Don't Give Up On Matt Elam Just Yet
by mlmintampa on Jan 5, 2010 10:13 PM EST
in Florida Football
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PrintFrom Rivals via the Gainesville Sun:
Elam was all set to enroll early at FSU and even said Florida had no chance of getting back into the race. But this is Matt Elam we’re talking about. The journey is never over."I talked to Urban last night," Elam told Rivals. "We were talking about our relationship basically and he told me to have trust, to have trust in him and he asked me a word that really touched me. He said, ‘Do you know what faith means?’ and he told me the definition. It really touched me a lot. It really touched me so my decision might change."
Elam won't make or break Florida's recruiting class. But he's probably the best player in Florida and which ever school he decides will have that psychological win. Elam says he will make that decision during Saturday's Army All-American game. However, if Elam can be swayed by Meyer or Jimbo Fisher so easily, he needs to take more time to figure out what to do. This is a life changing decision and it should not be based on what a coach tells you about faith or the other one promising you playing time.
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i know mlmintampa must be busy
as i have no idea what goes into running a blog, but i would love to keep up more on the recruiting going on right now. i hear tons of rumors and guesses about players such as Seantrel Henderson, Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell, Dietrich Riley, Christian Green, Chaz Green, Ivan McCartney, Jackson Jeffcoat and Johnathan Hankson. i dont have any kind of subscription to rivals so i cant keep up all that well. plus id rather just read it on here where i feel there is better writing and better conversations. just a thought id like to throw out there.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
I agree, this time of year recruiting is where it's at. Get on it mlmintampa. GO GATORS
by pLANEolG8RB8 on Jan 5, 2010 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
Recruiting isn’t exactly in my wheel house, because it is second hand like this story is. I’m fairly sophisticated (at least I try to be) on football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball because I used to cover those teams and regularly make trips to watch them. I hadn’t see Elam play a full game until the 4A State Championship. I can’t really offer any insight or perspective on a kid when I haven’t seen him play. That said, I’m trying to include more since the success of this class could be a sign of how much influence Meyer still has. That to me is the bigger story than a lack of a five start recruit.
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
Totally understand
I was also thinking that someone may be able to take over that part, like a delegation thing. Of course someone would have to step up and do it, and I certainly can’t with the full plate I have in my life right now. But anyone that reads this blog with the resources and time, it would be an awesome addition to this blog, if even it was in the form or fanshots or fanposts.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
by silverstreak3k on Jan 6, 2010 3:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I believe that I read somewhere before that recruiting wasn't in mlmintampa's wheel house.
However myself, like silverstreak, would like to be able to get more news about UF recruiting outside of Rivals, ESPN, and Scout. Is there another reliable UF blog that does excel at UF recruiting news. If anyone knows please share with the rest of us. Thanks
by pLANEolG8RB8 on Jan 6, 2010 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
its off season. recruiting is like a NFL fans draft mocking. But if you want real Gator recruiting news try Gator Bait. It cost money, but you can view a little bit without paying and still see a lot on who the Gators are close to picking up. If you want the inside info, you got to pay for it. Dont expect this site, which is free to do everything for you.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
I believe that Elam winds up with some free shoes on his feet.
This kid does not want to compete for a position and that is the bottom line. Why are we worried about a kid who would rather go 6-6 in the ACC than go 12-0 in the SEC anyways? He must have watched the Under Armor game and saw that awesome group of “UF Committed” D-Backs and decided that he should look elsewhere. I can’t say I can blame him. Those kids are good.
Dear Matt:
Go to FSU.
I don’t want guys who only half-heartedly want to be Gators and would just as soon be ’Noles.
You’re either 100% Gator or you’re Gator Bait.
and you’d better listen to Lawrence, or stuff like this happens to you
by skigator93 on Jan 6, 2010 12:04 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I can't say I disagree with skigator in regards to this kid.
He probably needs to make the jump over to get some free shoes ‘cause if he can’t see what “real” competition can do for a D-Back by looking at Joe Haden then he really just wants to “play” and doesn’t care about his future chances to make an NFL teams’ roster.
by pLANEolG8RB8 on Jan 6, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Free Shoes?
Forget free shoes. Elam can go to UF and have all the “get out of jail free” cards he wants. And who would pass up the chance to play under the great Addazio and the new unproven D-coord?
I guess you're right
Because FSU’s brand new defensive coordinator is so proven himself….not to mention the new unproven head coach.
