Analyst Tom Lemming has predicted high gas prices could deter prospects from taking visits. Lemming was quoted by WholeHogSports.com talking about the impact gas prices.

CBS College Sports national football recruiting analyst Tom Lemming believes the high cost of fuel will limit the amount of travel for kids “because a lot of these players come from bluecollar backgrounds.” “I do think it’s going to affect them in driving because it costs so much money. It could end up helping the local schools,” Lemming said.

Lemming said many times top recruits will have their coaches, family friends and others take them to schools. That said, he did notice less kids visiting at some of the spring games he attended.

“I was at nine spring games this year, and I noticed a lot of them didn’t seem to have as many kids as they’ve had in the past, and I would imagine that’s because of the gas prices,” Lemming said. He also sees the high cost of travel on the ground and in the air possibly hindering parents from traveling to see their sons play in college. That could affect how far away from home some kids go for college.

Lemming didn’t mention this, but what will gas prices do to departmental budgets? With coaches out on the road visiting prospects, and travel by air and bus to games on Saturday?

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SEC Coaches are…good
We know the depth of coaches in the SEC, but Mr. College Football, Tony Barnhart, takes it a step further. His research reveals that 11 of the 12 coaches have won a conference title in the SEC or at a prior coaching stop. Barnhart asks a question if the present group of coaches compares to the Golden Age of SEC coaching, the 1960’s.

In fact, you could argue that this is the deepest lineup of coaches that the SEC has ever had. The early 60s has always been considered the golden age when the league had Bryant (Alabama), Dooley (Georgia), Vaught (Ole Miss), Jordan (Auburn), McLendon (LSU), Dickey (Tennessee), Graves (Florida) and Dodd (Georgia Tech). All are in the College Football Hall of Fame.
A generation or two from now, will this group compare favorably with them? Tell me what you think.

You should check the comments section. Apparently, readers are upset Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer doesn’t get more respect. They pointed out his 2006 Dunkin Donut eating crown and his extra work as a Jenny Craig spokesperson.

Track coach of the year
Arkansas track coach John McDonnell named SEC Coach of the Year. Take a look at his resume.

McDonnell led Arkansas to its 84 th conference title, 46 th SEC title, 23 rd outdoor conference title and 14 th SEC outdoor title. The Razorbacks ended the SEC championship weekend (May 15-18 ) with four event titles (5, 000 meters, long jump, triple jump and javelin ) and 10 All-SEC honors.
McDonnell has been named National Coach of the Year 12 times in indoor track, 11 times in outdoor track and seven times in cross country for a total of 30 awards. He has been Conference Coach of the Year a remarkable 50 times and Region Coach of the Year 62 times.

Impressive.

Auburn’s offense can work!
Bucking for biggest Tommy Tuberville cheerleader is this blogger from Realfootball365.com. His last two entries are Despite skepticism, Auburn’s new offense can work and Auburn’s Tuberville properly delegates.

First, Franklin’s offense can work because Steve Spurrier’s worked.

Back when Steve Spurrier first implemented his fun-and-gun offense with the Gators, critics were saying the same kinds of things as they are now about Auburn’s fresh game plan. The SEC has always been a blood-and-guts type of conference bent on smash-mouth football. Then this guy came in and started teaching his quarterbacks to chuck the ball all over the field. Couldn’t work, could it?

Let me explain something. Tony Franklin is not Steve Spurrier.

I know that is a shock, but it is empirically provable. Spurrier is coaching South Carolina. And he happens to run a different offense.

Second, this blogger praises Tuberville’s coaching style. I have to admit, I consider Tuberville to be one of the Top 4 or 5 SEC coaches, so that makes him a Top 10 or 12 nationally. However, some of the arguments are comical. Like this quote:

By the way, even though Tuberville may have a little more to say on the defensive side of things, it’s not like he’s controlling or anything. Recently departed defensive coordinator Will Muschamp complimented Tuberville upon his departure.

“(He’s) a great coach to work for and I had a chance to work with an outstanding staff,” commented Muschamp.

A man with Muschamp’s resume simply wouldn’t say that about Tuberville if the latter didn’t allow his assistants to handle their own business.

Right. A football coach has never lied before.

Also, Muschamp loved working for Auburn so much that he made a lateral move to Texas.

That speaks volumes. It says much more than anything a coach says.

Lots of Danica race photos
Just for fun, a few photographs of Danica Patrick from the Indy 500. Unfortunately, she’s in her race attire.

One thought on “Gas prices could limit recruiting travel”

  1. 1st.
    Gas prices, this will definately hurt 2nd choice U. A lot of the poorer prospects just dont have the money or resources to visit all over the country.
    Score one up for the University of _____________.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    2nd

    Of course the “spread” can win. Any offense can win if you have the personel and the talent. It just so happens that the “spread” is this year’s cure-all gimmick at AU. When will AU figure out gimmicks dont cover up other areas that are lacking? (i.e. if Auburn had the personel they could have executed LAST YEAR. What is the big difference this year?)
    Also it looks like grandmall seisure logic to waste 4 very good backs on an offense that is trying invent a passing game out of thin air.
    (By the way, who is the QB?)
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    By the way……… What is Tommy Tuberville’s coaching style?
    I cant see any evidence that he has done anything but follow the herd. He is defintely not been a trendsetter like his competitor across the state. As a matter of fact does CTT do anything that in different or original?
    Much like the whole “Riverboat Gambler” hype, I honestly believe that CTT’s “coaching style” is the invention of some PR firm.

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