Director of Football Administration/Recruiting Coordinator Mark Pantoni leaves Florida
Florida Director of Football Operations has left the University of Florida and it's a loss that is already hitting recruits across the nation. From top Florida Offensive Tackle John Theus to top North Carolina running back Keith Marshall expressing the loss of this great recruiter. The majority of Florida's success in recruiting has come from Pantoni's work behind the scenes, while other coaches take credit. He is a major reason for the success of Florida summer camp, Friday Night Lights.Pantoni was able to get recruits from across the nation to attend the camp on there own dime. He was the man behind the curtain and his impact will be felt in Florida's recruiting.
RB Keith Marshall:Keith Marshall
RT @jtheus71: Just learned that UF has got rid of their recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni.He was definatley one of the best I dealt with.
OT John Theus: John Theus
And a shoutout to @markpantoni .. best of luck in the future.. i know you'll be successful
Noles247 Analyst Josh Newberg:
Josh Newberg
If the rumors of @markpantoni leaving #UF to go to #OhioState are true...OSU is getting one of the hardest workers in the biz.
https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247/status/141250761748254720
Background on Mark Pantoni: Mark Pantoni is entering his fifth season on staff at the University of Florida, and second season as Program Coordinator for recruiting. His job responsibilities include the identifying and analysis of prospective student-athletes as well as working closely with the coaching staff aiding with the day to day recruiting operations.
Pantoni was most recently an intern in 2006 for the Gator football team. Prior to that post, he was a student assistant for the Gator men's and women's track and field/cross country teams at the University of Florida
6 months ago
Michael@TN
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Almost certain
Urban knows what he did for that program. This is a HUGE loss. He really is one of the best in the buisness.
Follow me on twitter for recruiting info http://twitter.com/MichaelatTN
Interesting that Urban can just cherry pick who he wants. I guess Pantoni thinks he’ll be more stable up there rather than the so-so situation with Muschamp in Gville
"Kill a fly with an axe"
by SteadfastNole on Nov 29, 2011 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
Yes He Does
Muschamp is an absolute jerk off! I can’t say too much but we are all smart people here. We have seen Muschamp go absolutely bizerk on the sidelines in front of 90,000 people and millions on t.v. Imagine how he reacts and treats people behind closed doors???
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
Yep! lol
It was inevitable. You and I both know Meyer would come calling once he got a new coaching gig and Meyer isn’t stupid. He knows Mark is an Ace Recruiter, plus heis my paisan haha
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
OC & DC are going to make or break tOSU's hire of Urban
Championship!
by TLHWG on Nov 29, 2011 12:58 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
which doesnt say much about Urban, does it?
"I guess they have a reputation of being more of a tricky team and not being tough. You hit ‘em in the mouth, and they don’t like it. Other teams that have beat them just hit them in the mouth, so that’s what we started out with.’’ - Nick Moody
He was asked at his press conference yesterday, "Are you going to hire an offensive coordinator to call plays or will you do that?"
I about died. Dude was never an offensive coordinator.
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Nope
and we know two things that will probably make it less likely that Urban will be able to repeat (or exceed) what he did at UF (2 MNCs in 6 years):
1. He’ll need to delegate more b/c he’s older, in worse health, etc. (although I have a theory that Urban’s health problems were due to Nick Saban, and him alone, viz., his inability to beat Nick).
2. All things considered, being HC at tOSU will be more stressful than at UF. Yes, UF is in the SEC which is the toughest conference, but tOSU has so much baggage (e.g., tradition, history, etc.) to it because of its long history.
Championship!
although I have a theory that Urban’s health problems were due to Nick Saban, and him alone, viz., his inability to beat Nick
Urban went 1-2 against Saban at UF. 2008 SEC Championship Game victory.
FSU back-2-back state champs!! 52-14
Well, going 1-2
translates to losing 2 of 3.
by Wild@Heart Nole on Nov 30, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
not sure about the stress item
a friend who works for cbssports.com and lives in Ohio says that the Cincinnati and Cleveland papers don’t have a full time beat writer covering Ohio State. Compare that to the major city papers in Florida
by Wild@Heart Nole on Nov 30, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t know about Cincinnati, but Doug Lesmerises is the Ohio State beat writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. You might remember Lesmerises as the writer that was savaged by other writers a few years back because he decided to take his AP poll ballot seriously and started voting based on resume rather than where he had teams ranked in the preseason or previous weeks.
Good post
It’s nice to learn about who are the worker bees that don’t get the credit but are crucial in the process.
The general fan doesn't see it
These are like the GM’s/Scouting department of the NFL football team. Position coaches and HC get all the credit, but these guys are the ones reviewing all the football highlight tapes being sent into the athletic department. They also handle travel of recruits for OV, unofficial visits etc. I can’t emphasize how much they mean to a program, and Pantoni is arguably the best in the business.
Follow me on twitter for recruiting info http://twitter.com/MichaelatTN
I couldn't agree more
You see it in all sports. There are organizations that are consistently good or bad and I believe that the people behind the scenes have a greater impact than most people realize.
Michael@TN nailed it
This is a huge blow to UF and will cost them a recruit or two this year (whether they are currently committed or were going to commit) and will also cost them in years to come. Replacing a guy like Mark Pantoni is easier said than done. Urban knows how to recruit and Mark does it as well as anybody…..thus why he is back on Urban’s staff.
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
LaCivita(who is now the FSU Director of Player Personel) was hired by Florida in 2005 right?
I think FNL started around 2003-2004.
July 13, 2007
Mark Wheeler
Assistant Editor
Talk about it in Alligator Alley
When it first started Florida’s Friday Night Lights Camp was known more for its play on the title of the book and movie of the same name. Now three years later is is regarded as perhaps the most prestigious prospect camp in the nation.