Elam is better off at FSU where he can look like a man amongst boys while he plays in the ACC against….well, a bunch of boys. He obviously isn’t ready to man up to the SEC.
by skigator93 on Jan 6, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
As we said when Bowden left, Fisher’s teams have only scored five touchdowns in five games against the Gators. That includes LSU and FSU. Maybe that changes without Charlie Strong, but Florida will bring in someone who will run the same system as Strong.
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
http://www.alligatorarmy.com
FSU
The Offensive at FSU will GUT the Gator D next year. Jimbo has only been at FSU since 2007. Plus a freshman with 3 starts came to G-ville.
Buy the Sugar Bowl DVD before you commence running you trap about Addazio,
and oh yeah, his offense just went 12-0 in the SEC and ol’ cromagnum heads offense went 6-6 in the ACC………and you idiots are still throwing stones. I guess we should call you guys Friggin Stupid instead of Free Shoes! Go Gators
remember
Remember it was Jeff Bowden became OC at FSU, so you should thank Bobby for turning Florida State into a family piggy bank through nepotism allowed UF the opportunity to rise to a level of unprecedented success. Dont forget guys…..Florida State beat the Gators in : 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1995* 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 -Then Jeff Bowden era.
The day UF has more than 4 straight years of success then talk. USC has dominated this decade. FSU dominated the 90’s with Nebraska a close 2nd. Miami dominated the 80’s. Notre Dame and Oklahoma dominated the late 30’s and 40’s. When UF can manage to actually consistently dominate an era then then talk……..
3 national championships in 103 years…. ironic huh? The Seminoles played in five national championship games between 1993 and 2001. How many have you played in? How many Top 5 finishes has you had? Well FSU, Top 5 finishes in the AP football poll – receiving placement 14 years in a row, from 1987 to 2000. The Seminoles were the first college football team in history to go wire-to-wire (ranked first place from preseason to postseason) since the AP began releasing preseason rankings in 1936. FSU also OWNS the record for most consecutive Bowl game victories with 11 between 1985 and 1996. officially designated a Football Dynasty by the NCAA.
I think UF has equaled USC for this decade
Even despite being handicapped with the Zooker for 3 years!
?
Florida State beat the Gators in : 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1995* 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 -Then Jeff Bowden era.
2004 – 2009 is 5 years dude.
2004-2009 is 6 years dude.
(You say you went to MIT? )Thats hard to believe.Plus we creamed you in Spurries last season in 01’. So thats 7 years out of the decade. ALSO, what it the total tally? I am pretty sure UF has beat FSU many more times then the other way around. So as everyone has said get off FSU nuts in the 90’s.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
Also
Last time I checked, victories in the 90’s don’t mean anything today.
Gator Bait: The first, and still the best.
that is why Bobby got fired
Bobby should have been fired in 2003.
Does FSU fans not realize the past 10-15 years Bobby Bowden has become just a man who roams the side lines. Everyone wants to blame Bowden for FSU down fall, but the man has actually said he just over sees the team. So sure a brand new coaching staff I could understand optomism, but why is everyone so optomistic about a coach who has been the HC behind the curtains already for years.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
Bobby sucked
It was one thing to betray Mickey Andrews after promising him the head coaching job, but to then slap Mickey in the face by hiring an incompetent family member be Andrews’ counterpart was disgraceful. Bowden will not end up with the major all-time records because he spent 20% of his career in Tallahassee pulling stunts that benefited his family at the expense of FSU. After a lost decade, Florida State should have no second thoughts about getting rid of Bobby.
That has nothing to do with Jimbo Fisher and his great optomism from FSU fans.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
only stupid people look the other way.
FSU has so many Bobby Lovers. Florida State fell behind on the field in large part because they had a coaching staff that just wasn’t competent— be that ability to coach or ability to work the 90-hour weeks required of elite coaches. But FSU also found themselves far behind the times in other areas that weren’t as visible to the average fan. Jimbo will follow Saban as Nick builds as good an infrastructure around his players, like Jimbo and him did at LSU and like Nick has done at ‘Bama. Expect Fisher to turn FSU into an SEC program. Playing the best players. This is pretty simple and we’ve already seen it on the offensive side of the ball as Fisher has repeatedly relied on freshmen and sophomores (7 of FSU’s starting 11 players on offense are underclassmen) to produce the ACC’s best offense of the decade.
by DrchipM.I.T. on Jan 6, 2010 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
Replacing departed assistant coaches with other quality coaches. This was a major bugaboo for Bowden and his hires in the decade were unquestionably terrible. Fisher has already hit two home runs with James Coley and the recent hire of Eddie Gran.
by DrchipM.I.T. on Jan 6, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
I know you're a scientist and a numbers guy
But FSU has looked great on paper for years – it just hasn’t translated to wins on the field.
