Mass 247 Cancellation Movement

[#1rish]

Apologies to those who were/are subscribers, but you actually have to PAY for a subscription to post on that BGI board? That's absurd.

 

[IrishLax]

Yup, it's fun for some fans and maybe it feels like a just cause but it's mostly embarrassing.

It's really just a small movement on the under belly of the recruiting scene that exposes the war between the differing recruiting sites. There are many prominent posters here who are aligned (in various forms) with the sites not named 247. It is and has been plain as day. You could see a silly thread like this coming a mile away.

Now, this isn't to say that all criticisms of 247 and some of their writers aren't legit. In some cases they are. But to have it lead to a thread like this is embarrassing.

The bottom line is this: The Notre Dame coaching staff did not get out recruited by Justin Hopkins. If you really believe that he was some sort of bag man or was highly responsible for flipping Barnett to Oregon than I don't know what to tell you. If you REALLY believe that then I suggest two things:

1) Take a good hard look at Notre Dame coaches and their recruiting history.

If there's any truth to this vendetta then we've got way bigger problems than Justin Hopkins.

2) If you're hearing stories from other recruiting sites maybe it's time to turn the 10,000 pound microscope away from 247 for a second and take a look at the other sites.

A lot of people want to trust everything they hear from ISD, II, etc. and not so much with 247 but it's naive to believe that folks from those places can't or don't sell some BS from time to time to make fans feel better about themselves and to take shots at another business that has been taking subscribers away for a while.

Again, I'm not saying 247 is better or the other sites aren't better. I'm merely pointing out that there is a strong predilection to take some of the non-247 content as the Word of God and Holy Gospel.

It sucks to lose Barnett. It really, really does. But sometimes y'all grind your axes, get far too flooded with emotion, and it then turns into stuff like this.

Barnett grew up an Oregon fan, he's a great fit for them, and ultimately he'll play college ball there. It sucks for us but it really isn't any more complicated than that. There is no fallout between Barnett and the ND staff, there is no big issue (grades) that caused this, and Hopkins did not have a role in this beyond being close to the situation as a reporter and knowing the family well, which after all, is just him doing his job.

The truth hurts. The best way to swallow it is to accept it and move on. Yes, Hopkins is a douche. But now y'all are making it worse. Oh yes, he's taking everyone for a ride on this one on Twitter and elsewhere and it's enraging to some of you. But to act this way makes our fans look really bad and it only makes it tougher to swallow the truth.

I'll post the Commandments again:

Commandments of Recruiting

1) Never get too emotional

2) Don't let anything surprise you

3) Avoid saying things like "I'm done with recruiting"

It's hard but y'all are breaking the crap out of the first golden rule. We go through stuff like this every single time there is a major recruiting loss. It's a lot of the same scorned girlfriend behavior from a lot of the same people. Time after time. Whereas 24-36 hours ago there was a lot of potential people ready to commit to Rule 3 that's now just morphed into an assault on 247 instead.

I know a lot of you don't want to hear this but it needed to be said. Many of you do a wonderful job here are IE keeping things organized and educated around recruiting. For that you should be applauded. Some of you might lash out and disagree with me. I couldn't care less if you believe me or not I just wanted this to get out there.

Completely missing the point. Let me deconstruct it.

1. You have to pay for these premium sites.
2. There are many alternatives to 247.
3. EVEN IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT HOPKINS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH PUSHING BLAKE TO OREGON, his immature and unprofessional trolling/gloating afterwards is unacceptable.

Ergo... there is no reason ND fans should spend their $$ to prop up a site that employs people like JC Schurburtt (vitriolic anti-ND rant on radio) and Justin Hopkins in power positions. You should instead spend your money on any other site that will give you similar services without implicitly supporting the salary of these toolbags.

The message being sent is that the behavior of someone like Hopkins is completely unacceptable. The message IS getting through. I don't know if people want to stay unsubscribed forever or just temporarily... I don't really care. But the only way you make a website like this know that we care is by hitting them in the wallet.

 

[ab2cmiller]

All of the canceled subscriptions may not make a huge impact on 247's overall income, but I guarantee if enough people canceled all at the same time, it could have a big impact on their cash flow.

Let's see I have just enough money to cover payroll on Friday which would be fine, but crap, suddenly I have to pay refunds of $20,000 to all these pissed off ND fans that canceled their subs.

 

[Rocket89]

Yet... you have brought nothing but the same tired comment over and over again.

Looks like 247 agrees with us, and action will be taken, so your argument a) doesn't matter and b) wont make a difference is obviously misguided.

Who looks like an ass now?

247 agrees with you?

Where did they say Hopkins was unethical and recruited for Oregon? That's the issue I'm speaking directly about.

