Bluedawg
11-30-2007, 08:42 AM
There seems to be a lot of positive news on the recruiting front (http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2007/11/30/Football/Recruits.Weigh.Options.In.Light.Of.Roofs.Departure-3125485.shtml)...
The Blue Devils have 13 commitments for next year, and so far, despite facing the possibility of playing for a coach they have never met, most prospects have affirmed their decision to play in Durham.
Coaches uncertain of their future are still pushing
Offensive coordinator Peter Vaas, out on the recruiting trail like the program's other assistant coaches, said that while the head coach may be gone, the school is still there.
"When you're involved emotionally with anyone, as the recruits were with Roof, you're disappointed," Vaas said Tuesday. "Duke is Duke. The people may have different names, but they are still of the same caliber."
Currently, Vaas and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva are reaching out to the recruits to make sure they are still committed. Ted Luckadoo, head coach of Lee Butler, a two-star cornerback at Westside High School in Anderson, S.C., said some of the coaches visited Butler to assure him he still had a scholarship offer. Moore also said Alleva and defensive line coach Scott Montgomery called him.
But there is still room for concern...
Some players are exploring other options and are taking a wait-and-see approach.
Butler is waiting to see who Alleva hires as before he fully commits. Matt Daniels, the 50th-ranked safety in the nation, originally chose Duke over powerhouse Georgia, a mere two hours away from his home in Fayetteville, Ga. Now, however, Daniels is questioning his decision because of the coaching staff, said Tommy Webb, his coach at Fayetteville High School.
"There's concern based on what has happened based on my talking to Matt," Webb said. "His immediate desire was to get a good education, and he may still stay with that."
To this point, however, no one has actually backed off their verbal commitment.
The Blue Devils have 13 commitments for next year, and so far, despite facing the possibility of playing for a coach they have never met, most prospects have affirmed their decision to play in Durham.
Coaches uncertain of their future are still pushing
Offensive coordinator Peter Vaas, out on the recruiting trail like the program's other assistant coaches, said that while the head coach may be gone, the school is still there.
"When you're involved emotionally with anyone, as the recruits were with Roof, you're disappointed," Vaas said Tuesday. "Duke is Duke. The people may have different names, but they are still of the same caliber."
Currently, Vaas and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva are reaching out to the recruits to make sure they are still committed. Ted Luckadoo, head coach of Lee Butler, a two-star cornerback at Westside High School in Anderson, S.C., said some of the coaches visited Butler to assure him he still had a scholarship offer. Moore also said Alleva and defensive line coach Scott Montgomery called him.
But there is still room for concern...
Some players are exploring other options and are taking a wait-and-see approach.
Butler is waiting to see who Alleva hires as before he fully commits. Matt Daniels, the 50th-ranked safety in the nation, originally chose Duke over powerhouse Georgia, a mere two hours away from his home in Fayetteville, Ga. Now, however, Daniels is questioning his decision because of the coaching staff, said Tommy Webb, his coach at Fayetteville High School.
"There's concern based on what has happened based on my talking to Matt," Webb said. "His immediate desire was to get a good education, and he may still stay with that."
To this point, however, no one has actually backed off their verbal commitment.