts would rather have a good relationship with today)

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/18/2009

Comment Title: RE: agfred'01
My personal opinions:_____Agfred'01, thanks!_____miller58

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Posted by: agfred01 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Sure why not
Sherman inherited so-so talent that, based on your logic, was highly touted. I won't question why Sherman pulled scholarships- I trust he has a good reason. The class in '08 wasn't trully his class, as the moron he replaced compiled most of them. The players he signed in 09? I have confidence, based on his late additions in 08, that the class will be solid. The guys he's signed thus far? They're still juniors so I don't place much stock in their ratings now as much can change in a year. The offers he has out now? I'm confident he's targeted quality recruits, again based on his limited but good track record thus far. Yes I think he's targeting our needs. While I acknowledge that a team that recruits almost entirely 4 and 5 star recruits has a greater likelihood of being superior to a team that recruits lower ranked players, I think its foolish to allow that to completely define your logic as you do. If our recruits do well, what will you do? Will you acknowledge that, or will you continue this mindless babble?

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE; agfred'01
My personal opinions:_____Agfred'01, do you have any opinion on the redshirt sophs, junirs and seniors on the team now that Sherman inherited in Nov'07 ?_____Do you have any opinion on Janisch and Brown, the O-Linemen who Sherman evaluated and pulled their scholarships?_____Any opinion on the 28 player class Sherman signed in Feb'08, The 3 transfers Sherman signed, the 28 players Sherman signed in Feb'09._____Do you have any opnion on the no 5 stars, one four star and 14 others Sherman has committed in his third signing class?_____Finally do you have any opinion on the multiple offers that Sherman has out now in his fourth signing class._____Do you think they fit our needs?_____Thanks._____miller58

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Posted by: agfred01 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Miller cronies?
Does Miller58 seriously have cronies(Agsrule, SAag06)? Low football IQ indeed. Fellas, you're confusing the DT and DE positions. If he's not going to be coming off the edge, which the guy in question not, you can't make the determination that he'll be ineffective in college based on his 4.9 speed as a junior in HS. I'll wait and see how an entire class of Sherm's recruits do before I call his recriuting bad.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: AGGIES LOSE LINEBACKER COMMIT TO OKIE LITE !
My personal opinions:_____Inside linebacker AY#38 Caleb Lavey 6-4 210 4.56 turned down Mike Sherman's offer to play for A&M when instead Caleb chose to commit to okie lite!_____That makes a big bunch of players turning down A&M to go out of state in the past couple of weeks._____We lost a 4* corner to nebraska, an OG to 'bama, a safety to ou, a RB to michigan and now a LB to okie lite._____All turned down Mike Sherman's offer to play for A&M._____We really especially need corners, safetys, linebackers, and D-Linemen for our porus defense!_____On a note, we signed 3* SG Jermey Adams 6-5 200 to our 2009 basketball class which gives us 1 four star amd 4 others for this 2009 signing class._____By comparison, tu signed the #8th ranked and #5 ranked five stars and the #64th ranked four star to their 2009 signing class._____miller58

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE: AgsRule
My personal opinions:_____AgsRule, you are exactly right!_____4.9 or 5.0 is considered good speed for an offensive lineman, but not a defnsive lineman!_____4.6 to 4.7 is considered good speed for a defensive lineman, 4.5 if you"re on the outside; 4.9 to 5.0 is considered slow for a defensive linemam!_____miller58

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Posted by: AgsRule! On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Goodness
Gosh AgJosh,( that was a rhyme!), you are not upset with whittle ole' me are you? I still disagree with you, 49 or 50 is slow. SAag06, no need to justify yourself with her, Josh is still breast feeding.

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
CintrL (centerline). DRLGSIDEWAYS (drilling sideways).

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Posted by: CinterL On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Really Now?
Miller58 did you just say, texags bought ESPN? Really? I am sorry to inform you but YOUR DEAD WRONG!!! This just goes to show that you do not know what your really talking about. All you know how to do is count start from ONE website. Good for you.

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
22 nationally and 3rd in B-12 is losing ground. Once out of the group that lands 10-12 difference makers for the year you are insignificant. Not much difference between 22 and 42 but a whole bunch between 22 and 1.

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: 2009 Record
7 - 5 with a bowl win. possibly 8 -4 with a bowl win. Sherman sticks around. Even if he has another 4-8 season, he will still be around because we gave him a ridiculous contract for a first time college head coach.

