Julio Jones thread- this is where to place post-UA game comments/discussion

[deliveryman35]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

This is a very long thread so this may have already been noted. But Julio has either visited or is planning to visit Florida and Tebow was/is his host for the weekend.
I'm going to say this and get a lot of criticism. I'd love to see the kid at Bama.
But I do have to wonder...do we really want someone who's so darn hard to convince?
I mean Julio is laying out qualifications and requirements about the type of Quarterback he wants...etc.
I kinda like the players who say.."Bama is the place for me and I want to help them win a national title".
Even if they have one or two less stars.

sippi

UF is certainly a possibility, but if you parse JJ's words yesterday carefully, it would not seem to fit with his requirements since TT will be a junior next season.

I could be wrong, but I think the kid has got to be leaning toward a school at this point, but he's just playing a shell game to keep everyone guessing until when he wants to announce.

 

[bamastan71]

Well at this point I really dont care, dont get me wrong I would love to see him here. It would give Star one more guy to go to when we win our next MNC. But as it stands right now, we have a top 3 class WITHOUT him.

 

[Johnwants#15]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

This is a very long thread so this may have already been noted. But Julio has either visited or is planning to visit Florida and Tebow was/is his host for the weekend.
I'm going to say this and get a lot of criticism. I'd love to see the kid at Bama.
But I do have to wonder...do we really want someone who's so darn hard to convince?
I mean Julio is laying out qualifications and requirements about the type of Quarterback he wants...etc.
I kinda like the players who say.."Bama is the place for me and I want to help them win a national title".
Even if they have one or two less stars.

sippi

Players who "think they are prima donnas or act like they are may be a big part of the reason we lost 4 in a row at the end of the year.

I am with you ,,,, I say if julio wants to wear the jersey that represents the greatest tradition in college football history one worn by names like ,,Namath, Ozzie Newsome , Derrick Thomas and from his own back yard,,,Kenny Stabler. Then prepare yourself to work hard, put your time in and be a part of the "process" of building a champion,,, He should come on down to T-town . I would much rather my name be asscociated with those than Brian Bosworth and barry Switzer or some nouveou Riche crowd at Fla. (Unless they throw in a pair of those sweet Gators Croc s and a pair of jean shorts,then I'm all in) But he should follow his heart and stay true to himself ,,,but remember that once you leave........Going home will never be the same again.
Many will see him right or wrong as a traitor and a sell out .
Accomplishments ,,,no matter how great will never be looked on with such adoration as they would be at the home state school.. and no championship or award will ever make you immortal as one that is brought back to the people at "home".
There is something about being the hometown hero and it is a feeling that can be found nowhere but at HOME.

I hope the young man chooses wisely because some bridges can never be recrossed if you figure out to late that you took the wrong path.

Just my 4 cents worth.

 

[ElkhartTider]

ok i guess im not too sure how this works.. but does julio have much of a choice when he gets to commit?.... i dont think he can be paid directly to commit on ESPN on signing day .. but he has to get SOMETHING.... seems like most of the top rated prospects these days always announce on ESPN or some other high profile way of announcing because they are probably heavily influenced to do so.... who knows Julio may have known all along where he wants to go... he just cant say anything... ?

 

[JeffAtlanta]

There is absolutely no evidence that JJ is a prima dona. From what I've read over the recruiting process, the evidence points to his being a down to earth guy that just happens to be unsure about where he wants to go.

Also, it is is important to note that we recruit out of state as well and every successful school does the same. Some of the players that seemed to love the team the most over the years were from out of state.

 

[deliveryman35]

There is absolutely no evidence that JJ is a prima dona. From what I've read over the recruiting process, the evidence points to him be a down to earth guy that just happens to be unsure where he wants to go.

Also, it is is important to note that we recruit out of state as well and every successful school does the same. Some of the players that seemed to love the team the most over the years were from out of state.