And it’s hard not to start a lot of underclassmen when you have promised all 21 incoming freshman a starting position.
All I can say is FSU better get its win against UF next season, or else that streak is going to be extended for several more years. UF’s coffers are already stockpiled from 2 great recruiting classes and I’ll be surprised if this year isn’t ranked #1 when all the smoke clears, and all our early departures open up more schollys. There are 6 uncommitted guys on Rival’s top 9 overall players and UF is on every one of their lists.
Dude are you crazy?
They have 2 D-Coordinator on the team.
After five years as defensive coordinator at East Carolina, Greg Hudson will take a position at Florida State that includes coaching the linebackers. (East Carolina was a bowl participant the last four years in a row including holding Arkansas to 0-13 in converted third downs for the entire Liberty Bowl.)
Mark Stoops- In 2001 he was named the defensive backs coach for the University of Miami where he produced such noted talents as Ed Reed, the late Sean Taylor, Antrelle Rolle, Phillip Buchanan and others. Arizona has been the rare Pac 10 team to have an defense that is consistently better than its offense— a rarity in a conference thought to be dominated by wide open offenses. Stoops’ familiarity with recruiting in Florida from his days at USF and Miami certainly played a factor in the hire. The gator seem to be in trouble!
Hudson is a great match for FSU
He’s already got all that Liberty Bowl experience so when yall play there the next 3 seasons he’ll know all the best restaurants in town and such….because your days of playing in bowls that you don’t deserve to be in just because your coach is retiring are as over as your top 3 finishes.
and for the record – UF would be top 3 every year if we played in the ACC. What a cupcake factory, escpecially back then before Va Tech and Miami joined. FSU had to get up for 2 games a year and usually went .500
FSU has sucked for 10 years dude. Duh
However, everybody’s pick to win it all, Florida, lost to Alabama. Didn’t just lose, got creamed, crushed, stomped and exposed for what they really are: A good to mediocre team at best. The same can be said for the entire SEC, the most overrated and over-hyped conference in the nation. Time for a football IQ check…..
The dirty secret to the SEC’s “success” is this formula: Schedule absurdly easy teams in your non-conference games, and make sure you play them at home. Never travel. Run up the score and stats on these cupcakes to “prove” your invincibility. Fool the sportswriters who are easily dazzled by 83-3 wins over Southwest Georgia Junior Teachers Academy For The Deaf and will vote you to the top of the polls. Then play the rest of your season with the knowledge that the SEC refs will go out of their way to protect the BCS bound teams and the millions it will bring to the conference.
Take a gander at Alabama, LSU and Florida’s out of conference schedule this year: Alabama played Virginia Tech (Kudos to Alabama), Florida International at home, North Texas at home and UT Chattanooga at home. LSU (to their credit) at least traveled to Washington where they barely hung on to beat the Pac Ten Huskies, played UL Lafayette at home, Tulane at home, and LA Tech at home. Big bad Florida dared to play Charleston Southern at home, Troy at home, Florida International at home and Florida State at home. The combined totals of all these out of conference games was SEC 517 – Suckers 106. Take away Va Tech and Washington and it’s 457 – 62.
Everybody’s All American and future NFL Hall Of Famer Tim Tebow threw or ran for 15 of his 31 touchdowns against Cupcake U. That’s almost 50% for the year. And you are shocked that he got hammered by Alabama? If USC’s Matt Barkley played the same schedule, he’d be in New York this week posing for his Heisman oil portrait. (By the way, the same day Super Tim was gutting it out against Troy State, Barkley beat Ohio State in Columbus.)
BCS teams make big money. They’re good for the conference, so is was no surprise when Georgia scored the go-ahead touchdown against then BCS bound LSU in the last minute, a good ol’ boy SEC ref did his duty and flagged Georgia for unsportsmanlike conduct for celebrating after the touchdown, handing LSU a major gift which they converted into the game winner. This was easily the most blatant example of the “Big Three” rules. Keep those rankings high. Excessive celebrations in the end zone are subjective penalties. You might call it a penalty. I call it cheating.
When Oregon’s All American RB LeGarrette Blount sucker punched a Boise State player, Coach Chip Kelly suspended Blount for two-thirds of the season. When Florida LB Brandon Spikes tried to gouge out a Georgia RB’s eye, Urban Meyer handed down a half game suspension against Vanderbilt. Class act, Urban. But then again, he was playing SEC rules.