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
Man, talk about terrible recruiting...22nd nationally, 3rd in the Big 12 after a 4 - 8 season. Than Sherman really is sucking it up. http://rivals100.rivals.com/TeamRank.asp?sort=0&year=2009&postype=0&Conf=3

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Posted by: SAag06 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
agJosh, go back and carefully read my post...I think that a HS senior DT that runs a 4.9 40 is good, and he will only improve in a college program. I was not comparing him to anyone else, that was AgsRule!

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE: Pablo
You are absolutely correct, we don't know how the season will turn out. Based on shifting and shuffling and scheming and recruiting I don't see more than 4 wins, maybe 5, TOPS. If as you suggest he winds up with 7 wins and a bowl victory he SHOULD stay another year. Matter of fact, if that happens I will need someone to provide a mailing address where I can send my contribution to his 2010 salary !!! But if he winds up with 5 or less wins and a 2010 class ranked out of the top 20 he should be gone BEFORE 2010. This is the pivotal year and I think his decision to keep Kines after Kines demonstrated he was not up to fighting for his job will be his undoing. But as you say, this is all opinion at this point and all of us have one.

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Posted by: Pablo On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Just admit it already.. we don't know
As QB Johnson pointed out, it will come down to WINS and LOSSES. Since the season hasn't started, nobody knows anything. However, I would be interested in hearing how many wins you think the Ags will get in 2009. I think 7 wins and a bowl victory keeps Sherman around another year and the program heading in the right direction.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Re: SAag'06 AgsRule
My personal opinions:_____NO! NO! NO! Agjosh is not joshing._____To compare an Ag recruit to what tu has, just isn't done by Sherman's excuse makers!_____And you shouldn't do it either?_____I mean tu has played in an mnc; and A&M doesn't want to get players that compared to tu, that can ever play in the mnc!_____How would Sherman's excuse makers explain Sherman's terrible recruiting through 4 signing classes in progress then._____Besides, it's fun to be in, and stay ranked #99 by Sagarin and last place in the big 12?_____It's no wonder we're losing with excuse maker losers like this around?_____miller58

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Posted by: mller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE; SAag'06
My personal opinions:_____SAag'06, my wish is that A&M compete every year for the Big 12 and the mnc every year just like, sadly only tu and ou do now!_____Somebody recently brought up boise and utah, and obviously had'nt checked them out._____They play in a league where a 3* recruit is a huge big deal, four and 5 star recruits are almost unheard of, much like Sherman's signing classes in '08 classes with 28 players, '09 with 28 more players, and his 3 transfers?_____I loved it when ou got their rear kicked, but boise and utah don't even appers in the top 25 prior to 2005 going back to 1980 every 5 years?_____And how many times have they won are even appeared in the mnc?_____miller58

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
Well we better figure out something because I don't know who is on our O-line right now in practice but if they are punching holes in the run defense like those suggested in the "Running Forward" section of the above article then it just confirms what should be our biggest concern. The defense we field now WILL be better against the pass, that's the good news. Bad news is that nobody will throw when they can pick up big chunks of yardage on the ground. What is going to happen when you run up against the tu front 5 of 3 seniors and 2 juniors all of which are over 300 pounds and they run three wides on you to spread out your linebackers and then come at you with 2 backs. As Bum Phillips would have said, "Guys, we got more trouble than just a little bit". This just cannot be as bad as it looks on paper. I hope it works out for this young group.

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Posted by: agjosh On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: SAags and Agsrule
The comparison of our new recruit to Orakpo is just plain stupid, idiotic, moronic, bad judgement, and shows terrible football IQ. First, they play totally different positions. Second, one is going to be a high school senior next year while the other is a potential top 10 NFL draft pick. A DT that runs a 4.9 as a high school senior is actually very good to excellent compared to his peer group. In fact, Moron 58 should be excited about this guy. His 4.9 is only .2 slower than one of the top 7 Rivals DTs...the others are slower or don't post a time (because it's so slow). Considering the fact that we are trying to move to a defense that features a three man front more often, the DT should never be asked to run anywhere close to 10 yards much less 40. Before you say that if he's slow at 40 he's slow at 10, check yourself. Many lineman are as quick or quicker than skill players for the first five yards. Anybody ever heard of Sam Adams? He was just a consensus All-American, Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, and has some really "Super" rings....The combine was over before he finished his 40!! Try being smart first (don't compare apples to oranges or in this case to kitchen tables) and then try being football smart guys.

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title:
Good cars win races. Good drivers win races. Good cars with good drivers are almost unbeatable. Our driver appears to be somewhat limited so we better build a good car (recruit).

