[StannyBoy]

So this Solomon Thomas/Arkansas thing isn't serious is it?

Although they probably have some mighty good pork bbq out around Fayetteville.

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

[StannyBoy]

So this Solomon Thomas/Arkansas thing isn't serious is it?

Although they probably have some mighty good pork bbq out around Fayetteville.

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

[yvonne]

Judging by his tweets, I'd say we're behind.

[yvonne]

Judging by his tweets, I'd say we're behind.

[Mick]

His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college.

Such a bad idea.

When I read your post, I was thinking about the Princeton alum who advocated that Princeton coeds target Princeton men for future husband material.  When I read her screed, I immediately contacted my older son, who was a 21 year old junior there with a serious girlfriend.  I gave him the second "Birds and the Bees" talk; e.g., how to handle it when you're young-but-mature girlfriend gives you the "Fish-or-cut-bait" speech.  He rolled his eyes, and said "Dad, she doesn't even think in those terms."

Two months later, he called me and thanked me and said he would have been totally blindsided if I hadn't had the conversation with him to prepare him to handle it.

[Mick]

His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college.

Such a bad idea.

When I read your post, I was thinking about the Princeton alum who advocated that Princeton coeds target Princeton men for future husband material.  When I read her screed, I immediately contacted my older son, who was a 21 year old junior there with a serious girlfriend.  I gave him the second "Birds and the Bees" talk; e.g., how to handle it when you're young-but-mature girlfriend gives you the "Fish-or-cut-bait" speech.  He rolled his eyes, and said "Dad, she doesn't even think in those terms."

Two months later, he called me and thanked me and said he would have been totally blindsided if I hadn't had the conversation with him to prepare him to handle it.

[OutsiderFan]

It sure as heck seems to me that anyone who is a fit for Stanford would have the internal fortitude and long-term foresight to put the pull of a (likely) first love relationship to the side to realize a Stanford education.

[OutsiderFan]

It sure as heck seems to me that anyone who is a fit for Stanford would have the internal fortitude and long-term foresight to put the pull of a (likely) first love relationship to the side to realize a Stanford education.

[CJ90]

The guy has an opportunity to attend Stanford and play football for free. 

The girl has an opportunity to attend Arkansas.

You'd think the obvious answer is that if they want to stay together, which is a priority I understand and wouldn't want to dismiss out of hand, she should find a way to go to school in or relatively close to the Bay Area.  I think it's fair to say that to most people looking at this objectively, his choosing Arkansas would seem an exceedingly bad solution and blown opportunity. 

[CJ90]

The guy has an opportunity to attend Stanford and play football for free. 

The girl has an opportunity to attend Arkansas.

You'd think the obvious answer is that if they want to stay together, which is a priority I understand and wouldn't want to dismiss out of hand, she should find a way to go to school in or relatively close to the Bay Area.  I think it's fair to say that to most people looking at this objectively, his choosing Arkansas would seem an exceedingly bad solution and blown opportunity. 

[washingtonismoney]

The stealth surfaces -- OT Reilly Gibbons, who committed: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1371641.html

Gibbons is a 4 star on three of the four recruiting services, though a bit oddly 247composite squishes that together as a three-star rating. (I suspect it's due to an arbitrary cut-off of where three-star and where four-star begins but can't say for sure.)

Gibbons was previously committed to Miami and had offers from Clemson, FSU, Ohio State, Nebraska, and oodles and oodles more.

EDIT: oh, and Stanford's up to #14 in 247's composite rankings.

[washingtonismoney]

The stealth surfaces -- OT Reilly Gibbons, who committed: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1371641.html

Gibbons is a 4 star on three of the four recruiting services, though a bit oddly 247composite squishes that together as a three-star rating. (I suspect it's due to an arbitrary cut-off of where three-star and where four-star begins but can't say for sure.)

Gibbons was previously committed to Miami and had offers from Clemson, FSU, Ohio State, Nebraska, and oodles and oodles more.

EDIT: oh, and Stanford's up to #14 in 247's composite rankings.

[oman]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.

[oman]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.

[BostonCard]

[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83007#msg83007 date=1391282740]
So this Solomon Thomas/Arkansas thing isn't serious is it?

Although they probably have some mighty good pork bbq out around Fayetteville.

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

[/quote]

Speaking of which, who was the last guy we lost to a gf?  Was zumwalt to LA because of a gf?