Jeff, I've heard the same thing about the kid--I don't think he's a prima dona, one thing I cannot say about another heavily recruited, undecided player that lives in my area that shall remain nameless...on the contrary, I've heard nothing but positive things about Julio. In fact, the argument could be made that he has handled his whole recruitment process with a lot of maturity and discretion. He's playing it close to the vest and wants to give thought and consideration to several schools(so says CW). Really, there's nothing wrong with that. It's probably one of the most important decisions that he will make in his life so it's hard to blame the guy for taking the time that he has available to make and announce publicly his decision. I hope we get him but at this point my sentiments toward the young man are simple-- like Barry Switzer used to tell recruits in their living rooms years ago, IF you come to play with us, we'll compete for conference championships and NC's. If you DON'T come play with us, we'll STILL be competing for CC's and NC's. The choice is yours...

 

[Hankster2]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

I'm going to say this and get a lot of criticism. I'd love to see the kid at Bama.
But I do have to wonder...do we really want someone who's so darn hard to convince?
I mean Julio is laying out qualifications and requirements about the type of Quarterback he wants...etc.
I kinda like the players who say.."Bama is the place for me and I want to help them win a national title".
Even if they have one or two less stars.

sippi

Selecting the right school is the first step in these guys careers and JJ CLEARLY has options.

JJ is showing his maturity by taking as much time as he can to make the right decision in this process and I'd imagine that same work ethic and due diligence is part of what makes him the best WR on the field. Whether it be watching game film, selecting a school, or whatever... it's called being prepared. I don't know why you would argue it's a knock against him.

No... I wouldn't rather have someone who just went somewhere "to get the decision over with" without weighing their options first. I wouldn't want to risk that quick/easy route mentality finding it's way to the practice field.

The guy said he would wait till NSD to make his decision and he's got plenty of offers so I don't see where he's being "hard to convince".

 

[Hankster2]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

Players who "think they are prima donnas or act like they are may be a big part of the reason we lost 4 in a row at the end of the year.

I am with you ,,,, I say if julio wants to wear the jersey that represents the greatest tradition in college football history one worn by names like ,,Namath, Ozzie Newsome , Derrick Thomas and from his own back yard,,,Kenny Stabler. Then prepare yourself to work hard, put your time in and be a part of the "process" of building a champion,,, He should come on down to T-town . I would much rather my name be asscociated with those than Brian Bosworth and barry Switzer or some nouveou Riche crowd at Fla. (Unless they throw in a pair of those sweet Gators Croc s and a pair of jean shorts,then I'm all in) But he should follow his heart and stay true to himself ,,,but remember that once you leave........Going home will never be the same again.
Many will see him right or wrong as a traitor and a sell out .
Accomplishments ,,,no matter how great will never be looked on with such adoration as they would be at the home state school.. and no championship or award will ever make you immortal as one that is brought back to the people at "home".
There is something about being the hometown hero and it is a feeling that can be found nowhere but at HOME.

I hope the young man chooses wisely because some bridges can never be recrossed if you figure out to late that you took the wrong path.

Just my 4 cents worth.

This is a kid choosing where he wants to go to school. It's not 1861 and he's not defecting to the North.

The NFL is big money and a lot of these guys are choosing the first step in their careers. It's possible that choosing the wrong school could cost him millions in his first NFL signing bonus so I don't see why he should be faulted for making a careful business decision as opposed to just saying "I'm going to go to Bama because they've had a lot of great players in the past" which, let's face it, will have ZERO impact on his first NFL contract.

Would DJ be a higher NFL pick if he'd gone to LSU? Maybe. Maybe not. But for potential NFL prospects coming out of High School these are the kinds of things that need to be seriously considered because there is real money involved. Granted it's not everything, but it probably ranks higher to today's athletes than tradition.

I think worrying about how many people in your home state are going to hold it against you 20 years from now is a small-minded reason to pick a school that isn't THE best fit for you.

 

[AdamMc2003]

exactly, I love bama with all my heart, and good things are ahead, but in the last 3-4 years, if I were a blue chipper knowing that unless I bust horribly, the NFL is in my future, sorry guys, i'm heading to USC, LSU, OSU, etc...

