But I really am sort of indifferent. I don't care either way. It's funny to me to watch a couple of people whose Rollison spuzz stains aren't even dry whirling around and having another spasming orgasm over Newton (again without ever seeing either guy play a down of SEC football). There's that.
As for the character issues, I don't think Strong or Mullen's alleged interest is any indicator of his alleged angelic nature or that what he was charged of didn't happen. Nor do I take it as a sign that he's reformed in any way.
Both Mullen and Strong are in a different (and theoretically more desperate) position. Mullen has to draw a "big" name in order to make Mississippi State appear relevant and have a chance in a brutal recruiting war. He'd take OJ Simpson and outfit him with new gloves if the Juice had any eligibility or talent left. Strong needs to prove that he was the right guy to bring Louisville back to national prominence. He'd sign Roman Polanski if he could get him in the country and if Polanski could throw the ball.
Who isn't recruiting Newton? Florida. A team that will need a quarterback with Tebow leaving. Alabama. A team that doesn't have anybody behind McElroy. Georgia. Tennessee. South Carolina. Maybe there's a reason. Maybe there's not.
It's funny how fickle people are. Tuberville is getting raped for being a lazy ass, sorry recruiting son of a bitch coach partially because in the last few years he took chances on a couple of guys -- Tray Blackmon for instance -- who had some baggage maybe and then didn't work out.
Would Tuberville take a chance on a kid with baggage? I don't think so unless there were extenuating circumstances. Would he do so when he had a Caudle, who's patiently waited for his turn, and a Rollison -- who was supposedly promised by this staff that it wouldn't recruit another QB in this signing class? Again, I don't think so.
Does that mean it's wrong? Not necessarily. I don't know what they know. Maybe they've figured out that Rollison isn't going to make it. Going back on their word (if they did, in fact, make said promise) and recruiting a QB when they said they wouldn't is not a good sign for his future, honestly.
A couple of people around here seem to think that experience is worthless (unless it suits their argument) but in the years I've spent around football I've seen a lot of coaches (people I worked with, too) bend rules or twist their own judgement for guys with talent. It works out about 25% of the time. We had one kid who got caught up with a bad bunch and stole a bunch of TVs from the elementary school. He took his second chance, worked his tail off and was a model student and player. He rose above. For every one like that, there are three others who are remain true to their upbringing and nature. They end up being cancers.
I don't know what this kid did for sure. My best guess based on the information presented is that he did what he was accused of, got caught, got out of it (as most kids do unless its repetitive) and moved on. If he put it behind him and it was an isolated incident, that's great. But unless I have the chance (as Auburn's staff does) to look him in the eyes and ask the right questions, I can't say whether he's ready or not. I trusted Tuberville to ask the right questions and make the right judgement. He did it too many times. Can't say whether Chizik can or not yet.
After going through and kicking out your crutches, bait lines you added, statements taken out of context and other BS, it was good to see an actual opinion.
Fact is, I agree with almost everything you said here. Especially about Mullen. I don't think Louisville and Strong have a program that's attractive enough yet for Newton.
You can question the kid's past, but you have to trust that the coaches that have been eyeball to eyeball with him, and the kid appreciates getting the opportunity to get a second chance. Some kids respond, some don't (ie; Tray Blackmon...)
I do believe that regardless of what's happened in bringing in a QB after what's been said to TR last year (as in not bringing in a QB this recruiting class) has to do more with the needs of AU and TR's maturity issues on and off the field. I think TR is eventually going to be THE man for Auburn, or at least I hope with his talent, that the space between his ears allows it. It appears that the coaches think with the great talent we have, plus the talent we have coming in that could impact immediately (Dyer and OL signees), that getting a QB that isn't going to be doing on the job training might be a better way to go right now. We need a good QB, and Newton needs a good team now. It seems to be a good fit both ways.
As far as Chizik goes, you're absolutely right, there's no way to know yet. I AM encouraged at his tough stance on shenanigans so far, and would have to lean that he's doing it right behind the scenes there.
I think you finally said it best, when you said, "I don't know what they know."
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