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83007#msg83007 date=1391282740]
So this Solomon Thomas/Arkansas thing isn't serious is it?

Although they probably have some mighty good pork bbq out around Fayetteville.

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

[/quote]

Speaking of which, who was the last guy we lost to a gf?  Was zumwalt to LA because of a gf?

BC

[oman]

I chose to take my first job in Texas over CA because of a girl. 

I don't think I would have made that kind of choice -- girlfriend vs. No. 1 college.  But hard to tell. I wouldn't have an honest to goodness girlfriend until four years after heading to The Farm. I was pretty happy to have one. 

No question that if I had had even a friend who would have gone to Harvard with me, I would let that be the tiebreaker. As it was, the tiebreaker for me was the weather vs. all the old dead dudes who had gone to Harvard. 

[oman]

I chose to take my first job in Texas over CA because of a girl. 

I don't think I would have made that kind of choice -- girlfriend vs. No. 1 college.  But hard to tell. I wouldn't have an honest to goodness girlfriend until four years after heading to The Farm. I was pretty happy to have one. 

No question that if I had had even a friend who would have gone to Harvard with me, I would let that be the tiebreaker. As it was, the tiebreaker for me was the weather vs. all the old dead dudes who had gone to Harvard. 

[Bruce Wang]

This video is dedicated to Solomon Thomas's girlfriend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSGl3d4KOMk

[Bruce Wang]

This video is dedicated to Solomon Thomas's girlfriend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSGl3d4KOMk

[StannyBoy]

[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.

[StannyBoy]

[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.

[CompSci87]

Hey Manti Te'o was able to maintain a long distance relationship and he wasn't able to use Skype.

Give the long distance thing a shot, Solomon.  I did it.  And now I'm married to her.  True love defies space and time.

And in the Te'o case, it defies reality too.

[CompSci87]

Hey Manti Te'o was able to maintain a long distance relationship and he wasn't able to use Skype.

Give the long distance thing a shot, Solomon.  I did it.  And now I'm married to her.  True love defies space and time.

And in the Te'o case, it defies reality too.

[OutsiderFan]

Cal Rivals reporter says Vecchio has ruled out Cal.  Seems safe to say he's going to Stanford, even if as a walk-on. 

Cal had four coaches do an in-home with Vecchio this week.  If he's not going to Cal on scholarship he sure as hell iasn't going to Boise State, which leaves Stanford as the only option.

[OutsiderFan]

Cal Rivals reporter says Vecchio has ruled out Cal.  Seems safe to say he's going to Stanford, even if as a walk-on. 

Cal had four coaches do an in-home with Vecchio this week.  If he's not going to Cal on scholarship he sure as hell iasn't going to Boise State, which leaves Stanford as the only option.

[AthleticsDynasty]

So maybe there is hope for a surprise RB recruit that no one has ever heard of to surface.

[AthleticsDynasty]

So maybe there is hope for a surprise RB recruit that no one has ever heard of to surface.

[gohogs14]

[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83019#msg83019 date=1391299897]
[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.
[/quote]

Yeah after his visit our fans feel like our chances got better, but most still feel like you guys are the favorite.

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.

[gohogs14]

[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83019#msg83019 date=1391299897]
[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.
[/quote]

Yeah after his visit our fans feel like our chances got better, but most still feel like you guys are the favorite.

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.

[socalstanfan1]

[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83033#msg83033 date=1391311741]
[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83019#msg83019 date=1391299897]
[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.
[/quote]

Yeah after his visit our fans feel like our chances got better, but most still feel like you guys are the favorite.

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.
[/quote]

Thanks for the respect, Gohogs14. Personally, I have a lot of respect for the style of football Bielema coaches, after we played his team (though coached by Alvarez) in the Rose Bowl. Given how much work Thomas put in just to get admitted to Stanford (I read somewhere he took 4 AP classes, and the SAT over 5 times), I expect he will follow through on coming here. But one can never really predict the thinking of a young player in these situations, even one as seemingly mature as Thomas. Just anxious for signing day to arrive.

[socalstanfan1]

[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83033#msg83033 date=1391311741]
[quote author=oman link=topic=6741.msg83019#msg83019 date=1391299897]
[quote author=young_money link=topic=6741.msg83010#msg83010 date=1391286293]

Sounds serious. His GF will be going there. Wouldn't be the first guy to chase their HS GF off to college. Hopefully the parents can provide some guidance here.

