The news broke today that former Louisville commit DeMarcus Smith will be headed to the University of Central Florida to become the next Dante Culpepper...or so he hopes.
Smith was committed to Louisville for months and was even leaning toward Duh Ville when Steve Kragthorpe was coaching the Cards right down the toilet. Smith is a four star quarterback out of Seneca high school and is a lifelong Louisville fan. So, why did DeMarcus choose UCF over the Cards?
Charlie Strong recruited Smith, Smith committed and then Strong recruited Teddy Bridgewater, a five star quarterback with a similar style to Smith. Bridgwater ended up committing to the Cards as well, giving Louisville two very good quarterback prospects. I suspected immediately that Smith might test the waters and seek out other offers.
Smith at first spoke like he didn't mind the Bridgewater commitment but in interviews he seemed to flip flop back and forth between it not bothering him at all and it bothering him a little bit. Then he went on a recruiting trip to UCF and said he liked. He liked it a lot. I was then convinced that Smith was seriously leaning towards decommiting from Strong. Rumors were also flying around, thanks to a Louisville blog, that Smith might be headed to UK. Those rumors were total BS.
It became official today that Smith will be wearing Gold and Black instead of Red and Black. This is what he had to say about the issue: "It's been a dream for me to play at the University of Louisville for my whole life. But like I said in my speech, this is a business decision. I understand that. It hurts me, it disappoints me and it's going to wear down on me for a while but at the end of the day I know I made the best decision for me."
Translation: "I love Louisville and I always will. I want to play right away but they recruited someone ranked better than me. So much for being loyal to your recruits." Get used to it Cards fans. This is how an SEC coach recruits. Strong will recruit the best of the best all of the time, guys will be shuffled in and out, so don't get too comfortable or fall in love with a recruit. If Strong is successful in what he wants to do, then over recruiting and broken promises are part of the equation. College football is a cut throat business, especially with elite teams. I am not saying what Strong did was wrong, you gotta go with the best players available. Caliapri does it every year.
Many Louisville fans, along with fans from other conferences, love to bash the SEC and their recruiting methods. They call the SEC dirty and unfair to the players. Now that Louisville has one of the best recruiters that the SEC had to offer as their head coach I am not hearing that at the moment.
But of course ignorant UofL fans, not all of them just the ignorant ones, can't fathom why somebody would pass up on the mighty Ville. You know, the team coached by Bear Bryant, Jr. and the team that's going to win a national title next year. So, to explain why Smith decommitted, Louisville fans are taking the high road and saying that UCF is paying him. Stay classy Cards fans!
As a Card fan it hurts to lose Smith. You always want to keep the homegrown talent. You neglected to mention that Smith tried to enroll early, but didn't clear the Clearing House. Whose to say that he would be able to enroll in the summer if he couldn't enroll in the spring semester. I believe him when he says that Teddy Bridgewater wasn't a factor in his decision to go to UCF. They have competed before and Smith has won. They were both a part of the Elite 11 camp. Smith took home the Accuracy and the Best Feet award. Bridgewater was favored to win the Best Feet. I think these recruiting practices have always gone on at Louisville and every other program, not just the SEC. Everyone wants the best players that they can get for their program. I just think a light was shown on Smith's recruitment because it was followed so closely by the local media and Card fans. We all wish him the best and in the spirit of competition, hope to schedule UCF in the next 3-4 years.
ReplyDeleteTravis, it's not like you wouldnt have accepted him with open arms and flat bill turned sideways if he was eligible in the fall.
ReplyDeleteThe part that I really find amusing is when you Cards fans start throwing conspiracy theories about... if dude had put a Red Bird hat on you'd had no second thought about his "business decisions" http://twitter.com/#!/mb217/status/33748180042518529
I said it hurts to lose him. I still hope he hates Orlando and transfers back home.
ReplyDeleteI like how any kid not coming to Louisvile it "getting paid" by the other team. The Card fans claimed the same BS when Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello headed to Baylor. Oh! They must be paying them!
ReplyDeleteWere we disappointed when Terrence Jones initially committed to Washington? Absolutely. But we didn't start rumors and make up excuses about UDub paying him.
Same thing with Jon Davis. I haven't heard or read anything about any UK fans saying he is getting paid by Illinois. Same thing with Dawson. Lousivlle fans really need to get over themselves and get a reality check. You are Louisville. Not Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Florida, or USC. If a kid doesnt want to go to school, it's for many reasons, but not because of a paycheck.
Actually, Boogie, I'm pretty sure I heard grumblings from UK fans when Bridgewater, Holliman and Johnson all committed saying that Strong had to be doing something shady to get them, as well as Pitino with Rodney Purvis...so it does go both ways.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, more news on this story is surfacing that DaMarcus (notice it's with an "A" not an "E") is apparently trying to get out of his LOI to UCF and sign with the Cards, as originally planned.