Today (Feb. 3) is National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Coach Bill Curry and his staff will await the letters for the second Recruiting Class in school history. The players will report to school in August and begin play in the historic inaugural game on Thursday evening, Sept. 2 at the Georgia Dome. We'll keep you up-to-the-minute all day long as the historic day unfolds.
4:10 p.m.
Current team is gathering in Locker Room to go to the Party. They'll be wearing their White T-Shirts to be able to go on to the 7 p.m. men's basketball game tonight with George Mason as the team plans a Blizzard for the game. Free party and then a great game with a team receving national votes. Better be there.
3:45 p.m.
Another DB joins the class. Albert Wilson (5-9, 185) comes from Port St. Lucie, Fla. The list is at 29 players. Doors open to Signing Day Party at 4:30. Coaches to address fans about players from 5-6. Men's basketball game at 7. Need You there.
3:00 p.m.
Class grows to 28 players with addition of offensive lineman Terrance Woodard (6-2, 300) from Irwin County HS and defensive tackle Jeff Holmes (6-3, 295) from Independence CC.
2:30 p.m.
Coach Curry finishes his 2 p.m. press conference with the local media and seems extremely pleased and impressed by quality of recruits. While he was talking, the Compliance Office approved the signing of 6-5, 340-pound (yes, 340) offensive lineman Ladeven Kirkland from Yuba College and CB Justin Hughes, a 5-9, 165-pound speedster from Treasure Coast (Fla.) HS.
1:30 p.m.
Another has sent in the NLI, awaiting the Compliance Office approval to up the count to potential 25.
12:45 p.m.
Five more will wear the Blue and White! Add to the 24-player list: DT Khiry Karriem (6-3, 270), Itawamba CC; OL Tim Wynn (6-3, 270), Mays HS; TE Arthur Williams (6-5, 275), Palomar College; TE Drew Pearson (6-5, 222), Pepperell HS, and CB Demarius Matthews (5-10, 165), McEachern HS.
12:15 p.m.
NLI list is now up to 17, plus the six early enrollees, for a class of 23 and growing. More details to come on the latest signings.
11:45 a.m.
Staff in a meeting, so we'll have more signings when they're done. AJC web site has some photos of Jamal Ransby announcing at his high school this morning.
11:15 a.m.
Class is up to 21 with 15 NLI's received today, plus the six who signed early and started classes in January. Countdown Clock in lobby is down to 211 days until the September 2 opener.
10:47 a.m.
Pace is steady. SID Office releases three more: LB Jarrell Robinson (6-2, 205), Portal HS; DB Isaiah Howard (5-11, 165), American Heritage (Fla.); K Pat Baker (6-0, 170), Vero Beach (Fla.). Coach Curry to have press conference at 2 p.m. and Public Signing Party event at 4:30 at Student Center. Come to the free event.
10:15 a.m.
The Signing Bell keeps ringing (13 today, plus the six transfers who started in January).
The SID Office has announced six more: DE Alex Findura (6-5, 235), Woodland, Ga. HS; Nose guard Sherrod Loud (6-1, 285), Worth County HS; DT C.J. Stephens (6-4, 255), Woodland, Ala. HS; LB James Blake (6-1, 220), Little Rock Central HS; DB Eric Odonkor (5-11, 210), Peachtree Ridge HS; DB Jamal Ransby (5-8, 165), Newnan HS.
9:45 a.m.
The recruiting class will also include the six players who signed and began school with the January classes. Those six were LB Evan Bostic (6-3, 230), Jones County JC; DB Jocquez Fears (5-9, 208), transfer from Northeastern; TE Kalan Jenkins (6-3, 245), Navarro College: LB Jake Muasau (6-1, 243) Phoenix College; LB Louie Muasau (6-0, 235), Phoenix College: and LB Opanubi Olufemi (6-1, 210), West Los Angeles CC. So, with the four earlier and these six, the count is 10 announced, five more waiting Compliance's approval to release.
9:30 a.m.
The count is up to nine finished NLI's delivered. The sweet ding of the bell continues. Coach Bond was the early star of the day when he brought fresh muffins and cookies in from his wife for the staff to enjoy. Can't be nervous on an empty stomach!
9:15 a.m.
SID Office announces signings of DE Christo Bilukidi (6-4, 295), Eastern Arizona JC; OL Ulrick John (6-4, 260), Bradwell Institute; RB Cole Moon (6-2, 235), St. Pius X High School); Aaron Gambrah (6-2, 200) Riverside Military.
9:03 a.m.
Seventh fax arrives. Bell dings loudly. "Hooo" heard by a happy voice in office.
8:58 a.m.
Coach Pugh is on cellphone checking with a recruit checking if his fax came through. As they are speaking it does and Coach Pugh sounds the bell and leads the "G-S-U" cheer in the hallway for the GAs and interns. Coaches Pugh and Ward have changed into full suit and tie now and are receiving compliments from the staff. This makes a half dozen recruits. Switchboard still ringing, a guest arrives in the lobby to visit with a coach.
8:40 a.m.
Coach Curry comes up to the lobby to talk to a pair last year's recruits and delivers a good line to make them smile: "This is the way it was last year at this time when we were all excited about you signing. And, I think some of us might still be a little excited about your signing." Laugher by all. Switchboard still ringing; a dad of a player who has a question. The "hurry up and wait" game continues for the NLIs.
8:30 a.m.
Coaches continue talking about recruits and who promised and when they send they'd send in the letter. Another pot of coffee is being made after the first two hours for most of the staff passes. The sight of nervous coaches pacing down the hallway and talking reminds one of an expectant father walking the halls of a hospital waiting on a baby delivery.
8:20 a.m.
A couple current players from the first recruit class come by to check in and say hi to the coaches. The SID heads over to try to find the Compliance Director to be able to announce some of the NLIs.
8:17 a.m.
A fifth NLI has arrived on the machine. Another hooray from that player's position coach. A couple happy dings on the recruit bell. The front desk switchboard rings from a high school coach verifying information on what needs done for his player to send his form in. Red checkmarks of the NLI's received are put by the recruits wish list of names on the board. A conversation about it only being 5:30 a.m. on the west coast is meant to calm one of the always-worrying coaches.
8:06 a.m.
The happy sound of the ringing fax machine is heard again. Ding! Assignments are passed out for more details to get handled. Names of recruits are moved around on the big boards in the conference room.
7:59 a.m.
The fax keeps churning and a third NLI arrives. A big "Yes!" is heard from one of the coaches down the hall on this one and the little bell is dinged several times. But, someone alerts a coach that a phone call will be necessary to get one missing piece of information on this form. Switchboard still ringing as well as a G.A. steps up to provide an answer. Sorry, no names can be announced yet. Little huddles of people in different conversations can be heard up and down the hallways as the activity is really picking up.
7:48 a.m.
Once again, the ring of the fax machine has sounded and heads turn. It's the second NLI signature letter, so the little bell on the desk rings again for all to hear! Four copies are then made of each of these NLI letters to get to the appropriate people for their steps in the process.
7:25 a.m
The fax machine has beeped and the first NLI has arrived. All must be approved by the Compliance Office before we can announce the actual names. The small bell sitting on the desk to announce a new recruit has been rung!
7:15 a.m.
Just like the coffee is brewing, the anticipation is brewing as everyone compares the most recent conversation and expected results. The waiting to see if the promises are kept is never a sure thing until it is actually a sure thing with a signed name on the paper. The switchboard is ringing, so someone has questions already.
6:45 a.m.
The football office is already busy with more than a dozen staffers getting organized. The all-important fax machine has been tested to receive the information from potential signees. We are ready for some football!