Now, I would go with my heart and play at Bama, as I think in 2-3 year we will be back in the spotlight, but this hasn't always been the case and though Bama Nation sees the writing on the walls, a lot of these kids couldn't care less about what our team used to do, they see a team that went 6-6 last year and 7-6 this year... So we have a long way to go before kids who weren't born with a love for the University come to play for us simply BECAUSE its Alabama... Yes, we'll get back to that stage, but it won't be tomorrow... Though it is great to see us back a top the recruiting in the SEC, that is what championships are built upon, and how we make new history...

 

[LCN]

Please note I said I wasn't too impressed and not I wasn't impressed.

He's banged up & playing @ around 75% .

 

[Johnwants#15]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

This is a kid choosing where he wants to go to school. It's not 1861 and he's not defecting to the North.

The NFL is big money and a lot of these guys are choosing the first step in their careers. It's possible that choosing the wrong school could cost him millions in his first NFL signing bonus so I don't see why he should be faulted for making a careful business decision as opposed to just saying "I'm going to go to Bama because they've had a lot of great players in the past" which, let's face it, will have ZERO impact on his first NFL contract.

Would DJ be a higher NFL pick if he'd gone to LSU? Maybe. Maybe not. But for potential NFL prospects coming out of High School these are the kinds of things that need to be seriously considered because there is real money involved. Granted it's not everything, but it probably ranks higher to today's athletes than tradition.

I think worrying about how many people in your home state are going to hold it against you 20 years from now is a small-minded reason to pick a school that isn't THE best fit for you.

I simply stated facts as they normally play out in real life.

Yes ,ideally he could go wherever and come back home to Foley and everyone would treat him the same, but unless you are from a different part of the country than I that will not be the case in REALITY.

facts are facts and people will hold it against him.
Sey Lester is a star on "d" at Bama and JJ is a star at OU who do you think has a better chance of getting out of school and getting a better job in this state?????
I know look at NFL and all that jazz but how many of these kids that can't miss,do in the end miss the league.

Please do not think I am putting him down because that is not my intent (though from reading my own post I can understand you thinking I meant my words with malice, and knowing that my intent cannot be read through a message board)
I simply tried to make a point that many times especially for an extremely high profile athlete there are more opportunities to be gained by staying in-state even if in-state means the barn (heaven forbid).

The high profile guy who stays home tends to be rememvered and revered more than the one who leaves.Like it or not that can make a difference later in life.

 

[12 rings]

We have one of the best recruiters in america. I'll take my chances with CNS. I think he gives us a better shot at landing JJ than anyone else would. In other words, if he doesnt sign with bama, the 40ft cake dripping with icing might not have a cherry!:biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[BamaMoon]

Everything I've heard and read about JJ suggests he is very down to earth. I can say this from personal experience: near the conclusion of the Bama/Ark. game this year, I stood on the field level near the fence where we scored the game winning TD. JJ was standing nearby and when he started to leave with the other recruits he walked by me within two feet and I said, "Hey Julio?" He acted like he was surprised I would even recognize him as he turned and gave a "what's up" nod. Pretty cool I thought and not a hint of self absorption.

 

[VirginiaTider22]

In relation to past discussions on this board please let me know if this information is correct RTO , CS or anyone with recruiting info. I discussed the possibility of OU and info. regarding it from a "insider" in the OU boosters program. I'm at work so I have to keep this short.
Once again my friend stated that JJ was noted on a recruiting site as saying "He wanted to attend a college with an established young QB." He followed that up with a long "do you believe me now" , "nah nah nah nah nah nah", "I told you so" type rant. So, in short is this quote true and if so doesn't this mean slim to none?
I'm absolutly sick of his mouth...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

In relation to past discussions on this board please let me know if this information is correct RTO , CS or anyone with recruiting info. I discussed the possibility of OU and info. regarding it from a "insider" in the OU boosters program. I'm at work so I have to keep this short.
Once again my friend stated that JJ was noted on a recruiting site as saying "He wanted to attend a college with an established young QB." He followed that up with a long "do you believe me now" , "nah nah nah nah nah nah", "I told you so" type rant. So, in short is this quote true and if so doesn't this mean slim to none?
I'm absolutly sick of his mouth...

