Monday, April 19, 2004

The War for Recruits Rages - into your backyard

When a recruit committed, there used to be a respect among the coaching bretheran to back off. With millions of dollars and jobs on the line, backing off is not as common. Interesting article about coaches "stealing" players who have committed to other schools. I guess I look at it a little differently. Until that LOI is signed, don't count your chickens. You cannot lose something you never had and the LOI is the only tangible item that says you have something. The word of an 18 year old is not exactly something I would go to the bank with.

Now, what seems the most ridiculous to me in this whole process is kids committing while they are junior and even sophomores in high school. Why on earth are they doing that and who is advising them? If it is just wanting less pressure during the recruiting process - forget it - they are still going to come after you. Countless recruits have committed as juniors and then backed off. The most recent was Joey Cameron, who verballed to Clemson, but then decided to see what else was out there for him. If a recruit wants to tone down the recruiting process, and lower the pressure, then make it very clear what your short list of 5-10 schools are, and do not accept calls from anyone else.

The only thing more uncertain than the opinion of an 18 year old, in the opinion of a 16 year old. What a crazy business - and I do mean BUSINESS!!!