Recruits decisions

[Ken Jones]

Why does anyone care about a recruit's decision to accept an athletic scholarship to another university? Hopefully, that young person and their parent(s) made the right choice for the athlete's future. Hey, U of Montana gave its best pitch and failed ... for now.

If I were the U of Montana recruiter, I'd call the recruit and I'd say, "Thanks for your consideration and good luck in the future." If that young adult, across the field/court beats my U of Montana team; I'd say, "Nice game, we'll see you next year." When that young adult decides to leave their current program for the U of Montana, I'd say, "Montana is the right place for you to exceed your and others expectations."

Don't burn down bridges that may be advantageous in the future.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Why does anyone care about a recruit's decision to accept an athletic scholarship to another university? Hopefully, that young person and their parent(s) made the right choice for the athlete's future. Hey, U of Montana gave its best pitch and failed ... for now.

If I were the U of Montana recruiter, I'd call the recruit and I'd say, "Thanks for your consideration and good luck in the future." If that young adult, across the field/court beats my U of Montana team; I'd say, "Nice game, we'll see you next year." When that young adult decides to leave their current program for the U of Montana, I'd say, "Montana is the right place for you to exceed your and others expectations."

Don't burn down bridges that may be advantageous in the future.

Sage advice. Its not the first time a recruit chose another school over Montana and it surely wont be the last. Move on, people.

 

[tgreseth]

As I read the comments within this blog, I kept thinking that the U of Montana fans are burning bridges with their negative and derogatory comments about unknown recruits. More later.

Only those posters can speak to their intent. I thought the OP was trolling (still do) and didn't bother to post a reply. I believe that some of the replies were sarcastic given the fictional nature of the story that the OP provided...Everett and others can verify.

There's always, naturally, some sour grapes but this whole thread is based on a "my brother's second cousin's best friend" premise that's fishy as hell.

 

[EverettGriz]

As I read the comments within this blog, I kept thinking that the U of Montana fans are burning bridges with their negative and derogatory comments about unknown recruits. More later.

Only those posters can speak to their intent. I thought the OP was trolling (still do) and didn't bother to post a reply. I believe that some of the replies were sarcastic given the fictional nature of the story that the OP provided...Everett and others can verify.

There's always, naturally, some sour grapes but this whole thread is based on a "my brother's second cousin's best friend" premise that's fishy as hell.

BB nailed this PERFECTLY.

As he suggests, most of us believed the OP's primary intent was to stir pots which long ago were removed from the stove. Our sarcastic replies were purely in that vain. We trusted most of you would understand that. This being eGriz, clearly our bad....

 

[Grizfan-24]

While it is pot stirring, of which people are entirely allowed to do, I think the obsession over how recruits make their decisions is entirely interesting.

First, I think college recruiting coordinators use the UofM 'problems' to create doubt in recruits minds. Yet, fans over react to reports of it because there is a cause/correlation issue. We hear of one kid who makes a decision because of problems and assume that it has to be the whole group.

Second, most kids and their parents who dig deeper into the recruiting process probably will find when entering into contact with the program will find little correlation between what they hear from opposing schools and what is going on. They will find that Justin Green does an incredible job, Delaney isn't as addle minded as people might suggest, and the program run amok issues are largely overblown.

If kids are influenced by the behavior of posters on message boards then I think it is more reflective in a way of the kids and their parents than it is of our fan base or our program. I for one tell my own prospective athletes to stay off of twitter and away from message boards. I believe parents and athletes have become way to obsessed and entirely influenced by what they hear on message boards.

Most of us understand that message boards are chock full of trolls that purposes fan the fires, create more conflict and much of it that has no basis on reality. I do think parents can get the wrong impression by lurking on message boards. I just think it is fewer than people think.

 

[George Ferguson]

Grizfan 24, Great post. Well done. Not to mention, we're getting pretty far removed from the 2011 season and spring of 2012. It's already 2014. Coaches using things that happened two, three, and next year, four years ago, look kinda foolish in my opinion, and the smart kids and the smart parents will start to see through that BS.