I actually had read that his sister already attends.
[/quote]

The older sister does already attend Arkansas.
[/quote]

Yeah after his visit our fans feel like our chances got better, but most still feel like you guys are the favorite.

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.
[/quote]

Thanks for the respect, Gohogs14. Personally, I have a lot of respect for the style of football Bielema coaches, after we played his team (though coached by Alvarez) in the Rose Bowl. Given how much work Thomas put in just to get admitted to Stanford (I read somewhere he took 4 AP classes, and the SAT over 5 times), I expect he will follow through on coming here. But one can never really predict the thinking of a young player in these situations, even one as seemingly mature as Thomas. Just anxious for signing day to arrive.

[StannyBoy]

Low APR U Rivals reporter says Vecchio has ruled out Low APR U.  Seems safe to say he's going to Stanford, even if as a walk-on. 

Low APR U had four coaches do an in-home with Vecchio this week.  If he's not going to Low APR U on scholarship he sure as hell iasn't going to Boise State, which leaves Stanford as the only option.

Vecchio passed on Kal because they didn't offer him a scholarship.

[StannyBoy]

Low APR U Rivals reporter says Vecchio has ruled out Low APR U.  Seems safe to say he's going to Stanford, even if as a walk-on. 

Low APR U had four coaches do an in-home with Vecchio this week.  If he's not going to Low APR U on scholarship he sure as hell iasn't going to Boise State, which leaves Stanford as the only option.

Vecchio passed on Kal because they didn't offer him a scholarship.

[BostonCard]

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.

Thanks for the props.  No need to sell Walmart short. From a management perspective, they are the #1 retail company in the world.

BC

[BostonCard]

I can't blame him if he goes to Stanford though...i really respect what you guys have been able to do. Your team is exactly the type of team that Bielema is trying to build here. With the academics and beautiful campus that Stanford has it would be hard for anyone to turn down.

Thomas seems like a great kid who puts a lot of weight on academics. We have a pretty good grad school business program with a lot of upper management walmart connections here if that is what he intends to major in (i know it's walmart lol but still). Im sure we're selling the one game in Cowboys stadium each year too.

Not saying that we can compare to Stanford in that department though, not many can haha.

Thanks for the props.  No need to sell Walmart short. From a management perspective, they are the #1 retail company in the world.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

No need to sell Walmart short. From a management perspective, they are the #1 retail company in the world.

I just read a really interesting article comparing Amazon to Walmart -- apparently the former can ship stuff for half the price: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-wal-m...zon-2014-2

[washingtonismoney]

No need to sell Walmart short. From a management perspective, they are the #1 retail company in the world.

I just read a really interesting article comparing Amazon to Walmart -- apparently the former can ship stuff for half the price: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-wal-m...zon-2014-2

[socalstanfan1]

Have to admit the Solomon Thomas situation is starting to concern me. He's played everything close to the vest, so it's hard to get any real read on him, and I assume the so-called experts are just taking shots in the dark like the rest of us. The rational part of me thinks that all the effort he put in just to get admitted to Stanford speaks of a commitment to coming here. Then I realize that, as an 18 year old, the draw of family (sister attending Ark, family closer by to see the games) and teenage love could lead him to stay closer to home.

But in the big picture, the success of the program is based on more than the recruitment of individual, excellent players. If he does end up choosing Arkansas, it would be disappointing, but not the end of the world for us. I just hope he would not end up regretting the decision in later years.

At this point, I'm just looking forward to Wednesday's announcement.

[socalstanfan1]

Have to admit the Solomon Thomas situation is starting to concern me. He's played everything close to the vest, so it's hard to get any real read on him, and I assume the so-called experts are just taking shots in the dark like the rest of us. The rational part of me thinks that all the effort he put in just to get admitted to Stanford speaks of a commitment to coming here. Then I realize that, as an 18 year old, the draw of family (sister attending Ark, family closer by to see the games) and teenage love could lead him to stay closer to home.

But in the big picture, the success of the program is based on more than the recruitment of individual, excellent players. If he does end up choosing Arkansas, it would be disappointing, but not the end of the world for us. I just hope he would not end up regretting the decision in later years.

At this point, I'm just looking forward to Wednesday's announcement.