Florida Football Recruiting: Stefon Diggs Picks Maryland, Spurns Gators
by Andy Hutchins on Feb 10, 2012 7:46 PM EST
in Florida Football Recruiting
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PrintFlorida's Class of 2012 recruiting cycle is finally (probably) over, but the ending the Gators got is about as unsatisfying as the one that a National Signing Day full of misses brought: Five-star Maryland wideout Stefon Diggs has committed to play at Maryland, opting for the home state Terrapins over Florida, Ohio State, and Auburn.
Diggs was Florida's last hope to add an instant impact on the perimeter this year, and was seen as a vital target for a team with a receiving corps that struggled mightily in 2012. But despite being seen as a Florida lean for a long time, then as a Florida lean as recently as Thursday, Diggs picked Maryland, probably thanks both to proximity and some late work by Maryland offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, a former Ron Zook assistant and tireless recruiter.
This stings, of course, and leaves Florida with a class of recruits that is very heavily weighted toward Will Muschamp's defense, but Diggs' choice to drag out his decision until more than a week after Signing Day and announce his commitment at a three-hour ceremony in a bar in Maryland has probably left most Gators fans with a reminder that recruiting is often a window into the more ridiculous side effects of the attention given to athletes.
On the bright side: Andre Debose remains a Florida Gator.
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He may well win championships
Unfortunately, just ACC championships. That’s like being King of the Slums.
Did you see Maryland this year? They are terrible. They need to at least become bowl eligable before worrying about an ACC title. Diggs is not a Tebow or a Newton he isn’t going to be able to lead a team to any kind of championship.
by Gators1 on Feb 10, 2012 9:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
With all the drama this kid was seeking maybe it's for the best.
Apparently he has been tweeting all kinds of things since yesterday just to try to amp up the suspense, included one tweet of “I had a dream I was in the Swamp, time to go back to sleep.” This is the type of diva kid that can absolutely destroy a locker room. Yeah Florida needs some playmakers, but not at the expense of team chemistry. Obviously it’s possible that he would have cause no problems. But ask yourself what you think would happen if he doesn’t come in and start right away, or he does but our o-line and QBs continue to struggle and “he doesn’t get his?” He would probably blow up the locker room in my mind. Total diva. And yes, part of this is my annoyance that he didn’t pick Florida.
Dante Fowler
Says hello.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Feb 10, 2012 8:51 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Oh please. Your comparing Fowler to Diggs? Get outta here.
by Gators1 on Feb 10, 2012 8:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
They're 18 year olds
Neither did anything unusual. Their situations are actually very similar. Calling Diggs a diva and saying he would be a problem is unfair. He just made a bad career decision.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Feb 10, 2012 9:04 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
But you are basically saying that Dante Fowler did the same thing? Hmmm..
by Gators1 on Feb 10, 2012 9:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
if it works for him, fine
Going to an SEC school that produces NFL talent isn’t a bad choice. Maryland… Bottom rung ACC school? That’s a mistake.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Feb 10, 2012 9:09 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
imma leave this right here
NFL Players by Team
texas: 46
miami: 46
usc: 43
ohio state: 40
lsu: 40
georgia: 34
tennessee: 33
iowa: 33
florida: 33
california: 32
maryland: 30
auburn: 29
michigan: 28
by testudo13 on Feb 11, 2012 7:44 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Who gives a fuck? So what Maryland’s claim to fame is having 30 guys suck in the NFL? Congrats. Maryand still sucks. The campus sucks. College Park is a disgusting joke. You haven’t and never will win a national championship(who “claims” one from 1892 lol losers). Yeah so it’s pretty clear Maryland Football is a joke so you can take your 30 players in the NFL claim and shove it up your ass.
And Nole, Congrats on the b2b win and forgetting who owned the series in the 2000’s. I know you think you guys are all badass with your new dumbass recruits but seriously? You guys will choke again. Have fun not living up to the preseason expectations again.
by Gators1 on Feb 11, 2012 8:02 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Calm down
Man. No use getting worked up over some Terps and Noles.
by Obi_Ugochukwu on Feb 11, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
You're not taking all this very well, are you? ;-)
If you’re blowing a gasket at the end of recruiting season, I can’t wait to see what happens in November.
by Dauntless12 on Feb 12, 2012 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
this article indicates that either your numbers are not accurate, or else Maryland has a slew of undrafted players in the NFL.
In all kinds of weather...
