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

WAW4Tide

1st Team
Sep 5, 2008
348
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Dallas, TX
The truth of the matter is that moves like this are the norm for Nick Saban assistants. Any coach eager to move up the ranks wants to coach under Saban to learn as much as they can. However it has been said repeatedly by these coaches that he is an extremely difficult boss and that is why guys only stick around for a couple of years and then move on. It is also why the Saban family tree reaches all over the country and shows how he is responsible for grooming so many rising young coaches.

I believe the impact of this move will be felt through the recruiting world in the years to come, but am almost certain it will not ruin this years class. Having said that, I do think there will be on player who will surprise everyone by committing to UcheaT. I am not sure who he is yet but i just think something will happen that will be the foot in the door for years to come.
 

bamar

1st Team
Mar 31, 2003
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tullahoma, tn usa
we are seeing tenn more concerned about recruiting than coaching. since kiffin was given the green light to spend what he wants, giving his dad a million to coach the defense, and hefty amounts to the off coord, orgeron, if i recall he even lured rodney garner back from univ ga. excellent recruiter in the ga, south carolina area. now he has thompson, and the ogre. talk about overkill.
 

CHATTBRIT

Hall of Fame
Dec 3, 2003
5,802
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Falling Water, TN
we are seeing tenn more concerned about recruiting than coaching. since kiffin was given the green light to spend what he wants, giving his dad a million to coach the defense, and hefty amounts to the off coord, orgeron, if i recall he even lured rodney garner back from univ ga. excellent recruiter in the ga, south carolina area. now he has thompson, and the ogre. talk about overkill.
It is my understanding Rodney Garner turned the viles down and stayed with GA.
 

crimson_blood

All-American
Jul 22, 2006
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Helena, AL
Just wonder if there are any truth to the rumors of our recruitment of AJ and Trent are now endangered.
Trent-possibly, but I still think CNS has enough of a hold on him right now. He also has some strong relationships with Julio, BJ Scott, etc

AJ, Nico, and DJ- I'll kiss every cow's arse in Texas if they sign anywhere but Bama:)
 
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BigEasyTider

FB | REC Moderator
Nov 27, 2007
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It is my understanding Rodney Garner turned the viles down and stayed with GA.
Correct.

And Tennessee is certainly concerned far more with recruiting abilities than coaching abilities. I've posted about this before, but that makes no sense to me. Tennessee has been a program the past several years that has declined, all the while recruiting at very high levels, just because they could not properly coach and develop talent.

Go figure.
 

3moredays

New Member
Nov 19, 2008
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we are seeing tenn more concerned about recruiting than coaching. since kiffin was given the green light to spend what he wants, giving his dad a million to coach the defense, and hefty amounts to the off coord, orgeron, if i recall he even lured rodney garner back from univ ga. excellent recruiter in the ga, south carolina area. now he has thompson, and the ogre. talk about overkill.

Orgeron is a defensive guy. I don't think he would be the offensive coordinator for Tennessee. If so, they really are just focused on recruiting ability!
 

RammaJamma10

1st Team
Dec 5, 2006
451
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Harvest, AL
Correct.

And Tennessee is certainly concerned far more with recruiting abilities than coaching abilities. I've posted about this before, but that makes no sense to me. Tennessee has been a program the past several years that has declined, all the while recruiting at very high levels, just because they could not properly coach and develop talent.

Go figure.
Not to stir trouble or get off topic, but when I hear of great recruiter but not properly coaching or developing talent, CMG directly comes to mind...
 

crimson_blood

All-American
Jul 22, 2006
2,671
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Helena, AL
In his first interview (with Tim Watts at BOL) since learning the news, Nico says he is still 100% Bama and will sign with us. Great news...and my guess would be that is the prevailing feeling among our 2009 commits...
 

LCN

FB | REC Moderator
Sep 29, 2005
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I'm mad as hell about the way Thompson handled this, and I imagine our staff and the athletic department feel the same way. Thompson already had one tour of duty at Alabama before this one, but given the way he left this time, I think you can officially close the book on him. After this, I highly doubt he'll be back... ever, despite all the great things he has said about the UA program.
I'm pretty pizzed myself . Stupid , stupid way to go about leaving . Timing .....

Leave on 2/5 - Professional departure which would've assured LT of being respected and remembered fondly .

Leave on 1/15 - Guaranteed to be remembered as the traitor he has now instantly become .


Good luck ..... NOT :mad:
 

Crimson Surfer

News|BB|FB|REC, Super Moderator
Jul 14, 2001
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Henderson, NV
I'm pretty pizzed myself . Stupid , stupid way to go about leaving . Timing .....

Leave on 2/5 - Professional departure which would've assured LT of being respected and remembered fondly .

Leave on 1/15 - Guaranteed to be remembered as the traitor he has now instantly become .


Good luck ..... NOT :mad:
To be fair, from what I am hearing CLT did not want to leave and asked if Bama could match the UT offer. Folks are saying that UT offered him $400,000 + which is twice what he is currently making. Bama could not, should not, or would not match it. It could also be that UT said it is now or never as far as the offer went.

