RazorsEdgeAZ wrote:I Don't look badly on a recruit when he decommits. It's verbal commit and allowed by the NCAA. Want to change signing periods or get rid of it fine. Until then playing by rules allowed.
What I think I have learned that a high profile, relatively in their prime National Brand coach like a RR can't significantly change the football landscape at UA. RR's South Title accomplishment was undone by going 4-14 in Conference his last two years. Winning only one conference game in a season or losing 12 of 13 conference games is hard to do.
Even at UA, it's hard to do.
RR hasn't been able to change the recruiting success profile for UA either. Although RR never has been able to anywhere. Much of that is his philosophy of which he's admitted he needed to change. I also think it's RR's schemes that plays a big role in not getting consistent blue-blood recruits. It just haven't proven to translate to NFL (generally speaking). His teams notoriously over his career also have been injury prone. Sure many recruits know this as well. I'm guessing, but I would expect RR has cost UA the same or more per win than RR's predecessors (yeah, yeah, inflation).
RR did boast best UA class ever and since then has lost 6 recruits and an assistant coach (and counting). RR himself proclaimed his recruiting approach and lack of recruiting success was the problem.
That was before 6 of his recruits decomitted and he lost his key SoCal coach and recruiter to Nebraska. Stoops (and many new coaches) best recruiting success happened his first 3 years at UA. Then declined. Not uncommon.
Will be uncommon if RR can pull a 180 recruiting wise now going into his 6th year. Especially after the last two years.
While he should be in his prime based on age/tenure, I think it is a decade in the rear view mirror. And as you note, he has never really been a high level recruiter in the traditional sense.
All coaches have a buzz in their first 3 years of a program, and then it is on them to leverage that into ongoing success. Our recent coaches have not been able to do it past the , but I do not think that is the result of our program... if it was they would never had early success to begin with.
This was never going to be the best UA class ever, and was likely never even going to be his best... it's unfortunate that it appears to be in free-fall.
As for the de-cmmits... I get why it bothers people. But truthfully, If it was my kid heading to a program in our state with a coach on a boiling hot seat - I would really want them to think about what they are walking into and where it will lead. Coaches can leave on a moments notice when things change without penalty, it is not the same for recruits - and their career window as a player is limited.