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Posted by: SAag06 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Here we go with the stars again
Miller...you don't have to have 20 4*/5* guys to compete. Go back and look at schools that are highly competitive on the national scene, i.e. Boise, Utah, etc. Look at Todd Reising or Chase Daniels neither were heavily recruited. Look at Texas Tech. They never have these impressive classes, at least as you describe them, and yet they were competing for a possible national title. Coaching can go a long way. Everything must come together for us to be successful. We will have to wait and see if it will all come together for the Ags.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE; Cinter L
My personal opinions:_____Didn't I read some time ago that TexAgs bought ESPN?_____Some people think the Aggie Spin Machine exercises access control over new gathering organizations and inflicts unreasonable bias on Aggie rankings, etc?_____I am one who things that strong bias exhists because of this?_____miller58

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE: SAag'06
My personal opinions: SAag'06. pleease let me suggest 2 or 3 good recruits a year, is just like you spitting on the fire in a 9-11 twin towers._____Spitting on that twin tower fire, or 2 or 3 good recruits just makes absolutely no difference._____We need 10 to 20 top recruits every year to even catch tu and ou!_____When we've only seen these 3 players in 7 blow out losses and arkansas state, by no means does this translate that they are even good, average, or very bad Big 12 players._____Also please remember that we will, this fall, have 59 of Sherman's hand picked signees on campus, from junior 4* lsu transfer, to Sophs, redshirts and fish from Shermans first two signing classes.____In addition we have 15 commits(no 5 stars, one 4 star) from shermans third and fourth signing classes in progress all to measure Bherman's truly crappy recruiting._____ Can you identify just one player from these four signing classes, for each position on defense and offense(22 players) that everybody can identify, agrees are all world and will start to even turn this thing around?_____NO!_____I can't, you can't, and nobody else can list just one player for each 22 positions?_____miller58

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Posted by: CinterL On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Recruiting pointers
Haha I like Miller58's comment about new mexico, I find it very funny. Also AgsRule, the 40 for a DT is not worth anything. What you look for is how quick he gets off the line and into the OL pads. He does not have to run fast if he only has to cover 5 yards to each side of him. Also according to ESPNU, which I believe is better than rivals, we have two elite lineman. They are on the watch list for the top 150 players in the nation and Jockel is one of 40 or so people going to the underarmor game. Yes we are half way through, but most top commits don't come until during or after football season. If we do well this season, recruiting will do well too.

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Posted by: SAag06 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: AgsRule
I couldn't agree more. Even Fran had a successful second season. I think 7 -5 with a bowl win would help us make great progress. We need to be taking steps forward, even if baby ones.

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Posted by: AgsRule! On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: SAag06
If Sherman can take a 4.9er and turn him into a 4.5 or 4.6er, then he's won me over. I hope it can be done, if it can, then Sherman knows how to take the ugly ducklings of college football and turn them into beautiful swans!(that sounds a bit bit creepy does it not?), anyway being a true, bleeds maroon Aggie, I want to see some success on the field this year, and to me a 7-5 record and a trip to any bowl would be a step up, but after this year I look for us to regain our rightful place ahead of the teams I mentioned below, else we are, falling farther and farther behind, not just Texas and Oklahoma, but now Baylor too!

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Posted by: SAag06 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Recruiting
Miller...I agree that we need to recruit better players, but you can't say that Sherman is completely lacking in this area. He did recruit Cyrus Gray who was a highly sought after running back, and he added Jeff Fuller. Fuller de-committed from OU to play at A&M. Trent Hunter will come into his own and be a great player. I think that we will have to show progress in order to get some of those top players. You also have to remember that it is not all about the stars. There are other intangible qualities that coaches look for when recruiting. A lot of players improve physically when they enter a college program because of the workout routines that they are thrown into. Just because a player runs a 4.9 40 now, does not mean that he will run that same speed a year or so into the program. I think we all need to take a wait and see approach to the current staff and program.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE; AgsRule
My personal opinions:_____AgsRule, lets not kid about what a powerhouse New Mexico is?_____ With Sherman coaching, it will be a very, very close game!_____A quick check of New mexico showed them over the last five years with an average recruiting rank of #89._____Their recruiting is right there with Snerman 4 classes ._____New mexico in the last 5 years has no five stars, no four stars, only 14 three stars and the other 71 would be ranked one or two stars, so they are almost right there with Shermans Recruiting!_____baylor would beat them by 120 points!_____miller58

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Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: RE: AgsRule!
I think your concerns are justified not to mention the fact that we only have so many scholsrships to offer and we are well over half way there. Also, are we recruiting to our needs in 2012 which is about where this 2010 class becomes viable.

