Nah, that article is bullshit. Not necessarily the anecdotes and such but the idea that his dad didn't have an active role in pushing him to Florida is a full Pinocchio. There is a timeline and facts that contradict what the general point of the article vis a vis ND, and how is it no other recruits had this alleged problem? Yeah, Kelly was out of the country but coaches adequately explained it to every other recruit but Anzalone decommited INSTANTLY because that had been the plan for awhile and he was just waiting for correct moment.
You're missing the point. His dad made a trip down to Florida and enrolled him before he ever decommited from ND. That doesn't mean he had to show up, but it was in the works WAY before Kelly started flirting with anybody. Then he got an excuse (at the time an unconfirmed rumor) and took it. The idea that his dad didn't push Florida over ND is a hilarious lie (though he might be telling the truth about favoring Stanford, I have no idea), as is the idea that he only looked at Florida because of BK's interview.
I agree with everything you have said. You have the facts straight.
But my interpretation is a little different, and I think there are other facts that have been kept quiet.
The first part of Alex not attending ND started as an incredible friction between Alex, Sal, and Bob Diaco. There were open comments made that were absolutely inappropriate, that were heard in some cases by 'outsiders.'
So, that knocked Anzalones' recruitment a bit off kilter. Remember that they were already snake bit by the shit-show that was the Buckeye recruitment.
They probably already knew that Diaco was short for South Bend, because that apparently was known as early as a year before he left. And before we blow it off Alex is having quite a year; who knows how things would have been in a different program? Change a few variables, maybe he didn't have three years of injuries? The next kid in line has even more talent. Let's see how that plays out.
So his dad made arrangements as a backup, knowing that the important thing was that he started school at the beginning of the term. Period.
The reason I believe there is something to this is that both Diaco (within his little fiefdom), and Kelly tend to be autocratic. Kelly has been criticized throughout his career for busting down morale with his micromanagement.
I only comment because I have a feeling that the same thing is repeating it self this cycle with a linebacker. The Kelly staff has a blind-spot for recruits and their families that want a little more information, and are discriminating in their reception of what they are told.
Whether we agree or argue, it will continue to show up as a pattern with these few recruits until it is addressed.
