📡 Nick Saban shares harsh words for how recruiting websites are creating unrealistic expectations for kids today

[BAMANEWSBOT]

The world of recruiting websites and services is a multi-million dollar industry that happens to both make the dreams of high school aged kids, while also crushing the dreams of many others.

Coaches, as well as their personnel and recruiting staffs, don’t put a whole lot (if any) stock into what recruiting sites have to say about recruits, or their star ratings.

In fact, Nick Saban went on a bit of a tear on the unrealistic expectations that recruiting websites instill in a lot of kids, and how that leads to issues like transfers early on in their playing careers.

The issue came to a head when Saban got a little testy after being asked about what he tells young players in his program that are exploring transfer options, with the reporter who asked obviously alluding to the hotly discussed quarterback battle between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Both guys were highly recruited out of high school, with Jalen Hurts leading the Tide to a great season last year, before being replaced by Tua in the national championship game where the backup went on to throw the game-winning touchdown.

“Basically every guy, when you’re a senior in high school, you have goals and aspirations and things that you want to accomplish, but when it comes to developing your career you’re rolling the dice as to how that works out,” Saban shared.

“How you’re able to compete, how you’re able to sustain, what kind of player you’re going to be. And it makes it even more difficult because all the people out there who are so-called experts on Scout.com, and all the people who give them 5-stars, they create an expectation with these guys that’s unrealistic.”

“So it’s an unrealistic reality that we live in with a lot of young players, and I feel bad for them, because what I’d like for them to do is just focus on what they need to do to be good players, and try not to worry about meeting all the expectations and standards that people have created for them. I think in some cases, that contributes to guys making some not great decisions about what they do, in terms of their future.”

Hear more from Saban on the topic below.

 

[TUSKtimes]

It's got to be frustrating as a head coach no matter who you are. But it's part of a culture thing now and when it gets as bad as it is, who's going to stop it?

 

[BamaFan334]

I am guilty for going to Rivals and 247, but I find myself in constant negative emotions about Mike Farrell. I've never seen another "analyst" bash a kid like him, high schoolers. I've also never seen anyone else trash college players like he does. I know he's still bitter about 247 leaving him out to dry and he wants to make a name for himself, but his fat unathletic ass is in no position to trash a kid no matter what profession he is in, especially considering he is nit in on the day to day or family lives of any of these guys.

 

[UAgrad93]

We could easily point to a few guys from the past and even present that haven't panned out or lived up to their ranking for some reason or another, whether it was injuries, grades, off field issues, etc. The expectations placed on these kids is unrealistic!!! I used to tell my players and now I tell my son, "Don't try to be the NEXT Michael Jordan, Greg Maddux, or Joe Montana! Be the one and only you!! And be the very best YOU can be!"

 

[BamaFan334]

We could easily point to a few guys from the past and even present that haven't panned out or lived up to their ranking for some reason or another, whether it was injuries, grades, off field issues, etc. The expectations placed on these kids is unrealistic!!! I used to tell my players and now I tell my son, "Don't try to be the NEXT Michael Jordan, Greg Maddux, or Joe Montana! Be the one and only you!! And be the very best YOU can be!"

I'm still very unsure of how you can knock a guy for getting injured. I've never understood how they can say he never lived up to expectations because he got hurt playing the game. it's one thing if you don't put in the time or effort, or simply never adjust to the college speed and game, but it pisses me off when injuries cause these folks to say a guy busted or never lived up to expectations. Am I wrong in thinking that or seeing it the wrong way?

 

[TUSKtimes]

I'm still very unsure of how you can knock a guy for getting injured. I've never understood how they can say he never lived up to expectations because he got hurt playing the game. it's one thing if you don't put in the time or effort, or simply never adjust to the college speed and game, but it pisses me off when injuries cause these folks to say a guy busted or never lived up to expectations. Am I wrong in thinking that or seeing it the wrong way?

