The Tunnel

Bolden was from TN and committed the year before to UT prior to enrolling at Hargrave. So, that leaves four 4 star prospects to leave VT to UT since 2004. I don't see any reason to complain about that. We can't keep every kid in state.

It doesn't matter if they were in grade school when UT won the MNC. They still have a trophy on full display for recruits to see. It's the same deal with Notre Dame, Michigan, FSU, etc. Teams that have great histories, but haven't won jack in the last decade, yet still recruit phenomenally.

Kids that aren't giving us a shot are not going to the SEC. They're going to Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, USC-W, Florida, Notre Dame, etc. I don't see us ever being on those teams level. Or they went to Clemson and UNC. I think shady recruiting tactics played a part in that, since Butch is no longer with UNC and who knows what Clemson is doing. Regardless, they placed a great deal of emphasis on recruiting, which our staff still lags behind. Maybe that improves, but I don't see that changing with conference affiliation.

Unless we were to change our coaching staff's philosophy, I just don't see us getting the guys you think we could get. Phil Sims, Cyrus Jones, and Korren Kirven would still go to Alabama, Percy Harvin would go to UF, and Curtis Grant would go to OSU. They just have more to offer than we can if kids get caught up in the glamor. I don't see us having that glamor just from being in the SEC.