Westerman Recruitment Auburn/Texas Battle
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 12, 2011 9:49 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Recruiting
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PrintAmidst all the coaching changes on the Texas staff, it's probably remarkable that only recruit has seriously wavered in the process. More than a month after the retirement of Mac McWhorter and Mike Tolleson, the resignation of Greg Davis, and the following departures by Will Muschamp and Bobby Kennedy, offensive lineman Christian Westerman is the only recruit who has taken visits to other schools. In a lot of ways, that's a miracle and it speaks to the hard work of guys like Major Applewhite and Marcus Tubbs, who have taken much of the damage control work onto their own shoulders.
However, there's no doubt that a de-commitment from Westerman would be a sharp blow to the recruiting class. The big Arizona tackle is ranked 18th nationally by Rivals and third at this position and Texas coaches have expected him to play a major role in the resurrection of an offensive line that has consistently underperformed since the departure of NFL talent like Kasey Studdard, Lyle Sendlein, Justin Blalock, Jonathan Scott, and Tony Hills.
It wasn't the departure of Greg Davis that has caused the problems, either, it was the retirement of McWhorter. As Westerman's lead recruiter and supposed future position coach, McWhorter had a closer relationship to Christian and his family than anyone else on the staff, by far. And though Major Applewhite has worked hard to build a relationship, in particular by attending a luncheon by the Arizona Football Coaches Association at which Westerman received an award as the top offensive lineman in the state, the lack of an OL coach for all this time has helped open up Westerman's recruitment.
The planned visit to USC will not happen this weekend, but the major threat is now Auburn. Westerman visited several weeks ago and the coaching staff made an in-home visit after a practice in preparation for the national championship game. And it's not the national championship as much as Westerman's ability to attend practice and receive that in-home visit afterwards because of Auburn's presence in Arizona for the game that has helped make a difference.
According to the father, "Auburn is right there now, too," and his son has a "very special relationship" with Auburn OL coach Jeff Grimes, who, coincidentally enough, is perhaps the top target now for the Texas OL coach position. With the Westerman's visiting Texas for an official visit on January 21, the Longhorns not only need to have the hire in place, but the future hire needs to make a major positive impression on Christian and his family. If that coach happens to be Grimes, the odds are heavily in the Longhorns' favor to keep Westerman committed. If it's someone else, who knows, although Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite will certainly play a part as they provide the family with their vision of the Texas offense moving forward.
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I do not follow the stalking of 17 and 18-year-old boys, but this development makes me very sad.
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Jan 12, 2011 10:00 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Then at what age do you start stalking them?
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
Is there someone else we should be considering and have a reasonable shot with?
See ya later, alligator.
Considering how late it is
and that there are five other OL commits, if Westerman drops Texas, there’s no back-up plan and that’s probably okay.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 12, 2011 10:06 AM CST up reply actions
Diva?
I am starting to lose interest in Westermann myself. He seems like he would almost be more of a problem than helping to solidify the O-line, especially if for some reason things aren’t going well.
by LonghorninRaiderland on Jan 12, 2011 10:04 AM CST reply actions
I don't blame the kid for looking at other options,
especially considering our season and the OL coach retiring. I just don’t want to get hung out to dry. Hence, I ask, are there other options?
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:07 AM CST up reply actions
I personally don't blame him
for looking around after the person most responsible for getting him to Texas retired and the Longhorns have been slow to find a replacement because of the length of the OC search. I don’t think any of this reflects negatively on Christian as a person or on his family because the Westermans have handled the entire recruiting process as well as anyone could.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 12, 2011 10:07 AM CST up reply actions
The I stand corrected. I still hate the insane business of recruiting.
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Jan 12, 2011 10:09 AM CST up reply actions
Then…
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Jan 12, 2011 10:09 AM CST up reply actions
Insane it is.
But we seem to fare well in the midst of the insanity.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
I still like our chances
If there’s a concern, it’s a Pac-10 school where the family and friends might get to games. But Westerman evidently isn’t interested in the two in-state schools, and I guess USC isn’t an issue. Austin is a long way from his home, but Auburn is on the Georgia border.
