Out of the following colleges, which one would you choose if you were offered: Alabama, Auburn, UAH, UNA, Mississippi State or Troy State?
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Different answer for different people. Assuming you are a parent...
What does your son want to major in? Which of those schools gives him the best opportunities for that major? Which campus best suits him? How far from home does he want to be? Which is most affordable for your family? Which coaching staff suits your son's strengths and weaknesses the best? Which of these schools will he get the best opportunity to play?
And many, many more. There is no right answer that fits everyone. Your job is to find the right answer for your son (or yourself?).
What does your son want to major in? Which of those schools gives him the best opportunities for that major? Which campus best suits him? How far from home does he want to be? Which is most affordable for your family? Which coaching staff suits your son's strengths and weaknesses the best? Which of these schools will he get the best opportunity to play?
And many, many more. There is no right answer that fits everyone. Your job is to find the right answer for your son (or yourself?).
Yes, I understand all those variables and that is true. I have read alot about the difference in DI, DII and DIII programs on this forum and there is a lot of great information, but I am looking for specific personal input/experiences on these particular programs.
What year is your son? Are all the schools listed making offers to your son?
Nothing against the others, they're all good programs, but if playing at the highest level and best facilities are important, it would be pretty hard to beat those three SEC schools you mentioned. I'm sure you already know that, though.
Depends upon what he wants to major in, and how good a student he is. I am not an SEC guy, so I have no dog in the Bama vs. Auburn fight. (Although, I will say Bama fans rank up there with the most obnoxious fans in the nation 
).
Academically, Auburn is the best choice. Bama has the reputation of being a heavy party school. I am in a town where probably 40% of grads go to one and 40% to the other, so we know a lot of kids who are currently at both schools. Auburn is a bit more serious academically. The college campus is more of a traditional campus where you can walk everywhere. I believe Auburn is a land grant school. Bama is a bit more spread out, so a car is almost mandatory. However, both are weak in some areas and stronger in others.
My son has done several camps at Miss St. Great facilities, ugly school. Academics are middle of the road. Students there seem to love it. Troy has a fantastic field. The campus does not have a lot to do. It's got the reputation of being a place that you go to if you are recruited for sports or can't go anywhere else.
UAH, is a solid school in math and sciences, not as solid in other areas. Not as highly ranked as Bama or Auburn. It is primarily a commuter school, but the new president is changing that. He has made it mandatory for students who are not going to live at home to live on campus. The campus is nice. Huntsville is one of the most highly educated populations in the nation (second only to the Silicon Valley region, I believe). There are a lot of high tech job opportunities in the city for UAH grads.
The conference is considered the second best in the country by many. I've personally not heard any positive reviews concerning the coaching. You can PM me on that one if you like.
).Academically, Auburn is the best choice. Bama has the reputation of being a heavy party school. I am in a town where probably 40% of grads go to one and 40% to the other, so we know a lot of kids who are currently at both schools. Auburn is a bit more serious academically. The college campus is more of a traditional campus where you can walk everywhere. I believe Auburn is a land grant school. Bama is a bit more spread out, so a car is almost mandatory. However, both are weak in some areas and stronger in others.
My son has done several camps at Miss St. Great facilities, ugly school. Academics are middle of the road. Students there seem to love it. Troy has a fantastic field. The campus does not have a lot to do. It's got the reputation of being a place that you go to if you are recruited for sports or can't go anywhere else.
UAH, is a solid school in math and sciences, not as solid in other areas. Not as highly ranked as Bama or Auburn. It is primarily a commuter school, but the new president is changing that. He has made it mandatory for students who are not going to live at home to live on campus. The campus is nice. Huntsville is one of the most highly educated populations in the nation (second only to the Silicon Valley region, I believe). There are a lot of high tech job opportunities in the city for UAH grads.
The conference is considered the second best in the country by many. I've personally not heard any positive reviews concerning the coaching. You can PM me on that one if you like.
The funniest reason I ever heard from a player for not choosing a school---a few years back we were playing on the campus of a school that one of our players had extreme interest in--as we drove thru campus to get to the field, he was riding with me, he says to me "Hey coach! Forget me going here. Look at all the ugly girls. This ain't for me"
I nearly drove off the road laughing
I nearly drove off the road laughing
Two cents worth of advice--take a step back and take a close look at each school he is interested in WITHOUT baseball in the equation. If he is injured walking out of the dorm on the first day of college in the fall, or if he decides he is sick of the hard work and commitment, or if a young lady attracts him and he chooses time with her over time with baseball, where would he want to be?
Now, if baseball is the overriding consideration, and he is either a genuine pro prospect or has a driving passion to be a part of baseball at the higher levels in the future as a non-player, bring baseball back into the equation and figure out the balance between the school he likes best with baseball and the school he likes best withtout baseball.
Now, if baseball is the overriding consideration, and he is either a genuine pro prospect or has a driving passion to be a part of baseball at the higher levels in the future as a non-player, bring baseball back into the equation and figure out the balance between the school he likes best with baseball and the school he likes best withtout baseball.
Thank each of you for your post. I knew I could count on good information from the experts. We will take all of this into consideration and hopefully make a decision in the next two weeks.
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin
isaacvanwart,
Spot on. Agree 100%. Give yourself a raise!
Spot on. Agree 100%. Give yourself a raise!
isaacvanwart,
I've heard similair things in the past, but your post is a masterpiece! It would have taken me forever to say that and it still wouldn't have been as clear, complete, and as easy to understand.
isaac,
That advice is worth a whole lot more than two cents! I agree with "fenwaysouth", give yourself a raise!