Obviously I am not privy to the details but I am thinking if CNS wanted to retain CLT the monies would have been there. But to give him that kind of raise he would also have had to be elavated in title to the prior position held by CKS of Associate Head Coach/Head Defensive Coach. I don't think he was the right fit for that title and that neither of the two replacement coaches will be given those titles either.

There are all kinds of other rumors about the situation flying around but this is my take on the CLT situation.

EDIT: Now some of the actual facts have come out in the Bama Beat Blog. Coach Jim McElwain told QB recruit AJ McCarron of St. Paul's that "they were having coaching meetings. He just walked in and said he was resigning and said he was taking a job at Tennessee. It shocked everybody."

UA commitments react to Lance Thompson's departure
 
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dWarriors88

All-American
Jan 4, 2009
4,331
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Tulsa, OK
Get ready boys! The SEC West is going to be TOUGH in the next couple years!
Equivalent that of the 2008 Big XII South, no, WAY stronger!

Alabama
Arkansas
Tennessee
LSU
Ole Miss

JEEZ!! If I had a heart, I would feel bad for aww-barn... but their in for a rough few years!




Now about Tennessee and TR, I don't think TR will leave, mostly because he has a shot at starting next season, and if he doesnt start, he will for sure be on the field! And if I remember correctly he said he wanted to be the only RB in a class? correct? Well Tennesse has a host of RBs this year including shifty APB David Oku! TR wont like that! He'll be in Crimson next year!

Now my question! Why cant we keep our coaches where they belong! In Tuscaloosa! The though of breaking in a new coach on our "return to the thrown" season is tough! And loosing him to Tennesse is almost a slap in the face! I dont understand it! Is it the money? And part two, How do we replace such a GREAT recruiter?
 
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bamafloyd

Scout Team
May 22, 2008
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Maybe Bama needs to have a clause in the assistants contract not allowing them to leave for another SEC team.
 

BAMARICH

All-American
Jan 9, 2005
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Northport, AL
Thompson's departure is by far more impactful to recruiting than Steele's... not making light of Steele's ability but he was not the guy responsible for bringing in most of our recruits this season. However, if you're UT, you shell out huge bucks to get guys like Thompson simply because national recruiting there is a vital component to experiencing success. Give it to Kiffen, he realizes what it is going to take to win there.

On our side, remember that all moves are not simply about money, failure, or opportunity. Sometimes, moves are made for other reasons. And, right now, we don't know those reasons so I would caution against automatically making an assumption that he's left to "this or that" reason.
 

UT4EVER

Suspended
Feb 9, 2008
94
0
0
we are seeing tenn more concerned about recruiting than coaching. since kiffin was given the green light to spend what he wants, giving his dad a million to coach the defense, and hefty amounts to the off coord, orgeron, if i recall he even lured rodney garner back from univ ga. excellent recruiter in the ga, south carolina area. now he has thompson, and the ogre. talk about overkill.
Let me give you another perspective.

I am a 36 year old UT season ticket holder. I have 4 lowers on the 50 that UT demands a hefty premium for (as many top SEC schools do).... As any Traveling Bama fan would attest, Neyland used to be a lock for sellouts and traditionally provided a significant "home field advantage". However, if you were in Knoxville 10/25/08 you saw a much different atmosphere......

Now, Neyland is right in the middle of a $72,000,000 renovation that is being 100% funded by donors.... Donors who witnessed the following in 2008:

1. Mass exit vs. UF IN THE 3RD QUARTER
2. 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois
3. Estimated 30,000 Alabama fans singing Rammer Jammer
4. Homecoming loss to WYOMING
5. UT fans giving away tickets (free) for the final 2 home games

All of this while UF continues their dominance (4 straight), Alabama is back (2 straight), and UGA continues to reload..... Heck, when Kiffin dropped Bryce Petty (Texas QB) I read the following quote on a TCU board: "Why do we want a Tennessee reject? We passed their program a few years ago!" Yes, I SAID TCU..... Are you kidding me?!?!?

Therefore, UTAD Mike Hamilton has had no choice but to open the check book to try and turn things around. He chose to go with youth and a "staff" vs. a headliner HC..... Consider this, David Cutcliff made $350,000 in 2007 with over 15 years at UT. John Chavis made $350,000 with over 15 years at UT....... Both were excellent coaches but neither created excitement, which is what UT desperatly needs. Now, our DC makes over $1,000,000, DL makes $600,000 and LB makes $425,000 but the excitement is back.

The jury is out on how many wins/losses this strategy will result in BUT it has certainly ignited the excitement amongst UT fans that has not been there in quite some time..... Here is my favorite quote from VolNation after the Thompson hire was discovered:

"This thread alone is worth last season's debacle. I'm going to write CPF a letter thanking him for the terrible season."

Thanks for allowing my input.....
 

CHATTBRIT

Hall of Fame
Dec 3, 2003
5,802
527
237
Falling Water, TN
Sporttalk in Chattanooga is reporting Thompson will make $425,000 a year -- more than double what he was making at Alabama. Who can blame the guy? Clearly, the thought of coaching the pumpkin team is not enough of an incentive to move so the viles have to offer to double his salary.

They are also reporting they are making a move for A.J. McCarron and Trent Richardson.

We should not panic -- we are Alabama!
 

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