Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Scroll down to about the half way through the audio.

Interview with Gerard Martinez, the No. 1 authority on USC recruiting.

Says Thomas loved Oregon, but thinks he's still going to stick with U$C because of family, familiarity. Thinks Oregon would have had a better shot if it could have been kept quit until LOI day.

http://www.peristylepodcast.com/

I'm sure he was planning to surprise everyone on signing day by picking Oregon. But now that news has leaked out early, it could potentially hurt us like he mentioned. Lots of recruits and friends will be in his ear. Hopefully not.

UOducksTK1 wrote:I'm sure he was planning to surprise everyone on signing day by picking Oregon. But now that news has leaked out early, it could potentially hurt us like he mentioned. Lots of recruits and friends will be in his ear. Hopefully not.

With the news getting out, I don't think he changes now with all the pressure that's going to come from friends and family to stay down there.

If Thomas wanted to keep it secret, why did he wear a bunch of Duck stuff back home where people could see him wearing it?

GDuck wrote:If Thomas wanted to keep it secret, why did he wear a bunch of Duck stuff back home where people could see him wearing it?

That's pretty natural for any recruit taking a visit to a school. I'm not so sure if the visit was necessarily supposed to be a secret, but him allegedly committing to the coaches I think was meant to be kept on the DL.

This Thomas story is anything but natural. He had to have known that wearing the Oregon gear would've had a lot of people talking - considering the situation.

UOducksTK1 wrote:

GDuck wrote:If Thomas wanted to keep it secret, why did he wear a bunch of Duck stuff back home where people could see him wearing it?

That's pretty natural for any recruit taking a visit to a school. I'm not so sure if the visit was necessarily supposed to be a secret, but him allegedly committing to the coaches I think was meant to be kept on the DL.

I think that players get some clothes on the trip, but I'm not sure if they have to give them back after the visit or they get to keep them (leaning towards having to give them back.) It could also be his subtle (or not-so-subtle) way of telling people that he may be considering a change.

If he wanted it secret why tell Farmer and half his HS team mates that he is switching to UO?

buckmarkduck wrote:If he wanted it secret why tell Farmer and half his HS team mates that he is switching to UO?

We don't know what he told them so it's still rumors at this point he changed.

buckmarkduck wrote:If he wanted it secret why tell Farmer and half his HS team mates that he is switching to UO?

This. If it got out and he didnt want it to, who's to "blame"?...

Well that sucks but these are USC people reporting this so its not surprising...we will see what happens.

Bigducker wrote:Scroll down to about the half way through the audio.

Interview with Gerard Martinez, the No. 1 authority on USC recruiting.

Says Thomas loved Oregon, but thinks he's still going to stick with U$C because of family, familiarity. Thinks Oregon would have had a better shot if it could have been kept quit until LOI day.

http://www.peristylepodcast.com/

An SC guys "think" we'd have a better shot if it hadn't been announced

Seriously think about that for a moment: DT, according to this guy, was going to choose UO only as a "surprise" to people, but since the surprise is ruined it won't happen.

I don't buy that at all. DT saw himself in UO's offense (or maybe he saw himself next to Cliff, or as the next "Cliff") and decided to listen more seriously to Oregon overtures. DT would choose to sign with UO because of what he could possibly become/do at Oregon, not because it would be a shock to everyone if signed elsewhere. The logic frankly doesn't work.

Now, DT could certainly stick with his commitment to SC, or not; but to say (and believe) that our only chances at him switching would have been on this keeping quiet is patently absurd. No recruits makes a decision like this solely on the whims of "shocking" people.

Unless of course what the blogger means to say is that by letting SC alumn's know about his wavering commitment they can now send in the cash handlers...

"No recruits makes a decision like this solely on the whims of "shocking" people."

Especially if they have been encouraging others they respect to attend the original school they committed to.

Duck07 wrote:

Bigducker wrote:Scroll down to about the half way through the audio.

Interview with Gerard Martinez, the No. 1 authority on USC recruiting.

Says Thomas loved Oregon, but thinks he's still going to stick with U$C because of family, familiarity. Thinks Oregon would have had a better shot if it could have been kept quit until LOI day.

http://www.peristylepodcast.com/

An SC guys "think" we'd have a better shot if it hadn't been announced

Seriously think about that for a moment: DT, according to this guy, was going to choose UO only as a "surprise" to people, but since the surprise is ruined it won't happen.

I don't buy that at all. DT saw himself in UO's offense (or maybe he saw himself next to Cliff, or as the next "Cliff") and decided to listen more seriously to Oregon overtures. DT would choose to sign with UO because of what he could possibly become/do at Oregon, not because it would be a shock to everyone if signed elsewhere. The logic frankly doesn't work.

Now, DT could certainly stick with his commitment to SC, or not; but to say (and believe) that our only chances at him switching would have been on this keeping quiet is patently absurd. No recruits makes a decision like this solely on the whims of "shocking" people.

Unless of course what the blogger means to say is that by letting SC alumn's know about his wavering commitment they can now send in the cash handlers...

Letting this get out sure didn't help,
IF nobody knew about it, it would have been much, much easier to switch at the last minute. He wouldn't have had a tremendous amount of pressure from just about everyone in SoCal to stay at USC... Remember he's an 18yr old kid and everyone of his buddy's, teammates, maybe family, not to mention USC coaches are now in his ear! Probably going to be too overwhelming for him to go Oregon now unless he's unbelievably mentally tough !

No USC representative is allowed to contact Thomas till signing day... Unless DT himself initiates the conversation, it would be considered a major violation, since USC is already on sanctions.

Go for it, Kiffin!