Risky 866-II66

THE TuLANE HULLABALOO APRIL 17, 2009 • 15 Risky Tulane Reloads Banks, Sanders lead recruiting class Pick Gillian Rich there are a bunch of them that arc Detroit Lions staffwriter going to contribute to the pro- After going 2-10 in the 2008 gram next ｹ･｡ｲｾ must decide season, Tulane football coaches In order to be a contender in scoured the Gulf Coast, - partic- C-USA next season, Toledo and Jon Posner ularly Louisiana - to recruit play- his staff focused on speed as a top staffwriter ers to improve Tulane's record priority for this year's recruiting With the NFL draft in just eight and help it become a contender class. days, the Lions are already on the in Conference USA in the upcom- "Our priority obviously was clock with the first pick in the draft. ing season. Head Coach Bob Tole- speed, speed, speed; Toledo said. While there has yet to be word from do convinced 26 students to sign "We also wanted size in our of- a Lions official, almost everyone National Letters-of-Intent to play fensive and defensive linemen. assumes by now that quarterback for Tulane in 2009. Twenty-four We went out and got one kicker, Matthew Stafford out ofthe Univer- were high school seniors, plus which we wanted to have for our sity ofGeorgia will shake hands with one preparatory school receiver future. Defensively, we got one Commissioner Roger Goodell, don and a Division I transfer. Of those linebacker. We recruited sever- a Detroit Lions uniform and ball- '26 players, there are six are defen- al others, but we didn't get them. cap, and instantly become the sav- sive backs, five offensive linemen, We wanted some defensive line- ior of the league's most beleaguered five wide receiv- men and we got franchise April 18th. In the process, ers, four defen- four. We got six he will be collect roughly $40 mil- sive linemen, two defensive backs. lion in guaranteed money over the running backs, "Our priority Offensively, we next seven years. two tight ends, obviously was got two running Call me crazy. but in this day and one linebacker backs, two tight age and with the current state ofthe and one special speed, speed, ends. five offen- economy, it does not seem like the teamer. speed." sive linemen Lions are getting much of a bene- Great empha- and five wide fit from becoming the first team in sis is placed on -Bob Toledo receivers." NFL history to go 0-16. ranking recruits head coach Tulane didn't Historically, having the first pick by stars, and the get any quar- is suppoSed to be a great thing. It is 2008 class did not terbacks or full- every team's chance to add the play- include a single three-star player. backs, but To- er that can single-handedly turn The 2009 class includes eight. Sev- ledo commented that the team their franchise around. Legendary en signees are also ranked nation- didn't need any for the upcoming players such as Bo Jackson. Troy Ai- ally in the Top 100 for their posi- season with fou.r players listed at kman.John Elway and Peyton Man- tions. These seven include: tight the quarterback position. Of the ning were chosen with the first pick. BRANT SANDE.RI.IN ａｔｌａｎｔａｊｏｌｙｒｎＮｕＮﾷｃｏｬ｜ｾｔｊｔｬＧｔｊｏＮＧｍｃｔ end Brock Sanders, offensive tack- ｰｲｯｳｰ･｣ｾ from Louisiana, \Vest These are players whose impact on trade up three draft spots to get the tum out to be an Alex Smith, and be- all. Of those six, only one - Orlando le L.J. Abrams, center Rio Mares, Monroe High's DJ. Banks hose the game will be remembered long number one draft pick in 2004, they fore you know it, $40 million vanish- Pace - has played in multiple Pro linebaacker Cody Ledford, defen- Tulane over Georgia Tech, Texas after their careers are over. had to trade the No.4 piclc, along with es before your very eyes. Bowls. And of those five, only one sive lineman Devin Williams, run- A&M and Vanderbilt. Banks was just look at what certain teams a third rounder and future first and In the past 10 years, seven quar- other even made a Pro Bowl ning back Stephen Barnett and named a three-star recruit and the will do to get the first pick in the draft: fifth rounders. terbacks have been chosen with the So next year when your team is defensive end Austen Jacks. No. 41 prospect in the state by ri- there must be some reason why ｾｦｩｫ･ Looking back. wa.s it really worth . first overall pick Ofthose seven, they struggling at 2-12 and you are root- Of the recruits receiving na- vals.com and the No.145 wide re- Ditka of the Saints traded his whole it for any of those teams? Is it worth have combined for a meager six Pro ing for them to drop that last-sec- tional attention, Toledo ·doesn't ceiver in the nation hy scuutcom. draft selection (are you kidding me?!) it to trade multiple valuable assets Bowls, and three of those were by ond touchdown pass to improve want to be quick in making any as- "One of the things we are go- for Ricky Williams in 1999. Nobody just to take a $30 million-plus gam- Vick. It is not just at the quarterback their draft standing. think about sumptions, and was elusive when ing to do, obviously, is play him really questioned the Falcons in 2001 ble? At this point, ifl were the Lions, I position where players fail to live up what you are really asking for. Is asked to name his top recruit. [Banks] at receiver. The other thing when they traded what would turn would be frantically calling any team to the hype of being the first choice. it worth it to gaining an extra few "I don't know, I've done that be- we want to do is put him in the out to be LaDanian Tomlinson and I could and practically trying to give From 1991 to 2000 (careers of recent spots in the di-aft order and paying fore and I've been wrong" Toledo backfielo and let him play some Phil Rivers for the rights to draft the away the first pick. Sure, itcould turn draft picksJake Long and Mario Wil- drastically more money to these un- said. "Let's just wait and see. There quarterback as well. Obviously, we esteemed Ron Mexico (err, Michael out to be a Matt Ryan. and every- liams are too short to judge), sixnon- proven athletes? History says may- is no need to put any pressure on also see him as a return guy. He's l'ldc) at No.l, and for the Gian.ts t.o thing is all and well. Butit could al.so quarteroacks were chosen first over- be not. any one person right now. 1 think ve!Y exciting," Toledo said. lrm/Tulane - V University Roman STONE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES Become a part of one of ｾｨ･ most exciting programs.on campus Major or Minor in Latin American Studies Summer Abroad Study Abroad Alternative Sf?ring Break Model OAS Service Learning Graduate Programs sandwiches, pasta, and salads also! and much more FOR MORE INFORMATION stonecenter. tulane.edu CORE MERCHANDISE is in need of employees in the following categories: BOOKKEEPER, PAYROLL/PAY RECEIVER Attractive salary, plus benefits, and takes little time. No age discrimination! 866-II66 CALL FOR DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS Open7days computer literate efficient and dedicated 11 a.1n. to 1nidnight Locally Owned & Operated for Almost 20 Years! For more information contact For a menu and coupons visit Recruit Department at [email protected] www.eatromanpizza.com ' , .

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