Maybe Saturday afternoons at Beaver Stadium can be devoted to new pursuits!
Posted on 07/24/2012 10:49:07 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
While Mark Richt has perhaps been the most up-front about his interest in picking up some of the Penn State players who are free to leave the NCAA-hammered program and play immediately elsewhere, Georgia certainly isn’t the only SEC school looking at that possibility.
In terms of players currently on the Nittany Lions roster, this is likely to play out rather quickly, as most schools will be starting preseason camp soon — UGA on Aug. 2 — and in order to have a realistic shot at anything close to immediate playing time a transfer would need to be on campus by then.
It’s not surprising that Richt is interested, but what did widen a few eyes among college football observers was how he wasn’t at all coy about it when addressing the subject at Monday night’s UGA Day fan gathering. In fact, he volunteered the news that as soon as they heard about the NCAA sanctions against PSU, the Georgia coaching staff went over Penn State’s two-deep roster to identify players the Bulldogs might be interested in.
The fact that Richt offered that tidbit up in public is an indication that, yes, Georgia is really interested. And why not, the Dogs have a depleted roster that numbers less than Southern Cal, which is on probation!
Penn State players apparently would be welcomed by the UGA team as well. All-American Jarvis Jones tweeted: “Penn State players feel free to b a Part of BullDogs Nation!!!”
While you can bet Nick Saban and other SEC coaches are moving just as quickly as Richt, if more quietly, Georgia does have what appears to be a couple of built-in advantages: Georgia has plenty of room on its roster and also has on staff John Thomas, who until recently was Penn State’s strength and conditioning coordinator for 20 years.
As for which players Georgia might talk with, early speculation has centered on defensive end Deion Barnes and linebacker Khairi Fortt, both of whom considered Georgia out of high school and reportedly took recruiting visits to Athens. And UGA has at least somewhat of a relationship with two Penn State commitments — defensive end Garrett Sickels and tight end Adam Breneman — since both were offered scholarships by Georgia.
Beyond that, the most obvious need the Dogs have is experienced offensive linemen, so I imagine that’s where the Georgia coaches looked hardest when they examined the PSU roster at their retreat Monday. But the Dogs also are in need of additional depth in the defensive secondary.
Of course, we don’t know that Penn State players will bail on the program en masse, though it certainly would be understandable if they did, and Georgia may wind up not picking up any of the school’s current players.
It’s quite likely, however, that Pennsylvania — which proved very fruitful territory for the Bulldogs in past generations with names like Sinkwich, Trippi and Rissmiller — is likely to get increased recruiting attention in the future from a lot of schools, including Georgia. And in addition to Thomas, secondary coach Scott Lakatos is very familiar with the area.
Aunt Pittypat might have been aghast at more Yankees in Georgia, but this is one case where they’re entirely welcome!
Georgia better do something if they want a remote chance at beating the Gators in Jax.
Something reminds me of the scene in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” where the charwoman, the laundress and the undertaker are in Old Joe’s shack picking over what’s left of Scrooge’s belongings. ;-)
You get a max of 25 scholarships a year, and a max of 85 scholarship players. Given, some of the kids won't be academically eligible and go the prep route, but coaches usually over recruit because of that.
It doesn't seem like teams are going to have scholarships to give these kids right now.
Now, I definitely could see PSU Freshmen and Sophomores transferring for the spring semester, and count against the 2013 class.
But I may be missing something.
I saw on the Gator Boards, that Coach Boom was inquiring about two of their linemen. Of course take it with a huge grain of salt.
Wouldn’t they be better off signing up for a team that has a chance of winning?
Go Gamecocks!
(for clarity sake, I have always lived in Georgia, but, do not drink the UGA cool aid.)
I don't know if this is done or allowable at the D-I level.
Due to ineligibility, transfers and dismissals UGA currently has 10-12 scholarships available for the 2012 season, so they are in perfect position to pick up some of the PSU players.
We could use them. Now with Texas A&M and Missouri, the SEC is ridiculous.
South - what you are missing is that the NCAA has advised all Division 1 schools that Penn State players may transfer with their scholarships and exceed the 25/85 limits for 2012. However, any excess over the limit in 2012 will be reduced in 2013.
Every major college coach in the country will participate in this feeding frenzy. The NCAA could not have done anything more stupid even if they asked Obama for advice. Who did the NCAA hurt? The current students, who did nothing wrong, the community businesses who derive income from the sports and Paterno’s record taken from a man now dead and unable to defend himself. It sounds like the NCAA also reads “Rules for Radicals”.
Go Gamecocks!
(for clarity sake, I have always lived in Georgia, but, do not drink the UGA cool aid.)
I's sure Steve has been looking for some talent that may want to defect from Happy Valley!
Go Cocks!
So what if everyone at Penn State leaves? Will they just invite a bunch of walkons to play for them this year?
PA Ping!
If you want on/off the PA Ping List, please freepmail me. Thanks!
Maybe Saturday afternoons at Beaver Stadium can be devoted to new pursuits!
Saban interested in Penn State players? I doubt there are any players on the Penn State roster that could crack Bama’s depth chart. Auburn, on the other hand, could use a few of the more thuggish Nittany Lions.
Saban interested in Penn State players? I doubt there are any players on the Penn State roster that could crack Bama’s depth chart. Auburn, on the other hand, could use a few of the more thuggish Nittany Lions.
“The fact that Richt offered that tidbit up in public is an indication that, yes, Georgia is really interested. And why not, the Dogs have a depleted roster that numbers less than Southern Cal, which is on probation!”
This is what happens when you recruit criminals and kids that can’t qualify. You either kick them off for being arrested for drugs and weapons charges or for failing their classes.
Richt did not even let the sun set on the Penn St. verdict before circling the carcass.
Keeping it classy, Mark Richt.
Penn State had a good reputation for student athlete academics. While it pains me slightly to admit as a Tech grad, UGA has very good academics these days when compared to other SEC and Big Ten? Televen? What are they up to? schools, as a result of the lottery-funded Hope Scholarship.
This may or may not make some of the Penn players a better match for UGA, but it’s worth considering.
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