Yeah but one of those 33
is Rex Grossman, I’m not sure Redskins fans will ever forgive Florida for producing him.
I like Turtles!
Follow @HarryHareBear
As a Redskins fan and someone who has many discussion about him at Hogs Haven here at SB Nation and at other places (family and friends) … I’ll say that Rex Grossman was the better option compared to what else they’ve had the last two seasons at the quarterback position.
Editor at Alligator Army.
Congrats terps, your team was apparently stocked with NFL caliber talent.
What did you accomplish with it? If the lost decade taught me anything, it’s that talented players are only as effective as the coaching they receive in a system for which they are suited. See Nigel Bradham, John Brantley, etc. You’ve managed to squander as much if not more talent than anyone in the country, I wouldn’t be bragging about that.
by FSU Pope on Feb 14, 2012 12:20 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Get out of here?
Fowler is the biggest attention-seeking diva of the class of 2012. He was suspended for much of his senior year for getting into disagreements with his head coach. On top of that, while being committed he made around 100 (only a slight exaggeration) trips to Gainesville. I’m all for kids taking trips once they’re committed, but him taking the number of trips he did to a rival is flat out disrespectful.
by KnoleR3 on Feb 11, 2012 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t know man. Fowler apparently told the Florida coaches he changed his mind to switch to Florida a few weeks before signing day, and the whole reason he kept saying he was 100% to FSU was to avoid the drama that would follow him switching his commitment. He had been committed to FSU for like a year, and just didn’t want to deal with the coaches giving him the full court press if he announced his switch. This is the exact opposite of Diggs in my opinion. Diggs was tweeting things like “I’m gonna shock the world” and pushed his commitment back to after signing day so the entire spotlight would be on him. He wouldn’t have to share it with any other top prospects on signing day. Fowler and Diggs are completely different. Not saying Fowler isn’t without his drama, but he certainly isn’t the diva and attention whore that Diggs is.
He's in MD now
and while I wish him luck, the reality is that….well, he plays for MD. It’s easy to attack a kids decision to play at a college where he has no realistic shot of reaching national championship, or really even conference championship heights, but whatever it’s not out life. I would much rather see him play great for a middling ACC team, than to go to Auburn or tOSU. If he wasn’t going to come here, MD is the location I’m most happy with.
contributing author - Alligator Army
I'd certainly rather face him in a terms jersey
than a gator’s jersey. Your QBs going into next season certainly aren’t world beaters (not yet anyway) but they’re leaps and bounds better than the “dual threat” QB maryland trotted out last season to try and defibrillate their stagnant offense (now the presumed starter since O’Brien transferred).
by FSU Pope on Feb 14, 2012 12:13 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
He did shock the world.
He picked Maryland.
Put yourself in Nole fans shoes, or at least pretend that Fowler had been committed to UF for a year and then switched to FSU on NSD. Also after saying a week earlier that he was shutting his recruitment down and going with the Noles.
I just can’t see how Diggs and Fowler are even comparable, because Fowler is so much worse.
100% diva
The whole pushing the date back was ridiculous. He passed on UF,OSU, and Auburn??? To go to Maryland? Hahaha ok bud have fun playing in the ACC… If he wanted to stay home that’s fine with me. But if he actually thinks he will get media attention at Maryland he’s crazy! I do agree our QB situation has made the big hitters on O pass us up. I’m ready for a loaded 13’ class though! Go Gators!!
by DCGator on Feb 10, 2012 8:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yep. He will be perfect in the NFL or the WEF/WWE.
by Gators1 on Feb 10, 2012 9:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Darius Heward-Bey and Torrey Smith beg to differ.
by FSU Pope on Feb 14, 2012 12:25 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Can I please use profanity to show how I feel about this??
by gatorempire127 on Feb 10, 2012 9:04 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Andy,
I think you just started a new trend with that picture of coach. Shall we call it “Muschamping” or “Booming”? I like Muschamping, personally. Off to go Muschamping. :/
by Gators1 on Feb 10, 2012 9:15 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Ok I got permission here we go.