Florida fooled everyone all year, sitting atop all the polls. Anybody with a modicum of football knowledge should have seen the smackdown in Atlanta coming. Florida just wasn’t that good, yet they were voted #1 all season. What were the voters seeing that everyone else didn’t? Perhaps the fact that the SEC has it’s own in-house propaganda machine in CBS might help. To listen to the promos on CBS, games like Kentucky – LSU take on the status of the Red River Shootout. Personally, I think Percy Harvin was the key to the offense at Florida and when he left, the Gators were swamped. But with CBS’s constant pimping, the nation assumed that Florida didn’t even have to play the games. Just give them the trophy and call them the greatest team ever. Wrong.
Tebow, Mark Ingram of Alabama, Colt McCoy of Texas and Toby Gerhart of Stanford will probably be the Heisman finalists. Once again the eastern voters will get it wrong. It will probably go to Ingram or McCoy. No doubt McCoy had a Heisman worthy year, but the best player in college football this year was Toby Gerhart of Stanford, hands down. However nobody really saw him play, especially the folks in the SEC who avoid Pac-10 teams like the plague. If a back leads the nation in rushing and he’s not on CBS, like the proverbial tree falling in the woods, it didn’t happen.
So Alabama is going to play Texas in the BCS Title Bowl. I believe that Texas should have been ranked #1 all season. They’ll beat Alabama. The best team in the nation over the second half of the season was Oregon. They’ll destroy Ohio State and should be ranked second. Florida is going to play Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. Cincinnati wins easily. Florida doesn’t even belong in the BCS series, but old habits die hard and voters really don’t care about anything west of the Mississippi.
Too bad really. The toughest conference this year was the Pac Ten. The best player was Toby Gerhart. The best team was Texas, followed closely by Oregon and Boise State. As for the SEC? Only nine more months till CBS trumpets the next Game Of The Century: Florida versus Miami… of Ohio. From “The Swamp,” of course.
Do you really think any one will read all of that non sense
I get through about one para graph until I realize its just a bunch of Hater talk. No one cares about FSU any more. WE DEF DONT CARE about how great you were in the 90’s.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
PAC 10
Figures. USC White and the 9 dwarfs.
All the SEC does is win championships. Alabama is going to clean Texas’ clock because Alabama has already played the 2nd best team in the country. This is a joke because the SEC Championship is the national championship these days.
You can lean on your little conspiracy theories all you want, but when the cards are on the table, the SEC teams win.
Gerhart? Stanford? Really? It doesn’t take a Heisman winner to roll up big numbers against Pac 10 teams who don’t play any defense. That league is basically like the Arena League. Hey man, look – another thrilling 59-56 5 OT game in the Pac 10 and it isn’t even basketball season.
By the way, judging by those clowns in stripes from the Pac 10 in the Sugar Bowl, the refs out there suck as bad as the teams. And I thought the SEC had the worst officials.
Hey dude duh
why the F*** are you trying to predict shit that already happened? Do you ppl at MIT huff spray paint on your off time? and Florida doesnt belong in the BCS series? And how do you try predict things that have already occured and get every single one of them wrong???? I think they need to seriously overhaul their teaching staff at that college.
Oh and heres an idea maybe learn wtf your talking about before you start talking like a mentally challenged chimp DUDE, DUHHH.
by gatorempire127 on Jan 7, 2010 12:23 AM EST up reply actions
Oh man we are in trouble, I am so nervous
because we are sitting in the top 5 recruiting class in every board/thread you will ever look at. With or with out Elam. Mean while FSU doesnt crack the top ten in any, and thats with a new 5 star recruit.
So I wonder who is in trouble really
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
LOL
Thats funny because you think Addazio is our real HC, and we will hire a unproven DC. As if a proven DC wouldnt want to come to UF. Do you think we are going to hire some joe blow off the street to take over as DC? This isnt FSU, were still relevant. UF is a dream job for coaches.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
I've heard rumblings about the UNC DC
They had a pretty stout defense, although they play in a weak conference.
I do wish
Gator fans would back off of this kid. The whole switch is irritating, but his entire recruitment has been irritating. The guy is a very good prospect, no doubt, but if some 18 year old kid changes his mind, he shouldn’t be ridiculed on FB and blasted on message boards for it…let’s be serious, this kid means a whole lot more to the FSU secondary, than losing him means to us. If he goes FSU, so be it, if he decides to be a Gator, welcome him with open arms..
