Link: Coach Lance Thompson leaves Bama for Tennessee. How does this affect this class?

[WMack4Bama]

According to Genry Estes, he's bolting for UTennessee. Good for him if it's more money. But what would it mean for us? Which recruits was he working on?

 

[RedStar]

You're not gonna like it, but he's the guy who brought in D.J., Trent and Nico. :eek2:

I don't like the fact that Trent suddenly has interest in UT and a few days later Thompson bolts for the Viles, I don't like it one bit. He was also the main guy working on Darren Myles.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Oh no! That would be devasting if true. Hopefully it isn't but from reading the story it sounds like it is a done deal.

I would think this situation could have a negative impact on the class but hopefully not. We won't have long to wait to find out.

University of Alabama assistant coach Lance Thompson appears bound for Tennessee

 

[runtheoption22]

The only recruit CLT would have coached on the field is Atchison.

Don't sweat it....just remember who the boss is.

 

[WMack4Bama]

Well...I think we're good with Nico and DJ. I think they committed to the school. I don't know about Trent though. It worries me. But either way, I think we're still good.

I prefer continuity with the coaching staff, though. In any event, this is an opportunity for some other bright young coaches to come through.

 

[BigEasyTider]

The only recruit CLT would have coached on the field is Atchison.

Don't sweat it....just remember who the boss is.

I don't think anybody worries about losing him as an on-field coach, people are more worried about his impact as a recruiter.

I would imagine everyone will stick, though. Even with a guy like Richardson, at the end of the day they are really committed to the head coach and not the coach recruiting him, especially when it is someone like Saban.

I will say though, I cannot help but wonder what has been going on behind the scenes. Suddenly Richardson schedules a visit to Tennessee out of nowhere, and now a few days later his recruiter at Alabama ends up at Tennessee? Something sounds fishy there.

 

[NATidefan]

BOL: Lance Thompson Profile

 

[bamamick]

Lance has been covering the Mobile and Baldwin areas and the Florida Panhandle, and for the first time in awhile we were kicking butt. Now this. I feel like I've had the wind kicked out of me. Recruiting-wise this is one heck of a blow. I am stunned.

rtr

 

[NATidefan]

Anybody know who is replacing him?

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Losing Lance Thompson is a big blow if its true.

he did win the national recruiter award awhile back.

with that said, our commits are coming to play for Saban and ALABAMA!!

Nico Johnson has stated that he was Bama bound regardless of the head coach. DJ Fluker has cancelled all other visits, he is solid as they come.

Trent Richardson, well that is another story...:conf2:

 

[RammaJamma10]

I am hearing from my friends in the UT camp that they think they have a real shot at getting AJ there now. PLEASE tell me that's not happening....

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Anybody know who is replacing him?

No word yet but like I said I am sure CNS will get a high quality coach and recruiter for his spot. I don't expect Bama will fall off at all in recruiting Mobile and the Panhandle of Florida. CNS has made it a point to build relationships with the HS coaches in that area. I am certain that those highly productive areas will remain strong for Bama in the future.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

I am hearing from my friends in the UT camp that they think they have a real shot at getting AJ there now. PLEASE tell me that's not happening....

I guarantee you that is not happening. A.J. is committed to Bama and CNS. He recently said the only way he does not go to Bama is if CNS is fired or leaves before NSD. McCarron may visit UT but that will be absolutely nothing to worry about.

 

[kausman]

This move really does bother me, but I would hope it will at least not affect recruiting that much this year.

If I'm a recruit, and I've been hearing from a coach how great Alabama is and how I should play for Alabama for months, and then all of a sudden the coach recruiting me takes a job at another school and wants me to go to there with a couple of weeks to go? I think I would be highly skeptical of someone like that.

I guess the biggest fear is that they begin to think that everything that coach told them was BS, and they lose faith in the original school all together...

Hopefully we can reload with a better pickup. This is a curious situation, however.

Can someone more knowledgeable tell me how these things usually play out?

 

[BamaArrived2006]

I guarantee you that is not happening. A.J. is committed to Bama and CNS. He recently said the only way he does not go to Bama is if CNS is fired or leaves before NSD. McCarron may visit UT but that will be absolutely nothing to worry about.

Don't sweat it he's a heck of a recruiter and all. But our players are commited to play under Coach Nick Saban. All of them have said so, and in an article I read AJ considers Coach part of his family. There is no doubt to me that any of these guys are firmly committed to Alabama.

:biga2:

 

[bamachile]

UT and AU are a real study in contrasts when it comes to coaching moves this season. UT decided early, has been unafraid to spend money, and has made several bold moves so far. AU is still trying to decide if that thing they are looking at is a hole in the ground or a part of their own anatomy.

With Ogre and LT now prowling around in dreamsicle orange and Cheese-stick competing with UAB for recruits, the battlefield is definitely shifting. We won't steamroll LSU, but we can hold our own to the west. We will steamroll MSU and Ole Miss. We've been trading fairly evenly with UGA to the east, and I don't see that changing. The battles to the south might get a bit dicey now, with CLT gone. We'll see. Our primary competitors in present and future recruiting battles would seem to be UT, UGA, LSU, and UF.

The replacements for CKS and CLT are looking pretty important right now.

 

[runtheoption22]

I seriously doubt any recruit has a second thought about not coming to Bama because of CLT's departure.

All of these kids have been on campus, met all the coaches, and had in-home visits with CNS.

Atchison is the only one CLT would have coached position wise....something that means much more after recruiting is done and the ink is dry.

Now, who this could effect are OLBs/JACK targets remaining: Stinson and Patrick.

Hopefully though, they realize that this is CNS's defense, and it won't matter who we bring in.

Finally, next year is where we could miss CLT, unless we bring in a good liaison to cover his territory.

 

[bamamick]

I have no doubt at all that CNS will hire good coaches to fill the spots of Steele and Thompson, but the recruiting is another matter. Both were former R'sOY. Now UTK has the Ogre and Thompson and we need some help. Where does that come from? Who is going to fill the void? I am not worried about the coaching, but I am worried about the recruiting. You just don't replace two guys of that caliber.

UTK has kicked our buttocks on this deal.

rtr

 

[WMack4Bama]

Now, who this could effect are OLBs/JACK targets remaining: Stinson and Patrick.

Hopefully though, they realize that this is CNS's defense, and it won't matter who we bring in.

No effect on Stinson at all...He's ours.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

UT and AU are a real study in contrasts when it comes to coaching moves this season. UT decided early, has been unafraid to spend money, and has made several bold moves so far. AU is still trying to decide if that thing they are looking at is a hole in the ground or a part of their own anatomy.

With Ogre and LT now prowling around in dreamsicle orange and Cheese-stick competing with UAB for recruits, the battlefield is definitely shifting. We won't steamroll LSU, but we can hold our own to the west. We will steamroll MSU and Ole Miss. We've been trading fairly evenly with UGA to the east, and I don't see that changing. The battles to the south might get a bit dicey now, with CLT gone. We'll see. Our primary competitors in present and future recruiting battles would seem to be UT, UGA, LSU, and UF.

The replacements for CKS and CLT are looking pretty important right now.

I can't wait to to hear about the first time Orgeron gets upset at Thompson and rips his shirt off and head butts him right in front of the team in the locker room at half time next year.