This really fuckin pisses me off. How does this kid choose fucking Maryland over a big time school like Florida?? Obviously staying home was the big factor but for real dude. You already spent 18 years of your life in gay Maryland go somewhere else. Obviously he’s attracted to absolutely no media coverage and uglyyyyyy ass uniforms. Have fun trying to get noticed by scouts when your playing Duke and Wake Forest every year. He must be used to playing shit teams and looking like the man and he’s afraid of having to actually compete for anything.
by gatorempire127 on Feb 10, 2012 9:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Pretty irritated with this recruiting cycle. Two years in a row where we couldn’t close on the vast majority of recruits. Maybe we were spoiled with Meyer but even Zook had more hits than misses.
by GatorJustin on Feb 10, 2012 9:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Yeah but last year wasn’t entirely on Muschamp. This recruiting cycle was, but not last years. We still have a top 5 recruiting class even with all the misses. I would be more concerned if he wasn’t landing any 4 and 5 star recruits, but we still had a really good recruiting class…..and it could’ve been worse…He could’ve went to a division foe, FSU, or Ohio State….at least he went to Maryland and Aghalor went to USC…2 teams we probably won’t play anytime soon.
so what is wrong with a top 4 recruiting class? So what if most of the guys committed before NSD? Recruiting is a year round process. Only people who tune in for NSD think the Gators didn’t do well.
I am fine with Digg’s choice. He didn’t schedule a press conference. He made his announcement in Maryland and stated he wanted to stay home. So what? I hope he does well since we don’t play Maryland anyway.
In all kinds of weather...
oh well
hopefully Pease can help teach the guys we have how to get open.
by coolgator on Feb 10, 2012 9:48 PM EST via Android app reply actions
We had big hitters when we had an established QB and a system in place. We have shown neither for these big time guys to come here. I agree Maryland is a bad choice and I think the kid is afraid of competition and wants to be the “man” right off the bat. So good luck Diggs we’ll keep winning National Titles and pumping guys into the NFL while Maryland and the ACC keep umm….. What have they done again???? Oh yeah NOTHING!
by DCGator on Feb 10, 2012 10:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
As a Terp AND a Gator
Intexas: 46
miami: 46
usc: 43
ohio state: 40
lsu: 40
georgia: 34
tennessee: 33
iowa: 33
florida: 33
california: 32
maryland: 30
auburn: 29
michigan: 28
How many more players are you pumping in to the NFL thant the Terps? 3? Oh yeah, that’s MD fading in to obscurity…
Everything comes in waves; and as recently as LAST YEAR the Terps were ranked over UF. I love both, but GO TERPS!! Good luck Stefon, it will be the best 4 years of your life! It certainly was for me
by TerpVet09 on Feb 11, 2012 1:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You weren’t ranked over us because you were better, You were ranked higher because team plays in the ACC, not the SEC.
In All Kinds Of Weather... @TheRealTScott, follow me!
They only won one ACC game last year and that was over Miami in the first game of the season LOOOIILOLOLOLOLOL. Then they decided to not beat a FBS school again the rest of the season. Impressive. They lost 38-7 to a team coached by Steve Addazio for shit sake.
by Gators1 on Feb 11, 2012 8:07 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
You're as delusional as Diggs if you think UF will win a national title in the next four years.
I think surviving the SEC to get a chance to play for a title is going to be a huge challenge for the foreseeable future.
This statement is ridiculous.
As much as I hate to admit it, UF has plenty of talent and some good coaches in place. Everyone wants the top class, but top 5 is sufficient. either Muschamp will turn it around or he’ll leave a full cupboard for the next coach. Florida has too much money, pride and tradition to stay down for too long. I hate the Gators as much as the next guy, but let’s be reasonable here, they’re a world class program and they’re not going anywhere any time soon.
by FSU Pope on Feb 14, 2012 12:37 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Bumpy Road
Why do I see this as just an omen for what’s to come. Muschamp just looks and acts like a guy who just never quite gets to the top of the mountian…Can’t contriol his emotions, immature, unpolished, not the brightest bulb, corn fed and deer-eyed. There is a pattern here. This guy does not strike me as a motivational leader, he does not know when to hit the brakes and has one speed….loose canon. This will be a very woobly few years before this dumbell jock moves on. His style does not work in 2012 with most of these players today and I am not surprised Diggs, Willaims, Young, Agholor, Hamilton, Howard Harvey-Clemons all went elsewhere. Talk about a zero..I hope I’m wrong but as time goes on I am more convinced these seasons of fustration will build one upon another.
by GatorGorilla on Feb 10, 2012 10:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
If Muschamp scores the 4th best recruiting class every year
we will be in fine shape.
Once again, you need to see recruiting as more than just 1 day. It is a year round process.
