So, just read the very long article written by the SEC guys from Rivals. They were out at his school today. Story is written like it could go either way except it is said at the end that the feeling at the school was he was going to Tuscaloosa.
Story was posted on the Bama SEC board. In short,
- schools are very different. City vs country, large vs small, class size, etc. Seemed very impressed with the development, nfl stuff, alumni contacts, etc for life after football at Bama. Didn't mention any of that for UM. (not sure why considering he met dozens of alumni).
-has good relationships with both coaches : Jess Simpson and Tosh Lupoi
-schools plan to use him differently. Bama would make him more mobile (he sees himself as very mobile and flexible )
- he went back to Alabama on the Monday after our visit with his mother. She hadn't been there the first time. They got the full academic pitch, alumni connections, etc. Says he wants to major in aerospace engineering
- Says parents don't care where he goes. It's his choice. Family sat down last week and made Venn diagrams of the pros and cons of each school- left final decision up to him.
- told the coaching staff when he decided. Said "they were excited. Said they'd been holding the spot for him. They really want him badly. He has a great relationship with the coach and knows he can trust him to make him a better player."
-Says his recruitment won't be over when he publicly reveals his decision because he is planning on taking additional official visits in the fall. But he doesn't think anything will change his mind