🏈 Bama Starts the game hot against Ole Miss

[TideAlum05]

Not sure we were ever in the mix for Bledsoe after his junior year. I know we backed off when it looked impossible for him to get admitted at Alabama. Kentucky wasn't in on him either until Calipari showed up there. I think Bledsoe stays around another year.

I thought Grant tried to get Bledsoe late? Then UK came calling with Cal and that's all she wrote. Also, what do you mean by "it looked impossible for him to get admitted at Alabama?" Is this like what they did to Tony Mitchell when the NCAA cleared him, but he didn't meet Bama's requirements? That was complete hypocritical BS. The administration will find a way for any football recruit to qualify, but Tony qualifies and we decide to hold him to a hire standard? BS.

With these 'one and done' types Kentucky is setting up a future problem with the academic progress rule, which could cause them to lose scholarships. IMO however before this becomes an issue tne NCAA will be after Kentucky for other Calipari issues and he will have once again fled the scene.

100% agree.

 

[psychojoe]

I have a contact who keeps close touch with the Birmingham HS basketball scene. He told me in the fall of Bledsoe's senior year that Bledsoe's grades were a real problem, and said that the SEC schools had backed off. UAB was the favorite at that point, and Memphis was in the mix. (At that point Cousins was a UAB commit as well.) Through the miracle of internet and correspondence courses Bledsoe became eligible, though the issue was in doubt up until he graduated. Grant tried late, but by then Bledsoe was headed to Memphis, then Kentucky when Calipari moved. We were never really in the mix during Bledsoe's senior year.

 

[UAgrad93]

I think Bledsoe's coach had had a falling out with Gottfried before and that sort of "hamstrung" us in recruiting Bledsoe as well. I think Grant was given a chance to speak with him out of respect more than anything.