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RB John Clay (official thread)

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Posted August 9, 2006

Adam Thompson column: UW coach needs to land Clay

There is a strong rumor going around that Racine Park running back John Clay, the senior-to-be that nearly every major college football program would drool to have in its backfield, is leaning toward attending the University of Wisconsin.

If the rumor comes true, Clay, the No. 4-ranked running back in the Class of 2007 by scout.com, would be choosing the Badgers over such powerhouses as Tennessee, Ohio State and Michigan.

And if it happens, it will be absolutely huge for first-year UW coach Bret Bielema. Not just for what Clay would eventually bring to the field, but what it would mean for other talented prep football players in the state and elsewhere.

First, it would show Bielema is intent on keeping the state's best in-house. That's important for the fan base and it may give UW the reputation as the place to go for other future big-time recruits.

Second, if Bielema wants, he can use Clay as an example to other Blue Chippers that UW means business in the Big Ten and nationally.

Signing Clay would be big for UW for many reasons. Now Bielema has to make sure he gets him, then parlay the good news into much more.

Reach Adam Thompson at [email protected]
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http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060809/SHE07/608090677/1882
 
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I'm not sure JT was proven to be 'big-time' before landing the great '02 class. Wisky is the home school for Clay, that has to factor in as well.
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Proven - that might be pretty strong. The Bucks controlled their destiny for the big 10 championship in '01 before dropping the last home game of the season in '01 after Bells was suspended at the 11th hour. Then they went on the road and fulfillled Tress's words about being proud in Ann Arbor.

The momentum and upswing in the program was clear at the point of the '02 recruiting.
 
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jwinslow said:
I'm not sure JT was proven to be 'big-time' before landing the great '02 class. Wisky is the home school for Clay, that has to factor in as well.
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I would say he had a fairly great track record with him going into the finalizing of 02 recruiting class. He had a promised (and fufilled) win over Michigan, 4 D1aa National Titles (in Ohio), had previously been an assistant head coach for OSU before and even though the Bucks didnt have a glory year, we still produced great stars that year - 2time AA Safety Mike Doss and Rimington Award winner LeCharles Bently. His backround and vision, along with the OSU facilities and campus is what sold OSU to the players he was recruiting.
 
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Being from Sheboygan myself, I can assure you that the "Sheboygan Press" is not really a legitimate source when it comes to insider knowledge. They write puff pieces, especially in sports. Who knows, maybe they actually do have a legit source for once. At the same time, I am hearing several rumors coming from other supposed inside sources that John Clay is already a silent commit to Wisconsin, but wants to wait until the All American game to verbal to garner pub for the uni. Like I've said from the beginning, all signs point to Clay becoming a Badger. I just can't see why he wouldn't stay in state with all the factors involved, i.e.: rep as running school, close for family, good depth chart, pretty good success, formative years were the beginning of the turnaround of the Wisconsin program, etc. But I have been wrong before. It can't hurt that Wisconsin seems to actually have gotten a decent quarterback with experience in Allan Evridge; a transfer from Kansas State who affirmed his switch to Wisconsin yesterday. Evridge would be a rs junior by the time Clay theoretically reaches Madtown, and he'd carry the torch passed by Stocco.
 
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