The Gators are going to be fine.
In all kinds of weather...
This thread is a joke
and for several reasons. First off, the complaining and bashing of a kid that you were dying to have at your school, because he picked someone else is lame. If Diggs picks us tonight, it’s cheers, and this team is on the right track talk. He doesn’t, and what happens? He’s a diva, and now apparently our coach of one season can’t get it done. We pull in a top 4 class, and all I see is people bitching about who we missed. You want to critique something, critique Aubrey Hill and his lack of either developing WRs, or of pulling in a single recruit. Hell, go after Verducci for the same. IMO those are two guys who the jury is still out on, but early returns aren’t overly great. Don’t bash an entire class, especially one this good, and proclaim that the coach is clueless all because one WR chose MD….I swear that as a fanbase we overreact to everything. Just calm down.
contributing author - Alligator Army
by Cardsfan25 on Feb 10, 2012 11:33 PM EST reply actions 6 recs
This!
He’s not a diva, nor is Fowler. Noles are butthurt and if they say they aren’t, they are lying. I would be if I were them.
by GoGators82 on Feb 11, 2012 12:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
From What?
Seriously? The Noles are thrilled with the latest haul. Fowler would have been a nice addition, but the #1 overall player (DE), #1 QB, and #1 DT make it sound like it’s someone else that’s butthurt right now.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Feb 11, 2012 2:01 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I suppose some are about Fowler
But anyone with some common sense would be more than satisfied with the classes brought in by FSU, UF, and Miami this year. It was actually a great year for the relevant Florida teams ( considering Miami’s likelihood of sanctions).
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
by DownTownJax on Feb 11, 2012 11:09 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Not saying you are butthurt. Just all over the Nole blogs fans are trashing him when just says before NSD they were laughing at us for thinking we would get him.
They way noles were trashing Fowler is spot on to how some of us Gators are trashing Diggs.
by GoGators82 on Feb 11, 2012 4:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think 'Nole fans were trashin' Fowler because he chose UF
But it was the fact that only days before NSD he stated he was “100% Nole”. I don’t have any heartache over not getting the kid to Tally, heck, we’ll be just fine at DE. It’s just the way he went about it that raised some eyerows. Now, the folks that went to his facebook and said nasty things, that’s just plain inappropriate and I don’t condone that garbage.
Was higher on Casher early on.
Happy to keep him. MEJR…whole nother level. Better than Fowler/Casher combined. If we lost a DE. I was hoping it would be Dante and not Chris or Mario.
"Ah, F*ck it"-Lee Corso
Not even close to being the same
Diggs didn’t openly lie for an extended period of time and then pull a bitch move at the end.
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
by AMFKNole on Feb 15, 2012 9:35 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
You’re awful sensitive to folks who disagree with you. Some people, myself included, were hoping for a few more offensives recruits. What’s wrong with being irritated at that? I think most people here realize coaching is more important to a team than the number of stars behind a kids name but I’d be willing to bet you weren’t thrilled on NSD or that Diggs chose somewhere other than your alma mater. Some people probably vent on here because their wife/gf is tired of hearing complaints about where a high schooler is going to college. Relax with holier than thou preaching, dude…
In fact I was irritated
and NSD as one specific day was somewhat disappointing, but it doesn’t erase the other 23 players that committed over the course of a year, and yet that’s been all I’ve seen on here. There are few comments on how good Humphries and Dunker will be on the line, or even how good Fowler (our NSD flip) will be at the buck. Instead I see how we didn’t get this guy or that guy.
What happened to if you’e not a Gator, then you’re Gator Bait? What happened to being happy with having one of the best recruiting classes in the nation? I find it mind boggling that after successive 5 and 6 loss seasons, an offense that ranked outside of the top 100, and our offensive coordinator bailing in Dec, that we’re still so arrogant of a fanbase that top 5 recruiting classes are now a reason to complain and accuse the coach of being clueless. We saw Steve Spurrier leave because the pressure to win in Gainesville became unreasonable. He has openly said that winning 10 games a year was no longer good enough. No matter what your opinion of Meyer is, and mine isn’t all that high right now, he left for pretty much the same reason. There was a rebuild required, and let’s not pretend that the Gator nation was going to be patient about it.
