"I didn't feel I'd fit in well at Notre Dame,"

[BGIF]

McCoy Still Deciding
By Brandon Chatman The Oklahoman
1/22/06

It's a question everyone in Oklahoma wants to know: Where is Southeast's Gerald McCoy going to play college football?

Nobody knows the answer to that question. Even Gerald.

"It'll come down to LSU, OU, USC," McCoy said. "They're pretty much even."

And despite several offers to announce on a national stage, McCoy will likely announce his decision on signing day at Southeast.

"I'll probably do it at the school," McCoy said.

McCoy, who was dominant against the best the nation has to offer in the Army All-American game earlier this month, is the No. 4-ranked ranked recruit in the nation on rivals.com. A 6-4, 305-pound defensive tackle, McCoy ranks as the top defensive recruit in America. McCoy is one of five recruits in the top 20 of the Rivals 100 who remain undecided.

After weighing the pros and cons of each school, McCoy said his decision will come down to where he feels most comfortable.

"It'll be where I fit in best," McCoy said. "Where I feel I need to be or what's the best choice for me."

As reported earlier this month, McCoy has trimmed his list to three teams, eliminating Notre Dame and Miami.

"I didn't feel I'd fit in well at Notre Dame," McCoy said. "And Miami fired all their coaches."

The Hurricanes dimissed several coaches after Miami's 40-3 blowout loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl.

McCoy had no desire to build a new relationship with a different coach at Miami, leaving LSU, OU and USC as the only teams remaining in the recruiting race for his services.

 

[jiggafini19]

I wonder what happened here. Is this something he felt all along in the back of his mind or did something/someone do something to set him off and make him feel this way?

Either way, it is unfortunate to miss out on him.

 

[Irish Envy]

That is unfortunate.

 

[domerfor life]

We have very little depth on the D-line and it will be that way for the next couple of years. That's too bad. We'll have to score 45 every game.

 

[TexasDomer]

All things considered, I'd rather have him say this now than accept the offer then transfer down the road.

If he wasn't comfortable, then he isn't right for ND, no matter how good his credentials.

 

[irish4life99]

Funny, I posted this a few weeks ago as "official" that Mccoy dropped ND from his list, and people jumped on me for it. I also quoted "The Oklahoman" as the source and provided the link, but still people didn't believe me. Any thoughts on any last minute pickups now that it's official that McCoy and Mustain are out.

 

[BGIF]

All things considered, I'd rather have him say this now than accept the offer then transfer down the road.

If he wasn't comfortable, then he isn't right for ND, no matter how good his credentials.

Amen!

 

[BGIF]

Funny, I posted this a few weeks ago as "official" that Mccoy dropped ND from his list, and people jumped on me for it. I also quoted "The Oklahoman" as the source and provided the link, but still people didn't believe me. Any thoughts on any last minute pickups now that it's official that McCoy and Mustain are out.

but still people didn't believe me

It wasn't about you. It was about McCoy and ND. You didn't interview him. Your credibility wasn't an issue, The Oklahoman's writer was.

As I recall that article contained no quote from McCoy dropping ND or anyone else. The writer didn't ask why ND or anyone else was dropped or note that McCoy declined to mention why he cut his list down. I believe posters commented they'd wait to hear it from McCoy. Now we have.

 

[BGIF]

Any thoughts on any last minute pickups now that it's official that McCoy and Mustain are out.

In the wee hours of this morning I posted a SBT article about Young, McCoy and Kates with a Lemming quote to the effect that he thought that ND will look around for a quality athlete but would not pick up a body for the sake of another body.

 

[jiggafini19]

I think the interview he gave when he mentioned OU, SC and LSU but not Notre Dame was an eye opener for me.

There were others that were clinging to hope that there was some kind of misunderstanding (bad journalism, taking the mic away before McCoy said "ND", etc.)

Either way, D line now becomes the focal point of 2007.

Myles Wade enjoyed Junior Day. So far so good.

 

[Irish Envy]

I think the interview he gave when he mentioned OU, SC and LSU but not Notre Dame was an eye opener for me.

There were others that were clinging to hope that there was some kind of misunderstanding (bad journalism, taking the mic away before McCoy said "ND", etc.)

Either way, D line now becomes the focal point of 2007.

Myles Wade enjoyed Junior Day. So far so good.

Too bad we can't make a last minute stab for John Paul.

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=1833466

Think of the cool nickname... he could be "The Pope."

 

[calidomer]

Comfortable?

Comfortable?

I felt uncomfortable on the first day of school. I felt the same the first day on the job. Come on, if he didn't feel a connection with the ND commits at the AA game, he could've still taken a chance to get to know everyone before he said he wasn't comfortable. It could've been a lot of reasons. Losing the Fiesta Bowl in the fashion that we did probably didn't help much. I thought he even roomed with one of our recruits at the AA game, didn't he? But then again, if he feels like this now, he would've been miserable at ND and it would've reflected in his game.

