Neal made a good point

[BeastMan]

Today at the very end of his podcast where they discussed the response. He was talking about Leo and how he admitted to receiving inducements from numerous schools. He went on to say that Leo had his hand out for his entire recruitment and everybody knew it. Being that he admitted to that in his immunity interviews, that a fair statement imo. Neal says, if Ole Miss knows that, why do they even get involved with Leo with the NCAA on campus? Neal just nailed it. That is the crux of the whole deal. Pride and arrogance are the root causes for this whole deal.

Neal did not follow up that last statement about why did OM get involved so allow me to refresh your memory to show that pride and arrogance. Leo was committed to Bama as his recruitment had blown up. MSU looked to be still in the mix with Ole Miss and LSU a distant 3rd and 4th. MSU hosted a historic Big Dog Camp where there was a rash of commitments, including some of the state's top players, and seemed to have all the instate recruiting momentum. The weekend was capped off by Leo making a public decommitment from Bama. MSU was on fire in recruiting instate and had all the positive press, especially with the looming commitment of Leo Lewis surely on the horizon. What happens? Out of the blue, Leo commits to Ole Miss and goes on to tweet that it was a business decision telling the world what we already knew. Ole Miss came off that bag to get him.

That situation is a microcosm of this entire investigation. With the NCAA on campus and Freeze/OM under an investigative microscope, they could not stand it that MSU was taking it to them in MS recruiting. It hurt their pride which led to a reckless and arrogant action to make Leo an offer he couldn't refuse. They can blame Leo and villainize him all they want but if they don't go reckless with Leo, there probably isn't the 2nd NOA and the chance for the worst sanctions since SMU.

[ShotgunDawg]

Great points.

Why didn't we get involved with Akers?

Rod Taylor?

Why didn't we pony up for AJ Brown?

Benito Jones?

Patterson?

[missouridawg]

If I remember correctly, didn't OM kind of fall back in recruiting a bit during that class and we took a big step forward, buoyed by the in state talent? If so, it looks exactly like you stated.... they peeled back with the NCAA on campus the Peters/Lewis year and the moment we had some success they panicked and went back all-in leading to the next two classes to be pretty damn good.

[Liverpooldawg]

Great points.

Why didn't we get involved with Akers?

Rod Taylor?

Why didn't we pony up for AJ Brown?
Exactly

[ShotgunDawg]

Exactly

What sucks though is this is why it's difficult to run a winning program in Mississippi without cheating.

The kids have their hands out.

At Mississippi State are we just supposed to let the top 5 players in the state go to Florida State because they are paying kids that have their hands out? In a state with limited prospects, how do we survive without cheating when there are out of state schools that are more than willing to pay?

OM screwed up badly, but that point remains.

Will OM going on probation actually help MSU? Because the same kids that have their hands out will still want money for their services.

[BrunswickDawg]

Great points.

Why didn't we get involved with Akers?

Rod Taylor?

Why didn't we pony up for AJ Brown?

Which is why I almost believe that Leo was a sting operation. It may have not been orchestrated by the NCAA - more likely by Mullen knowing what he learned in the Chris Jones recruitment. Mullen knew they couldn't resist it. They are like herion addicts. They can't go too long without that recruiting high or they get all squirrely. So ole Dan knows they are trying to stay low with the NCAA on campus. He knows their recruiting ranking is just making them itch and tremor as ours rose. So Dan cast that bait like a spinner looking for some large mouth. And those dumb-basses bit and bit hard. And, in the words of Freezus Christ, "Yahtzee!", they caught Leo - the big fish. Only to see him slip thru the net at the side of the boat.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Which is why I almost believe that Leo was a sting operation. It may have not been orchestrated by the NCAA - more likely by Mullen knowing what he learned in the Chris Jones recruitment. Mullen knew they couldn't resist it. They are like herion addicts. They can't go too long without that recruiting high or they get all squirrely. So ole Dan knows they are trying to stay low with the NCAA on campus. He knows their recruiting ranking is just making them itch and tremor as ours rose. So Dan cast that bait like a spinner looking for some large mouth. And those dumb-basses bit and bit hard. And, in the words of Freezus Christ, "Yahtzee!", they caught Leo - the big fish. Only to see him slip thru the net at the side of the boat.

