We can see what Tosh-gate has brought.
We lost: Shaq, Payton, Walker because of Tosh. Probably Armistead (I say probably, because he hadn't committed). McCarthy was at best a "soft verbal," but Tosh leaving didn't help. We probably lost the opportunity to sign a couple of others such as Shittu, Hamilton, etc. (not saying we would have, just that the chance evaporated). Of these, the loss of Shaq seems the most important; having a big-hitting safety is something we've lacked recently. Otherwise, our class is still solid and likely to help move the program forward. I am also pleased with the solid character shown by MEN like Treggs, Dozier, Tagaloa, and Sebastian.
The biggest loss was not so much the specific players as the buzz. Everyone in the cfb world was talking about Cal and Calgang, and the surprise of Cal in the top 5 nationally. Now the buzz is all about Stanford. In the long run, results on the field are what count, but right now, the perception is that Stanford is the program on the rise (or at the crest) and we are floundering. This will help them early in the 2013 recruiting season and hurt us. It also may help get them more national coverage--at least for now. Unfortunately, so much of college football is perception these days.
What we have learned:
1. When something (or in this case someone) is too good to be true, it probably isn't. In this case, Tosh's recruiting was about smoke and mirrors. Admittedly, smoke and mirrors that worked last year and was apparently working so far this year, but the lack of commitment many of the players showed means that it was never deep in the first place--note also that only 2 players followed Tosh to UW; the rest went elsewhere. As I posted on another thread, I believe that given the psychopathy (i.e., lying, self-centered betrayal, etc.) that Tosh showed, he was a major recruiting violation waiting to happen. I suspect that as soon as things weren't going well or there was a player he felt we "just had to have," he would have done anything to get him. As I posted earlier, think back to our last all-world recruiter--Todd Bozeman. In the short term, this sets back the program and at an unfortunate time (when the new stadium opens). In the long term, we are clearly better off, IMO.
2. We have also learned (and I hope/believe JT has as well) that it is necessary for everyone to be up to speed in the new media and not rely on one "expert" to handle these things. It isn't so much that Tosh was the lead recruiter on so many players--that happens everywhere. It is that no one else had his expertise in twitter, facebook, etc.
3. The safest way to build recruiting strength is by having a successful program. Foremost: winning. Along with that high academic success and players satisfied with their experience.
If I wasn't so disgusted, I might actually feel sorry for Tosh. He is clearly a flawed human being who trashed everything he said he believed in. He may have a butt-load of money and a nice boat, but he no longer has a good name, and he no longer has any integrity, and those are things he may never get back. I know he's only 30, but he can look forward to dying perhaps rich, but dying a traitor.
We lost: Shaq, Payton, Walker because of Tosh. Probably Armistead (I say probably, because he hadn't committed). McCarthy was at best a "soft verbal," but Tosh leaving didn't help. We probably lost the opportunity to sign a couple of others such as Shittu, Hamilton, etc. (not saying we would have, just that the chance evaporated). Of these, the loss of Shaq seems the most important; having a big-hitting safety is something we've lacked recently. Otherwise, our class is still solid and likely to help move the program forward. I am also pleased with the solid character shown by MEN like Treggs, Dozier, Tagaloa, and Sebastian.
The biggest loss was not so much the specific players as the buzz. Everyone in the cfb world was talking about Cal and Calgang, and the surprise of Cal in the top 5 nationally. Now the buzz is all about Stanford. In the long run, results on the field are what count, but right now, the perception is that Stanford is the program on the rise (or at the crest) and we are floundering. This will help them early in the 2013 recruiting season and hurt us. It also may help get them more national coverage--at least for now. Unfortunately, so much of college football is perception these days.
What we have learned:
1. When something (or in this case someone) is too good to be true, it probably isn't. In this case, Tosh's recruiting was about smoke and mirrors. Admittedly, smoke and mirrors that worked last year and was apparently working so far this year, but the lack of commitment many of the players showed means that it was never deep in the first place--note also that only 2 players followed Tosh to UW; the rest went elsewhere. As I posted on another thread, I believe that given the psychopathy (i.e., lying, self-centered betrayal, etc.) that Tosh showed, he was a major recruiting violation waiting to happen. I suspect that as soon as things weren't going well or there was a player he felt we "just had to have," he would have done anything to get him. As I posted earlier, think back to our last all-world recruiter--Todd Bozeman. In the short term, this sets back the program and at an unfortunate time (when the new stadium opens). In the long term, we are clearly better off, IMO.
2. We have also learned (and I hope/believe JT has as well) that it is necessary for everyone to be up to speed in the new media and not rely on one "expert" to handle these things. It isn't so much that Tosh was the lead recruiter on so many players--that happens everywhere. It is that no one else had his expertise in twitter, facebook, etc.
3. The safest way to build recruiting strength is by having a successful program. Foremost: winning. Along with that high academic success and players satisfied with their experience.
If I wasn't so disgusted, I might actually feel sorry for Tosh. He is clearly a flawed human being who trashed everything he said he believed in. He may have a butt-load of money and a nice boat, but he no longer has a good name, and he no longer has any integrity, and those are things he may never get back. I know he's only 30, but he can look forward to dying perhaps rich, but dying a traitor.
