I noticed we're now ranked #23 according to rivals.com.

That's pretty good, if you ask me. The ranking seems to be based on sheer numbers of players...rather than any standout superstars. Honestly, I was afraid we wouldn't finish in the top 40.

I'd say if we maintain that ranking, or improve on it, we'd all have to be pleasantly surprised and fairly satisfied. Tough to do much better than that under the circumstances.....

I can't believe that Florida is NOT in the Top-25 according to Rivals.com

Well, you know....THEY had a coaching change, too. I know that they got a good one in Meyer....but still.....these coaching changes really seem to have a negative effect on recruiting.

Also notice we're only one or two notches below LSU and Florida State. Not bad.

Clemson is no. 19.

as we have all learned in the past... these recruiting rankings are fun for Jan and Feb, but I wanna see how they pan out on the field...

2Dam !!! ---- welcome to AST, Jr.

I agree. But since we're all suffering from college football withdrawl at least it gives us something to talk about. I

Urban Meyer might be the hot new name in college football coaching but he's yet to face a full season of SEC football and the wherewithall it takes to succeed CONSISTANTLY in this league. I think he'll do well but it wouldn't surprise me to see the Gators manage to just marginally improve from what they were doing under the Zookster.

Steve Spurrier, on the other hand....well, do I have to even say it? His track record speaks for itself.

If I remember correctly, the other day they were one or two spots ahead of Carolina, then they dropped out!!

Bingo!!!

They are now ranked 27th if I'm not mistaken.

Wayz, you'll have to admit, your rhetoric is all too familiar.


Urban Meyer has a ways to go to catch up with the SEC, while Steve Spurrier is held up as being even bigger than the program he inherits. I don't suppose it occured to you that Meyer may have inherited superior tools to compete in the SEC. Coming to Columbia, it might be Spurrier who is stuck playing catch up with the league.

Urban Meyer might just have that gift that makes a great coach but you have to admit, that still really remains to be seen. If you give me that, I'll give you that what he's shown so far is pretty impressive so his chances are good that he does.

Familiar sounding rhetoric or no, it's a fact that no one knows how he's going to fare in his first season playing the likes of Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and yes, South Carolina rather than New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, North Carolina and BYU. That's all I'm saying....it's a completely different world, that's all I'm saying. It's a world that Steve Spurrier has completely dominated before and by all signs in this recruiting season, it's a world he's looking to dominate again. May the best team win, bay-bee!!

I know I'm biased but I still would take Steve Spurrier in Columbia over Urban Meyer in Florida any day of the week and three times on Saturday, November 12, 2005.

Good luck SamuraiTater...nice job landing Meyer, by the way. I thought for sure he was going to ND and since I hate them too, I'm actually glad he ended up at Florida.

Any Atkins update??

If Mr. Meyer would have gone to ND, he would have been commiting "Career Suicide".

I hear ya, Wayz and I'll agree with you that no one really knows until we see their respective teams perform on the field next year. But since it's January and we've got nothing better to do at the moment than speculate.....

To be clear, I think both coaches will be successful over the long haul. The have similar philosophies and proven track records. Granted, Meyer was a big fish in a small pond, but Spurrier is coming off an unsuccessful venture into the deep ocean. I was merely contending that Meyer may have an advantage right off the bat in that Florida's recruiting did not slip much under Ron Zook. Zook continued to recruit the skill players necessary to implement a wide open scheme. On the other hand, Lou Holtz did not leave Spurrier much to work with in the way of quarterbacks and recievers. No doubt Spurrier will get an arsenal of offesive weapons sooner or later. I just think he may have to do more with less this coming season.

Actually if you look at NFL statistics, Spurrier had a better "rookie" two year stint than;

Bill Walsh
Joe Gibbs
Bill Parcells
Bill Bellichick
Marty Shottenheimer
Dick Vermeil


I cannot help but question your reasoning for your assessment? Given how the Redskins were playing under the mighty Joe Gibbs this year, how can you blame it all on Spurrier?

Everyone knows that the NCAA and NFL are two totally different beasts. Just because you are successful at the college game doesn't mean that your coaching translates well into the NFL.

Touche ! As well, just because one was successful in one NCAA program, how can we make the blind assumption they will duplicate the feat at another institution ? Some names come to mind; Lou Holtz, John Robinson (two stints with Southern Cal), or even Danny Ford for that matter.

I guess the point I'm getting at is that Steve Spurrier does not have some magic potion in his pocket that will make any collegiate team he coaches a national contender. Not saying he cannot make South Carolina a national contender, just that he does not deserve credit for doing so prematurely.