I don’t blame him for looking around. His dad has been up front about all this, and I think looking around makes perfect sense. What’s unfortunate is that Mack’s preferred O-line hires apparently failed their interviews, or weren’t interested, and — as Big Roy points out — we’ve let a lot of recruiting hours go by without solidifying an important commitment.
I suspect that Mack has kept the Westermans updated
Applewhite has been shadowing him and if anyone knows the inside progress I bet it is the Westermans. In Mack I trust.
There's also culture
Austin has to be more appealing to an Arizona guy than Auburn, AL, based on my one visit there several years ago. We are talking SEC and most of their team comes from that part of the country. He’s a west coast guy.
I think Grimes is the main selling point. Nail him and we got ourselves a line coach and a good prospect. Just a good prospect, not a saviour. You know how recruiting rankings go. I’m much more concerned about the delay in naming an OL coach, he’s the key to making EVERYTHING else work out offensively. I’ll be glad when the search ends.
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Jan 12, 2011 5:40 PM CST up reply actions
Hmmmm.... Dime Stand Firm
Dime, I agree with your original sentiment, don’t get me wrong I love the recruiting process as that is a very special time (courtship) for student athletes.
I’m so over the Westerman situation, GOBR you are so correct, he is free to play the field, G_D knows I did before I decided on Texas (SEC Dad), but at this critical juncture on the Texas football landscape we need all in playas not divas being courted by our cousin twice removed. If he wants to wear the BO&W then HELL YEA, but if War Eagle is what her prefers then more power to him, it’s just time to focus on people who want to be on board.
You could say that about almost all recruits. As soon as they are targeted as having any kind of ability, the hangers-on immediately crawl out from under their rocks. These kids are treated as rock stars. It has become insane.
I was always impressed by stories about Jeffcoat and Hicks. Their parents didn’t pull this stuff and live vicariously through the recruitment of their talented kids.
What we have here is a failure to execute.
by dimecoverage on Jan 12, 2011 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
Speaking of recruiting
Do we have any more scholarships to offer, and are there any undecided prospects out there where we are still in the game?
"Only angry people win football games." --DKR
Rasco and Alexander
There are 23 commits, so the ’Horns could conceivably take two more players.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 12, 2011 10:27 AM CST up reply actions
I'm betting on 25
assuming we hold Westerman. Don’t know that Rasco and Alexander will complete the class, but I bet the NEW staff has some offers-in-waiting.
There once was a tackle named Westerman
Considered by most as the best of ‘em
UT’s winning expired
And McWhorter retired
But the kid’s heart stayed a burnt orange one.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:35 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
thanks, although admittedly not my best.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
In Houston a lawyer did dwell
His football and wine he knew well
His kidlets and wife
Were the light of his life
And he could SING, or so I heard tell
There is not a situation or individual that cannot be improved by the addition of chocolate.
by OnMySignal on Jan 12, 2011 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Awesolutely Absome!
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
Paleface and OMS,
there is a place for Limericks, and it is in my fanpost. : )
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
Mine is already there.
I doubled down. And hers is not relevant to the Longhorns. So it is off-topic both places. I say BAN her!
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 13, 2011 9:33 AM CST up reply actions
Oh, and mine is on-topic here.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 13, 2011 9:34 AM CST up reply actions
Logic can't persuade me away from selfishness and narcissism.
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
I'll try to come up with another limerick for your fanpost.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 13, 2011 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
now stop your whinin'
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 13, 2011 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
I have that feeling...
in the past there have been recruits who have “looked” at all their options; I don’t have clear evidence to support my thoughts, but most, if not all, of those recruits have gone on to other universities. Westerman is giving me that same feeling.
Tipsy and Jesus at the 'Cosm are confident Grimes will be the OL Coach
Grimes will be a tough get though. Grimes is going to have to really want to come back to Texas because Auburn will almost assuredly match Texas on the money.
Personally, I’m concerned that Texas has opened up the OL coach search from Grimes, Wickline, and Strausser to include additional candidates.
Does anyone know how warm Grimes’ interest is in the Texas OL job? It would be hard for anyone to leave a national championship team.
