It's another podcast off week for Phil and Tom. So instead of talking, we tackle a few questions and give your our thoughts. Here we go:
As most of the nation's top recruits signed on the dotted line as part of National Signing Day today, how did West Virginia (Tom) and Ohio State (Phil) fare?Tom: This may well be WVU's best recruiting class in decades. So a big tip of the cap to Doc Holliday and the rest of the coaching staff. However, the Mountaineers did lose one blue chipper when Pompano Beach (Fla.) Blanche Ely HS cornerback Michael Carter spurned the Mountaineers for Minnesota. I don't totally get this one, but it's a big loss. I believe Carter could have been the best signing of the day if WVU had snagged him. I'm still pleased with the class, though. There is no question that Chesapeake, Va., receiver Logan Heastie, Miramar, Fla., quarterback Eugene Smith and Baltimore running back Tavon Austin are the keys to this class. But WVU fans shouldn't overlook Smith's teammate and receiver Stedman Bailey, who could be a real star.
Phil: I've seen Ohio State's class ranked anywhere from No. 1 to No. 6 for whatever that's worth. The Buckeyes signed 25 and four are already enrolled in school. There was one big defection when CB/WR Justin Green changed his mind to sign with Illinois. That was a loss because Green was apparently a top-notch athlete, but other than that some very good players will become Buckeyes, including the top two players in Pennsylvania. I particularly like the offensive line class with Marcus Hall of Cleveland Glenville, Jack Mewhort of Toledo Central Catholic, Sam Longo of Bellbrook and Cory Linsley of Youngstown Boardman. Combine that with two other signees who could play up front in TE Reid Fragel of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and DT Adam Bellamy of Aurora and it's a more athletic group than what OSU has featured in recent years.
Staying in the Big 10, Penn State signed another strong class despite Joe Paterno not visiting a single high school this year. Yes, Paterno is a living legend and known everywhere, but at some point isn't this lack of mobility or maybe willingness to leave State College going to hurt the Nits?Phil: It's not a killer, but it doesn't help. PSU isn't really a recruiting power and hasn't been since the mid-90s. Not to say they don't sign good players. But if you notice the inroads Pitt and now Ohio State have made in Western Pa., I think Paterno's lack of interest in recruiting, as well as his age, have made a difference.
Tom: He's fortunate to have the reputation around the northeast and assistant coaches who can recruit. But I have to think that his inability to fulfill a basic coaching duty will hurt if he coaches much longer. Since he's like a 115 now, JoPa only has a year or two left in him.
On last week's podcast we discussed the game we'd like to see WVU and Ohio State play on a regular basis. That was actually pretty easy for both of us to answer. But who on the schedule would we replace? Is it the Division I-AA opponent or someone else and why?Tom: This is a tough call. I like WVU's non-conference slate for the most part. In 2009 the Mountaineers get home games with Colorado and Marshall, and a road contest with Auburn. So the Liberty game is an easy call from my perspective to drop. However, this is the type of game you schedule to work out the kinks, and WVU could use that next year with a lot of new faces on the field. So it would most likely have to be Auburn or Colorado in the future since those agreements are usually two-year deals and then they go off the books.
Phil: Realistically, Ohio State's schedule is never going to be more difficult than next year's out of conference slate with Navy, USC and New Mexico State. Personally, I'd prefer never seeing a I-AA team in Ohio Stadium again, even if those Youngstown State teams were better than some I-A teams. I guess I'd like to NOT see anymore Ohio MAC teams on the schedule. Those games mean everything to those schools and nothing to OSU. It's a lose-lose for the Buckeyes. And I'm paying $63 a ticket next year.
With today being signing day, of course there must be a recruiting champ. Depending on who the expert is doing the ranking, a number of school's can claim to be No. 1 in recruiting. Do these rankings really mean anything?Phil: They do, but in a very vague, overarching way. Let's put it this way - it's better to be on or near the top than at the bottom. There is some semblance of truth to these rankings. Is there a big difference between being No. 1 and No. 10? Not really.
Tom: I would argue there's not much difference between being No. 1 and No. 30. It's too early to measure desire and heart of these 17 and 18-year-olds. I would much rather be the top class, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over being the 30th class if you feel you filled needs.
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