PFFTT…I remember when all coaches were on the sidelines and games were shot in 8mm.
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Hey benefited my team on the last TD. Pasadena to SLC for a TD. EDIT: 2 TDs
First I wasn’t focusing on one guy. I was talking to your point about JT Daniels. As for your talk about talent drain, you just don’t follow recruiting. The Big10 has always recruited the West, has a large alumni base here and it’s the reason the Pac-12 and Big10 are aligned and have been for ages.
You say the thread is about the Pac12 but your points are intertwined with how great the SEC is and how talented the rest of the SEC teams outside of Alabama. I’ve said here and in other threads that the SEC isn’t seeing a massive increase in recruiting outside of their normal recruiting grounds. Yes, Alabama recruits nationally, and yes there are a few recruits going from California to other schools outside the Pac. Where did Tua and Najee go? They went to Alabama… Again, Alabama is the exception. Why is that? Under Nick Saban they’ve won a few games right? Where would Tua have gone other than Alabama? Georgia? Florida? LSU? This goes back to my point that, yes, Alabama recruits well. That doesn’t indicate any sort of talent drain, but speaks more to USC, Oregon, and others not winning a title or being in the chase.
So there is no straw man, though you’re the king of building straw man arguments. How about we look at the actual numbers because everything you say is based on gut feeling and 1 or 2 data points. Don’t worry though I did the work for you here because I actually follow recruiting and let’s look at California because that’s the main feeding ground for PAC recruits.
Top 50 California recruits
2013 40 PAC, 3 Big10, 2 SEC, 2 Big12, 2 MWC, 1 Notre Dame
2014 42 PAC, 3 Big12, 1 SEC, 1 Big10, 1 ACC, 1 Notre Dame, 1 BYU
2015 35 PAC, 5 MWC, 4 SEC, 2 Big12, 2 Notre Dame, 1 ACC, 1 B1G
2016 36 PAC, 6 Big10, 3 Big12, 1 SEC, 1 ACC, 1 Notre Dame, 1 BYU, 1 Conference USA
2017 41 PAC, 4 Big10, 2 Big12, 1 SEC, 1 ACC, 1 Notre Dame
2018 38 PAC, 3 Big10, 2 SEC, 2 ACC, 2 Notre Dame, 1 Big12, 1 MWC, 1 Ivy League
2019 36 PAC, 4 Big12, 3 SEC, 2 Big10, 2 Notre Dame, 2 MWC, 1 ACC
2020 37 PAC, 5 SEC, 4 Big10, 2 MWC, 1 ACC, 1 Big12
2021 37 PAC, 4 Notre Dame, 2 Big12, 2 Big10, 2 MWC, 1 ACC, 1 SEC, 1 BYU
As you go back further the numbers stay about the same until you have USC and others making runs for championships, and then you see a few less recruits going out of state. But other than that it’s
USC is still recruiting top athletes in spite Clay Helton. Sure they would recruit better with a better head coach, but that doesn’t point to a talent drain. Oregon is having no problem recruiting. UCLA is still recruiting about where they normally do. Those are the schools who traditionally recruit well in the PAC. Washington tends to bounce up and down a bit. Cal and Stanford bounce up and down but generally don’t ever put it together on the field (outside of the Harbaugh years and Shaw’s early years). Arizona State has branched out and recruited more nationally and well above what they normally do and got caught cheating recently. Utah has picked up recruiting year after year since joining the PAC.
But calm down my man (hell I should calm down too but I get a bit riled up when facts are distorted). College football is fun and yes as teams ebb and flow up and down, there are some minor changes, but the the West isn’t seeing a massive drain of talent.
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After living 38 years in L.A. this sure rings true to me.
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Ok. Recruiting isn’t an issue then for the PAC 12. Only 27 of the top 100 California recruits since 2000 went outside the PAC 12: All-Time Football Players
Hopefully, Oregon or someone will breakthrough and get in the playoffs this year.
When I was growing up we always referred to Glendale as Columbus Ohio West. So many Buckeyes move there. Between them and Texans moving to Burbank. Granted I was born around a bunch of Oklahoma folk (won’t use that term) in Bakersfield.
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Fresno Oregon. Whew! Way to close
For comfort.
Oklahoma should have lost to Tulane.
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I’m hoping for a Utah breakthrough, but I get you what you’re saying, hah.
I hate to say it since it’s still early in the season, but it looks like the typical Big12. All offense and no defense. But it could shake out differently over the next few weeks.
Same as always. Oklahoma and Ohio State always have a dismal early season game.
It’s crazy going to sports bars on Saturday mornings. Lots of Big10 representation, some SEC, and the UCLA/USC contingent wake up sometime around 4pm, lol.
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I think you mean too bad the bulldogs couldn’t have pulled it off.
Why are people cheering for Oregon? You know that the top recruits in Utah are going to Oregon.
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I’ll root for PAC-12 teams in most OOC games. I’m fine if Oregon loses every conference game they play.
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UCLA & Washington
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Lol at the pac 12 (minus UCLA). Love it!
UCLA certainly played up to the competition. Now the question will be what happens against BYE.
McKenzie Milton may bring FSU back to beat ND after coming back after multiple surgeries. I missed this big dumb sport
Jon Wilner on the PAC-12’s strategic position: