Palmetto Proving Grounds

People are making assumptions or misconceptions as far Beamer/Spurrier Jr and Clemson/South Carolina recruiting differences. There has been very little difference between the results of classes with Spurrier Jr and Beamer. There has been very little difference in Clemson classes and our classes over the same period.

Beamer was recruiting coordinator from 2009 to 2011. His classes were ranked 12, 24 and 18. Jr's two classes are ranked 19 and 13 so far this year.

Clemson's classes since 2009 were ranked 37, 19, 8, 14 and 14 so far this year. Our classes were ranked 12, 24, 18, 19 and 13 so far this year.
These are rivals ranking only because 247 does not go back that far.

Clemson is getting a few highly ranked recruits. Star power does not win football games. The big boys on the lines do and they are woefully behind us on the offensive line. Better coaching wins out when recruiting is basically even.

The one thing that concerns me is I thought we would recruit better with the kind of seasons we have had the last 2 years and beating Clemson 3 in a row. Maybe if we are able to have a very good season this year we will see recruiting take another step forward.

Am I disappointed that we've missed out on some great talent? YES. But even if we had a recruiting class that ended up ranked 2nd in the nation,some on this board would complain because we weren't ranked #1.

I want athletes who WANT to be Gamecocks, and coaches who can make them better by gameday. We have both.

This goes much deeper than just one good WR who we do not land, if indeed he goes to Clemson.

First of all, no matter the position, we have got to win SC recruiting battles, plain and simple...We have done a very good job in recent years of keeping the top players instate, and to lose a player of this caliber to Clemson is a setback, like it or not...

Finally, unless we turn Terry or Hill, we have missed on the top 3 players instate...Players who we once lead for or at least tied for the no.1 spot...While I'll dismiss it as simply bad luck, if this happens again next year, then there better be some concern in the minds of our staff...We cant lose control of SC and hope to continue to grow as a program.