Troy Smith was running around like a chicken with his head cut off last night.

I agree. With $aban's 2-3 record against Tubberville and his questionable credibility... that can only help out Auburn. I do not believe $aban will be able to hurt LSU with in-state (Louisiana) recruiting because his creditability is shot. No way he will be able to have his "pick of the litter" in Alabama like he had here. He's a great college coach, no doubt, but LSU had all the pieces, he just had to put them together. I'm not convinced that it will be as easy for him to do that at Bama.
I don't keep up with alabama recruiting, but I would assume that most guys either grow up an Auburn fan or a Bama fan. I really don't think either school has to do a lot of convincing and you probably couldn't sway their opinion the other way, anyhow. Is that correct?

I can't freaking wait for the Bama game. I went to Tus, Alabama in 2005 when we played them last there (and won in OT :D ) It was a great trip, I really enjoyed the Bama fans. I can't wait to see what it will be like now!
Go Gators! :D

You're right, there usually is some preference. Sometimes they still go other places, but its hard to be neutral in AL. The thing about alabama recruiting is that usually Auburn is not gonna steal a kid from Bama. If a kid really wants to go there, he'll go. I don't think Saban will be able to overcome LSU's pull on instate kids, although I'm sure it'll be better than what they've had lately. It'll be interesting to see if Saban is satisfied with just getting a lot of the in state talent, or if he'll get more into FL and GA recruiting like Tuberville has. I'm sure UA will improve over the next couple of years, but I think Bama is gonna pay for it on the back end. I don't see this as a move which brings Bama back to its stature of previous decades.

One of the play-by-play guys we use in our Mountain West Network is James Bates, who was a line backer on the last Florida team to win a national championship (I think he was one of the captains).

Great guy.

He was on top of the world today and happy to show all of us his championship ring.

Smith made Jason White in the USC-OU debacle (at least that's what it was on my end of things) back in '05 look like a future NFL Hall of Famer by comparison.

I agree. I'm afraid a lot of Bama fans are seeing Saban as a savior. They are paying their coaches so much $$$, I wonder if their players are having to take a pay cut. :p

Yup, less marijuana...i mean, spending money, for Tide players.

I found the Ohio State team appeared kinda big and clumsy. Too corn-fed, perhaps.

Quoting myself instead of explaining again...

In another development, James' dad Jim was just named Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach of The Denver Broncos.

Guess football runs in the family.

I still hate Boise State...even more so because even north Idaho people are on the bandwagon, and that's sad.

They are put 40 million dollars into Bronco Stadium for skyboxes, ridiculous.

But old news.

Spring football is starting now.