and how it's changing the game.  (we could go on and on about that).  Let's talk about how it's changing our program...

Kirby plays the long game, we know that by now.  But, IMVHO, the game is changing and it will be interesting to see if we adapt (I'm sure we will and I think we have).  

1.  The portal has made missing on high-profile kids out of high school MUCH easier to mask...period.  
2.  I'm starting to question the high school recruiting rankings and if they matter much.   Meaning, I think you're better in some ways stockpiling talent (3 and 4 stars) that are willing to work for 2 years before seeing the field.  Then, you fill the gaps with transfers.  
3.  Adding to #2 above, I think the "hit rate" on 5 stars is getting worse.   Kids are taking "jobs" at schools for the money and are missing out on development and high-level play (see Colorado).   
4.  Schools are shooting their shot on 1-3 players (smaller schools) and can't afford to pay for a complete team.  
5.  Saved this one for last, but, much like the rest of the world we live in, these 5*'s think THEY are the program and now have families and a support "team" that is all in it for the $$$$.   This has turned off many of the top level coaches (like our own) and will have lasting effects with recruiting.  We just basically passed on a QB we (Maybe) could have had if we had stayed in the game.  But, we cashed out before the decision was made and cut our losses.  

This is all to say, I don't know if we will pull another top 3 class anytime soon.  I hope we do.  But, the game has changed.

AD Josh and the Collective seem to think there is an endless supply of $ to send to Athens

(04-22-2024, 08:58 AM)Replying to DawgNatty

Football, in my opinion, is the ultimate TEAM game. This NIL ME stuff is going to hurt teams, and by extension could hurt some of these kids. It will be interesting to see what causes the pendulum to swing the other way. I feel like Kirby wants to win as much as anyone and FOR UGA specifically so we will see how he does.

ESPN won, they have turned college football into NFL Light. I know a lot of people are fine with it and are still excited about college football and I'm not turning my back on college football but I sure don't have the enthusiasm I did even three years ago.

Driving into work this morning I thought about how the last couple years I have called the guy who runs the parking lot where we tailgate and arranged to go ahead and pay for my parking place for the upcoming season this time of year. The G Day game used to give me that shot of anticipation that would motivate me to get my spot locked down. This year I think I'm going to wait until closer to the season starting before I call him. I know it isn't a big thing but it is emblematic of the whole diminished excitement I'm feeling about college football.

As far as recruiting goes; I've never been one to really follow recruiting very closely, I get almost all of my recruiting news from HOTD. Lately, I've really come to view most of the HS kids being recruited as a bunch of borderline illiterate prima donna thugs with parasite families who have a grossly inflated sense of self worth. Recruits today care next to nothing about the school or education or developing as a player and a person. Their only concern is how much can they get for themselves today. It is hard for me to feel any connection to the team when I view a fair number of the players with something close to contempt.

I find myself becoming more and more interested in the non revenue sports. Baseball has been a fun thing to follow and women's tennis is continuing its run of being very good. Golf needs to step up its game for both the men and women. We are falling into that typical UGA comfort zone of being in the top 25 and accepting that as "good enough", sort of the pre Kirby football mindset. Mens tennis is also lagging behind where I think it should be. I know we aren't going to be ranked #1 in every sport but there is no excuse for us not being in the top 10 when schools like Auburn and South Carolina are.

I'm sure Kirby will make sure we adapt to the new reality of college football. The question for me is; will I really care?

---

(04-22-2024, 09:14 AM)Replying to ToccoaDog

So far they have been pretty well correct in that belief.  As long as the fans keep sending in checks there is no incentive for them to change anything.

(04-22-2024, 08:58 AM)Replying to DawgNatty

Things have a way of returning back to the middle. This NIL thing is new so many of the not so bright jump for the biggest and flashiest thing to come along. It may take a few years but like one of the players said...the big contracts are in the nfl and when these kids start missing on these because of little development it will have a profound effect on taking short term money at the expenses of future earnings. I have said for years now that the star thing is greatly inflated because all of the services want your $$ and if there are not enough highly rated players to excite all of the fans then they lose business. I would take the opinion of a CKS over a rating any day.  I have yet to see too many of these 5*s who went for the short term gain come out better after it was over.