Don't know if any of this "rant" is even remotely true but if JJ decides not to come here then Bama will still be fine. If our hopes and dreams of winning a NC hinges on whether ONE wr signs at Bama I doubt we were going to win one anyway. There are MUCH MUCH more important aspects of football than whether you have a parade all american wr or not.

Bama will be fine with or without JJ.

 

[eladabbub]

Calvin Johnson was the best college wide-out probably since Randy Moss, and where did it get Georgia Tech? He didn't have the talent around him to make a championship run.

That said, I would really like to sign Julio. Mainly because he's the #1 player in the country and he's from Alabama.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Injuries don't hurt stock of Foley's Julio Jones

The monster that is college recruiting grew by two Godzillas on Saturday afternoon when not one, but two, high school all-stars games were televised.

Both the Army Bowl and the Under Armour Game were aired on network television while an actual college bowl game, the International, had to settle for cable. That says a lot.

My focus is on the Under Armour Game, which gathered a number of ESPN 150 prospects, including eight blue-chippers from the state of Alabama, for a week of workouts that were more scrutinized than the game.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Calvin Johnson was the best college wide-out probably since Randy Moss, and where did it get Georgia Tech? He didn't have the talent around him to make a championship run.

That said, I would really like to sign Julio. Mainly because he's the #1 player in the country and he's from Alabama.

Yes. You have to keep the BEST players in state, period. If for nothing else, he becomes a great recruiting tool for the future, should said player becomes one of the best in college.

So, yeah...I think Saban knows how important keeping Jones in state is (or for that matter Harris). But we all know we shouldn't be looking for a "deeper meaning" of what said 18 yr old says. Let it play out.

 

[always4bama]

In relation to past discussions on this board please let me know if this information is correct RTO , CS or anyone with recruiting info. I discussed the possibility of OU and info. regarding it from a "insider" in the OU boosters program. I'm at work so I have to keep this short.
Once again my friend stated that JJ was noted on a recruiting site as saying "He wanted to attend a college with an established young QB." He followed that up with a long "do you believe me now" , "nah nah nah nah nah nah", "I told you so" type rant. So, in short is this quote true and if so doesn't this mean slim to none?
I'm absolutly sick of his mouth...

I will not say that was not JJ's response - but I lived in Foley until after this years football season and attend Foley football games, read local papers about him, and watched local sports interviews if this was his quote he his a Jekyll and Hyde type kid. Which I find really hard to believe. His reputation is for being the down home and cool headed kid.

I would also say most of us in our life time will never experience the kind of public scrutiny that college recruits go through. Most of us most certainly did not have to go through living in a fish bowl in regards to our college choice nor career choice. I do not recall JJ requesting anyone to take notice in his skills, maybe he wanted them to but I bet he did not initiate the "look at me" hype. Therefore he should be respected for being methodical in making his decision.

 

[Alasippi]

Re: Julios comment after UnderArmor all star game

Selecting the right school is the first step in these guys careers and JJ CLEARLY has options.

JJ is showing his maturity by taking as much time as he can to make the right decision in this process and I'd imagine that same work ethic and due diligence is part of what makes him the best WR on the field. Whether it be watching game film, selecting a school, or whatever... it's called being prepared. I don't know why you would argue it's a knock against him.

No... I wouldn't rather have someone who just went somewhere "to get the decision over with" without weighing their options first. I wouldn't want to risk that quick/easy route mentality finding it's way to the practice field.

The guy said he would wait till NSD to make his decision and he's got plenty of offers so I don't see where he's being "hard to convince".

It's a huge decision and he certainly has the right to weigh all options. I didn't like the remarks about Quarterback requirements. What exactly do you say to him if ou're CNS? If it was me I'd say.."I'll pick the quarterback. You'll play wide receiver".
Don't get me wrong. I hope to goodness we get him. Not as bad as I want Deandre Brown who is a much better player but I hope we get Julio too.
I'm about to start a thread a why we may indeed end up with Deandre. It seemed impossible until a young man named Star Jackson did a little recruiting. Look for the thread.

sippi