If so,Dan Mullen is the greatest troll in history.

[Reason2succeed]

Which is why I almost believe that Leo was a sting operation. It may have not been orchestrated by the NCAA - more likely by Mullen knowing what he learned in the Chris Jones recruitment. Mullen knew they couldn't resist it. They are like herion addicts. They can't go too long without that recruiting high or they get all squirrely. So ole Dan knows they are trying to stay low with the NCAA on campus. He knows their recruiting ranking is just making them itch and tremor as ours rose. So Dan cast that bait like a spinner looking for some large mouth. And those dumb-basses bit and bit hard. And, in the words of Freezus Christ, "Yahtzee!", they caught Leo - the big fish. Only to see him slip thru the net at the side of the boat.

If that is true it will be a great story in ten or twenty years for Mullen to tell...but I doubt that is true. What we've seen is that Muelln is willing to let kids go if they want stupid money. We had Cam Newton but didn't pay up. Shotgun listed others and there are many others who are or were on the OM roster who could be added to the list.

I think Leo wanted to sign but also wanted to "enjoy the process". At the end of the day he knew that State was better for his long term development and he enjoyed being here more. Had it been a sting operation how would Mullen ensure that the NCAA would tack it on the OM and not open an investigation at MSU? I think it just so happened that Leo Lewis' name came up and he was granted immunity and told the truth. No one was trying to get OM in trouble. They got themselves in trouble.

[Spiderman]

Today at the very end of his podcast where they discussed the response. He was talking about Leo and how he admitted to receiving inducements from numerous schools. He went on to say that Leo had his hand out for his entire recruitment and everybody knew it. Being that he admitted to that in his immunity interviews, that a fair statement imo. Neal says, if Ole Miss knows that, why do they even get involved with Leo with the NCAA on campus? Neal just nailed it. That is the crux of the whole deal. Pride and arrogance are the root causes for this whole deal.

Neal did not follow up that last statement about why did OM get involved so allow me to refresh your memory to show that pride and arrogance. Leo was committed to Bama as his recruitment had blown up. MSU looked to be still in the mix with Ole Miss and LSU a distant 3rd and 4th. MSU hosted a historic Big Dog Camp where there was a rash of commitments, including some of the state's top players, and seemed to have all the instate recruiting momentum. The weekend was capped off by Leo making a public decommitment from Bama. MSU was on fire in recruiting instate and had all the positive press, especially with the looming commitment of Leo Lewis surely on the horizon. What happens? Out of the blue, Leo commits to Ole Miss and goes on to tweet that it was a business decision telling the world what we already knew. Ole Miss came off that bag to get him.

That situation is a microcosm of this entire investigation. With the NCAA on campus and Freeze/OM under an investigative microscope, they could not stand it that MSU was taking it to them in MS recruiting. It hurt their pride which led to a reckless and arrogant action to make Leo an offer he couldn't refuse. They can blame Leo and villainize him all they want but if they don't go reckless with Leo, there probably isn't the 2nd NOA and the chance for the worst sanctions since SMU.

They needed LB help desperately, as witnessed in the Egg Bowl.

[Percho]

Which is why I almost believe that Leo was a sting operation. It may have not been orchestrated by the NCAA - more likely by Mullen knowing what he learned in the Chris Jones recruitment. Mullen knew they couldn't resist it. They are like herion addicts. They can't go too long without that recruiting high or they get all squirrely. So ole Dan knows they are trying to stay low with the NCAA on campus. He knows their recruiting ranking is just making them itch and tremor as ours rose. So Dan cast that bait like a spinner looking for some large mouth. And those dumb-basses bit and bit hard. And, in the words of Freezus Christ, "Yahtzee!", they caught Leo - the big fish. Only to see him slip thru the net at the side of the boat.

If that is true ole Dan should have the Rev mounted.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Great points.

Why didn't we get involved with Akers?

Rod Taylor?

Why didn't we pony up for AJ Brown?

Benito Jones?

Patterson?


Us not getting Cam Akers has nothing to do with OM. I wish people would stop assuming this. We aint getting anyone from Clinton until some staff changes happen with us, or at CHS. There is no doubt AJ Brown got some ''improper benefits''. I cant speak on the others, maybe they just wanted to go to OM