BTW, I figured out the answer to my original question to BuLLdawg (how Georgia's retention rate stacks up with other schools).
Team Retention Rates for the five signing classes 2008-12 of the SEC Championship game participants from the West and East for the past four seasons:
Team
|
Rate (% of
players on
roster)
|
Signed
|
Remaining
|
| Georgia |
62.6%
|
107
|
671
|
| Alabama |
58.9%
|
139
|
822
|
| LSU |
68.2%
|
123
|
843
|
| Auburn |
55.9%
|
134
|
754
|
| Florida |
73.1%
|
108
|
79
|
| South Carolina |
63.6%
|
132
|
845
|
*This represents my best math using numbers readily available on the Internets. I didn't contact each school to get the numbers.
[1] Assumes Kolton Houston won't be eligible to play[2] Removes Alabama's three endowed scholarship walk-ons
[3] Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal puts them at 84
[4] Auburn was at 76 before Zeke Pyke was dismissed
[5] South Carolina was at 85 before Tanner McEvoy left
Many folks want to blame Mark Richt for the retention rate. Actually, they get on about the attrition rate, but that is a matter of semantics. You've seen the screeds: we only have 67 of 107 signed players! While I squarely place the issues of the numbers we sign on the coach, our actual rate of retention isn't out of the norm for the programs doing very well in the conference.
I've been clear on where I place the reasons for the attrition. If you expect Mark Richt to keep those charged with felony gun crimes, those with multiple failed drug tests, those that fail out of school, or lie to players that want to transfer because they can't handle not starting, you are just going to have to hate Mark Richt and not be happy despite whatever successes come along.
Couple of other points. Interestingly, the last three national champions have the lowest retention rates. Florida's retention rate was bolstered by the small class that happened during the coaching change. Is there anything else we can glean from this (beyond we need to sign more players)?
TD
A great place for some of this information is Oversigning.com. That is where I came up with most of my numbers for the signing classes.
