Exposing the myth of..."It's the Investigation's Fault"

[Stamford Hog]

When HDN did not "get on that plane", we were warned that the next two years would be rebuilding years and as a result he was given the "two year free pass".  We have been told this rebuilding was due to the NCAA investigation dragging out from 2001 through 2003 and its impact on recruiting during that period.  We have been told that recruits were warned of bowl bans and television bans and therefore our terrible recruiting classes during those periods is why we can't compete on the field now and why we have to play so many freshmen and sophmores.

However, on further review, those recruiting classes during 2001, 2002 and 2003 may not have been as bad as we are now being led to believe. 

2001 - I would agrue that the 2001 class may have been the most talented class the UofA has ever signed.  Now, most of those talented players did not redshirt and would not be here this year (M Jones, S Andrews, A Carroll, J Huckeba, M Pierce, D Birmingham) but some of those still around as part of our 5th year senior class include (D Howard, J Hicks, K Roper, C Moore).  The lack of a quality 5th year senior class is more a result of HDN playing freshman immediately constantly trying to fill holes rather than a result of the NCAA Investigation.

2002 - Here is our senior class, fifteen of the twenty four signees are still on campus.  Scout.com had our class rated #24 with 6 4* and 15 3* recruits.  Rivals had our class ranked #26 with 6 4* and 13 3* recruits.  Of course, there were several busts and washouts including 4* Reggie Banks, 3* Lucas Jackson, 3* Bobby Payne (DEFENSIVE END), 3* Charles Walker (DEFENSIVE END), 3* Jonathan Barry (DEFENSIVE END).  Guess this solves the mystery of why we have a lb and wr playing defensive end this year.   But the bottom line is that recruiting services thought enough of this class to be ranked rather highly.

2003 - Here is our junior class, only twelve of the twenty four signees are still on campus.  Scout.com had our class rated #23 with 2 4* and 13 3* recruits.  Rivals had our class ranked #29 with 3 4* and 14 3* recruits.  Again, this class also had several busts and washouts including 3*Terrance Hampton (WIDE RECEIVER), 3* Willie Hordge (WIDE RECEIVER), 3* Duston Moore (O-LINE), 3* Anthony Gray (LB), 3* Derek Moore (DEFENSIVE END), 4* Rodney Giles (LB/DEFENSIVE END). 

No suprise that most of our busts and washouts are at positions where we currently lack playmakers or quality depth.  Bottom line is, the recruits we signed were more than servicable and the NCAA investigation did not criple these recruiting classes like the excuse makers would lead you to believe.  Based on these recruiting rankings we should be on the verge of the top 25.  Instead our play on the field is not in the top 75.  I would argue rather than the NCAA investigaton, it is the lack of player development that has caused our slide below mediocrity.  And that is not going to change after the "two year free pass" is over with. 

[nwarazfan]

Poor evaluation of talent, character and academics and a lack of development.