Yeah- but IF Fleming had maybe come here THEN maybe we could've won a game here or there. MAYBE Fleming would've attracted some of his buddies from the 7 vs 7 camps and possibly our WR room wouldn't be what it has been- a churn and burn of middling potential/ low performance and ever changing coaches.Hate to tell you and about a million others.....Ohio State isn't our rival either. They have a rival and it isn't us.
Again- I actually defended Fleming most of the time during his recruitment. A guy I grew up with lives up that way and his daughter went to high school with Fleming. Dude was a star in hoops too- the biggest fish in a small pond. From what I was told by her and parents he is a good kid. Choosing OSU was in his best interest and that is what he picked. Got hurt, sat behind a slew of 1st round WR picks and future NFL stars. Made some big plays like vs ND this year. But he could've been OUR 4 year starter and likely star. Maybe even have gone pro by now (he is older I believe). I spent a few years as a kid in Bloomsburg so I took an interest in Fleming for that reason too.
I'm 58 and maybe set in my ways. But when we "lose" a big recruit it stings- but is their choice. Losing Harrison Jr/Fleming in the same class to OSU was a huge blow to our team and brand. Losing Henne to Michigan and Smoker to Michigan State was part of a trend where PA QBs didn't pick us. Often a big star who goes elsewhere leads to others. Fleming is no different.
Their choices are just that. Just because a guy like Mikey Henn from our hoops team last year puts on a Penn State jersey doesn't mean that he is a Penn Stater. Dude went to 5 colleges over 6 years. Of course I rooted for him- why not- but this type of superficial "allegiance" is part of what is killing college sports.
As for the "Business Decision"- we were maybe the first to be on the wrong side of that by Silas Redd. How did we feel about that? How about him? He watched out for himself- but also never attained the stardom at U$C that he would've had here. His choice- now he is a cop in the LA area and found his wife out there. His dad was an officer in Stamford, CT- so he is following in the family tradition of service. It all worked out for him- and we found Zack Zwinack- who is a legendary "out of nowhere" RB from those years. 28 IS a Penn Stater- dude stepped up when we needed him. Silas left.
Is Redd a "Penn Stater"? I'd say no. Was Sam Hartman a Domer? His Wake coach who discovered him, developed him and guided him through the journey from boy to man for 5 years raised the question and took some heat. I happen to agree with him.
Good luck to Fleming- and if he is a Lion so be it. I won't root against him, as I haven't for 4 years at OSU. I really wish he would've chosen us 4 years ago- one year could be nice- but his degree will still say OSU.