Who Needs Lance Thompson?
In a surprising move, after the 2008 season, former linebackers coach for the University of Alabama, Lance Thompson, bolted for the University Of Tennessee. Lance was renowned for his recruiting ability to draw top recruits to the program.
Many Bama fans, including myself, felt a bit betrayed by the move along with the fact that Alabama had just lost their top recruiter, and to a hated rival nonetheless. Thompson's response was that he couldn't pass up the opportunity to coach under" the great Monte Kiffin," but we all know that it was the money talking. Thompson nearly doubled his salary at 350,000 per year.
After Thompson left, along with Kevin Steele to Clemson, many Bama fans were on edge to see the outcome of the 2009 signing day. Many of the top recruits, including Trent Richardson, the duo from Gadsden, Al and Kendall Kelly, Dre Kirkpatrick, and four star quarterback AJ Mcarron, were recruited by Lance Thompson. All stayed true to their commitments. Some feared that Trent Richardson would follow Thompson to Tennessee. Well, "sorry bout your luck" Lance, but Trent is with the Tide. Alabama finished with the Rivals.com top recruiting class of 2009.
Today the Alabama recruiting train is still going strong with 13 2010 commitments. With seven months remaining until signing day, Alabama has six four star commitments including top quarterback prospect Phillip Sims and five star cornerback prospect Demarcus Milliner. 2010 looks to be another top five recruiting class for Coach Saban and the recruiting machine at Alabama.
At the infamous Lane Kiffin verbal assault dinner party in Knoxville, Lance Thompson made the Statement "He (Nick Saban) ain't getting any more of my recruits. "Well Lance, back to the drawing board.
