As detailed in earlier posts in other threads on this site, I attended my first Southern Columbia game (my alma mater) in exactly 50 years. I had a reunion of sorts with some of my teammates and had an opportunity to get some information on Julian.....even spotted Grandpa Mick at the game....so I doubt he was in Columbus on Sat.
This is a summary of what i heard or how I interpreted the conversations.
Early on Julian had a girlfriend attending PSU (most of us knew this) he visited her frequently and no doubt took advantage of his celebrity (as a top prospect), as a HS soph or junior......which one of us would not have done the same?
It appears that PSU was never the front runner and I posted here at the end of his junior year that the word out of Catawissa was the he was going "away" from home. At the time I thought Clemson was the front runner.
The biggest factor in his decision was his relationship with Brian Hartline.
Everyone seems to acknowledge that his statements about coaching changes, Shorter and his experience at PSU were a very distant second to his trust in Hartline.
PSU didn't lose Fleming. They were
never the front runner.
Shorter on the other hand, under performed and quit on this teammates mid season. I would have not ill feelings for him if he had waited until after the bowl game.
the reality is folks, that PSU is just fine without them. I don't care if they combine for 100 catches from here on out. Our receivers are just fine. There are just a few individuals who post here who will covet any player who leaves and will never miss an opportunity to assert that CJF somehow used poor judgement, lost a recruit, didn't give a player a chance.....call it what you will.
Buy the way....on another note....#23 Garcia is a pretty damn good RB for SCA. I think he gained 221 yards in the second half vs Wyoming Area. I believe he plans to go to Kent State. Got a soft spot for #23 in black and gold....