I don’t believe Grimes to Texas is a done deal or we would have heard more noise about it. I for one hope that Mack is giving Grimes a couple days to savor the victory before bringing him in. I have heard nothing about Grimes ever being in Austin. This is worrisome.
I’ve always been in the Wickline camp, but Auburn’s OL looked great against Oregon, so now I’m impartial. Both coaches would be tremendous hires for Texas.
I do believe Texas can retain Westerman’s commitment if they don’t hire Grimes, but it will have to be a very well respected, established OL coach who can close on recruits. I think that is basically Wickline’s resume.
Wickline or Grimes and we’ll keep Westerman. Hope to hear some major OL noise today. Hook ’em 2009.
by billfromlaketravis on Jan 12, 2011 10:39 AM CST reply actions
Chizik left after a nat'l championship.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
Chizik left for a head coaching job, not a lateral move for the same money
by billfromlaketravis on Jan 12, 2011 10:44 AM CST up reply actions
It would be hard for anyone to leave a national championship team.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
If I were sitting on the Auburn staff right now
I woud be doing everything I could to use the national championship as my ticket OUT. They have to know that the house of cards is going to fall. When the FBI has your employer in their sights, in my mind, that’s a good indicator to dust off the resume and call in the head hunters.
There is not a situation or individual that cannot be improved by the addition of chocolate.
Ditto
The Titantic was a beautiful ship too, but the time to get off is while the getting is good. Sitting and watching it get picked apart by investigations is not going to be fun. Cam is outta there, and so is most of that OL. Maybe they can beat Texas’ record for the worst season after playing in a MNC game.
he did not leave right after our national championship.
he left after Colt’s redshirt frosh season.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
Not so sure that Mack would raid another Big 12 staff...
Just my opinion of course.
by utexas87 on Jan 12, 2011 12:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Mack has an in home visit left with Westerman
What the hell is Mack waiting for? Get out to Arizona Mack and squash the Westerman – Auburn rumors.
by billfromlaketravis on Jan 12, 2011 10:42 AM CST reply actions
Just hire an OL coach already!
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
That's a little drastic, don't you think?
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Way off Base King
How can we give credit to a coach (such as Major) for working hard to establish strong ties with these kids and their families – then lambaste them when the University severs this tie? Some of these kids get 70% of the information on the University through their recruiting leader.
Note to Bill Byrne "Because you aren´t Texas and you´ll never be Texas"
lets get this right we lose are defense coordinator and. Not every defensive kid was ready to jump boat
Is he ready to jump boat?
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
The Westermans never said that
They merely said that they were looking at Plan B and Plan C if they don’t mesh with the new Texas staff.
They always said Texas is still Plan A, provided they get along with Christian’s new coach.
You can’t blame them for looking at their options since the OL Coach at Texas is still unkown. And all of this started before we had an OC lined up.
I was asking KingMack a rhetorical question.
I did not see any indication that he was ready to jump.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
You can be an average coach
and still be a good person.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Suppose so
None of my disdain for the former coaches is at all meant to be an attack on them personally. They were and are probably pretty great guys. That is why it was so dang hard for Coach Brown to let them go. That had to be really hard, but that is also why he is paid the big bucks.
From a recruit standpoint I would want to find both attributes.
Oh no, I understand
I would be much more quick to define a coach as bad if he showed he didn’t care for his kids or wasn’t giving his all to help him. I think the correct term for McWhorter is that he had become ineffective.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
this
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Jan 12, 2011 5:51 PM CST up reply actions
Like Greg Davis for the last several years?
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
Someone had posted a pic
Of Westerman’s dad and grandfather at the Under Armour All Star game…a week back. They were decked out in Texas shirts.
Also, I am hoping that the delay in naming the new OL coach is because Coach Brown didn’t want to disrupt a coach that was preparing for the MNC game. And, the fact that the Westerman’s like Giles and went to meet him (out of all other schools) is an interesting coincidence.
Auburn is under serious investigation, and their OL was great this year but most of them are leaving. It is a great time for Giles to get off that sinking ship. And, it would be a very bad time for Westerman to climb aboar that dirty program.
Yea, well go to Auburn and go on probation..
