Seriously, how did we land De'Anthony Thomas?

[headshottzzzz]

From what I've gathered, his moms wanted him out of the city.

Didn't DT say the opposite in that video interview? I think he just wanted something new, liked what he was offered as far as a place on the team and in our offense, felt comfortable, and made the switch.

[duckfan96]

He has more than one mom?

[Supreme]

From what I've gathered, his moms wanted him out of the city.

Didn't DT say the opposite in that video interview? I think he just wanted something new, liked what he was offered as far as a place on the team and in our offense, felt comfortable, and made the switch.

I don't know, could be just a rumor, but it was said that his mother orchestrated the visit and had no problem with him leaving Southern California.

[vagusnerve]

He has more than one mom?

hehehehehe!!!!!

[freedjr]

My guess is Oregon seems much more family oriented, and the coaches are pretty honest. From the interviews with him, he loves his teammates and coaches, and is more about the team. It seems like USC puts much more emphasis on individuals, and like it or not, Lane and the other coaches don't come off as honest.

He also probably saw what Josh Huff did this year and thought he could step it up a notch. Plus, he probably just wants to get out of LA. Think of how many Oregonians need to get out for college!

[alabamaduck]

They were talking about DAT this morning on Rivals Radio and said that the rumors are that something happened a few weeks ago that made him re-think spending the next 4 years in LA. They went on to say that SC is still his dream school and that hasn't changed, but that something happened outside of football. They said they couldn't go into details, but that he was blown away on his visit to us and it helped make the decision easier.

They also went out of their way to say that whatever happened had nothing to do with a recruiting violation on our part, regardless of what the SC message boards and fans would have you think. This may explain why everything happened so quickly, and why he was recruiting for SC up until just a few weeks ago.

[buckmarkduck]

Thats not what his coach said. He said he thought he had been wavering all fall, and he thought if he ever visited UO it would be impossible for him to turn us down.

[alabamaduck]

Thats not what his coach said. He said he thought he had been wavering all fall, and he thought if he ever visited UO it would be impossible for him to turn us down.

I'm not saying it's true, i'm just relaying what i heard...

[uo2010]

Straight cash homey.

[buckmarkduck]

Also B. Oliver wrote that he had been trying to visit for a while now, but had to convince our coaches he was serious and not just visiting for the free visit.

[ducklovinlady]

A SC poster had posted this:
I have a buddy who is a local city football coach who was down at the ESPN sportszone last night w/DeAnthony came in w/family to celebrate.
My friend who has a face recognition association w/DeAnthony,asked him why did he not sign w/USC/
He said that DeAnthony had a bright almost relieved type of smile.
DeAnthony told him in his heart he wanted to sign with USC but "for him", he had to get away.
He said that he was tired of being "the Black Mamba" not the football player but the guy that every leach and roach from his neighborhood was trying to get something from him.
He said that he knew that he would not be able to escape that aspect if he went to USC, the school that's right down the street from where he played not only his high school ball but also pop warner.
He said he wanted to get away from them and that aspect which he knew he would not have been able to shake if he had signed w/SC.
He said going to Oregon on the trip really opened his eyes about him being able to have some sort of life without all the hangups of being so close to his old neighborhood.
He said the bottom line was that going to Oregon, gave him the best chance outside of football to be just "DeAnthony" and learn how to become "a man not just the man"


After reading the quote about DAT changing his nickname from the Black Mamba and how comfortable he was in Eugene, it makes sense.

[Sooth]

A SC poster had posted this:
I have a buddy who is a local city football coach who was down at the ESPN sportszone last night w/DeAnthony came in w/family to celebrate.
My friend who has a face recognition association w/DeAnthony,asked him why did he not sign w/USC/
He said that DeAnthony had a bright almost relieved type of smile.
DeAnthony told him in his heart he wanted to sign with USC but "for him", he had to get away.
He said that he was tired of being "the Black Mamba" not the football player but the guy that every leach and roach from his neighborhood was trying to get something from him.
He said that he knew that he would not be able to escape that aspect if he went to USC, the school that's right down the street from where he played not only his high school ball but also pop warner.
He said he wanted to get away from them and that aspect which he knew he would not have been able to shake if he had signed w/SC.
He said going to Oregon on the trip really opened his eyes about him being able to have some sort of life without all the hangups of being so close to his old neighborhood.
He said the bottom line was that going to Oregon, gave him the best chance outside of football to be just "DeAnthony" and learn how to become "a man not just the man"


After reading the quote about DAT changing his nickname from the Black Mamba and how comfortable he was in Eugene, it makes sense.

it was probably the uniforms.

