5* CB Desmond Ricks down to UF, LSU, and Bama. Commitment date 12/23/22

Not coming off that cash

 

This. Florida currently has about 6 playing in the NFL. Alabama has a record 70. 70. More than any school in history. Those are numbers Bama can use to entice recruits. All they have to do is say, "Yep, you can go to Florida. They have a good coach that is building a new program. Florida does have 6 players currently in the NFL. Did you know we set the record for any school this year with 70 players currently playing in the NFL? That's more players playing right now than Florida has had in the last 25 years combined."

 

On field performance pertinent. Recent class rankings pertinent. We’ve got a ways to go.

 

Yeah you can’t deny that Miami and Texas A&M bought their classes. With all things being equal and money being equal yes it depends on other factors, but when you’re holding a little bit of money and somebody with just as good of a program as you is holding a bunch of money it makes a big difference

 

I think somewhere close to 100% of us realize that’s not where the money comes from

 

I’m not sure where you’re getting your information from but there are 33 gators in the NFL as of right now

 

The colleges are securing and arranging payments. The colleges are allowing free usage of their trademarks and symbols, which has substantial value. All we are talking about are semantics of who is signing the check.

 

Maybe 6 starting ?

 

Ricks was snoozing in his bed. His agent was the one doing the talking.

 

I would assume you’re pulling that out of your ass

 

Yeah sorry what I saw failed to show they are starters. Better off sticking with spotrac or another site. But even they are short 6 for Bama. I have no idea which is more accurate or better yet, more up-to-date.

 

I’d say 99.9 ​

 

It's definitely fallen off over the last decade as the 2008 guys reached the end of their playing days.

Saban can sell his recruits on getting to the league and being good enough to get a second contract the minute they show up at their first OTA.

 

Alabama actually used a graphic on the back of their Offer Letters to recruits that was a bunch of the signing bonus checks for their NFL Draft picks. True story. 2014 maybe?

Saban DEFINITELY exploits this draft success in recruiting.

 

No way Bama’s got 70 starters in the NFL.

 

This is our other problem - Bama has built such a dynasty that they don’t even have to have the biggest bag anymore. I’m pretty sure these recruits look at Bama as their best option for making it to the next level

 

Not this again. The UAA is a completely separate legal entity from the University of Florida. They do not divert money to the UAA for any reason, nor should they.

The alumni, of course, are free to do whatever they want with their money, and they do. But many, many alumni value UF's academics more than they value the football program, so I don't see that happening any time soon. Not nearly as many people as you think are obsessed with the "gridiron".

 

And that's why we are were we are at.

You can't win with one arm tied behind your back.

 

Speaking in general here, I’m not singling you out or implying anything about you directly, Tommy.

So the options are? Lower expectations? Do something about it yourself, go finance the players you want? Continue to whine incessantly and bitch about how you want other people to spend their money? Go root for Ruiz and Miami and their 5-7 team since they’re buying up all the players you want?

 

Lower expectations is the option. If the powers that be (and individually, none of us here have the power to change this dynamic) won't do what is necessary, then we (the fan base) have no other option. Accept it for what it is.

Also, instead of complaining about a coaching staff that cannot sign 5* recruits because they are hamstrung financially, support them in their effort to do the very best with what they have to work with.

One other thing. Let go of this fantasy that we're a sleeping giant that just needs the right coach to magically transform back to what we had in the 90's and 00's. Nothing is magic. It's hard work and financial commitment to succeed no matter the cost.