Congratulations to a local kid on his choice

Congrats to the player and family. Great school and tradition.

Break/Break question on VMI....is it just me, or do they sign a higher number of kids per year than other D-1's? This school is not for everyone...do they get a high number of kids who don't come back or at least don't play after year 1?

Maybe I see more VMI signings on here, just because, appropriately, this is a Virginia board?

You are correct in your observation.

This is not a jab at the baseball program by any means, but it's a fact that a substantial portion of the Rat Line (freshman class) washes out. The problem from a baseball perspective is, thanks to the NCAA rule change from 2008, if you did that you'd then have to sit out a year to play at another D-1. At which point it's hard to latch on again.

It's a great opportunity in many ways, but a kid needs to know what he's signing up for and be prepared for it. Not everyone can cut it. That's why there is such cohesiveness among the alumni who make it through together.

the matricultion rate among the general populatn at VMI is around 50%... for the baseball program is it more in the range of 90%.

Here is theimpression I get from talkingto folks who have been there ad know the coach...

The coach there is a former Keydet/player himself and does an excellent job supporting the players as they work through the lifestyle there.

This year they are returning most of their team from a very sccessful season.

the following year they are losing alot of kids so they are in need of alot so you may be hearing of them recruiting alot of kids between now and then.

With the NCAA regulations no way they can afford to throw players at the wall and hope thy stick. They cant over recruit in hopes of retaining a portion

The head coach, who does most of the recruiting himself, has a very specific profile of the kind of kids they want and feel like will not wash out.

Once they identify who they want and who will fit they are in a very good position to go get them.

I think certainly a kid has to know what he is geting himself into but more than that I think the coach knows what he is getting himself into before he makes kids a offer based on whether he feels the kid has the personality to suceed there

It would also make sense that they recruit in their own backyard in VA and even more so their coach is from the West End of Richmnd with some strong ties to the area

That's all true, and I'm not trying to be negative. But it's a fact that VMI has brought in 15-18 players each of the last few years. I think they had 18 out of the 2008 HS class, but their current roster shows 12 returning juniors. All programs see attrition, of course. At a place like VMI, the attrition rate is going to be higher.

But, not to hijack the thread, I'm also familiar with Tim Perry and am glad to see him achieve his own personal goal. I know VMI was always at the top of his list, and for him it's a great fit. Wish him the very best!

Congrats to Tim and his family. I know Mom and Dad are tickled that he will be playing for Coach Ike and studying engineering at VMI. Coach Ike is doing a fabulous job of bringing in some exceptional baseball talent and furthering the Keydets program. Awesome job Tim!

VMI also does a good job with pairing up the right Dikes with the incoming ballplayers. Theyve all been through it before and the help coach the younger boys through the bad times... Come to think of it Rat Week is happening right now, started yesterday.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
That's all true, and I'm not trying to be negative. But it's a fact that VMI has brought in 15-18 players each of the last few years. I think they had 18 out of the 2008 HS class, but their current roster shows 12 returning juniors. All programs see attrition, of course. At a place like VMI, the attrition rate is going to be higher.

But, not to hijack the thread, I'm also familiar with Tim Perry and am glad to see him achieve his own personal goal. I know VMI was always at the top of his list, and for him it's a great fit. Wish him the very best!

The "washout" rate is not 50% among the general popoulation-- more like 25%. Ike retains closer to 85-90%. Don't know the details of the 2008-- but generalized statements such as "that VMI has brought in 15-18 players each of the last few years" is incorrect.

VMI announced 7 "early signees" in 2008 (class of 2011). There were more recruits later but of those 7 early signees, 6 are still in school and will graduate on time.In 2009 (class of 2012), there were 8 early signees (not sure how many total), seven of whom are still playing and the other left last year (after sophomore year). In the Class of 2013, there were 14 recruits, two did leave before the "rat line" ended, three others left after the first year for different reasons. Last year (Class of 2014) there were three early signees, nine recruits total, eight are still there. Ike has announced 10 early signees for 2015.

VMI is not for everyone, but even with what Ike has to sell, those attrition #s don't strike me as different frm other schools, but it is not bringing in 15-18 each year and losing 50%.

Finally, is Tim Perry still going to VMI? Did not see him in the press release announcing the 10 signees for 2015.

Prompted by the new post, I took a look at the rosters for 2008-2011 to see what it showed.

The rosters do not reveal the number of kids who were listed as "recruited" but who didn't make it to spring. That can happen for a whole host of reasons, including failure to pass admissions, a decision to change your mind, washing out on the Rat Line, or getting cut if the team has more players than allowed by the NCAA or by the school's budget. I hasten to add, the Rat Line is the only factor there that is unique to VMI; the other factors are just as prevalent at other schools if not more so.

The rosters show some attrition year to year, but really no more than I've been seeing at any other place. In fact, maybe less so. It's not at all unusual to see, at most schools, that by junior year those who aren't seeing much action either hang up the spikes or maybe transfer elsewhere to sek a better opportunity.

Generally it appears that Coach Ike and the VMI program may be benefiting from the overall Keydet cohesiveness, because despite what I may be guilty of assuming was an obstacle, their baseball attrition rate is not bad at all and perhaps better than most.

Another factor-- very hard for Ike to replace an unusual year of lost players by bringing in JC recruits, in fact he doesn't do it(not sure if that is a school policy, but can't imagine many JC's want to endure the Rat Line as juniors). Probably all the more reason he looks for the right kids for VMI out of high school.

Also, earlier in the post, someone asked if we were hearing more about recruits because this is a Viriginia webpost. VMI does not have the full 11.7 scholarships funded, so his dollars go further with VA kids than out of state.