Savage Fired up for Rutgers; Smith, Larrow Impress
No college coaches were permitted at today's Big Time Football Showcase at Rutgers Stadium.
But college coaches from across the land could watch some highlights and interviews of the event on CBS College Sports during Thursday's night's post-Lost telecast.
The event was put on by Chris Melvin, Chuck Mound and Nick Lubischer, who for years have run the Elite College Combine each May in New Jersey. Because a new NCAA rule says college coaches can't attend combines, these guys worked out a deal with CBS College Sports to have Tom Lemming appear and interview various players.
Here are some snippets from those interviews...
QB TOM SAVAGE, Class of '09 Rutgers commit from Cardinal O'Hara (Pa.)
"I know I'm just going to go in there and work hard and the best player plays. I didn't want to do the whole depth chart math and just try and see who's leaving, who's coming in. I just wanted to go in there and work hard and see what happens.
"They're all great ballplayers at Rutgers and they're all going to be great athletes, and I just wanted to keep talking to them because I think they're going to build something special here. They already have, three straight bowl games.
RB THEO RIDDICK, Class of '08 Notre Dame commit from Immaculata
"(My decision) was based on academics. A lot of D-1 chools are going to be good in football, that's just how it is... But you come out of Notre Dame, you do whatever you want to do. A degree from Notre Dame is just amazing, and that's why I picked them.
"When I talked to Charlie Weis, he really stressed (me playing) running back. But whenever I get on the field fastest. If I have to play cornerback, that's what I'll do. Whatever Charlie wants me to do, that's what I do."
WR DEVON SMITH, 5-7, 140-pound WR from Waldorf (Md.) Westlake who ran a 4.25 40 and will surely pick up some offers after reportedly holding none going in
"I knew I was going to run pretty fast because I run track and I've been training on that in the offseason. I ain't played football so I've been running track all year. So I knew I was going to run a good time. I was aiming for the 4.1"
DE MICHAEL LARROW, 6-3, 250 pound DE from Union who holds offers from Rutgers and Syracuse. Melvin calls Larrow the "biggest sleeper in the state of New Jersey."
"I just want to get a chance to see all the schools and give myself the best opportunity to go to the best school and have fun the 4 or 5 years that I'm at the school."
(Photos courtesy Rivals)
Riddick was lied to about playing RB and Notre Dame. He will be a back-up to 5-star fellow incoming RB recruit Cierre Wood who is ranked #3 in Rivals100 for the entire '09 class. Unless Wood is injured, Riddick's best shot at playing time for ND is at D-back.
Posted by:RUrising | May 09, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Be glad Notre Dame had secured commitments from Jimmy Clausen and Dayne Christ. Otherwise, Savage, a Notre Dame fan, would have joined the stable in South Bend.
Posted by:Dre | May 09, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Unless Chalie Weis does a 180 in his coaching out there with his own recruits, I'll worry much more about WVU, L'ville, USF, Pitt and OCC teams that won't hide behind Giants Stadium and come to play RU at home like Top 25 Fresno St.
Posted by:RUrising | May 09, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Don't worry about those teams. Big East football is a joke. Even without NY's own Ray Rice, Schiano should be able to do reasonably well in the weakest BCS conference.
Posted by:Dre | May 09, 2008 at 01:37 PM
With an 8-2 bowl games record last 2 years, a WVU pasting of Oklahoma and a USF win at SEC Auburn last year, along with 3-5 teams in pre-season Top 25's, sure, Big East Football is miserable. Like you would know anything about college football with your fantasy alma mater Duke. You're wasting my time, go away and dream about an Oxford degree for now.
Posted by:RUrising | May 09, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Cutcliffe has easily produced more NFL quarterbacks than Schiano. He won't, however, be able to have immense resources (as he could have if he coached at some state school).
Posted by:Dre | May 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
That's very funny, trying to imply that the new Duke HC (fired at Ole Miss) as an offensive coach all his asst coaching career compares in any respect to Schiano, a def coach in his asst coaching career. Anyway, nobody with a clue can see Miami and UMich ever courting Cutcliffe. Keep up the quality work genius.
Posted by:RUrising | May 09, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Cutcliffe's firing (for his loyalty to his assistants) at Ole Miss (a better football job than some Big East NJ state school)is roundly viewed as a major mistake by their administrators.
Keep working hard with your fellow scarlet queens at the Red Lobster. You'll need to have enough vacation time to catch those riveting Big East football games in autumn. LOL
Posted by:Dre | May 09, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Ouch, you're hurting my feelings. Very intellectual stuff. I'm sorry that Big East football can't excite you like the Duke football opener with James Madison!!!
Posted by:RUrising | May 09, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Even if it is against a I-AA program, Duke football is desperate for a win. Cutcliffe has the few fans as excited as anyone since Spurrier was the head coach.
Despite all of your baiting, I still hope Rutgers delivers a whipping against Carolina in September.
Posted by:Dre | May 09, 2008 at 04:00 PM