ScarletRook, if I understand your point, then I think I disagree.
If 'bama or anybody else, recruits a football player and he "can't play" then you are saying he is entitled to his 4 year scholarship anyway? And if I have an academic scholarship and I let my grades slip, then they have to pay for schooling anyway? (they don't!) We enter into an agreement. I pay your school costs and you play for my football team. If you can’t play, then you aren’t honoring your part of the agreement and I revoke the agreement. That seems straight forward to me.
Back to coaching thread. There isn't a coach or GM/AD that doesn't have a long list of players they were high on and turned into complete busts. Some here think recruiting is just about the numbers, but the heart of the matter is the heart. I remember when Indy was back and forth between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, as hard as that is to believe. One had heart and succeeded, but I bet you a buck Leaf could throw harder and run faster. Judging talent is the hardest part of coaching, IMO.