[maxduck]

A SC poster had posted this:
I have a buddy who is a local city football coach who was down at the ESPN sportszone last night w/DeAnthony came in w/family to celebrate.
My friend who has a face recognition association w/DeAnthony,asked him why did he not sign w/USC/
He said that DeAnthony had a bright almost relieved type of smile.
DeAnthony told him in his heart he wanted to sign with USC but "for him", he had to get away.
He said that he was tired of being "the Black Mamba" not the football player but the guy that every leach and roach from his neighborhood was trying to get something from him.
He said that he knew that he would not be able to escape that aspect if he went to USC, the school that's right down the street from where he played not only his high school ball but also pop warner.
He said he wanted to get away from them and that aspect which he knew he would not have been able to shake if he had signed w/SC.
He said going to Oregon on the trip really opened his eyes about him being able to have some sort of life without all the hangups of being so close to his old neighborhood.
He said the bottom line was that going to Oregon, gave him the best chance outside of football to be just "DeAnthony" and learn how to become "a man not just the man"


After reading the quote about DAT changing his nickname from the Black Mamba and how comfortable he was in Eugene, it makes sense.

That summary reflects a very mature and intelligent young man.

[Ducks1]

A SC poster had posted this:
I have a buddy who is a local city football coach who was down at the ESPN sportszone last night w/DeAnthony came in w/family to celebrate.
My friend who has a face recognition association w/DeAnthony,asked him why did he not sign w/USC/
He said that DeAnthony had a bright almost relieved type of smile.
DeAnthony told him in his heart he wanted to sign with USC but "for him", he had to get away.
He said that he was tired of being "the Black Mamba" not the football player but the guy that every leach and roach from his neighborhood was trying to get something from him.
He said that he knew that he would not be able to escape that aspect if he went to USC, the school that's right down the street from where he played not only his high school ball but also pop warner.
He said he wanted to get away from them and that aspect which he knew he would not have been able to shake if he had signed w/SC.
He said going to Oregon on the trip really opened his eyes about him being able to have some sort of life without all the hangups of being so close to his old neighborhood.
He said the bottom line was that going to Oregon, gave him the best chance outside of football to be just "DeAnthony" and learn how to become "a man not just the man"


After reading the quote about DAT changing his nickname from the Black Mamba and how comfortable he was in Eugene, it makes sense.

That summary reflects a very mature and intelligent young man.

I agree. I like this kid already.

[Supreme]

Here's another post from the SC board.

Not trying to argue, but how so? He was 100% honest with our coaches. He told them before he went to Eugene, that he was going. On Monday morning he called Lane and told him his reasons why he was de-committing and that he was going to Oregon. He tried hiding it from the public so he doesn't get bombarded with people bothering him about it, but than it leaked on the internet. Even if he de-committed officially on Monday he would have still been bothered just as much by the public. I honestly have no problem with what he did because he was 100% honest with our staff and team, hence they were congratulating him on Monday. A insider that has access to HH info, that Garry has confirmed to be legit, said that the gang thing was in fact true and confirmed De'Anthony was 100% honest and sincere with our coaches, and De'Anthony felt it was in best best interest to move to Eugene with less distractions. People that are claiming that he was playing SC the whole time are just talking out of there butt, because he clearly was very much committed to us prior to 1 week ago, hence why he was recruiting for us. This is not a Mesean Jackson or Josh Shirley situation, and Thomas does not deserve to be put in that category. He truly did what he thought was best for him and his future. While we, along with myself, feel SC was better for him, it was his decision and he will have to live with it. Let's just all me mature about this and wish him luck, except when he's playing against us.