Stay in Austin, this season was a bump in the road..Go Horns..
Dang it, some of you folks are overreacting.
See ya later, alligator.
US? Overreact? n/t cs and pqrstn as well
There is not a situation or individual that cannot be improved by the addition of chocolate.
Come on, now,
We’re Texas, and in Mack we trust!
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
You are getting out of control. I commend you.
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
Me too!! It's great all the time, except when it interferes with my ADD,,wait,,what?
There is not a situation or individual that cannot be improved by the addition of chocolate.
Wrangler: does that stand for Overreactive Condition Disorder?
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 11:45 AM CST up reply actions
Rasco
What’s up with him? Do our new DC and staff have any inside leads that give us a better shot at him?
I just tried to putting my OCD to work
He liked Muschamp and may be looking at Florida now, but I think (if I remember right) that he also has a connection with Bo Davis and so I was wondering if anyone knew if Bo Davis or Manny Diaz are tied to him and will help us.
He hadn’t committed anywhere, so he is still in play for everyone.
I believe Rasco is still considering Texas and it is due to Bo Davis.
I couldn’t find the posts stating that but I believe you are correct in thinking Rasco is in play.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
Correct.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
www.burntorangenation.com
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jan 12, 2011 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
This is a total generalization and may not be truely accurate at all
But, why does it seem that every time we actively recruit a kid out of state we end up being given the run around and ultimately get hosed?
"Beautiful despair is hearing Dylan when you're drunk at 3 a.m. Knowing that the chances are no matter what you'll never write like him." Rodney Crowell: Beautiful Despair, 2005.
Don't forget Hicks.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 1:21 PM CST up reply actions
And look at D. Scott
We actually got lucky and avoided the slug on that one.
High profile kids that don’t commit early are more difficult. We have a lot more competition. We actually do pretty well, but we are just very spoiled having so much Great Talent within the state.
We did get Josh Turner from Oklahoma for 2011, and he is a helluva CB.
I know that we get kids from out of state
That’s why I said my statement may be too much of a generalization. It’s just that the feel I always seem to get is that you hear way more about the kids from out of state that give us the run around than you do the ones that get on board and stay there.
"Beautiful despair is hearing Dylan when you're drunk at 3 a.m. Knowing that the chances are no matter what you'll never write like him." Rodney Crowell: Beautiful Despair, 2005.
like Perrilloux
But it also happens with in-state players, too, like Martellus Bennett.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
In answer to your actual question,
it seems that way because we obsess about the bad things to the detriment of our apprectaion of the good things, at least in my case.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 1:42 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, what he said
And look at Demarco Cobb.
Perhaps we should make it an annual event that we save one offer every year for the TOP player out of OK. Last year Demarco Cobb, this year Josh Turner. Let the OK HS kids compete to get the honor. Take that Bob Stoops.
Guess so
Sanders is awesome and fun to watch, just like his dad. But, that bump deal with Saban is so wrong. Saban invented that move, the NCAA addressed, and now Saban is blatantly disregarding it. Give him an inch, he takes 100yds.
We definitely want Jonathan Gray, but Sanders would be good 2nd RB get.
That's a great question. One I've wondered about myself. Ryan Perilloux disease I suppose.
Kris Hughes
Founder, FanAttic Network
by fanatticnetwork on Jan 12, 2011 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
What I'd love to see
But I don’t have the means nor enough interest to to it, is a compilation of the out of state kids we’ve actively recruited during Mack’s tenure broken down based on whether they came here or went elsewhere. Would be interesting, I think.
"Beautiful despair is hearing Dylan when you're drunk at 3 a.m. Knowing that the chances are no matter what you'll never write like him." Rodney Crowell: Beautiful Despair, 2005.
Would you hire Grimes just for the sake of keeping Westerman?
I say, why not? 3/4 solid years of an offensive lineman is something we haven’t had in awhile.
by goingforthecorner on Jan 12, 2011 2:17 PM CST reply actions
Plus, of course, that wouldn't be the only reason for hiring him.
