Recruiting 2012--Jovan Santos

Santos #9/Courant image

The Hartford Courant says Jovan Santos, a 6-2 235 TE/LB from Xavier/Middleton HS in CT has verbaled to UMass.

Courant story here.

CPTV here.

']['ime to sign on the dotted ']["

North Marion's Jamie Gilmore could have gone anywhere. He chose Temple.

Wednesday morning update: All 28 Temple recruiting targets have signed their LOIs, according to TU football office ... complete bios and videos in TFF tomorrow

This year's event
NOT open to public


PHILADELPHIA � Wednesday, Feb. 1 is National Signing Day for football.
Temple head coach Steve Addazio will discuss the 2012 recruiting class in a 4 p.m. media conference. This year's event is not open to the public.
Fans will be able to watch the press conference LIVE on OwlSports.com.
Biographies and videos of the signees will be posted on OwlSports.com.
Temple football opens spring drills in March, concluding with the annual Cherry & White Game on April 14.

You can have the Super Bowl, World Series and the NBA finals but, to me, National Signing Day rates right up there with the first day of the NCAA Tournament as the most exciting sports day of the year.
(Heck, I won the Inquirer's NCAA pool last year so I have a personal stake in why the first day of the tournament will be extra special this year.)
For Temple football fans, though, it's '][' Day today, Feb. 1.
It might have something to do with my teams not (like almost never) being in the Super Bowl rarely in the World Series and that I'm not a big fan of the NBA but National Signing Day has a special appeal.
First, it's an example of the circle of life.
As sad as I am to see Bernard Pierce leave the household dinner table (although he did leave before desert), that's how happy I am to welcome guys like Brandon Peoples, Jamie Gilmore, Khalif Herbin and Montrell Dobbs into the Temple family.
I hope they work out as well as Bernard and, say, a lot better than Daryl Robinson, Tony "Soul Train" Cornelius or Eric Reynolds did.
Only time will tell.
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Nate Smith decommited from West Virginia for TU.

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When the fax machine in the Edberg-Olsen Complex starts rolling today, the first 25 sheets of signed names will have Temple University football scholarships.
Later that night, at the Liacouras Center, head coach Steve Addazio will be hosting a press conference to talk about the recruits. It will not be open to the public, but can be watched online.
In the past, fans got to see the recruits on film and they looked like Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus on the big not-yet-HDTV screen.
Gilmore is the No. 7-ranked all-purpose running back in the nation. (Thank you, Daz. That is just what this doctored ordered after Bernard Pierce left.)
It's a beautiful night that way.
It might not be a rite of spring, but it's certainly a rite of Groundhog's Day Eve.
On the average, no more than five of the signees provide immediate help to the next varsity team but I can see at least this much help in the current class.
Gilmore and Herbin I see as helping right away.
Once Daz gets over this notion of using Harrisburg's Jalen Fitzpatrick as a running back and moves him into his more natural slot receiver role (picture a more explosive Joey Jones), it'll be up to guys like Herbin, Gilmore and Peoples to fight for that coveted backup tailback spot to Matty Brown. (The way I read the NCAA partial qualifier rule is that Dobbs won't be eligible to play for the 2012 Owls.)
If there is an area of need in this class, that's it _ a reliable and explosive Brown backup.
Although I would like to see the Owls move Kenny Harper over to safety to bolster that side of the ball, I think they are pretty much OK in other areas. Deon Miller should be a big-time wide receiver. If Fitzpatrick has any hands at all, he should complement him on the other side with a reliable "Wes Welker-like" type in Ryan Alderman as a probable starter.
Daz's final three days produced a harvest (West Virginia DB de-commit Nate Smith has joined the fold) that should push this group to the top the MAC-rated classes.
That's not as important now as it will be five years from now but help, to quote John Kerry, is on the way.

Letter-of-Intent Day 2012---Februay 1st, 2012

First, let me reiterate, there will be a football reception at the Amherst Brewery today at 6:00 pm with Coach Molnar. The Minutemen 2012 recruits will be revealed.

This event will feature: UMass Football. Beer. Life will rarely get better.

Email Jason Germain  to let him know you are coming.

In addition, there will be live streaming video of a press conference at 3:00 pm today of Coach Molnar talking about the 2012 recruits.

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Matty V. says sources say UMass will sign a two-for-one deal with Colorado and one game with Wisconsin.

Future UMass schedules here.

Ralphie!!!

Camp Randell Stadium

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Matty also says Kyle Havens was traded to the Tampa Bay Storm.

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Jeff Thomas says it's looking like a very good recruiting class for the Minutemen.

SB Nation looks at signing day for UConn, BC and UMass.

The MAC Daily has a report the leagues Signing Day activities.

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Boston.com says Ihedigbo and Cruz are symbols of a football program on the rise.

Gee, a kind word from the Globe. Hell must be having a cold snap.

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Tevin Shaw, a First Team All-New Jersey and a teammate of UMass recruit Tajae Sharpe is looking for a scholarship after he was stiffed by Iowa State.

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Gooners In Geylang

Geylang is perhaps the most down to earth place in Singapore. It's where people cross the road before the light turns red, cyclists brush pedestrians aside on the footpath and the hookers brazenly display their ways along the lorongs and in the coffee shops.

Into this world have come two former Arsenal trainees, Oliver Nicholas and Rhema Obed who have hit the east after failing to make the grade in England.

Just because they're moving to Singapore doesn't mean they are falling off the football map. Just take a look at Norwich City's free scoring striker Grant Holt who had a short spell in the SLeague before rising through the divisions back home.

Jakarta Globe Columns

A Cameroonian legend living in Jakarta reminisces about the African Cup of Nations in this post while in another what are the chances of any ASEAN nation hosting the World Cup when they don't sell beer in the stadiums? Apart from Thailand!

Remember Teerathep?

Teerathep Winothai was supposed to be the latest in a long line of talented Thais to make an impression on the game beyond their own borders. But his highly publicised move to Lierse SK in Belgium never really worked out and he returned to Thailand with Muang Thong United who farmed him out to BEC Tero.

Now he has gone and signed for Bangkok Glass.

If ever there was a player crying out for a chance to play overseas it's the man they call Leesaw. I dunno if he has had any offers, I dunno if he is interested but the feeling among men is that for all his talent he is destined to become a nearly man.

UFL Today - Loyola beat Global 4-3 !

UFL Div 1 match today :

Loyola Fc vs Global Fc at 7 pm Rizal Stadium

Loyola will play without Phil Younghusband and Matt Hartmann who are suspended.

Loyola Fc beat Global Fc 4-3 !

Global XI: Bahadoran, Barbaso, Basa, Cortes, Elhabbib B., Elhabbib I., Espinosa, Guisso, Hoshide, Hwedi, Pascual

Loyola Meralco Sparks XI : Cortina, Dorlas, Gonzales, Hartmann M., Jeong, Morallo, Ozaeta, Park, Vorbeck, Yoshioka, Younghusband J.

Goals Global Fc : Misagh Bahadoran , Angel Guirado ,Izo Elhabbib
Goals Loyola Fc : James Younghusband 2 goals ,Mark Hartmann,Byeong Yeol Jeong