Monday, February 9, 2009

For North Carolina, what might have been...

With a few days to look back at the conclusion of the 2008 recruiting wars, it's obvious that North Carolina had a very good class. It just missed being a great one.

The night before signing day, Greenwood, S.C. DE Sam Montgomery was still trying to decide between LSU and UNC. And he said that the Tar Heels had been his favorite for some time. I got a feeling that a number of family and friends were pushing the Tigers, thinking Sam would have a better chance at winning a national title there. They had to sell Montgomery, though, and finally did. Montgomery, The Observer's No.2 prospect in South Carolina, headed for Baton Rouge.

North Carolina also just missed on two big-time offensive linemen. Morgan Moses of Richmond Meadowbrook High wound up at Virginia after reported narrowing it to the Cavaliers and Tar Heels. And Bobby Massie of Chatham, Va.'s Hargrave Military Academy, who picked Ole Miss over UNC.

Had the Tar Heels landed all three or even two of them, this might have qualified as their best class ever, ahead of some fine ones that arrived during the Mack Brown years. As it is, UNC improved its talent level dramatically, finishing with the No.8-ranked group according to Rivals.com.--Stan Olson

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stan, I don't think Mack ever cracked the top 10. This WAS a great recruiting class, and it just missed being the best in the country.

If you'd do a little research rather than writing off the cuff, you'd be a much better writer.

Anonymous said...

Stan, I think it is OK if you don't post in the blog unless you have something worthwhile to say. It's hard to write about "what might have been" before the fist game. Better to not post than to post nonsense.

Observer Sports said...

Guys, this is Stan. I said it was a very good class. And all we have to go on now are the rankings. My point was how close the Tar Heels came to getting those three guys. I certainly think they did well, and I know how Montgomery, for one, agonized over his decision. You've got it backwards; I wasn't criticizing the class at all; just pointing out how close it was to being even better.

Anonymous said...

Stan:

I love you...I really love you.

Observer Sports said...

In that case, I hope you're cute...

Anonymous said...

Will you settle for fat and rich :)
All kidding aside I think you are the best The Observer has. You are very versitile.

Observer Sports said...

Thanks much, and, still kidding, I might just settle for fat and rich!

Jeffrey said...

Looks like the ACC missed out on another gem from Greenwood, SC.

It'll be ok though, the entire league ducks tough non-conference opponents, whether its LSU or even App State.