I am new to this, no kids in college, but are you really telling me that bringing in an additional 6-8 kids (about 20% more) is going to make or break a team? Going back to what TPM said - wouldn't that be on the recruiters then? I find it hard to believe, that if the coaches/recruiters/whomever, actually went and did a thorough job evaluating kids, that they couldn't field the same level of team with a total of 34 kids. In addition, those 7 extra kids, they are likely numbers 34-42 anyway, so do they really have a shot?
Wouldn't that be on the school, if they want a coaching change, to find a coach that could work with what he has, at least the first year?
Isn't college (and college athletics) to be about the kids and preparing them for the future? not about the coaches? How does cutting 6 - 8 kids help? I completely understand if a kid enrolls into the college on his own and wants to try out for the team, I am all for that. But to recruit a kid to try out for the team? I disagree with that.