This is Charlie's rookie recruiting year. He had no idea what to expect. Last year was a waste. The only think that Charlie learned from it was to go out and just out hustle the other schools for recruits, and that's what he did. Perhaps he took in a few kids that he shouldn't have, but hey....you never know. I'm very impressed with the recruiting class we have now with or without McCoy. He would've been icing on the cake but you have to give Charlie credit, a year ago we were hurting bad. So just to miss out on McCoy is painful, but very manageable. What could've been if Charlie would've inherited Davie's defense?

 

[irish4life99]

It wasn't about you. It was about McCoy and ND. You didn't interview him. Your credibility wasn't an issue, The Oklahoman's writer was.

As I recall that article contained no quote from McCoy dropping ND or anyone else. The writer didn't ask why ND or anyone else was dropped or note that McCoy declined to mention why he cut his list down. I believe posters commented they'd wait to hear it from McCoy. Now we have.

Actually, that interview with the writer from The Oklahoman did have a direct quote saying that McCoy had eliminated ND from his list. Not that it really matters, I was just a bit suprised at the reaction.

 

[rontdtarchala]

lack of d line

lack of d line

We are simply going to have to rely on the men we have...let's not forget we did have quite a few moments where our d line did do a good job of getting to the QB...I think we will see an improved job with an added year of experience...but yes we will have a great need to recruite there.

 

[jiggafini19]

Laws and Landri had better stay healthy or there are going to be huge problems.

ND hasn't quite restocked the barren cupboard left by TW and Co. just yet, but with this first class they've done a pretty damn good job of coming close.

 

[Irishkid23]

Strange

Strange

I felt uncomfortable on the first day of school. I felt the same the first day on the job. Come on, if he didn't feel a connection with the ND commits at the AA game, he could've still taken a chance to get to know everyone before he said he wasn't comfortable. It could've been a lot of reasons. Losing the Fiesta Bowl in the fashion that we did probably didn't help much. I thought he even roomed with one of our recruits at the AA game, didn't he? But then again, if he feels like this now, he would've been miserable at ND and it would've reflected in his game.
This is Charlie's rookie recruiting year. He had no idea what to expect. Last year was a waste. The only think that Charlie learned from it was to go out and just out hustle the other schools for recruits, and that's what he did. Perhaps he took in a few kids that he shouldn't have, but hey....you never know. I'm very impressed with the recruiting class we have now with or without McCoy. He would've been icing on the cake but you have to give Charlie credit, a year ago we were hurting bad. So just to miss out on McCoy is painful, but very manageable. What could've been if Charlie would've inherited Davie's defense?

IMO there's more to it than meets the eye. It's too sudden for McCoy to strongly lean to ND and then say "I don't feel comfortable." I believe ND told him flatly "NO!", for some unexplained reason. CW wouldn't let him get away w/o more of a push. I didn't read anywhere where ND's coaches went back to his house during or after the AA game and tried again to commit him. That is just too strange to just walk away from a 5 star player.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

IMO there's more to it than meets the eye. It's too sudden for McCoy to strongly lean to ND and then say "I don't feel comfortable." I believe ND told him flatly "NO!", for some unexplained reason. CW wouldn't let him get away w/o more of a push. I didn't read anywhere where ND's coaches went back to his house during or after the AA game and tried again to commit him. That is just too strange to just walk away from a 5 star player.

I agree for a need as so great as DT the pursuit of McCoy did seem a little light to me. Maybe he just wanted to stay in the south?

 

[jiggafini19]

He's down to OU and SC.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

He's down to OU and SC.

Well, I sure hope he picks OU.

 

[Stealingshrimp]

methinks that charlie is engineering a signing day secret. What if it's all a gimmick, that chuck has engineered to make future nd recruits know that charlie will pursue you to the last second, and he can get anybody. Lewis supposdely told there was no room, kates dropped... i dunno. WE CAN DREAM RIGHT?

 

[jiggafini19]

methinks that charlie is engineering a signing day secret. What if it's all a gimmick, that chuck has engineered to make future nd recruits know that charlie will pursue you to the last second, and he can get anybody. Lewis supposdely told there was no room, kates dropped... i dunno. WE CAN DREAM RIGHT?

This would really make my day, but I highly doubt it.

I think McCoy and his buddy Gresham are OU bound.

 

[weisfaninmass]

methinks that charlie is engineering a signing day secret. What if it's all a gimmick, that chuck has engineered to make future nd recruits know that charlie will pursue you to the last second, and he can get anybody. Lewis supposdely told there was no room, kates dropped... i dunno. WE CAN DREAM RIGHT?

Funny - I was having the same thoughts. Imagine the impact that would have -- it would be the sizzle that the Irish need to move them up to #1....especially with Damian Williams dumping FLorida at the altar.

 

[jiggafini19]

It is a major, major long shot.

McCoy is OU.