Quote Originally Posted by Todd4State View Post
Jason Croom

MZTERRY 193 posts Aug 20, 2011
dawgbone33 said... (original post)
To the poster MZ Terry, I do not know if you are really Jason Croom's mother but from your post it certainly looks like you are.
Going on that, you said this:
"Would he be #4 or 5 going into MSU or much higher at UT? Even a poster here stated that MSU really didn't need Jason. It wasn't a major blow losing him. I respect that, and we felt the same way. He fit the program, but he wouldn't be major there."
I and many MSU fans totally disagree! It would be a MAJOR blow to lose Jason. Here's why. We do not have any WR's with Jason's size & skill on the roster. That's why he was clearly MSU's #1 priority at WR this season, certainly not #4 or #5.
Sure, MSU has several WR's on the roster, but none that can do the things he can do. Other than Jason, MSU has exactly ONE WR taller than 6-2, Joe Morrow, and he's a true freshman. The rest are all the smallish quick type.
Chad Bumphis 5-10, Brandon Heavens 5-10, Ricco Sanders 6-0, Jameon Lewis 5-9, Michael Carr 6-0. Perhaps our 5 best wideouts are all under 6 feet tall and weigh around 200 lbs.
Tennessee, on the other hand, has a lot of WR size & depth. Both Justin Hunter & Da'Rick Rogers are tall WR's, 6-4, 220 lb. type guys. And, are young.
So, in my opinion, Jason Croom fits our program, he's the perfect big WR for the spread offense, and would absolutely positively without a shadow of a doubt be major here.
Now, Tennessee may be in his heart. If so, then I hope he follows it all the way to Knoxville and has a wonderful career. But, I just hope that choosing the Vols wasn't for the wrong reasons. Given their desperate need for TE's and the fact they run a pro style offense, I fully expect Jason to be asked to play TE very early.
I close with this. Watch both offenses this fall. Look at who is out there at WR for both. Watch the situation with the NCAA closely. Don't rule out MSU.
Hey darlin'
The past few days have been crazy... I do sooo appreciate and respect your concern and comments. You've said some things which I won't tell the specific that were never told to me.
There were some underlined concerns that I couldn't work out on my end and I didnt feel at home with MSU. I felt like a visitor.
I'm I apologize to having to compare, but I felt pushed off at many of the schools we visited. Miami, I LOVE their coaching staff... they were very personalable, they showed me everything I wanted to see, they had the stats laid out for me when I walked through the door. Tenneessee did the exact same thing plus some.. it was like they had cameras on the car as we pulled on campus. Whether it was staged or not.. i dont know, but LORD have mercy.... Jason was lagging behind me as I walked in the door. They had spoken to me on the phone but had never seen me prior to; "Hey Ms. Kay" where's are boy, coming on in.. I have this this and this ready for you to review. This day is yours... tell us specifically what you need to know and see right now. we have a schedule but we dont need to follow it to a Tee if thats' not what you want.
Every question and concern that I had regarding my son was answered specifically. I know being a TE is possibility, but I've made it clear where I stand with that without dictating how they run their program.
UT got to know my entire family. they took time to stay in contact with Jason's coach, FBook with me all the time; I pick up the phone and voice my concerns; they're addressed and we move on; they keep their finger on Jason like his father would.
In regards to MSU coaching staff: what I know of them, they're nice professional people, I have only spoken to Mirando I believe 2x on the phone and once for a few minute while I was down there. I spoke to Mullen 1x on the phone and 1x at the end of visit down there, and he fbook me as we got closer to committing day. Knox fbook every couple of weeks and ask how we're doing, but I don't know him either. I have daughter the same age as Mirando....and Jason felt like that's his roadie; let's go hang out... If Jason was their #1 kid they told him that not me or my husband. I dont have that relationship with them. I'm black and white...no gray area for me. I dont know what you're thinking until you open your mouth.
I left the door open for my son swing in the direction he felt most comfortable in. MSU had 90% of what we wanted in a school; no doubt, but the missing 10% were my concerns that could not be addressed.
We had even discussed revisiting both schools before the 18th. So happen we went to Michigan on vacation and passed by UT and decided to drop in unannounced. Looking crazy coming off the road... I told the assistant who I was and bombarded with love; like a long lost cousin... Hey Ms. Kay... "JCROOOOOMM" yelling through the halls.. U didn't tell us u were coming but it's cool.. is everything good.?" We just dropped by because they were right there off the highway we were on and my husband hadn't seen the campus.. no other reason. Dooley came out met my hubby, CB hugged Jason like it's his grandson. TJ made me and my husband like cousins.. Deal closers. I never felt as if they were selling me anything like I felt at many of the other schools that we had visits with.
Now if UT is staging and lying to me... they have a poker face that I need to learn.
I respect MSU fans and appreciate you all so much. Thank you for the concerns.
MZterry