Mamba Press Conference

[wvduck34]

Funny, a player from Portland can sign with USC and nobody even boos. In LA, signing with a rival school requires a SWAT
team. Says bundles about our two cities.

[TheMaehlMan]

It's not like Thomas is going to pull a Lebron and have his press-conference in Oregon He probably wants to be around family for it.

[woundedknees]

Makes one wonder if ESPN orchestrated this whole bruhaha to bump the numbers?

[DarronThomas5]

I wouldn't worry about the times..... If anything it's a good thing. Why hold a press conference to say that you're staying committed?

Maybe he used us to hype this decision? Because under normal situations a recruit who has been comitted for 6 months would not have a presser.

kinda like how Blackmon teased UCLA and USC leading up to the Under Armour game even though he had been an Oregon silent commit for months.

Wouldn't shock me.

[pezsez1]

OK guys, here is your ray of hope!

As a former reporter (used to work with Moseley on the Oregon Daily Emerald, how cool is that?), here is how things could be unfolding:

The 1 p.m. presser could simply be a chance for the Oregon media to get some comments from Thomas about his decision. If orchestrated through the Duck athletic department, the participating reporters may agree to be silent about his decision until the announcement happens. In fact, that really would have to happen... otherwise, what's the point of making a big announcement on ESPN? Thomas is in LA, and after his decision -- even if he picks Oregon -- a lot of people down there are going to want to talk to him. It would be much easier for him to do the conference over the phone with Oregon media members earlier.

Random thought... what if this is why Chip Kelly isn't releasing letters of intent until later in the day?

Anyway, back to my ray of hope...

The 5:30 P.M. presser at USC... it is national signing day, and wouldn't USC be having a press conference anyway? Following Thomas' announcement, reporters will want to ask Kiffin and co. not only about Thomas, but about the rest of USC's recruiting class. It wouldn't make sense to hold this conference prior to the announcement, because then the biggest news of the day wouldn't yet be known. TV crews and local reporters will all want to talk to Thomas. He could be tied up in interviews for a couple hours.

Anyway, there's my ray of hope. We'll have to wait and see. His father told the ESPN over the weekend that Thomas wasn't going anywhere, but clearly something has changed. Whether it's enough of a change to bring Thomas to Eugene, we'll have to find out!

[UofO8]

It's not like Thomas is going to pull a Lebron and have his press-conference in Oregon He probably wants to be around family for it.

I have decided to takes my talents to Eugene.

[DarronThomas5]

Makes one wonder if ESPN orchestrated this whole bruhaha to bump the numbers?

signing day is exclusively on ESPNU. They`re selling signing day to hardcore cfb fans not mainstream people who have no interest in paying a few benjamins to get the U in their satellite package. Every single person who orders ESPNU is already gonna be watching anyway.

[Howry]

He has been committed to USC for 6 months, why would he need a presser to say he is going to USC??

[wvduck34]

Well it was probably a long shot anyway. He probably scheduled the visit just to confirm his original commitment.

[uostudent]

Funny, a player from Portland can sign with USC and nobody even boos. In LA, signing with a rival school requires a SWAT
team. Says bundles about our two cities.

Dumb post. USC doesn't rule LA. I'm from LA and while USC is the most popular football program in the area, people aren't going to torch Thomas' house if he decides to go elsewhere. This isn't the SEC.

USC has a great class. I'm sure it would suck for them to lose Thomas, but they'll still end up with a top 5 class. Pretty impressive for a program that is on probation.

[wvduck34]

Funny, a player from Portland can sign with USC and nobody even boos. In LA, signing with a rival school requires a SWAT
team. Says bundles about our two cities.

Dumb post. USC doesn't rule LA. I'm from LA and while USC is the most popular football program in the area, people aren't going to torch Thomas' house if he decides to go elsewhere. This isn't the SEC.

USC has a great class. I'm sure it would suck for them to lose Thomas, but they'll still end up with a top 5 class. Pretty impressive for a program that is on probation.

Here is one violin string playing in pity for USC.

[duckydoug]

He's ours. Hearing other SC players might drop as well because of the appeal meeting.

[DarronThomas5]

He's ours. Hearing other SC players might drop as well because of the appeal meeting.

And this is based on what information/evidence?

[karlhungis]

He's ours. Hearing other SC players might drop as well because of the appeal meeting.

It is RIDICULOUSLY late for recruits to just start jumping ship now. Unless they all choose to go to UCLA, since they still have plenty of room.

[TheMaehlMan]

He's ours. Hearing other SC players might drop as well because of the appeal meeting.

It is RIDICULOUSLY late for recruits to just start jumping ship now. Unless they all choose to go to UCLA, since they still have plenty of room.

the top-shelf USC recruits always have a back-up option, and other schools would accept them with open arms. I don't expect mass-defections from USC but it is possible.