Well, it's not really that simple
He is entitled to change his mind – sure. But it’s not like he elected to go with a ham sandwich instead of turkey after ordering at Subway….he verbally committed to the Gators on the condition that Meyer stop recruiting other top athletes who play his position. Then he backed off and committed to our most hated rival. Then, he says he might have changed his mind again, and…stay tuned – he’ll announce his final decision on TV during the all-star game. Golly, I sure hope he picks our hat, we’ll all be on the edge of our seats waiting. Come on kid – get a grip and get over yourself. You aren’t really that important. Have fun in Tallahassee.
My 5 year old daughter is more decisive than this kid. He’s a ‘Nole – some folks just end up where they belong. Hopefully he’s not this indecisive on whether to go for the pick or the hit.
by skigator93 on Jan 6, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He brings a Brett Farve like situation
I think that sums it up. Went from Packers to the Vikings.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.
I ont know about this kid.
Usually when a kid cant make up his effin mind in where he wants to go to school and switches a few times it sometimes leads to major busts and disappointing careers. usually because the kid is always thinking about his decision to go to that school. So if he ends up coming to UF ill be pretty skeptical of him.
If he wants to "PLAY" go to FSU and play!!
If he wants to work and compete to be the best that he can be like Joe Haden and possibly go to the NFL as a first round pick as a jr. he should come to UF. He has the speed and skills to be one of the best or Urban Meyer would not be recruiting him. But does he have the drive and mental toughness to be one of the best. His choice is before him and I hope he makes the right choice for Matt Elam and everyone else involved. The easy choice would be Free Shoes but noone will know until Saturday……I guess.
NFL?
FSU #1 Producer of NFL Talent (tied with UM) Come on guys, get your numbers right…..
Did you really make a name just to comment on AA?
Your not even subsribed to your own teams blog. Way to go troll. BTW…
1. How many 1st round draftee’s has FSU had in the past two drafts? 0!
2. FSU, UM #1 producer of NFL talent. That is the exact reason we do not care about Matt Elam. He is worried about making it into the NFL. That is they type of player UM, FSU gets…FSU is just stepping stone for them. We do not want those types.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
Dude - stop living in the 80s
FSU is done. We’re not talking about retired NFL players from the 80s, we’re talking about now. We’re talking rookie of the year and pro-bowler Percy Harvin. All FSU has produced lately is a bunch of 7-6 seasons, Craphonso Thorp and Dakote Fagg.
Turn off your Depeche Mode cassettes and try something new!
guys
I got masters from UF in engineering….. so its my school too.
guys
I got my masters from UF (2006) in engineering. So its my school too. Sorry for typo, someone bumped my arm on the plane.
I got a grad degree at UGA
and while I like their SB blog and have mad respect for the mayor, I don’t claim any part of that school!
I am mixed fan
BS- FSU
Masters at UF
PHD at MIT
I like all the Florida Teams (hate Miami) lol
I live in South Carolina
You dont see me on USC blog pretending to be a COCK, and then at the same time talking trash at the school. Your a troll and dont even bother acting like your not.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
sorry
I am flying back to the States from Dubai…..sorry for wasting your time. Just wanted to have debate. Spark some convo. Cheers
We understand
A masters degree is a lot of hard work. You can’t be expected to realize that there are football games going on…..
Masters was kind of easy. Only took 12 months
The PHD at MIT was hard work. (took 2.5 years) Nuclear Engineering. I work hard and play hard son.
one of my UF roommates did that
He worked in South Carolina (Catawba?) but got sick of it and went to med school.
almost went to Med school
I love tits…. wanted to be plastic surgeon. I should have followed my heart. (or dick)
by DrchipM.I.T. on Jan 6, 2010 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
I tried to look to see if the FSU blog had anything on
Matt Elam. All i found was a biased optimism that would make you think he slammed the phone after Urban said hello. And something about Mack Brown decommiting from UF possibly with FSU having a good chance to get him. Major crap, Im guessing.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.
According to every recruiting site
I have read Mack Brown is still committed to the Gators. He hasnt signed a letter of intent yet, but its hard to believe he would end up at FSU. He is from UGA, considering they have been running back U as of late he would be dumb to sign at FSU instead of UF/UGA.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
I'm a little nervous about Brown
Not about losing him, but about his ability. I live in ATL and saw coverage of a few games he played in. It wasn’t that impressive. Most great college players completely dominate at the high school level. Maybe I just saw the few games he didn’t play well in.
I still hope he signs and is successful, but I don’t think he’s a slam dunk star.
hes not from UGA,I meant hes lives where everyone would assume he would end up at UGA.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
knew what you meant
He’s from MLK High in Lithonia, which is a suburb just east of town. The school is pretty new, but it is also in the largest classification so he faced some tough competition too.
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