You're just looking for something to be a little bitch about. Like I said, AU is seeing some success in recruiting right now. You would have to be an idiot to argue otherwise. However, Alabama is still bringing in talent. Its not like the 2008 class when Alabama totally choked off AU. As long as Alabama is bringing in talent, and if AU happens to be doing the same, then I'm fine with that.
Part two of my post should be fairly obvious. Signing some talent is just step 1. AU is knocking that out of the park right now. Step 2 is putting them into your program, and getting a result on the field. Look at the recruiting rankings over the past few years. For the 2007 class, Tennessee was ranked #3, LSU #4, South Carolina #6, Notre Dame #8, UGA #9. The 2008 classes? Notre Dame #2 (as Prowler will quickly point out, they were #1 after you take out non-qualifiers), UGA #7, Michigan #10. Even though the 2009 class would probably have the least impact on a team out of the other classes listed, LSU #2, UGA #6, FSU #7, Michigan #8, Tennessee #10. How exactly has that translated for those schools?
It comes down to evaluation and coaching. A bunch of guessing. Many teams have proven that just because they can sign them, it doesn't mean they can do anything with them. Its still to early to pass judgement on whether or not they work out after they get on campus. Thats the way it is at any school. But if you can get them on campus, thats half the battle.
As irritating as you are, all of the above is exactly true.
I'm excited about this Auburn recruiting class....but it's in the context of "recruiting", and that's all. There are different battles fought by programs year round. There are battles on the field (conference games, rivalries, etc), keeping your program clean, keeping a quality image, etc.
Recruiting is one of the many battles fought by a program. You compete with other competition to see how well you do in the recruiting battle. It's not done in a vacuum, it is just as head-to-head as any other battle fought in football. It's a different type of competition than is fought on the field, but just as real and just as fiercely fought. The coaches get out there and compete with each other, head to head, and all at the same time.
All that being said, I can be really excited about how we've competed in recruiting. We are among the most successful in the nation at it as of right now. That is something to be excited about. There was a battle being fought, and our guys showed up and got the job done and didn't get pushed around by anyone.
However, just like RWS points out....it is
ONLY what it is...nothing more. We
may have helped ourselves in future battles on the field, but as of right now, battles on the field are a separate issue. We've won nothing.
So everyone should be excited. But be excited for what it
is (victory in recruiting)....not what it
could be (victory on the field)....because the "could" is very real....just ask Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc.