John Wagner does the heavy research...

[Flipper]

and gives us a look at the importance of retaining players from year to year...

http://toledoblade.typepad.com/falconfo ... iting.html

Given the APR issues in 08 and the blow outs from 2007/2008...I remained convinced that we were going to suck in 2010 no matter who was coaching.

[Pete Segaard]

How could those two classes wash out so badly? Was GB under pressure and picked high risk/reward student athletes or were the assistants making the bad picks? I have never really followed the nuances of recruiting so I am looking to learn.

[falconfan1]

flipper- correct. Urban/Tress/Brady/The Hat/Nick. No one. No one could have won in that year. We simply missed on a number of kids in eval, we had some close misses on committing, we were indeed under pressure because Urban's aura was then gone (not just his players) and we needed to try to make some quick fixes and none of it worked. None of it.

Chip Robinson- good player, will be a BG grad and very good person. Keith Morgan- contributor, BG grad and very good person. Otherwise that class- as shown by the research- was essentially a wash out.

Could not have won in 2010. And it impacted this past year big time.

Go Falcons!

[Globetrotter]

You need to see the last 5-10 years of recruiting for these numbers to really show a ton. Is that year really the anomally it seems or is it just one or 2 especially notable bad years.

[Flipper]

I think if you look at the history of Gregg Brandon the recruiter...Outside of getting an entire OLine and Devon Parks, he had a tough 2003, a pretty good 2004, rough 2005, good 2006, and not so good 2007 and abysmal 2008. In all of those years he was able to get some players. He was never able to build a champion because it seemed we were always working to fill gaps made by guys who didn't stick.

[falconfan1]

flip- you got it again. 2007 was also a poor year and you put two of those back to back and what it did to APR and you have no chance in 2010. None.

But we'll get there in my opinion.

Go Falcons!

[Flipper]

Mine too, FF1...I like what Clawson is doing here and I think some patience is required..give him at least as much time as coach Orr has had.

I think coach Bergeron should get double that...

[Globetrotter]

How did Meyers classes end up here? Did they stay all the way thru? I think there is a big tendency for classes to start out like 24-26 and end up like 10-13. I can't recall the last time we had a ton of seniors starting.

[factman]

Mine too, FF1...I like what Clawson is doing here and I think some patience is required..give him at least as much time as coach Orr has had.

I think coach Bergeron should get double that...

Just so it is someone else making the decision!