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Posted by: AgsRule! On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Mr. Miller
We will know soon enough, September can't get here quick enough. The first game of the year, as with every year, will tell you a lot about what that season will look like. If A&M can't beat New Mexico 56-0, instead only winning 28-24, or something like that, then there is no way to argue the fact that bad recruiting is to blame. Until A&M proves in this century they are better that Baylor, Texas Tech, OK St.,Missouri, Kansas, etc, they will never get those kids that choose Texas over A&M to come here. less than 5 months til d-day!

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Re; AgsRule
Mypersonal opinions:_____AgsRule, your post is exactly right._____A&M has only 1 four star difference maker committed and 14 others._____tu by comparison, has 17 top four and five star difference makers committed!_____miller58

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Posted by: AgsRule! On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Recruiting
How can you argue with the fact that Sherman just landed our 15th recruit, a zero star Defensive Lineman who runs an incredibly slow 4.9 40, and picked A&M over La. Tech, Tulane, and Ole Miss? Just to put this in perspective, Texas' Orakpo runs a 4.63 40, which makes him look really quick, but when you get up to the 5sec 40, that will be noticeably slow. So having said that, I am a bit nervous too about some of these guys Sherman is offering scholarships too. It really does seem like he's going after numbers instead of quality, but I can't get inside his head so I don't know. But I am pretty sure that a DT that runs a 5 second 40 will do nothing for us on the field in the Big12.

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Posted by: miller44 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: miller58
you have made your mother very upset! you have embarrased this family! why must you continue to bash everything A&M. we know your life as a pimp has been hard do to the economy! you are always welcome at home but please quit doing this to us..we love you! mom & dad

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Posted by: On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Miller 69...............
Miller 69. Your cousin is an idiot.

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Posted by: miller69 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: Come on Miller58
As you know my cousin I am sorry about you losing your wife. Ever since she passed three years ago, you haven't been right. I can understand your pain, but you really need to move on and focus on some of the blessing in your life. Stop bashing the Aggies and Sherman. I bet you would enjoy listening to Sherman and some of the players, if you just gave them a chance to show you their dedication to the program. I have an extra ticket for you for tomorrow's game. I hope you show up. It would be great to catch up on things and watch the team's progress from last year. Stop being a bitter old man. You are my cousin and I care about you.

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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/17/2009

Comment Title: GOOD COACHES RECRUIT WELL AND WIN: GOOD AND BAD COACHES THAT DONT RECRUIT WELL AND JUSTLOSE!
My personal opinions:_____Folks, we're being conned!_____Right from the time the AGGIE SPIN MACHINE said "the enphasis is on recruiting" while hiring 10 new coaches, up to today!____Until Mike Sherman recruits at least 11 offensive and and 11 defensive players, that Ags and the world can clearly and unmistakably identify as a difference maker team, we're simply screwed!_____59 of mikes hand picked recruits will be on campus this fall, a theid and fourth recruiting class are in progress>_____CAN ANYONE LIST JUST !! OFFENSIVE AND 11 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS FOR EACH POSITION THAT NO ONE WOULD QUESTION ARE WORLD CLASS WINNERS??????????_____NO!_____My first year at A&M, I watched BEAR BRYANT, also in his first year, bring in a team of world class players that nobody could question, led by future All-Americans RB John David Crow and OT Charlie Kreuger'_____In those days, fish weren't eligible to play varsity, and played a fish swc schedule._____ What I learned real fast is that even one of the gretest coaches cant win without first recruiting the top players!_____Bear coached the fish team right beside the varsity team!_____ short story is Bear won big with the talented fish team, and the exact same Bear, lost big with the untalented varsity team!_____Jackie, lost, but recruited lights out a large quantity of talented players for three years and won._____ And you could identify those players immediately as fish!_____Just last year, Nick Saban recruited 22 four and five star top players, you could identify, and then went to 12-0 regular season wins._____Until Mike Sherman can recruit at least 11 offensive and 11 defensive top 4*/5* players We all can immediately identify, we are going to lose Big!_____Can anyone name those 22 top players that the world recognizes as top football players at the 22 positions._____After Bear, Jackie, and Nick recruited, the world could name them._____After Mike's 59 signed players on campus this fall, and even from his 3rd and 4th signing classes, I and the world still can't name them?_____miller58

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