Hello, Gator recruiting fans! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jeff Barlis, and I am taking over the recruiting beat from dearly departed Edward Aschoff, ESPN.com’s newest blogging sensation.
Huge shoes to fill. The biggest challenge of my career. An impossible task. These are just some of the comments I’ve already heard from some of you on my Twitter.
And I’m here to tell you it’s all true.
Edward did a fantastic job in his years at The Gainesville Sun. I know this because I was his boss. So I’m not exactly new to the beat. I’ve been working behind the scenes on our recruiting coverage since I decided years ago that Gatorsports.com needed a full-time writer.
Now I am that writer. Irony, anyone?
Actually, it’s a testament to just how important we feel recruiting is. You have shown us over and over that it is our most popular content.
I’ve worked with and edited just about every recruiting story, blog, mailbag and video. Some of you may have watched me on the Recruiting Report videos that Edward and I did throughout the fall football season. Now I’m flying solo.
My goal is to maintain the very high standard we have already set. And I’ll need your help. This endeavor is a two-way street. I promise to read every email, tweet and blog comment. I’ll try to respond as often as I can.
So stay tuned to this blog, my Twitter @JeffBarlis and keep an eye out for my recruiting stories, profiles, videos and mailbags. I aim to keep you informed and entertained and hopefully make you (and Edward) proud.
Good luck in your new role Jeff. Glad you seem so eager to give us the best effort. God Bless!
Good luck Jeff!
Ed was great and left some big shoes to fill. Congrats on taking over for him now lets get some recruiting news back on GS!
Well, it appears you know the drill and you are not a newby being sacrificed and thrown into the Swamp(so to speak). You know how high the bar has been set, and I applaud you for stepping in and not sacrificing some rookie. I won’t say welcome aboard, I’ll just say WELCOME. GO GATORS!!!
Welcome Jeff – Lookin’ forward to reading your future blogs about UF recruiting. In reading your bio I see you are a USTA Florida member and play in local USTA leagues. Thank you for being a member and for playing in our league program! I work for USTA so I’m a little biased of course… what level are you? We might have to get together when I come to town!
AMc
I have a USTA rating of 4.0. My goal for a while has been to improve enough to play with or against Neal Anderson.
Welcome. Lets see the magic. No pressure.
So this is where you have been hiding.
Hi super-mod Russ.
Welcome, I am looking forward to see you covering our #1 recruiting class this coming year.
If you’re half as good as Aschoff was then you’ll be at least twice as productive as 2 other unmentionable big names on staff.
Good luck, your picture looks so much like Ed you could be his twin!!!
Welcome and I am glad to have a real Gator leading our coverage. Show us your talents as we head into a new era in Gator football !
Look forward to reading your work.
Best of luck and as always……Go Gators!
Jeff, there’s this kid in the neighborhood that is really fast. Age 5 or 6. Think his name is Billy … maybe Bobby. You should keep your eye on him. (Now we will see how good you are!) Ha. Really, I enjoy the coverage, and wish you the best in your efforts.
I don’t think Ed discovered a magic secret to success, he implemented a strategy that has worked for hundreds of years, hard work equals success. Ed didn’t stand around all afternoon waiting on a coach to show up at an appointed press meeting (which I hear they’re always late to) and write the same story every other journalist at that meeting will write. Instead, he pounded the phone lines calling and texting potential recruits. He read the stat lines on every high school game and reported the most significant. He visited camps and evaluated talent. He became beloved because he delivered what others don’t. I’m happy for Ed because his hard work paid off. Here’s to hoping you follow that same playbook, Jeff. If you do, I’ll read every story you write.
good luck hope 2 c u at some high school games this year GO GATORS
Weclome Jeff. Remember “It’s all about UF recruiting”
Go Gators!
The best thing that Ed did was work hard, write well, and write often. I think that’s all anyone can ask for, and he produced. I’m happy that someone has picked up the baton.
Go Gators.
Hi Jeff,
Always enjoyed Edward, but know who are and have always followed your info. Welcome and please keep us informed.
Welcome and Great Luck in this role. You seem very qualified to handle the assignment. Very glad to have your experience and enthusiam working for Gator Nation
Now about the picture
Just Be a Die Hard GATOR! Work Hard, Write Long and Offten and Go Gators!
Can you please cover men’s Basketball Recruiting too? I enjoy following both Football and Basketball recruiting and sports.
Really? You’re going to “read every email, tweet and blog comment?” Good luck with THAT! Oh, and you definitely have big shoes to fill. Thanks for all your hard work!
Believe it!
Not to add any pressure, but I’ll be checking in on my old blog Barlis …
Oh shnap! We got a celebrity in the house, people!
C’mon Ed, tell us the truth. You really come here every morning to read all the comments on your goodbye blog, don’t you?
Ha. Don’t have to. I still get the emails 🙂
You know what they say about 3’s, right?!? Well, behold…
1990 – Spurrier/Barlis: 1 Nat’l Championship!
2005 – Meyer/Barlis: 2 Nat’l Championships!!
2011 – Muschamp/Barlis: 3(rd) time’s the charm!?!
It’s all on you, now, Jeff!!!
————
IGTBAG! (It’s Great To Be A Gator!)
Aloha
You may wish to update the pic on the front page. I’ll miss Ed’s smiling face, but if you’re picking up the gig you ought to put your mug out there 😉
The mug has been updated. I’m told that any of you who are still seeing Edward’s image just need to clear your cache or refresh that image. … Or you could just pretend that Ed is still with us. 😉