I need therapy!

It looks like most of the SEC schools signed a bunch of kids. I guess I would start by looking at the positions they signed. Did they sign several the same as your son (or even one) and what do they already have on their roster at your son's position. Have you actually talked to the SEC coaches? (My son wanted one particular DI. We talked to the coach this week. He said in years past he would have signed my son but this year he is only signing 2 HS kids b/c he doesn't have much $$ available due to rule changes. Told us to wait til spring - may have to be recruited walk-on...we opted to move on). Have you gotten letters or anything expressing interest, gone on visits??? Hard to say from the info you gave. But you are in the right place for help. There are tons of great people on here with lots of knowledge (I don't include myself in that).

I don't have any knowledge or experience regarding the SEC, but I wanted to touch upon something HitaHomer mentioned. Have you or your son been in frequent contact with most, if not all, the SEC schools? If not, have your son start contacting the recruiting coordinators of those schools now. Have him explain that he has already turned down a D1 offer in the hope that he can play for their program. He should give a few reasons why that particular program appeals to him. If he has not already put together an athletic resume, now is the time to do so and send it in -- either by snail mail or by email as an attachment. If his select program coach or director is well-respected, ask if he can contact the coaches directly to put in a plug for your son. Best wishes as your son continues his quest!

Also, check the websites of these schools to see if they offer a Christmas camp or showcase. If at all possible, he should attend the camps of 1-2 programs that he is most interested in.

And if all else fails, cast a wider net and have your son "market" himself to lower level D1's, D2's, JUCO, etc. At some point, it may be necessary to lower the expectations.

We have always told our players to look at a school they can "put in their back pocket" in case the top picks do not materialize---pick a school that both academically and baseballwise works but may not be their top selection(s)---

There are many reasons why your top picks may not happen:
Among them
01--you may not be in their selections talent wise
02- they do not need players at your position
03--academically you don't get accepted

It all goes back to doing your homework from the outset and also a bit of luck

quote:

(My son wanted one particular DI. We talked to the coach this week. He said in years past he would have signed my son but this year he is only signing 2 HS kids b/c he doesn't have much $$ available due to rule changes. Told us to wait til spring - may have to be recruited walk-on...we opted to move on).

Is this the new reality of college BB.
Moving on is a good move in my opinion.

BHD,
I don't think that message represents necessarily a new reality in college baseball recruiting. There are literally hundreds of recruits who have heard that every year.
I think you are right to point out it well may be different though and the difference likely is that players with the types of skills who would have never heard it in the past may be well be hearing it now.

I have been hearing more and more people finding it hard to get monetary commitments due to lack of funds.
Also hearing programs cutting RS players from the year before due to lack of funds and an unwillingness to wait.
This may be the leaner meaner reality of college ball.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
I have been hearing more and more people finding it hard to get monetary commitments due to lack of funds.
Also hearing programs cutting RS players from the year before due to lack of funds and an unwillingness to wait.
This may be the leaner meaner reality of college ball.

A lot of red shirts get cut because of the new recruiting class is perceived better than the red shirt which has not progressed as much as the coaches wanted them to.

I believe that adjustemnts are being made from both sides. Its an unpredicatble ride indeed.

My concern is that the process of finding the right " fit " does not get diminished due to a sense of panic/anxiety to find a place to play.

The last posting on PGCrosschecker was not complete, but there were several SEC schools that listed only a few fall recruits, so I don't think your son's out of the running. There are also some ACC schools who have not finished their 2008 recruiting, either, and that baseball is of the same caliber.

But your son might want to broaden his search. Around here, we have several CAA schools. The CAA is not considered a powerhouse baseball conference, but there are lots of former CAA players in the bigs right now. It's a great way to get a top education, and also maybe get to start as a freshman and make your mark.

Here are a few former CAA guys whose names you might recognize:

Old Dominion's Justin Verlander

VCU's Sean Marshall and Brandon Inge

William & Mary's Chris Bray, Chris Ray and Brendan Harris

University of Richmond's Brian Jordan, Sean Casey and Tim Stauffer(UR has since moved into the A-10, though)

Also, there are several in the minors who got substantial bonuses and who are still in the running to make it to the majors in the not-too-distant future.

