SI Article on Hugh Green from 1980

[chillsy]

I enjoyed the link to the SI Article on Hugh Green from 1980. I read that as a 13 year old when I had a subscription to SI as a kid, but enjoyed re-reading as it brought back some really good memories.

As I was reading the article, a couple of questions came to mind. My father and grandfather were season ticket holders and had the same seats in successive rows in Section 1 at old Pitt stadium so I went to a lot of games from 1974 thru the late 80's. However, being that I was a kid I had trouble remembering some facts and couldn't answer the questions the article sparked:

1. Everyone knew Johnny Majors was going back to Tennessee late in the 1976 season, and with Jackie Sherrill at Wash. State for the 1976 season, how did he pull together a recruiting class that included, Ricky Jackson, Greg Meisner, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Bill Neill, Carlton Williamson, Lynn Thomas, Benji Pryor and Jerry Boyarsky. I realize that Sherrill was probably hired very quickly as he had previously been one of Majors' assistants, and guys like Foge Fazio transitioned from staffs to keep the contact going, but that is an outstanding class of core contributors and stars on that '80 team. At least 7 of those guys were NFL players (not including Green). I know some of the guys were local, but to pull Jackson out of Florida; Williamson out of Georgia; May out of New York; and Thomas out of Mississippi, along with Rooster Jones and Green is incredible, especially at that time before social media and the internet. Maybe it is as simple as Majors was recruiting all of these guys and Sherrill stepped in and secured their commitment in the short time after he became HC.
2. In reading the article, it states that both Green and Jones had signed LOI to play at Mississippi State. Were they recruited after LOI day, if it existed back then? How did each get out of their commitment. I thought those commitments were binding.

Those were great times to be a kid watching football in Pittsburgh. Pitt games on Saturday and Steelers games on Sunday. I can remember being devastated when Pitt lost down at FSU in '80 and PSU at home in '81 to spoil what should have been N/C seasons.

I realize recruiting wasn't the business back then it is now, but I am interested in finding out the above questions as I just can't remember back that far.

Thanks.