University Athletic Association

[ADL70]

Must be I'm the only one without a life.  Aren't any of you Tartans, Maroons (BTW I just learned that Maroon is a term for groups of runaway slaves, particularly in Jamaica and other Carribean Islands where they helped develop jerk cuisine), or Bears googling your recruits?

[ExTartanPlayer]

My best answer to that, cwru70, is that the last four years have taught me that we never really know which freshmen can play until they arrive on campus.  Sometimes guys that our coaches have high hopes for never become contributors, and sometimes guys that are "just another recruit" become contributors early.

Case in point: Robert Gimson was considered the third-best halfback that we brought in behind Whitman and another kid that barely played a down as a freshman before calling it quits.

Point being, it's very difficult to tell who's really going to become a player until the kids are at camp.  I think that most teams have to go into the season planning for no contributions from freshmen and considering any freshman that comes in and plays as a bonus.  While it would be fun to Google recruits and see what they did in HS, I just think that it's hard to predict who will contribute early based on high school accomplishments (although it is neat to see how many all-state players. 1000 yard guys, et cet you've got).

[ADL70]

I totally agree with you on that.  A some "All-Everything" players don't make it.  Last season's Ohio Mr. Football didn't get a DI scholarship offer and is walking on at a MAC school.  Last year an unheralded freshman OT ending up starting for CWRU and making All-UAA first team.  And speed alone doesn't make a football player.

Still it's a way to get excited about the upcoming season and give the staff props for a recruiting job well done.  And with the emergence of YouTube, it's fun to watch highlight clips.

But of course like all stats, you throw them out once the game is actually played and that all starts in 26 days.

[PlaidMan]

I was wondering that myself. Even on the web page, there isn't much information on the recruits. but I also noticed the large number of kids on the team, and how many had not even played a down last year.
I would imagine there is a huge difference in the D3 recruit, especially in this conference.
I'm interested to see how my son does, especially early on. I know there is a speed difference between high school and college, but since he's pretty fast, I would think there wouldn't be much of an adjustment time. He expects some, but he played against some pretty good kids in HS that are also playing in college.
Plus, in our case, the CMU coaches never saw him play in person, and all the coaches that did said he was much faster and quicker than they thought.
So, seeing the freshman for that first week is probably pretty enlightening. Then I'm sure we'll hear something.

[ADL70]

I suspect that the schools want to treat all recruits equally, at least until camp starts.  Don't expect too much official before the first game though.  There may be a preview/prospectus/outlook in the media guide, but that is likely to have been written early in or even before camp.

It may also be premature to write about returning players until camp opens and they actually report.

I'm sure your son will have a great experience at CMU, a great school with a great football program.  I just hope he saves his worst games for the Academic Bowl.   

[PlaidMan]

Thank you, cwru70. He's been doing all the workouts, but he's been more focused on track. He is participating the National Junior Olympics in Omaha next week in the hammer throw. At least he'll be very flexible and quick.

[BDTartan]

For what its worth I don't think alot of d3 coaches get to see their recruits play before they decide to bring them in.  Sure maybe a few, but I will add to TartanPlayer's point.....and he can probably vouch for this one.....my brother probably wasn't even high on their radar.  Some other kid Lackner was visiting in our area told him about my brother.  My brother was recruited as a LB, came into camp as a FB, and finished camp playing RB.  No significant time during his freshman year whatsoever, but then he switched to D-Line and its history from there.  As TartanPlayer mentioned in his capsule of CMU, my brother will be one of the leaders of this years defense.

[blue4now]

cwru70

Tanski (Mr Football - Ohio) did have offers they just weren't to the families desires.  He visited the Ivy league but he didnt seem to feel comfortable.  Sad thing is he may never be anything more than scout team.  BGSu has the kid form Nordonia under scholarship and next years QB is aslo in the fold.  Doesnt leave much for him...  Sad really yet a family decision.

Athletics are the means to a quality education in your area of interest at the least amount of financial burden to a family while having the opportunity to continue to play the sport that got you there.  So you have to ask yourself:  What fits financially?  Does the school offer my educational needs? Can I realisticially have the opp to play for 4 years or possibly one?  And, if you do have the opp to play then will my friends and family be able to attend some or all of the games?

It is great to be recruited by the big boys.  Everyone loves you until it's time to show you the money.  Tough decisions are made by every collegiate athlete and their families every year.  It is sad that the Tanski's chose to pay for an education rather than accept any DII athletic scholarship or DIII offers (grants, etc) and not be able to see him play for some time if at all.

[PlaidMan]

Well put, blu4now.
Our high school had a 2300 yard running back, and he and his dad thought he could play big time ball. He was an inch or two short, a tenth or two too slow, needed at add about 20 lbs to an already sculpted body, and had only a 17 inch vertical leap. To make a long story short, they spent so much time trying to get a a D1 offer, that now he has nothing.
He would be an outstanding D2 or D3 running back or linebacker. He was also runnerup up in the State in wrestling and runnerup on the 4x2 relay in track.
Now he is going to BG--which has no wrestling or track program, and the football team doesn't want him.

[frank uible]

Did you mean to say 17" VJ? If so. then he has very poor fast twitch muscles for a DIII RB - which translates to poor explosion and quickness - most probably couldn't contribute at RB for a decent DIII program.

[PlaidMan]

yes, 17". Interesting because of his wrestling and track. Runs a 4.6-4.7 40, and no one caught him from behind last year, and we played against some teams with very fast kids. My son says his technique in the VL was poor (his was 25" with 260 pounds, and another thrower's was 28").
But, it's a numbers game--I know that. But between the tackles, there was not a better runner in Ohio last year.

[blue4now]

I respect your opinion of this kid and agree with the numbers thing.  where did he gain these yards, DI? or was it one of the other 5 divisions?  In Tanski's case he doesnt have bigtime size, mobility or arm strength for a major DI program.  He comes up short in the measurables while he's off the charts for field awareness, leadership, pocket pressence and the ability to make big play after big play when everyone is trying to stop him.  He doesnt have T Smith mobility and he throws across his body which hurts him only being 6-1 or so.  The bottom line is hes a player who makes others around him play better.  Too bad we may never see him on the field again.

[ADL70]

blue4

I never intended to denigrate Tanski or his family.  Perhaps I should have said no D1A offers.  My intention was to point out that the AP selectors might not always be the best to judge potential college success.  If he fits in at BG and gets the education he seeks, then he's made the right choice regardless of whether he plays.  If not, then the DII opportunities will probably still be there in a year or two.

[blue4now]

cwru70  I know you didn't.  I was just referring to him as a case in point.

[BDTartan]

Haha, for every one kid we talk about that has potential and didn't get an opportunity there are thousands more out there in the same position.  The fact of the matter is....there are only so many roster spots at every level and there are bound to be plenty of odd men out.  It is sad to see somebody with potential be overlooked, but for those of us who know these young people in that situation we all know they'll make it in life in another way.  I'm not saying its fair......life isn't fair.  Why do pro athletes make millions while our nurses, cops, firefighters etc.. are struggling to make a living and feed their families?? Yet these pro athletes keep getting bigger and better contracts?!?!  Which is why I absolutely love watching these guys play ball because as I've said before, these kids aren't playing for a scholarship or a chance at big money.....it's the love of the game.