 

[wbtfg]

Are other schools using the past or the uncertainty of the future against UM in recruiting?

If I were a recruiter (from MSU, EWU, or any other school) I don't think I'd mention anything about the drama from previous years, my sales job would be something along the lines of the following:

The current head coach is 70+ years old and retired before coming back as a favor in an emergency/interim role. How likely will it be that Delaney, the O and D coordinators, and any of the position coaches will be around in 2 years when your recruiting class is ready to play? With uncertainty at the head coaching position, do you really know what type of offensive/defensive schemes you'll be running in 2 years? Will a new head coach give preferential playing time to his recruits over your class? Also, I recently read online that UM is expected to cut another $9million from the budget. How will that affect your academic opportunities? These would all be questions I would need the answer to before committing to Montana.

 

[horribilisfan8184]

Are other schools using the past or the uncertainty of the future against UM in recruiting?

If I were a recruiter (from MSU, EWU, or any other school) I don't think I'd mention anything about the drama from previous years, my sales job would be something along the lines of the following:

The current head coach is 70+ years old and retired before coming back as a favor in an emergency/interim role. How likely will it be that Delaney, the O and D coordinators, and any of the position coaches will be around in 2 years when your recruiting class is ready to play? With uncertainty at the head coaching position, do you really know what type of offensive/defensive schemes you'll be running in 2 years? Will a new head coach give preferential playing time to his recruits over your class? Also, I recently read online that UM is expected to cut another $9million from the budget. How will that affect your academic opportunities? These would all be questions I would need the answer to before committing to Montana.

And the recruit replies: "But with you, isn't it true I only get to play in Washington Grizzly Stadium once, every other year?"

 

[G-BEARS]

Grizfan 24, Great post. Well done. Not to mention, we're getting pretty far removed from the 2011 season and spring of 2012. It's already 2014. Coaches using things that happened two, three, and next year, four years ago, look kinda foolish in my opinion, and the smart kids and the smart parents will start to see through that BS.

I can see how people may not believe the nature of the story and think it's made up. I don't feel like name dropping but he is in the list on the recruiting thread under the section with 6 players "Offered by Um". I think that when a recruit such as this kid bases his decision on our programs recent problems, it has more to do with the fact we currently and in the future have a loss of scholarships, which possibly could negatively affect results while he is in school. So no it isn't a problem that happened "two, three, and next year, four years ago". No stirring of the pot here, just posting true information related to the griz.

Side note: It is easy to tell people who spend a significant amount of time on here because their viewpoints become skewed by opinions being constantly reinforced in their brains through the repetitive nature of the board. It creates a delusional attitude for a lot of posters, which is interesting and humorous.

 

[horribilisfan8184]

Grizfan 24, Great post. Well done. Not to mention, we're getting pretty far removed from the 2011 season and spring of 2012. It's already 2014. Coaches using things that happened two, three, and next year, four years ago, look kinda foolish in my opinion, and the smart kids and the smart parents will start to see through that BS.

I can see how people may not believe the nature of the story and think it's made up. I don't feel like name dropping but he is in the list on the recruiting thread under the section with 6 players "Offered by Um". I think that when a recruit such as this kid bases his decision on our programs recent problems, it has more to do with the fact we currently and in the future have a loss of scholarships, which possibly could negatively affect results while he is in school. So no it isn't a problem that happened "two, three, and next year, four years ago". No stirring of the pot here, just posting true information related to the griz.

Side note: It is easy to tell people who spend a significant amount of time on here because their viewpoints become skewed by opinions being constantly reinforced in their brains through the repetitive nature of the board. It creates a delusional attitude for a lot of posters, which is interesting and humorous.

Personally, I prefer the recruits who can figure out that, statistically speaking, they have a better chance at being a starter sooner with less scholarship athletes on the team to compete with. Feel free to repetitively chime in and dis this opinion, I'd hate to become delusional if someone else agrees.