Recruiting stars and recruitment rankings are NOT the final determination for where a team winds up in January.Of course the talent helps but coaching matters much more.
I'm not claiming that recruiting rankings and stars are the final determination for where a team winds up in January. If that was the case, Hoke would still be at Michigan ! What I've been trying to point out is that there's a reason the top recruiting teams year end and year out play for the championships. Does every 4 & 5 star turn out to be college starters and stars ? Of course not. I'm not arguing about coaching - especially player development counting as much as recruiting. Perfect example, and why Urban is a great, great coach, is the job him and his staff did in coaching the team up after the Virginia Tech loss - especially the OL and defense. That was the same OL that gave up 7 sacks to VT (looked like a jail break at times) but improved to the point of shredding Alabama's 8 to 9 man deep, NFL-type defensive line to the tune of 280+ rushing. Any way you want to slice and dice it, that's EXCEPTIONAL coaching and why we won the NC. I want to SEE Harbaugh do something like over an extended period of time without bolting. I went to my first Buckeye game in 1962 and can honestly say that last year was the best overall job of coaching in a single season in my lifetime. I remember the Woody and Tressel teams very well and none of their seasons stack up to the job Urban did last year - not even in the same ballpark. And that's what I'm trying to point out. Instead of saying that Harbaugh will be in the playoffs in his 3rd year like you did, you better take a look at that Scarlet & Gray monster to your south. And for that matter, I hope you keep discounting MSU and poking fun of Dantonio. You might be in for a big letdown in a few years (if Harbaugh is still there). Winning championships and getting into the playoffs is easier said than done.
Many SEC followers believe Urban fled Gainsville because of the monster that Saban was building in Tuscaloosa.
Oh really ? Well, we kind of took care of that BS in January, didn't we ? If you follow the sports sites lately, it's now Saban making the excuses why he lost (NFL draft status impacting the play of his players). Sorry, Nick, after going up 21-6. the Buckeyes took your a$$es apart. Quit the dam* whining. BTW, "The Chase" that Urban kept referring to during the season and after the two playoff games was directed at winning the championship and really pointed at meeting up with Alabama. The Buckeyes and Urban wanted a piece of that team's a$$ BAD, REAL BAD. Doesn't sound like fleeing Gainsville because of Saban to me. And you saw the result. Look at Urban's record in championships and when he's an underdog. I actually feel much more comfortable with him in charge for a huge game than either Woody or Tressel and it's not close. He's a stone cold killer and when Harbaugh can consistently start winning the ultimate championship, I'll be impressed. Think about this: the Buckeyes were underdogs against Wisconsin (5 1/2 points), Alabama (9 to 10). and Oregon (7 to 8 points). That is called clutch, exceptional coaching.
BTW, you hear some of the same BS on the west coast about Harbaugh bolting because of getting owned by Petey and the Seahawks. You and I both know that's BS but my point being anybody can spin a situation.