Say what you want about Jeff Capel ...

[garyeb2]

I agree, he tried to build the program too quickly and took a chance on some low character guys.

But at the end of the day, regardless of what school you are recruiting for to beat out Calipari for the #1, #4, #14, and #24 (ESPN rankings) you are doing something right.

Capel was the lead recruiter for Jabari Parker, Mississippi transfer Rodney Hood. http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/21/3393804/justise-winslow-commits-to-duke.html

I guess you guys are right. We let a real treasure slip away. Maybe he will still be available when Kruger's contract is up.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Two assumptions that may not hold up.

1) That Capel is the key guy in recruiting

2) That Duke recruiting is better than in the past. I would seriously doubt that this is the case.

Capel gets an A for Blake Griffin although he had an advantage there. Maybe a B for Willie Warren but that one probably cost us Rotnei Clark. Otherwise he had a few good recruits and too many bad ones. Also he failed to hold the best recruiting class in recent years. Many blamed Kelvin but who else lost almost the entire recruiting class upon reporting to a new job. Kruger didn't.

Probably a nice guy but not a good coach. I was never sold on his x's and o's. And the players seemed to be out of control and maybe a little bit in control.

 

[schoonerdriver]

All I know is Capel is still an assistant. The man wrecked our program.

 

[WaymanFan]

Two assumptions that may not hold up.

1) That Capel is the key guy in recruiting

2) That Duke recruiting is better than in the past. I would seriously doubt that this is the case.

Capel gets an A for Blake Griffin although he had an advantage there. Maybe a B for Willie Warren but that one probably cost us Rotnei Clark. Otherwise he had a few good recruits and too many bad ones. Also he failed to hold the best recruiting class in recent years. Many blamed Kelvin but who else lost almost the entire recruiting class upon reporting to a new job. Kruger didn't.

Probably a nice guy but not a good coach. I was never sold on his x's and o's. And the players seemed to be out of control and maybe a little bit in control.

I agree with most of your points, but two require some elaboration. First, we had several threads back in 2008 about whether we'd be better off with Rotnei Clark for four years, or Willie Warren for one or two. The OVERWHELMING choice was Willie Warren for one or two years. I find it interesting that many want to use hindsight just as a another excuse to tear apart Coach Capel. His tenure wasn't a success. WE GET IT.

As for losing the top two players from the 2006 class, only pure personal hatred for the man would compel anyone to put the blame on Coach Capel. No remotely objective person would blame him for that. James and Reynolds wanted to play for Coach Sampson. I would imagine that if Joe C brought us a high-profile name, those two guys MIGHT have at least been open-minded about staying. If someone MUST be blamed for those guys bolting, then the only logical choice would be Joe C...and as a coach you should know that.

 

[perryj74]

Just what I thought. A lot of sour grapes.

 

[Stikboy]

I agree with most of your points, but two require some elaboration. First, we had several threads back in 2008 about whether we'd be better off with Rotnei Clark for four years, or Willie Warren for one or two. The OVERWHELMING choice was Willie Warren for one or two years. I find it interesting that many want to use hindsight just as a another excuse to tear apart Coach Capel. His tenure wasn't a success. WE GET IT.

As for losing the top two players from the 2006 class, only pure personal hatred for the man would compel anyone to put the blame on Coach Capel. No remotely objective person would blame him for that. James and Reynolds wanted to play for Coach Sampson. I would imagine that if Joe C brought us a high-profile name, those two guys MIGHT have at least been open-minded about staying. If someone MUST be blamed for those guys bolting, then the only logical choice would be Joe C...and as a coach you should know that.

Help me understand something...

Most people are willing to let the Capel disaster die. Most OU fans on this board couldn't care less if they ever hear or see his name again. Then you bring him up, squeezing your Capel-love blood out of a turnip out of nowhere totally randomly, knowing it's an explosive topic.... And when people disagree you call them haters?