My “holier than thou” preaching is about frustration. It’s about frustration that somehow as a fanbase we’ve become so unreasonable that we can find fault with a top 5 recruiting class, and openly complain about a first year head coach, who’s offensive coordinator put forth the worst offense Gainesville has seen in decades, while his defense was simultaneously in the top 10. I get frustrated with the complete lack of perspective that exists on this board. If that is holier than though, and if that is preaching, then so be it….Like is said before, just calm down. Losing one kid is not the end of the world.
contributing author - Alligator Army
by Cardsfan25 on Feb 11, 2012 2:45 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You’re on a message board with maybe 30 or 40 Gator fans who live this stuff, from recruiting all the way through bowl games. What do you expect out of a small sample size of hardcore Gators? Most of my buddies who follow the Gators but don’t troll around message boards are absolutely thrilled with this class and most like Muschamp.
The holier than thou part I’m referring to is telling other fans to calm down like your always above the fray. You can tell me you haven’t posted expletives, personal attacks, etc during the regular season? Come on man. Relax. Some of these guys probably enjoy getting worked up and posting anonymously on a message board. Kind of like you got worked up about the defense wins championships stuff and were debating a very general statement and at one point debated what almost half the time meant. (For the record, its a wash if only 1 more top ranked defense has beaten a top ranked offense.)
by GatorJustin on Feb 11, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
Did anybody really expect to get all of these kids. You would think by the way people talk we didn’t have the 4th best class in the nation. Who cares where these kids go, I would if liked to seen him in florida too but really. it’s the same way with all these kids, if they don’t pick us it’s death to the coaching staff, maybe the coaches did all they could maybe these kids just didn’t want to leave home. And do we really want a kid that would rather go to maryland than florida, or rutgers of miami. Agholor is the only one that I’m mad about cause he left florida to go to usc, but oh well. Everybody needs to realize that were never gonna get all the kids were “supposed” to get, it never happens. Be happy with the number 4 class it is a great haul of kids that actually want to be gators.
by RNappy20 on Feb 11, 2012 7:14 AM EST via Android app reply actions 1 recs
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE SKY IS FALLING OH GOD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
NO. 3 RECRUITING CLASS WHAT WILL WE EVER DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I’ll have a 2013 article coming on Monday about who OSU and UF will target at the receiver position.
Nice. 2013 is supposed to be loaded at WR.
by DCGator on Feb 11, 2012 11:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Eh... Doesn't bother me really
He didn’t join Urban’s empire of speed up north. He stayed home to toil in relative obscurity where he’ll be the best player on the team. He probably won’t sniff even a ACC championship and in three years he’ll be off to the NFL. I think it’ll a dumb decision but it isn’t one that affects us directly.
I witnessed the Kentucky - Western Kentucky derpfest of '11 and survived to tell the tale
by SC-Gator on Feb 11, 2012 2:31 PM EST via Android app reply actions
You think these comments are representative of stepping onto the ledge?
Just go 7-6 again. The irrationality will fall like rain. (Voice of experience, unfortunately.)
Yeah the Gator faithful would lose it.
Perhaps it’s because I try to look at the bigger picture, but I don’t generally freak out quite as much. Don’t get me wrong, these last two seasons have been brutal, but I’m comforted by the knowledge that it isn’t forever. To the dismay of many college football fans, there is a certain recipe for success, and Florida has that recipe. Money, conference, and location are IMO the 3 factors that play into success, and Florida has all 3 in spades. I still have high hopes for Muschamp, and I still think he can be ver successful at Florida if given enough time. The hard times make the good ones that much sweeter, and times will be sweet again. Hopefully sooner, rather than later but I have faith.
contributing author - Alligator Army
Here, Here.
It’s only a matter of time. Us fans are just impatient.
It really is
The fear is that we go down a long path of mediocrity ala USC in the 90s, or FSU in the 2000s. Every school has that ebb and flow of success, but eventually if that combination of money, location, and conference exists (or at least 2 of 3) they will be back. I don’t think we’re going to suffer that long of a period, but I suppose it’s possible. Like I said above, I still believe in Muschamp, but he absolutely needs to have an offense that can produce. I think he will have top defenses pretty much every year, and if he can get an offense that’s even in the top 40-50, Florida should be in every game. We’ll see how it goes, but I think we’ll certainly have a better year in 12 than in 11. I mean, it can’t really get much worse right?
contributing author - Alligator Army
In the case of FSU the blame can be laid almost wholly on inadequate coaching.