Whether Hopkins is a douche who over-stepped the professional line by teasing ND fans (I agree on both accounts) is another matter and not tied to Barnett flipping to Oregon.

 

[NDdomer2]

But that's the only real way for the ND fanbase to voice its displeasure. Money talks. If Loy and Wiltfong lose enough subscribers, don't you think they'll at least take it to the higher ups? That's really all we can hope for.

Rack, my guy, I totally get that it's practically the only way to get the fan bases point across. I guess, what I was trying to say, is it just seems like we got some blanket HR response out of these guys.

No he DOES get it. This is the exact point I'm trying to make.

Hopkins has always been a douche. It's no secret. He's been getting crap from ND fans stretching back weeks and months for saying that Oregon was recruiting Barnett very hard and that the Ducks would be a player, etc.

Just so we're clear: Hopkins was hated on, long before Barnett's decommit, for merely reporting that Oregon was making Barnett a priority. That this pissed off so many ND fans doesn't say much about Hopkins, as it does ND fans who are now trying to shape a narrative.

Lo and behold it's now reported that Barnett has been talking to Oregon for months.

That was Barnett's choice. Hopkins knew about it (just like we'd expect Wiltfong to know about it from our side) and he did not do anything unethical in handling this ordeal.

Just because Hopkins is a douche and has fought back with spurned ND fans does not mean he was unethical in getting Barnett to go to Oregon. This is the big difference I'm trying to point out. Yes, Hopkins has acted unprofessional when dealing with the aftermath but Barnett has been thinking about this for a long time.

With our without Hopkins, it's pretty clear that Barnett would have ended up at Oregon.

I think this is all absolutely true. However, do you not think someone should be held responsible for stepping outside their boundaries?

Yes, the Barrnett decommittment obviously hurt a lot of ND fans and most likely is the straw the broke the camels back. But that does not mean that he should be able to actively troll the consumer of his product. So with or without this kid bending BK over, Hopkins deserves what he is getting. I feel like you should be able to understand that.

EDIT: I read above you do agree that he is an asshat and unprofessoinal.

 

[IrishLion]

Also, checking my inbox this morning the 247 guys are now scrambling with offers of free months, apologies for Hopkins, etc.

This absolutely is working.

Is it working? Or are they simply trying to calm the masses by "dealing with the issue," when that probably means they're telling Hopkins to ignore mad people on Twitter?

 

[woolybug25]

247 agrees with you?

Where did they say Hopkins was unethical and recruited for Oregon? That's the issue I'm speaking directly about.

Whether Hopkins is a douche who over-stepped the professional line by teasing ND fans (I agree on both accounts) is another matter and not tied to Barnett flipping to Oregon.

Read LAX's post above. If you don't think actively recruiting for a school you are reporting on isn't unethical, then you don't know much about journalism.

and since 247 is on full panic/apology mode... then yes, 247 does agree with me.

 

[IrishLax]

At first blush and at face value, I kind of agree with you.

But I side with my fellow IE brethren on this one, Eric. The main issue being that they have been spending their own hard-earned money for 247's information, when they could be spending it on multiple other sites. When it comes to spending money and dispensing a portion of our income (however large or small) on a vendor, I think people are justified completely on spending their money however they best see fit.

These guys aren't embarrassments for doing so, they're principled for doing so. And I think the world needs more of this type of action, not less.

The bolded is exactly the crux of it. We, as ND fans, should take our business elsewhere and away from the aforementioned people at 247 who are douchebags. It's how a free market without monopolies is supposed... take your business to the company offering the best services.

It's really that simple, and any suggestion that we're "embarrassing" for simply choosing to take our monthly subscription fees to the shop down the street misses the point.

 

[IrishLax]

Is it working? Or are they simply trying to calm the masses by "dealing with the issue," when that probably means they're telling Hopkins to ignore mad people on Twitter?

My point is they're at least noticing. Whether they actually DO something about it I don't know but there is no doubt it's a step in the right direction.

 

[IrishLion]

Read LAX's post above. If you don't think actively recruiting for a school you are reporting on isn't unethical, then you don't know much about journalism.

and since 247 is on full panic/apology mode... then yes, 247 does agree with me.

They're in panic/apology mode because they're losing a lot of cash, fast. Not because they've admitted that Hopkins was recruiting for Oregon.

(not yet anyway)

 

[ab2cmiller]

I would think at the barest of minimums that Hopkins needs to do the following in order for most of you to resubscribe:

1. Publicly apologize for being an ass on twitter
2. Admit that he is indeed a Oregon fan
3. Give assurances (even if they are false) that he would never cross the line of encouraging a recruit to give a closer look to a specific school, especially Oregon.

Others of you would probably want an outright confession that he crossed the line with Barnett.