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 12, 2011 2:21 PM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't hire a coach
just to keep a kid. Grimes a great coach and will be hired based on his merit. But I wouldn’t succumb to the pressure of a top recruit. You have to make the best decision for the other 85 kids and 9 coaches. If that coach is one in the same, that is great. However, it is just as likely that you hire the coach the kid wants to keep him and the kid transfers out a year or two later. You just don’t know. All that being said, you hire the best guy and hope that the recruit feels the same way.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Yup
Westerman is much more of an unknown than Grimes. I actually think Matt Hegarty will turn out the be the bigger miss if we don’t get Westerman. I remember one play on film when he was playing DE where he just exploded into the backfield for a sack or TFL. Plus he got three penalties last year for blocking after the play was over. My kind of OL, comes from the Conrad Doebler School of Etiquette.
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Jan 12, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions
Hegarty was already a HUGE MISS...
The fact that we took Cochran and Doyle over Hegarty is a prime example on how the Junior recruiting can backfire…
Definitely not
A coach should be hired on his own merits, not how well a recruit likes him. I mean, if keeping McWhorter would’ve meant no wavering by Westerman, would you have wanted McWhorter to stay?
The picture is much bigger than any one or two recruits. Superior coaching is more important than getting that one kid who may or may not pan out. It’d be a real shame if Texas were to hire a guy because of Westerman, and then Westerman were to be another Tray Allen.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 12, 2011 2:38 PM CST up reply actions
I think we agree
Westerman is not the end all. The current guys and the committed OL prospects will do at least 80% of the heavy lifting in the line over the next 4-5 years. They will need a good coach and S&C more than they need Westerman. Recruiting rankings are not to be trusted.
We have a 12th man and he's Bryan Harsin
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Jan 12, 2011 5:56 PM CST up reply actions
Rankings and evaluations may or may not be valid
But they’re only part of the equation. Coaching, player character, durability, and even just good or bad luck (family problems, for example) can all end up playing just as significant roles in whether a prospect succeeds as talent does.
Just Harsin around.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 12, 2011 8:41 PM CST up reply actions
Right Hire please
If this kid was going to go to and collage purely on offensive line coach there should be a lot
more schools he is looking at.
Texas please hire the right candidate
its been two days since the MNC...
Why hasnt the private plane picked up Grimes and bring him in for a interview?!?!?!?!?!
AFCA Convention
Because he is at the coaches conference in Dallas through Friday, along with Mack and the other Texas coaches.
@ROOT4UT
Forget the plane talk to the guy at coaches conference face to face!!!!
by TexasStateHorn on Jan 12, 2011 6:55 PM CST up reply actions
Why would he want to engage in plane talk? Does he fly?
Or was that supposed to be plain talk? I’m sure he would appreciate plain talk.
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
For the want of a comma, the battle was lost.
For the want of the battle, . . ..
See ya later, alligator.
by Paleface Horn on Jan 13, 2011 10:14 AM CST up reply actions
Westerman was lost.
And all for the want of a comma.
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
WTH? This kid needs to shape up.
Why would you consider Auburn? We all know their quarterback is gone after this year. Maybe his replacement will play better than Garrett Gilbert. Who knows? But you shouldn’t commit to just a coach. You should commit to a university. This is what you get with out of state recruits. They have no loyalty to UT. I guess the exception would be Ricky Williams.
I know Mack Brown and Bryan Harsin are going to do all they can to keep this kid. We need to hire an O-line coach ASAP. I hope it’s Grimes, though stealing recruits from your future job may not make the best impression.
assuming we get all these "5 star recruits"
when do they get on campus and actually start practicing? i’m interested to see how many of them make an impact next year.
the delusion on this blog is ridiculous
http://www.auburneagle.com/WEAForum/index.php?topic=29323.0
(sorry no linky)
It reads as if they believe they have westerman committed already
unless you pay him
he is gone. why else would he consider Auburn? On the bright side, their head booster and handler of their slush fund may soon be under federal indictment, so there is always that.
Wrong site
It appears you mean to be posting on Crimson and Cream Machine. This is Burnt Orange Nation.
I don't want NO PART of yo' tired ass country club, YA FREAK BITCH!
247/OB are reporting that Grimes is in Austin today
He apparently flew in late last night and is scheduled to leave today.
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