Why Todd Grantham's Outburst Will Be a Recruiting Tool for Georgia Bulldogs

While Todd Grantham’s tantrum last night might outrage college football analysts, it will send recruits rushing to join the Georgia Bulldogs.

College football recruiting has changed.

A game that used to be ruled by tradition salesmen, shopping their wares door-to-door, is now dominated by high school coaches, seven-on-seven tournaments and shoe companies. High school kids are like child actors—talented starts manipulated for the benefit of their handlers. Yet, amid all of that upheaval, one thing has remained unchanged:

Kids want to play for somebody who cares.

Regardless of what you may think of Grantham’s antics on Saturday night, it’s quite clear that he cares. The Georgia defensive coordinator said as much when interviewed following the win over Vanderbilt.

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"Everybody's competitive. I love my players. I like the way they compete, and I love the passion they play with, and I support my players."

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His tactics are questionable, but his message is clear. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you degrade one of his players, he’s not going to take it sitting down.

Recruits see that.

In a college football environment that penalizes players for any step outside of the rules, yet lets coaches bounce unfettered from school to school, a recruit wants to know that he's genuinely cared for.

Todd Gratham cares.

Grantham’s actions weren’t about setting an example, they were about sending a message.

"Just keep playing. I've got your back."

Publicly, Mark Richt will probably have to chastise his assistant for his lack of decorum. Privately, he’ll happily reap the recruiting rewards of Todd Grantham’s passion.