For those of you haven't read the article yet
A couple of things stand out to me:
1) London was able to sell both of them on "building a dynasty". It's interesting that these guys turn down the "safe" option of coming to Virginia Tech, bust their asses for 3-5 years, play for a powerhouse program (at least defensively) and put themselves in a great position to make it to the next level. I don't know if these guys either have visions of grandeur or if Mike London is a snake oil salesman. London's record at UVA is 16-20. He hasn't shown any potential for turning #LOLUVA into a powerhouse program. London is an INCREDIBLE recruiter for pulling this off.
2) This idea of London "being real". London told them about how they are going to "develop as men" which is something other programs didn't do. London was forced to pull this angle because he doesn't have a strong program to promote. Is "human development" an angle that the coaches at Tech don't use? Is this an example of the Virginia Tech coaches not being in touch with today's generation? It's not like the coaches we have are terrible people. We have one of the cleanest programs and one of the classiest coaching staffs in all of college football.
3) Take a look at #LOLUVA's schedule for next year. What's a reasonable projection for this year? 4-8? 6-6? Would having another sub-.500 season force Blanding and Brown to rethink their decision?
Just goes to show that 17-year-olds aren't the best decision makers.
Comments
Makes me want to vomit
I hate to say this,I really don't try to pull a race card or anything,but most of these popular 757 recruits are black and London being from the area and somewhat being on there level helps his recruiting.The thing I hate is these guys are not looking at London's history far as other highly rated recruits have faired and how these classes have done.London is selling these guys false hope by the pound and they are buying it like its going out of style.Just because they get 2 good recruits on the high school level lets not get crazy and act like these guys are going to be the next Barber twins and put Charlottesville on the map.All we got to do is have a good showing on the field this year and things will work out,there is no need of being concerned about our recruiting at this point.
let's move on ... i wish them well, unless they're playing us ... 2 players do not make a dynasty but man -- they were big fish to reel in. they're both gonna be big-time players.
With UVA's history (both London and algroh), these guys have a better chance of playing for Richmond than against VT when they're seniors. Funny how that doesn't get mentioned in his recruiting pitch.
I work in Charlottesville...and it kind of sucks. I live like 30 miles south of it but going to work and seeing how pathetically prideful the fan base is of their football team... I cant get away from it and its almost laughable...lots of buzz over these two guys though but I quietly remind them every time that we constantly destroy them despite superior recruiting (at times) and they lose to Duke every few seasons...anyways sorry to rant but its just tough working amongst the fan base
It's funny, I work in Charlottesville too and I am constantly amazed at how little anyone ever mentions football. Baseball and basketball, sure...they get discussed at a reasonable level. What I see regarding UVA football is almost shame. It is never brought up. There is one pretty serious UVA football fan in our office, and when he walks around trying to discuss UVA football, people literally look at him like they don't know what he's talking about. I have often heard someone say, "Did you see the game this weekend?" and the response be, "Who'd they play?"
I even went to a Chamber of Commerce lunch last summer where London was the speaker, and on the ride back to the office, the only comment (literally, the only comment) was this, "Wow, he's not a very good speaker."
Wow...more cville area folk on here than I thought! We all know the insufferable wahoo twits (wait....is that an oxymoron?) that give us those wonderful opportunities to skewer them. Still the easiest way to shut the average hoo up is to ask "Gee, what was the score of last year's football game?"
#2 is about him having been a cop, right? I honestly don't understand why anybody would think that London would develop character better than CFB et. staff would.
Mike London was a cop?!?
Yep, In Richmond. Which is why he can pump the "Develop you into a man" recruiting angle. Can't using tradition or winning.
are you positive about that? seems like we would've heard something along those lines. . .
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-09-01/sports/36926434_1_mike-lon...
I think you're missing the sarcasm. "Mike London was a cop" is mentioned 15 times a quarter every time UVA is on television.
Yep. I Completely missed it! I expect nothing less from myself.
UVA 4-8 this year and I guess at least one of these guys decommitts I guarantee it.4-8 will be hard for these verbals and these UVA leans to take.
I hope our coaches keep in contact with them even though they already verbaled, so when UVA has their 'awesome' season and Mizzell gets kicked of the team for drunkenly kicking cars they know where to go instate
They'll be lucky to get 4-wins this year
From newest Hokie walk-on, Sam Rogers, per Beamerball.com:
I certainly hope Blanding and Brown can help UVa attain that lofty goal.
#SamRogers4Heisman
Reminds me of this article I posted in May, based on a Charlottesville Daily Progress article.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/may/1/why-loluva-will-never-field...
I still think that article needs to be shown to every in-state recruit that even sniffs LOLUVA.
U of VA sounds like some bullshit to me...
Mike London is not a great recruiter nor a great salesman. Look at his blueprint. Many of his 4- and 5-star recruits are from his Thoroughbred connection. I think 4 of 12 4-stars were Thoroughbreds, and I know all 3 5-star recruits are on this roster. Only 1 of his 4- and 5-star recruits have come from outside of VA or MD.
I guess recruiting can sometimes like be finding a job. It's not what you know or how good you are, it's who you know. London better keep up his solid connection with Thoroughbreds and hope no other 7on7 gets more popular in the 757, otherwise it'll be very slim pickings for UVA.
I'm not sure if you're downplaying networking, but it's an extremely valuable skill. Creating a profesional network isn't a trivial task either.