I'll tell you what.. If you don't bring him up, others won't be forced to tell the truth about him.. Deal?

Try to heal Bro. When you think about bringing him up, step away from the keys and go have a brewski, pipe, or whatever makes you feel better aight?

 

[skyvue]

\As for losing the top two players from the 2006 class, only pure personal hatred for the man would compel anyone to put the blame on Coach Capel.

The topic of discussion is how good a recruiter Capel is, with the OP making the point that he's a really good one.

Given that, it's fair to include the fact that he was unable to retain two top talents who had already signed with OU if one is compiling a list of accomplishments and failures he's experienced as a recruiter. Were there mitigating factors that impacted his ability to convince those two players to honor their commitments to OU? Absolutely, but there were mitigating factors that helped him sign Blake, too, and that have impacted his success at Duke.

 

[KBaden145]

3 things that get WAY too much play on this board, IMHO:
1. OUr football program,
2. A certain rival basketball program located a few hours north of Norman, and
3. Jeff Capel.

 

[jerry]

3 things that get WAY too much play on this board, IMHO:
1. OUr football program,
2. A certain rival basketball program located a few hours north of Norman, and
3. Jeff Capel.

Agree and good post.

 

[CoachTalk]

I feel like we are getting punked on this thread... Waiting on MTV to air this on TV.

 

[WaymanFan]

Help me understand something...

Most people are willing to let the Capel disaster die. Most OU fans on this board couldn't care less if they ever hear or see his name again. Then you bring him up, squeezing your Capel-love blood out of a turnip out of nowhere totally randomly, knowing it's an explosive topic.... And when people disagree you call them haters?

I'll tell you what.. If you don't bring him up, others won't be forced to tell the truth about him.. Deal?

Try to heal Bro. When you think about bringing him up, step away from the keys and go have a brewski, pipe, or whatever makes you feel better aight?

Uhm, I didn't bring up the topic...simply responding to another poster. Feel free to prove otherwise. For the record, I'm glad we have Coach Kruger instead of Coach Capel...but unlike many, I'm not consumed with all the animosity.

 

[badger]

... but DUKE is recruiting at an entirely different level since he was added to their staff.

They certainly seem to be targeting more one and dones than they have in the past.

Still, their only achievement of note with Capel as an assistant this go-around was a single Elite Eight (last season). No conference titles, NCAA titles, etc., since 2010 (or 2011, if you include the ACC conference postseason tournament)

Gee, where else was a single Elite Eight his only accomplishment of note

PS: I promise that I'm completely over Capel. Whatever he does here on out, good for him, but I don't care

 

[DenverSooner]

The topic of discussion is how good a recruiter Capel is, with the OP making the point that he's a really good one.

Given that, it's fair to include the fact that he was unable to retain two top talents who had already signed with OU if one is compiling a list of accomplishments and failures he's experienced as a recruiter. Were there mitigating factors that impacted his ability to convince those two players to honor their commitments to OU? Absolutely, but there were mitigating factors that helped him sign Blake, too, and that have impacted his success at Duke.

I disagree. I blame Joe C for that. He should not have released those kids before Capel even had a chance to speak with them. If he felt strongly that OU needed to release the kids, he should have privately told Capel that needed to be done but at least given him a chance to speak with them first.

This comes from someone that really did not like Coach Capel. I thought he was a terrible coach with no real plan other than trying to land the top players without a backup plan. I thought his teams played terrible defense. I thought every team he had underperformed, including Blake's sophomore season. I only say this to make the point I have no love for Capel.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Not this crap again. Geeze.........

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Uhm, I didn't bring up the topic...simply responding to another poster. Feel free to prove otherwise. For the record, I'm glad we have Coach Kruger instead of Coach Capel...but unlike many, I'm not consumed with all the animosity.

Yeah, I was trying to see why Stikboy went after you. I thought maybe you had an earlier post deleted or something. Hahahaha...

At least we have real games now to take away from this useless/overplayed/out-dated debate.