Geoff is "on the record" stating that you cannot win anything of substance with a team full of three star talents. Given what Charlie Strong has begun to do over the past 72 hours, recruiting nothing but 3 star talents (some 2 stars), Geoff has a decision to make. Support or openly question the Strong regime.
As a "recruiting guru" (funny eh?) Geoff Ketchum has a duty, or at least he claims he has a duty, to maintain an accurate projection of talent at the next level. For years, particularly in 2008-2011, as chronicled right here ontexags.com Old Rivalries, Geoff Ketchum ignored this duty and valued the Mack Brown offer as the holiest of holies. Someone received an offer from Mack Brown, the highly ranked three star rating of 5.9 was the floor, some would even argue the 6.1 four star rating was the floor. But that was for recruits in the State of Texas, where Geoff Ketchum had control of the ratings. Geoff could manipulate the ratings for these guys, keep his paying subscriber base happy, and all was well....until those recruits began to pan out, or more accurately, not pan out.
But now Charlie appears to be dipping into the JUCO ranks....from out of state. Why does this matter? Because for these out of state JUCO recruits, they fall under the rivals jurisdiction of another rivals network affiliate. One that may actually portray an objective stance. That has been the argument from sip fans for the last few years. When Aggie fans would try to discuss Ketch's biased rankings, they would point to other programs that apparently recruit well and don't have overranking issues. But when you point to other programs, such as Alabama, LSU,South Carolina (not a good example anymore), Auburn, etc. you are also pointing to another rivals network affiliate who handles the rankings. Geoff Ketchum is the sole proprietor of ranking texas players for rivals.com. Sure there is Aggie Yell and other small potatoes affiliates, but the rivals higher ups listen to Geoff over them....why? Because Geoff is better at his job than those other schlubs. Because Geoff has the larger subscriber base.
Look at the 2012 rankings and one Germain Ifedi who is the next in line for Offensive Tackle University and a likely first day pick in the NFL draft when he declares in 2015 or 2016.
Aggie Yell had him as the 66th ranked player in Texas - objectively an oops moment for them. But give them a pass because Geoff Ketchum never, ever, had him ranked....at all. Why? Because Ifedi was the type of player Sumlin recruited to Houston, not the major FBS type talent needed to win at A&M. That shlt is so funny it writes itself.
So Geoff has an interesting decision to make as Charlie Strong begins to recruit players from out of state, whom Geoff does not have the authority to overrank. And now that we are very late in the 2015 recruiting game, will Geoff even be able to get away with overranking the in state kids this late? Does he stand by his statement that you cannot win in major college football with a bunch of 3 stars? This will undoubtedly alienate him from his paying subscriber base, whom desperately want to hear that things are getting better. That is bad for business. Or does he ignore his previous statements on talent baselines, and join in the sunshine pumping parade?
Remember, not two months ago, did he not lambast a certain William Liucci for hiding the truth from his own subscriber base, and did not Geoff do it in very public fashion? Words have a way of biting old Geoff right in his humungous ass. Which words will he choose this time? Either way, he loses.
As a "recruiting guru" (funny eh?) Geoff Ketchum has a duty, or at least he claims he has a duty, to maintain an accurate projection of talent at the next level. For years, particularly in 2008-2011, as chronicled right here on
But now Charlie appears to be dipping into the JUCO ranks....from out of state. Why does this matter? Because for these out of state JUCO recruits, they fall under the rivals jurisdiction of another rivals network affiliate. One that may actually portray an objective stance. That has been the argument from sip fans for the last few years. When Aggie fans would try to discuss Ketch's biased rankings, they would point to other programs that apparently recruit well and don't have overranking issues. But when you point to other programs, such as Alabama, LSU,
Look at the 2012 rankings and one Germain Ifedi who is the next in line for Offensive Tackle University and a likely first day pick in the NFL draft when he declares in 2015 or 2016.
Aggie Yell had him as the 66th ranked player in Texas - objectively an oops moment for them. But give them a pass because Geoff Ketchum never, ever, had him ranked....at all. Why? Because Ifedi was the type of player Sumlin recruited to Houston, not the major FBS type talent needed to win at A&M. That shlt is so funny it writes itself.
So Geoff has an interesting decision to make as Charlie Strong begins to recruit players from out of state, whom Geoff does not have the authority to overrank. And now that we are very late in the 2015 recruiting game, will Geoff even be able to get away with overranking the in state kids this late? Does he stand by his statement that you cannot win in major college football with a bunch of 3 stars? This will undoubtedly alienate him from his paying subscriber base, whom desperately want to hear that things are getting better. That is bad for business. Or does he ignore his previous statements on talent baselines, and join in the sunshine pumping parade?
Remember, not two months ago, did he not lambast a certain William Liucci for hiding the truth from his own subscriber base, and did not Geoff do it in very public fashion? Words have a way of biting old Geoff right in his humungous ass. Which words will he choose this time? Either way, he loses.