Follow me on twitter for recruiting info http://twitter.com/MichaelatTN
And according to what you posted Pantoni was doing track and field at the time (or still a student).
FlaGators claims it was conceived in 2005. LaCivita was hired in February 2005. LaCivita was hired in 2007 and started Seminole Showtime when he came over. So the first year was definitely 2005 or 2006. I think Wheeler is considering 2007 the 3rd year, so it probably started in 2005.
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Yeah, it was 2005.
It was the brainchild of Urban Meyer and his inaugural staff at Florida in 2005, and it has grown into a monster.
http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports.com/11326/friday-night-lights-getting-bigger/
FSU back-2-back state champs!! 52-14
Real good book: Friday Night Lights
Anyone read it? I also recommend Playing for Pizza…two fun football books. Same author.
by Buddy Reynolds on Nov 30, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
WOW
That’s a huge hit to UF!!!
We were all created to be Seminoles. This is why we bleed garnet and piss gold.
by NoleThruandThru on Nov 29, 2011 1:24 PM EST reply actions
Michael@TN
Mark is one of my better friends and we went to high school together and I talked to him almost weekly….most recently about if he would leave to join Meyer. I can attest that Mark is one of the best in the business and I was trying to get him to go to FSU once Meyer left and there was even some talk about it. People have no idea how big this is for UF to lose Mark. Kid is a straight winner and one of the best recruiters, PERIOD!!!
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 1:38 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I totally agree with you
Tireless worker and really relates to young kids from the recruits I talk to
Follow me on twitter for recruiting info http://twitter.com/MichaelatTN
Yes absolutely
I know several of our recruits he was talking to and trust me they were at least listening to him and continuing to build relationships. Nobody realizes how much this loss from UF will help FSU
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Isn't he not allowed to contact recruits directly?
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
No he is allowed
as long as it is within the contact periods. But things like email I believe have less stringent limits.
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
He can call the recruits and literally talk on the phone with THEM (not parents or coaches) as much as he wants within contact periods?
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Thanks for that insight, very cool!
We were all created to be Seminoles. This is why we bleed garnet and piss gold.
by NoleThruandThru on Nov 29, 2011 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
He's an awesome guy
and it’s really interesting to find out what happens behind the scenes for sure. Let’s just say everything you see, hear, and read is not always the way it is, especially on the recruiting front and what you read in “premium sites”.
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
I agree Mark is a great guy. He truly cares about the kids which is rare in college football.
I hate UF, but Mark is a top notch guy as well as RC..
BTW he told me via facebook message that he does not like you Jimmy!!
haha surrrrreee
I have mixed feelings. Glad he’s leaving UF as it makes UF that much weaker (can’t just replace a guy like Mark), but I would have loved FSU to get him somehow, someway.
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
Which High School? #PleaseDontSayYoureASailor
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
http://Twitter.com/DRusso97
Nope DRusoo
Cardinal Mooney Cougar…..just a bunch of good ol’ Catholic Boys
Where are you from?
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
I'm from NY.....somehow wound up going to Riverview.
"D.RUSSO IS THE MAN" -DA-2
Follow me on Twitter for all the outrageous sh!t I can't say on Tomahawk Nation...
http://Twitter.com/DRusso97
Riverview?!!
haha what year? I’m class of 99
by SarasotaSeminole on Dec 5, 2011 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
He's a UF alumnus, right? At least that's what I read somewhere.
Why would he leave UF?
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Have you seen Muschamp on the sidelines???
Imagine what’s he’s like behind closed doors. He is a UF Alum, but sometimes you leave a crappy boss for a better one…and more money :)
by SarasotaSeminole on Nov 29, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
You are exactly right
One of my good friends is good friends with Pantoni. I heard things are worse than you think in Gainesville. Apparently, Muschamp abuses his staff behind doors as bad as he does the refs on game day. He’s not well liked at all. Coach Boom will not last in Gville, and they’re going nowhere.
;___;
by Tubby Sweetbundle on Dec 5, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Between this piece of news and Saturday’s game Christmas has come early.
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau
by slumgullion on Nov 29, 2011 4:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Also, heard Meyer may be interested (speculation on UF boards) in the only two coaches left on staff from his tenure as well as the S&C coach.
Any info?
F the Deacs - Notre Dame, Rutgers and UConn to the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
Well, the S&C coach
is an Ohio State alum (interned there while earning a Master’s) and grew up right on the other side of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, so if Meyer asks, I’m sure he goes. Marotti profile
by Wild@Heart Nole on Nov 30, 2011 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting
that AA doesn’t address this, the silence may be telling. Flagators want to chime in here?
Mark Pantoni, Chad Morris and the S&C are rumored to be going to tOSU
Meyer is going to load his staff now. UF just lost two more players and now recruits are starting to elminate Florida? Muschamp is screwed.
Good, get Morris up there immediately
We were all created to be Seminoles. This is why we bleed garnet and piss gold.
by NoleThruandThru on Nov 30, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t be surprised if you don’t see former Minnesota HC there as well.
Seminole Game Day -- "All the trash talkin' stops, when the spear drops."
by FSU on Dec 4, 2011 3:59 AM EST up reply actions
You are exactly right
One of my good friends is good friends with Pantoni. I heard things are worse than you think in Gainesville. Apparently, Muschamp abuses his staff behind doors as bad as he does the refs on game day. He’s not well liked at all. Coach Boom will not last in Gville, and they’re going nowhere.
;___;
by Tubby Sweetbundle on Dec 5, 2011 1:14 PM EST reply actions
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