 

[Rocket89]

Read LAX's post above. If you don't think actively recruiting for a school you are reporting on isn't unethical, then you don't know much about journalism.

and since 247 is on full panic/apology mode... then yes, 247 does agree with me.

Please tell me, in plain language, how Hopkins was unethical and recruited for Oregon.

 

[IrishLion]

My point is they're at least noticing. Whether they actually DO something about it I don't know but there is no doubt it's a step in the right direction.

It's a step in the right direction, sure, but what's the end game? Go back to 247 in a few years if the shady/unprofesional stuff stops?

 

[tussin]

247 agrees with you?

Where did they say Hopkins was unethical and recruited for Oregon? That's the issue I'm speaking directly about.

Whether Hopkins is a douche who over-stepped the professional line by teasing ND fans (I agree on both accounts) is another matter and not tied to Barnett flipping to Oregon.

You don't know the details of the situation. It's more than Hopkins just being a d-bag.

 

[irishog77]

They're in panic/apology mode because they're losing a lot of cash, fast. Not because they've admitted that Hopkins was recruiting for Oregon.

(not yet anyway)

Yep.

The true test will be to see if 247 somehow modifies their behavior instead of just give the issue lip service.

 

[Grahambo]

Rocket,

247 will never publicly admit that Hopkins actively recruited Barnett to Oregon. There are those in "the know" that know something dirty went down and Hopkins has some sort of hand in it. He is not liked by someone in Barnett's camp and this isn't something that's sitting well. Without any of us able to provide "proof", we can easily be dismissed as delusional. So fighting that particular fight is useless.

What we can do is EXACTLY what Lax has brilliantly done. That's OUR best move and we made it. It's brought attention to the matter at hand. Don't think that BK and company don't know what's going on because they do. 247 is scrambling because not only are they losing subscribers but now word from ND camp COULD be reaching Wiltfong staring something to the affect of clean this up or leaks will be limited.

The most reliable poster that the ND fan base has, TJ, isn't a subscriber to 247. That should say something. And again, the situation's revolving around Loy and Hopkins are different. Comparing apples to oranges.

We need to stick together on this issue. We need to stop the pissing contest. We need to not give in to the begging . Send the message and send it loud.

I'm not one to talk a big game so I hope these words sit better. Just trust what some of us are saying. ISD is standing by for your hard earned money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grahambo]

It's a step in the right direction, sure, but what's the end game? Go back to 247 in a few years if the shady/unprofesional stuff stops?

No. Take it to ISD. Take it to Scout even. 247 isn't the only recruiting service. ISD is incredibly legit. You don't have a Loy or Hopkins. They keep it real.


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[Rocket89]

You don't know the details of the situation. It's more than Hopkins just being a d-bag.

Yes, I do.

Not a single person has stepped up to the plate and provided any evidence that Hopkins was unethical in recruiting for Oregon.

 

[Grahambo]

Some of you need to understand that 247 will NEVER admit publicly to actively recruiting. Since Hopkins has been so incredibly unprofessional and smug about it, it's not costing them.


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[woolybug25]

Please tell me, in plain language, how Hopkins was unethical and recruited for Oregon.

So you admit that you are adamantly arguing against something that you don't actually know about?

Maybe you should go look at his twitter history, read through Barnett's thread, etc.

Nothing looks worse than someone begging the person they are arguing with to explain the situation they had such a strong opinion about. ha

 

[GATTACA!]

He is our cricket. He'll always be willing and able if we make him feel important.

I can't rep you right now, but this is your greatest post of all time. I'm so proud.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

No he DOES get it. This is the exact point I'm trying to make.

Hopkins has always been a douche. It's no secret. He's been getting crap from ND fans stretching back weeks and months for saying that Oregon was recruiting Barnett very hard and that the Ducks would be a player, etc.

Just so we're clear: Hopkins was hated on, long before Barnett's decommit, for merely reporting that Oregon was making Barnett a priority. That this pissed off so many ND fans doesn't say much about Hopkins, as it does ND fans who are now trying to shape a narrative.

Lo and behold it's now reported that Barnett has been talking to Oregon for months.

That was Barnett's choice. Hopkins knew about it (just like we'd expect Wiltfong to know about it from our side) and he did not do anything unethical in handling this ordeal.

Just because Hopkins is a douche and has fought back with spurned ND fans does not mean he was unethical in getting Barnett to go to Oregon. This is the big difference I'm trying to point out. Yes, Hopkins has acted unprofessional when dealing with the aftermath but Barnett has been thinking about this for a long time.

With our without Hopkins, it's pretty clear that Barnett would have ended up at Oregon.

 

[IrishLax]

Yes, I do.