That made me think of Greg Oden the #1 pick of the NBA leaving Durant to go #2 to Seattle. The guy could play. The brief time he was on the court in the NBA he was as advertised. The problem, of course, were major injuries that literally stopped his career before it began. He was considered a bust. Has Bo Scarbrough continued to have major injuries and not been able to get on the field, how would you have looked at him? Like they say, the greatest ability is availability.

 

[UAgrad93]

I'm still very unsure of how you can knock a guy for getting injured. I've never understood how they can say he never lived up to expectations because he got hurt playing the game. it's one thing if you don't put in the time or effort, or simply never adjust to the college speed and game, but it pisses me off when injuries cause these folks to say a guy busted or never lived up to expectations. Am I wrong in thinking that or seeing it the wrong way?

I agree with you, but we have all read where fans have bashed a kid as a bust and it just so happens that the kid had to quit due to injuries. Tyler Love from Mtn Brook is a prime example. 5* OT that was #1 at his position and a Top 25-50 recruit, got hurt and stayed hurt. There were people calling him a bust. @TerryP will attest to that. That was why I said panned out, injuries. Eddie Williams and his off the field issues led to his being considered a bust. Those expectations put on these kids is unreal. A LOT of these kids get anything their hearts desire in HS and then the harsh reality of college life sinks in real quick.

 

[TerryP]

I've never understood how they can say he never lived up to expectations because he got hurt playing the game. it's one thing if you don't put in the time or effort, or simply never adjust to the college speed and game, but it pisses me off when injuries cause these folks to say a guy busted or never lived up to expectations. Am I wrong in thinking that or seeing it the wrong way?

There were people calling him a bust. @TerryP will attest to that.

Love was the first person I thought of when I read 334's post...and sure enough, you mention him.

Throwing a bit of a different wrench into this story...

I don't see how a lot of these "beat writers" for the recruiting sites aren't considered boosters. Take Travis Reier. His brother played at UA, he went to UA, and he's in contact with players/recruits. Or Rodney Orr for that matter. His son played for UA. I'm not saying Rodney sticks his nose where it doesn't belong. He's one of the few I trust. However, for one case there I can cite a lot that simply don't belong on the recruiting trail covering kids.

 

[BamaFan334]

I agree with you, but we have all read where fans have bashed a kid as a bust and it just so happens that the kid had to quit due to injuries. Tyler Love from Mtn Brook is a prime example. 5* OT that was #1 at his position and a Top 25-50 recruit, got hurt and stayed hurt. There were people calling him a bust. @TerryP will attest to that. That was why I said panned out, injuries. Eddie Williams and his off the field issues led to his being considered a bust. Those expectations put on these kids is unreal. A LOT of these kids get anything their hearts desire in HS and then the harsh reality of college life sinks in real quick.

I wonder if they considered Kenyan Drake not living up to his ranking? He snapped his ankle while being tackled, and his wrist while making a tackle. He missed a lot of time due to this. Do I consider him a bust, on no. But they always say about players "well he didn't live up to his ranking". Kind of like LaQuan Treadwell, he couldn't help an Auburn player tackling him from behind and his ankle snapping. So if his career never got back from that is he considered a bust due to someone else causing it?

And true, fans are a lot of the time the worst offenders. I don't go that far to call a guy a bust, as I focus more on the three deep and hoping a guy steps up. Ben Davis is a guy I haven't forgotten, but I also rarely think about him due to everything else going on in front of him. So I just think "Hmm, ok" when guys like that appear in an article or on tv, I don't start thinking what should have or could have been. But a lot of folks are like that.

 

[UAgrad93]

@BamaFan334, I have always looked at the kid and his circumstances. I guess it goes back to my coaching background. I look at and ask, Did they reach their potential? Did they take advantage of their opportunities? I never look at a kid as a bust!! I think that is why I have always harped on an education so much with my players and my son. You can't play forever!! Your playing days make contacts that can open doors for you but that education will be the one paying the bills 20-25 years from now when you are raising your family and preparing to send them off to school.