It's been interesting to see the reaction to Bobby Johnson's retirement. Usually people begin with "He's a great man" and then they go in one of two directions:
• He's a great man AND I'm glad he's doing what's best for him.
• He's a great man BUT now I'm not so sure because he's betrayed his recruits.
What do those recruits think? Here's some of their comments on Facebook:
• Jared Morse (DT, Oxford, AL): "So we lost our head coach... big deal. Were guna miss him but we got a good coach in caldwell and logo (defensive line coach Rick Logo) is still the man. watch out SEC...GO DORES!!!!
• Grant Ramsay (OL, Atlanta), to a buddy asking if he was OK with Johnson leaving: "Thanks bro! and yeah im good.. he didnt really call the plays or anything... im gonna miss him though.. we'll be just fine man"
• Kyle Woestmann (DE, Atlanta): Were gonna be just fine! gonna be missin BJ but we just gotta work a little harder and get ready for a good season. Lets get it"
These kids seem (1) glad that their assistant coaches are still there, which likely wouldn't have happened if Johnson had made his decision earlier, and (2) focused on their own adjustment to college life and football.
While the always quotable and confident Woestmann was posting things like "I can't be stopped," Ramsay posted on Monday that he'd been outfitted with a 24-hour heart monitor and was having an ultrasound, but yesterday he joyfully announced he's been cleared to play.
And what about last year's recruits who redshirted and will be playing for the first time this season? Here are their Facebook reactions:
• Jay Fullam from Chattanooga, who'll likely start at free safety: "Tough times don't last but tough people do."
• Mylon Brown, a huge offensive lineman from Florida: “I can’t wait for my mama to watch me on TV and say 'That’s my baby right there.' That’s what I’m working for.”
• Javon Marshall, a defensive back from Ohio: "Life is like a curve ball, that mug drop you just gotta drop ya bat with it...we still gonna knock it out tha park...my boys know what Im talking bout..."
• Justin Cabbagestalk, another O-lineman from Florida, actually quotes Aristotle: "To say of what is that is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true."
Fans from other schools naturally assume that there's a scandal here. But Bobby Johnson always said of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not. He always spoke the truth.
I think time will prove that he spoke the truth here, and that he tried to do the best thing for all involved.
Here's a parent's comment on MV!: "As a parent, I have great respect for BJ. He (and Coach Cain) recruited my son and the reason we are at vandy now is because of the high character coaching staff and the high academics. My son had several offers from 'football schools' but largely because of BJ, high graduation rates, and quality assistant coaches and administration, Vandy was and still is a great choice. Call me crazy but I believe that the team will respond with a good season. Good luck to BJ and Go Dores !!"
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4 comments:
Great blog Dimon, go hear for all my Vandy football news/analysis. Question though, how can one reasonably see Bobby didn't do a good job in his time at Vandy?
Cabbagestalk isn't doing much to help Vandy's nerd image with the ancient Greek philosopher quotes. On an aside, do cabbage grow on stalks?
Glad to see these quotes from the recruits. I think that the SEC East is wide open this year, so let's go for it. Another article somewhere said that Coach Caldwell may very well play these guys immediately. I think we really need to do that because they are fired up! Go Dores!
GO GORO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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