Not a single person has stepped up to the plate and provided any evidence that Hopkins was unethical in recruiting for Oregon.

If you're looking for concrete physical evidence and 1st person sources going on the record you're not going to get it. But PM me your phone number and I'll forward you some texts/picture messages that are the next closest thing. Or maybe I can get them off my phone and email them.

Again... EVEN IF HOPKINS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PUSH BLAKE TO OREGON... that has NO IMPACT on his latter conduct being unbecoming, unprofessional, and inexcusable.

If there are four restaurants in town and the manager of one is a total douchebag who is unprofessional and insulting... would you not take your business to one of the other three? Would you not also try to impart your experiences on your friends?

 

[tussin]

Yes, I do.

Not a single person has stepped up to the plate and provided any evidence that Hopkins was unethical in recruiting for Oregon.

No, you don't.

No reason to get into it on a public forum, but it goes beyond just getting the news first and trolling ND fans with it. It's nothing earth shattering, but he was actively pushing Barnett to make the decision to decommitt and go with Oregon. Recruiting analysts (like all journalists) are supposed to be objective and report the news, not be an active part of it. Completely unprofessional and disgraceful.

But I suppose you can't expect much more from:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Haters gonna gate and grinders gonna shine. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YOZ&src=hash">#YOZ</a></p>— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkins247) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHopkins247/statuses/474366715703222272">June 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Wild Bill]

If anyone with details has a moment, please PM me. Thanks in advance.

 

[Rocket89]

Rocket,

247 will never publicly admit that Hopkins actively recruited Barnett to Oregon. There are those in "the know" that know something dirty went down and Hopkins has some sort of hand in it. He is not liked by someone in Barnett's camp and this isn't something that's sitting well. Without any of us able to provide "proof", we can easily be dismissed as delusional. So fighting that particular fight is useless.

What we can do is EXACTLY what Lax has brilliantly done. That's OUR best move and we made it. It's brought attention to the matter at hand. Don't think that BK and company don't know what's going on because they do. 247 is scrambling because not only are they losing subscribers but now word from ND camp COULD be reaching Wiltfong staring something to the affect of clean this up or leaks will be limited.

The most reliable poster that the ND fan base has, TJ, isn't a subscriber to 247. That should say something. And again, the situation's revolving around Loy and Hopkins are different. Comparing apples to oranges.

We need to stick together on this issue. We need to stop the pissing contest. We need to not give in to the begging . Send the message and send it loud.

I'm not one to talk a big game so I hope these words sit better. Just trust what some of us are saying. ISD is standing by for your hard earned money.


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Here's the thing. Ultimately, you have to believe that Hopkins--and not the Oregon coaching staff, or high school coaches, or parents, any other plethora of boosters, and most importantly Barnett's own feelings--was the reason why Barnett flipped to the Ducks.

Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?

 

[Rocket89]

So you admit that you are adamantly arguing against something that you don't actually know about?

Maybe you should go look at his twitter history, read through Barnett's thread, etc.

Nothing looks worse than someone begging the person they are arguing with to explain the situation they had such a strong opinion about. ha

What are you talking about?

How am I supposed to prove a negative? I'm not the one claiming Hopkins was unethical here. You think his Twitter timeline and Barnett's thread unlock some deep mystery about things? You can't be that naive, damn.

 

[blueNDgold44]

If anyone with details has a moment, please PM me. Thanks in advance.

Ditto

 

[Rocket89]

If you're looking for concrete physical evidence and 1st person sources going on the record you're not going to get it. But PM me your phone number and I'll forward you some texts/picture messages that are the next closest thing. Or maybe I can get them off my phone and email them.

Again... EVEN IF HOPKINS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PUSH BLAKE TO OREGON... that has NO IMPACT on his latter conduct being unbecoming, unprofessional, and inexcusable.

If there are four restaurants in town and the manager of one is a total douchebag who is unprofessional and insulting... would you not take your business to one of the other three? Would you not also try to impart your experiences on your friends?

Just so we're clear. Do you think Hopkins was unethical, recruited for Oregon, and played a major part in why Barnett will attend Oregon?

That's all I really care about in this situation. You seemed pretty adamant about it in the recent past and now it seems like you're kind of back tracking.

It's too bad because I do agree with a lot of your critiques of 247 and specifically with how Hopkins handled his business, BUT, if you really don't believe he did unethical things then what do you have to stand on in this boycott other than Hopkins was an ass on Twitter?

 

[ab2cmiller]

What are you talking about?

How am I supposed to prove a negative? I'm not the one claiming Hopkins was unethical here. You think his Twitter timeline and Barnett's thread unlock some deep mystery about things? You can't be that naive, damn.

This whole back and forth reminds me of a Seinfeld episode

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