Recruiting is all about developing relationships. London identified the Thoroughbreds as a hotbed of talent, sold his vision to players and parents, and is reaping the benefits. That's a job well done.
Not downplaying networking. Not one bit. My point was simply London's network is not very large. It just so happens his small network has had 3 5-stars and several 4-star players the past few years. Kudos to him to develop his network. But, if he doesn't expand his network or a rift develops, then he'll have a hard time bringing in the elite recruits.
I view networking (and thus recruiting) similar to guys chasing girls at a bar. There are 3 types. The first type is the guy that sits backs and hangs out with his friends, hopes by serendipity that he meets some girl because she is friends with one of your friends. As I know from personal experience, this doesn't work out well if you want to date a lot of girls, but you eventually end up with a beautiful and great gf. The second is the guy that will go up and talk to every girl at the bar, good-looking or not, and hope one eventually goes home with him. He gets rejected 99% of the time, usually ends up with a lot ugly girls, but every so often he gets a good one. The third is the guy with skills. He goes up to the hottest girl, and with his charm and wit gets the girl to go home with him. He always has a hot gf, and dates a lot of them.
I view London as the first guy and maybe a little bit like the second guy. True, London has great connections in the 757, but he's from Hampton Roads and already knew a whole bunch of coaches and people there. He's relying on his friend and already strong connections. By serendipity, those connections has had some great recruits lately. Luckily for him, it seems his connections may yield many more elite players, since the Thoroughbreds have a lot of talent. However, I don't consider this great recruiting. If London were to take a coaching job anywhere else in the country, I don't think he ever pulls in another 5-star recruit.
What I would consider great recruiting is a recruiter like the 3rd guy. This is how Saban, Meyer, Hoke and several others operate. It seems Lefty, Grimes, and Shane work this way. They see what they want, go after it, and get it. If you have this skill, your network will never be small, and you can go anywhere in the country, pull in an elite recruit.
The more I think about more 4 and 5 star recruits going to UVA it actually will bring meaning to our rivalry again beating them with better players! Anyone else thing this too? Cause beating UVA now is just another day in the life of a Hokie but remember how sweet a victory was when they were advertising "This is the year to be VT" on TV commercials and youtube? I'm looking forward to next couple of years!
It's honestly just a simple case of not researching your top schools. There is clear evidence that shows UVA will never be a powerhouse program. Let's take a look at the numbers:
Using a decade of data we are able to see that in a world where Zima is readily available, UVA football averages 7.5 wins a season. Right smack dab in the center of their ultimate goal: Mediocrity.
Since 2008 when Zima was no longer sold in the US, UVA has averaged 4.8 wins a season. Mike London never stood a chance.
Also relevant: 1k turkey leg club, boom!
There's your turkey leg.
Edit: didn't refresh. Congrats on the 1k legs!
I am sending this graph to every person i know.
Guys, calm down. After LOLUVA has another losing season Mike London will be fired and these guys will re-open their recruiting.
You must not remember the staying power that losing coaches have at UVa...
Recruit rankings are dubious for lineman, including DL. Even Rivals research says so. Projections for making the NFL are better for 2-3 stars.
In London's defense, he IS building a dynasty. It just so happens that his dynasty is one of mediocrity and significantly under-developing talent. Of course it isn't his fault entirely. The standard they hold him to is that of mediocrity. Sadly IF London went to 3-4 straight bowls that would be a "dynasty" and he would get a statue.
These guys are good but Mike London's real problem is that it's awfully tough to win without a quarterback.
what do you mean without a QB....they have like 12
Umm. Turtle Cutler FTL
Dynasty: a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time
LOLUVA has maintained 2nd place for a considerable time.
Hope Grimes' lines make those blue chip defenders look like deer a in the headlights.
2nd? I think you mean 2nd to last
2nd out of the 2 division 1 programs in VA. If ya ain't 1st, your last!
You gotta shake it, before you bake it...
You could argue for ODU as #2, UVA #3 if you desired. UVA is too afraid to schedule them...
ODU's QB had an insane offensive output in one game last year
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/09/22/qb-taylor...
ODU is moving to FBS next year in C-USA
I was just looking at 247's hard commit lists for VT and UVA for 2014 and even though UVA has added more "Big Names" VT is close or possibly even a little ahead in recruiting overall.
VT has 14 hard commits, 7 of whom are 4 star recruits and one is just below being a 5 Star* (either 247 Composite, 247 ranking, or both), 6 3 stars, and 1 2 star.
UVA has 10 hard commits 2 are 5 stars and 3 are 4 stars. Their other commits are 3 star recruits two of which 247 ranked 2 star, but are 3 stars on the composite ranking.
Looking at Average Recruit rating, VT is at 0.8571 and UVA is at 0.8874, however VT has 4 more recruits than UVA. If you only look at our top 10 recruits we pull a lot closer with an average composite score of 0.8786. If you look at the 247 ratings instead of the composite score, VT's top 10 pull ahead with an average rating 89.4 to 88.1.
*247 now has Holland Fisher listed with our 2014 commits, with a 97 rating and is#1 in nation, state, and position for Prep School athletes though the only other prep athlete currently listed is UVA QB Corwin Cutler.
also have to remember that OL is where we have gotten a few and they are notoriously ranked lower than they end up being. with grimes being their teachers i wouldnt be surprised if by these recruits senior year they are essentially better than where they were predicted to end up