Rutherford Staying at GT

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

Just one comment….Rutherford states he “plans” to enter the portal. He may have been talking to the coaches and all agreed he could enter after the bowl game. Maybe he wasn’t happy for reason none on this board are aware of…maybe his girlfriend moved on…maybe something entirely unrelated to football or GT is at play here. I don’t know and none of us do either.
My point is simply that we should let this all play out before judging people of jumping to conclusions.
Best of luck to Malik.

Maybe keep it quiet until you actually enter the portal then. As soon as he let that get out, he's going to face the questions and assumptions and that's fair.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Omg, stockton was so much a back up.

He got open for 1 long pass from philo against miami who has a the dumbest head coach in acc. Every person who saw philo and stockton in hs knew that pass was coming.

Stockton with this better TE room will become a real threat and go to guy because he is smart, runs great route and catches ball away from body. Also Key and King will pass more.

I guess it’s how you want to define it. Stockton was a backup the same way Malik was. Just a year behind, working his way into the system. Anyone who is not a starter can be considered a “ backup” but it’s not the same as a backup center. That was my point.

Stockton got open for a bunch of passes.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Of course they were backups. Singleton and Rutherford were the starting WRs and got by far most of the targets/receptions. We played with 2 TEs mor than 3 WRs this season.

Pretending Stockton and Lane were starters is a joke! They have talent for sure but if either were better than Singleton or Rutherford they would have taken most of the WR snaps. They didn’t for good reasons. The starters were deemed by the coaches as better players this season.

I never said they were starters. However, being a non-starting player at WR is a lot different than being a non-starting center. Stockton and Lane, especially deeper in the season, got a bunch of snaps. They were in the WR rotation. While not starters, they certainly wouldn’t be what I would call “backups.”

I also never said either of them were better than Singleton or Rutherford. Don’t ascribe comments to me that I didn’t say.

 

[bobongo]

So a few players switching teams is destroying the fabric of the game? Come on with that. Replacing Singleton and Rutherford with 2 other dudes is not destroying anything. We shuffle OLinemen every year and no one has ever said that is destroying the fabric of the game. GT football is on the upswing so if 2 starters at a replaceable position think they can find a better situation then bye. Personally, I think both those guys will look back with regret because Faulkner’s system was perfect for both their skill set.

It isn't just about Singleton and Rutherford. It's about the continuity of a college education.
When you have players who aren't even around long enough to learn the fight song, something has been lost from college football.
Speaking of "fabric", ironically that's the only thing we fans have left to cheer for - the "fabric" of the uniforms on the field. The color. The laundry. The logo.
Speaking strictly for myself, it leaves me with a kind of empty feeling.

 

[Root4GT]

I guess it’s how you want to define it. Stockton was a backup the same way Malik was. Just a year behind, working his way into the system. Anyone who is not a starter can be considered a “ backup” but it’s not the same as a backup center. That was my point.

Stockton got open for a bunch of passes.

You are stretching the thought of starter vs backup. Stockton caught 15 passes in 12 games. 5 were caught in the NCST game. He didn't catch more than 2 in any other game. He was 100% a backup receiver. Rutherford was hurt in the NCST game and Stockton replaced him in that game which is why he got 1/3rd of catches in that game. Lane caught 20 passes all season in 9 games.

They are solid players but to this point in their careers they are no where close to Rutherford or Singleton. Lane was a 4th year player so he is likely at his ceiling. Stockton as a freshman likely will become a much better player.

 

[4shotB]

Speaking strictly for myself, it leaves me with a kind of empty feeling.

Agrred. I am sitting on the fence waiting to see how it plays out down the road. The buzz (intentional here) around Key, King, Batt and Cabrera keep me hanging on. Here's a thought that crossed my mind - how many people would still be here and engaged if these recents events were unfolding while we still had TStan and TFG.? That would have been the death blow to my decades old love affair with GT FB. It's scary how close these events came to lining up. Armageddon was avoided, if only temporarily.

 

[forensicbuzz]

I think we are just looking at the position participation differently, which is fine. It comes down to your definition of what “backup” means.

I think Stockton worked himself into the rotation as the year went along. Lane was in the WR rotation all year. A backup center only goes in if the center is injured or needs a blow. The WR room has a rotation of players that are going to get snaps.

What you’re saying is akin to saying anyone not in the first line in hockey are backups, which isn’t true. At WR, just because you’re 2nd string or even 3rd string doesn’t make you a “backup” player, in my mind.

Because this discussion is about how to define a word, I don’t think we need to continue the back and forth. I think we both agree that Malik and Eric were our best two receivers and we’re better with them than without them. I think losing them both will hurt, for different reasons. ESJ’s speed demanded double and triple coverage, which helped all our other receivers. Malik was our go-to possession receiver and was money when we needed that 1st down.