I don’t see the folks in Gainesville giving Muschamp or anyone else the better part of a decade to right the ship. I think your observation about money, location and conference is on target.
yea, there is no way Florida would keep a coach around that long through mediocrity
but then again, there was a pretty good reason why Bobby of all people, go that kind of a long leash. If anyone earned it, it was him.
contributing author - Alligator Army
True, though I don't think anyone earns/deserves that kind of latitude.
It’s a moot point nowadays as I don’t think any coach is going to be around long enough to create that kind of momentum and loyalty. There is too much money at stake and too much pressure to think of a guy being a head coach for 30+ years, let alone at the same school. Bowden represented the end of an era, and in itself, that’s not a bad thing.
I think it is a bad thing
Schools and there coaches were once intertwined, and it’s not that way anymore. Me complaining about yesteryear won’t do a a bit of good, but I think I’ll miss that aspect of collegiate football. I’m not going to tell an FSU fan how to feel about Bowden, or his final years, but from the outside I think you guys are a little hard on him. On the one hand, I do think he hung on too long, and it was to the detriment of the program. On the other hand, the man was an icon, who is the reason that FSU matters today. It’s certainly not a black and white issue, but IMO it really is unfortunate that it had to end the way it did. It seemed to me that Bowden really was afraid that if he retired, his life would be over. With that kind of fear, I just feel bad for the guy, and how his time at FSU ended.
contributing author - Alligator Army
You're right, it was unfortunate, but the "way it ended" is all on Bowden.
The administration didn’t choose the method. Had the president and boosters had their way he’d have gone out like a king complete with a “Bobby Bowden Day” that would have rivaled any farewell in college sports. But Bowden dug in his heels and insisted on “just one more year.” Heck, he’d already had the better part of a decade to turn things around and things were continuing to get worse instead of better. If FSU had relented he’d have likely played the “one more year” card until he was pushing up daisies and Jimbo Fisher would be coaching God knows where. But from all accounts Bowden seems at peace now and I hope he and the University can bury the hatchet and welcome him back before it is too late. Waiting around to make-up with a guy in his mid-80s isn’t a wise strategy.
by Dauntless12 on Feb 13, 2012 11:40 PM EST up reply actions
Bowden represented the end of an era, and in itself, that’s not a bad thing.
It’s kind of interesting. Both Bowden and Paterno, who were the last of that era, both went out in ways that they shouldn’t have.
Editor at Alligator Army.
Yeah, the better part of a decade probably won’t ever happen. The most I can see four-years.
Editor at Alligator Army.
Diggs woulda taken Debose's position. Quick.
Sucks. Greg Reid shut down Debose….Reid isn’t exactly “Lock Down,” dude is like 4’11
"Ah, F*ck it"-Lee Corso
Haha, yeah … Though I will say that Reid to me anyway, has always been that guy that for like one game a year plays out of this world.
Editor at Alligator Army.
I don't agree with that
Diggs doesn’t come in and take over Debose’s spot. Diggs probably sees the field as a returner pretty early, and maybe some work at WR, but he doesn’t walk in and get a starting gig…our WR aren’t great, but we’re not Maryland.
contributing author - Alligator Army
Hurt not getting Diggs, man.
Though, Aubrey Hill hasn’t shown the ability to “coach up” anybody. So maybe it just doesn’t matter.
"Ah, F*ck it"-Lee Corso
FYI: The reason he waited until 2/10 to announce
wasn’t because he wanted to be a premadonna. He wanted to make sure he was making the right choice for him…where he’s going to be the next four years. He took all five visits, and each of the teams he visited sparked his interest obviously. He had to decide whether he wanted to sit on the bench for a year or two at UF, OSU, AU or play as a freshman, where his family could watch him more, then just on tv (not many of the UF, OSU, AU games are shown in Maryland unless they are the big game of the day). He decided to “officially” visit MD last minute. He’d already been on unofficials many times.. He didn’t decide on Maryland until after his visit…he said it “felt like home”. Before the visit he was a UF lean.
The main reason he selected 2/10 to announce (which he decided a week or so before NSD), was because 2/10 was his 18th Birthday. He wanted to make it special. Also on his 18th, he could legally sign his LOI. This way the decison was completely his. (His Mom liked MD). It didn’t hurt that his best friend Wes Brown commited to MD, during the UA game, and two of his other teammates signed with MD.
Is he single handedly going to turn around the Terps program…no. But hopefully his “faith”, will open the gates for MD, and lock them to other schools.
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