I've heard similair things in the past, but your post is a masterpiece! It would have taken me forever to say that and it still wouldn't have been as clear, complete, and as easy to understand.
isaac,
That advice is worth a whole lot more than two cents! I agree with "fenwaysouth", give yourself a raise!
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
The funniest reason I ever heard from a player for not choosing a school---a few years back we were playing on the campus of a school that one of our players had extreme interest in--as we drove thru campus to get to the field, he was riding with me, he says to me "Hey coach! Forget me going here. Look at all the ugly girls. This ain't for me"
I nearly drove off the road laughing
my son actually turned down one for that reason. . .the really funny thing is that his mom/my wife went with him and she agreed with him!
quote:Originally posted by isaacvanwart:
Two cents worth of advice--take a step back and take a close look at each school he is interested in WITHOUT baseball in the equation. If he is injured walking out of the dorm on the first day of college in the fall, or if he decides he is sick of the hard work and commitment, or if a young lady attracts him and he chooses time with her over time with baseball, where would he want to be?
Now, if baseball is the overriding consideration, and he is either a genuine pro prospect or has a driving passion to be a part of baseball at the higher levels in the future as a non-player, bring baseball back into the equation and figure out the balance between the school he likes best with baseball and the school he likes best withtout baseball.
Best piece of advice..May need to post this in RR23JR's room.
quote:Originally posted by isaacvanwart:
Two cents worth of advice--take a step back and take a close look at each school he is interested in WITHOUT baseball in the equation. If he is injured walking out of the dorm on the first day of college in the fall, or if he decides he is sick of the hard work and commitment, or if a young lady attracts him and he chooses time with her over time with baseball, where would he want to be?
Now, if baseball is the overriding consideration, and he is either a genuine pro prospect or has a driving passion to be a part of baseball at the higher levels in the future as a non-player, bring baseball back into the equation and figure out the balance between the school he likes best with baseball and the school he likes best withtout baseball.
Excellent advice right there.
That would be my top priority. You want to find the best fit for your son academically, financially, and at last athletically. Remember he is a student/athlete with student coming first. Also you need to think about how your son handles being away from home for the first time. I have seen kids travel pretty far from home, and with it being the first time out of their nest so to speak it can become very tough on them when they do not have mom's home cooked meals, laundry, comfort, etc.. As well maturity plays a big factor, some kids get that taste of freedom without mom or dad there to tell them to wakeup for school, and decide to sleep in. So this is also a factor you have to look at.
As an aside, some kids find out after going to a school for a year or so that playing baseball/or being on the team in college is very important to them as part of their college experience. Some coaches are not a good fit with players trying to make a team or struggling for playing time. Some coaches are disrespectful a..holes to guys on the bench etc. because they are easy targets and generlly won't talk back. Ask a kid who's not playing what he thinks about the coaches treatment of his players. If your son doesn't get a good feeling for the head coach, consider the next option.
fyi, Kids at other schools will also have a good idea about coaches they play against. My son heard all sorts of stuff about other coaches on his summer teams and even during league play from unhappy opposition players.
fyi 2, I don't know anything about the schools/coaches listed in the orginal post.
fyi, Kids at other schools will also have a good idea about coaches they play against. My son heard all sorts of stuff about other coaches on his summer teams and even during league play from unhappy opposition players.
fyi 2, I don't know anything about the schools/coaches listed in the orginal post.
I go to college games and ask parents questions. When the player is a starter I might hear the coach comes off to the opposition like he's a bleep but he has his player's backs. If the player is on the bench the parents just think the coach is a bleep. On the other hand I watched a parent scream at a coach for letting the son pitch long enough to give up three homers.quote:Originally posted by CollegeParent:
As an aside, some kids find out after going to a school for a year or so that playing baseball/or being on the team in college is very important to them as part of their college experience. Some coaches are not a good fit with players trying to make a team or struggling for playing time. Some coaches are disrespectful a..holes to guys on the bench etc. because they are easy targets and generlly won't talk back. Ask a kid who's not playing what he thinks about the coaches treatment of his players. If your son doesn't get a good feeling for the head coach, consider the next option.
fyi, Kids at other schools will also have a good idea about coaches they play against. My son heard all sorts of stuff about other coaches on his summer teams and even during league play from unhappy opposition players.
fyi 2, I don't know anything about the schools/coaches listed in the orginal post.
I've played against players and coaches I thought were bleeps until we were on the same side. Sometimes opposing player's view of the world is tainted by rivalry, a tough loss or what they see on one day. Everything has to be viewed through a filter.
My son has made his decision and he has committed to Troy State. He signs his NLI this week, has received his paperwork and is really excited with his decision and so are we. He likes the coaches, school, field, everything about Troy. We can't wait to be a part of the Trojan family.
Congratulations to you and your son as it sounds like everything fell into place and yall were able to make a well thought out decision. Good luck in his college career.
Congrats!
We'll see you next year in the Sun Belt Conference!
Great conference, very competitive.
Also, you should know that I think they go by Troy University now, not Troy State.
We'll see you next year in the Sun Belt Conference!
Great conference, very competitive.
Also, you should know that I think they go by Troy University now, not Troy State.
Yes, you are right ~ Troy University. I stand corrected.
quote:Originally posted by 08ballin:
My son has made his decision and he has committed to Troy State. He signs his NLI this week, has received his paperwork and is really excited with his decision and so are we. He likes the coaches, school, field, everything about Troy. We can't wait to be a part of the Trojan family.
"TROY UNIVERSITY"