 

[wvGT11]

I just really hope the portal transfer gets revised to after the bowl games.

Hard to keep interest in a bowl when 7-8 guys decide to leave, and it's not even for the draft

I agree.
The problem is universities also have requirements on when students must transfer for spring classes. My thought still is that either cfb needs to adjust schedules to push the season start earlier / bowls earlier OR move the portal to spring time .

 

[forensicbuzz]

I agree.
The problem is universities also have requirements on when students must transfer for spring classes. My thought still is that either cfb needs to adjust schedules to push the season start earlier / bowls earlier OR move the portal to spring time .

There is no reason the CFP couldn’t be pushed up to where the final game is a NY game. No university starts the Spring Semester before the week after NYD.

 

[Root4GT]

There is no reason the CFP couldn’t be pushed up to where the final game is a NY game. No university starts the Spring Semester before the week after NYD.

Do you think College Football TV partners care about players entering the Portal before Biwl Games as compared to the TV money they get with the current set up? I cont believe they care at all. That GT or Vandy has 4-5 starters out for the Birmingham Bowl does not register on the ESPN radar.

CFP is what matters.

 

[g0lftime]

Maybe keep it quiet until you actually enter the portal then. As soon as he let that get out, he's going to face the questions and assumptions and that's fair.

He is letting it be known he is entering. That way he can have it locked down where he is going . Hedging his bets.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Do you think College Football TV partners care about players entering the Portal before Biwl Games as compared to the TV money they get with the current set up? I cont believe they care at all. That GT or Vandy has 4-5 starters out for the Birmingham Bowl does not register on the ESPN radar.

CFP is what matters.

Yes, but what happens when a significant number of players in CFP start entering the Portal and are opting out of the CFP games? That’s going to happen when the $$$ get big enough to entice top players (especially younger players that aren’t necessarily starters).

 

[wvGT11]

https://ramblinwreck.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Transfer-Information.pdf

From 2018, but this a good read from the University on the requirements to transfer out

As far as incoming transfers that's a little hard to find. I do no for typical undergraduate students, to initiate a transfer, paperwork is usually due in like October for a spring transfer

 

[Root4GT]

Yes, but what happens when a significant number of players in CFP start entering the Portal and are opting out of the CFP games? That’s going to happen when the $$$ get big enough to entice top players (especially younger players that aren’t necessarily starters).

If that happens and there is no certainty that it will happen then it might be worth relooking the system. I don’t think it will become a big issue for CFP teams. Will they lose some backups, sure. Lose starters is less likely.

 

[forensicbuzz]

If that happens and there is no certainty that it will happen then it might be worth relooking the system. I don’t think it will become a big issue for CFP teams. Will they lose some backups, sure. Lose starters is less likely.

“backups” are a really important part of a winning football team. I agree it’s still hypothetical, but plausible.

 

[Root4GT]

“backups” are a really important part of a winning football team. I agree it’s still hypothetical, but plausible.

They are but not nearly at the level of the starters.

 

[alagold]

ES and Malik might be a package deal….

When I heard about the pair of WRs from FIU coming ,I made the smart-A comment that it cleaned out the WR room at FIU.Well, here we are ourselves with S and R going. --I doubt VERY seriously that the guys from FIU are equivalent to S and R which some think-- not to mention the experience in our offense. --- I'm getting flat nauseous from the changes and wondering if its worth the aggravation.We take from little FIU and bigger (richer) boys take from us. I feared this and its reality now.

 

[MACHETE]

Anyone who thinks losing ES and Malik won't hurt us a TON next year is delusional. Stockton just gonna step right in? Really? Let's get serious now.

 

[33jacket]

Looks like we will become among the best feeder schools for the big boys, who have the money. The growing disparity in football revenues will continue to accelerate the multi-tier separation between the haves and have-nots. Retention of talent is going to be a b**ch…

Correct. Nil and the portal will make the smaller schools like us irrelevant over time. No way to hang onto kids; will struggle to pay. Will struggle to consistently recruit at a high enough level

Something absolutely has to be done to control this more.

 

[bke1984]

Anyone who thinks losing ES and Malik won't hurt us a TON next year is delusional. Stockton just gonna step right in? Really? Let's get serious now.

We will be perfectly fine. Our offense is crafted to have all sorts of motion and disguises that force receivers open without requiring them to do a whole lot in the process. I’ve enjoyed watching them both, but neither of those guys goes out and wins one on one matchups at some alarming clip that makes them any more exceptional than another WR that knows how to run some basic routes.

I’d love for them both to stay for continuity, but receivers are generally replaceable. Middleton, White, Campbell, Watkins, Glover, Rodriguez, Stegal, Thomas, Hill, etc. Good OCs and QBs manufacture good receivers.

Only one was irreplaceable…