I'm all for big-time college ball, don't get me wrong, but sometimes things just don't fall that way and I wouldn't want your son to miss out on other great opportunities just due to tunnel vision.

I don't know the options down in LA that well, but I'm sure you have options of comparable caliber to the CAA and would encourage you to get familiar with them.

Success is usually determined by adjusting to circumstances beyond your control, like which school recruits you. It's not where you go, but what you do when you get there, that matters. If you don't go where you are wanted, you probably aren't going.

Why walk on at XYU, get cut or redshirt, need to transfer, sit out a year, miss 2 years of baseball, credits transfering, only to go through the same process two years later? Large roster BCS type schools are flushing extra players, not adding extras.

Everybody wants to play in the SEC. The SEC doesn't want everybody to play, though. The other alternative is to try JUCO a year, but not nearly everyone gets recruited from there either. Anyone wanting to prove all the recruiting coordinators wrong will have a tough time, from now on.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
Success is usually determined by adjusting to circumstances beyond your control, like which school recruits you. It's not where you go, it's what you do when you get there, that matters. If you don't go where you are wanted, you probably aren't going.

Why walk on at XYU, get cut or redshirt, need to transfer, sit out a year, miss 2 years of baseball, credits transfering, only to go through the same process two years later?

Large roster BCS type schools are flushing extra players, not adding extras.

Anyone wanting to prove all the recruiting coordinators wrong will have a tough time, from now on.

Classic post. All the other replies in this thread have been right on the money as well.

For us, playing in college was the goal. Find a place that loves you as much as you love them. Sure it would be neat to tell your friends you are playing in the SEC but playing somewhere that you are happy at is the important part. As MidloDad pointed out, there are many places that can satisfy his needs.

Old Ohio proverb;

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

That step being enrollment in A college with A baseball team that needs A player.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
Old Ohio proverb;

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

That step being enrollment in A college with A baseball team that needs A player.

Those Ohio people can be profound sometimes

Another thought following up on MidloDad's point. The SEC, ACC, PAC 10, Big 12, etc. schools play other schools outside their conference. In my mind, if you can find a school that plays those type of schools as part of their non-conference schedule that that can be just as beneficial (or moreso if he plays) as acutally being in one of those conferences. For example, my son's school is not in a power conference yet they play just about every ACC school just about every year.

I didn't realize Mao Tse Tung was from Ohio.

quote:

by igb: didn't realize Mao Tse Tung was from Ohio.

not sure about him, what league did he play in?

but ... Masahide Kobayashi now is



Indians sign Kobayashi

Heritage can be so fickle

Thanks for the direction. We have gotten emails, txts, and letters from 3 SEC schools. And of course the camp letters. We are packing up to attend one next weekend. The SEC coach personally asked that his high school coach to have him attend. The conversation was heavy with one SEC school through July. It stopped very abruptly. Can he play at the SEC level? His high school/travel coaches think so. He is a kid you never notice till after the game. Not the biggest, fastest, smoothist, just gets the job done. Are the schools in need of his position? He can swing it with the best, average plus on the infield. His coaches direction is to keep looking for a fit. He is just worried and I don't understand enough about the process to give reasonable sound advise. Also, If I knew, I not sure he would appreciate it!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Find a place that loves you as much as you love them.

This statement is one of the most accurate I've read yet on here and it sure hits home.

Spider7....did you say you've received txts? I thought the NCAA banned this form of communication earlier this year? Am I missing something?

quote:

Originally posted by YoungGunDad:

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Find a place that loves you as much as you love them.

This statement is one of the most accurate I've read yet on here and it sure hits home.

I have said that a few times here myself, but nobody says it better than the great Neil Peart

Living on a lighted stage
Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage

Cast in this unlikely role,
Ill-equipped to act
With insufficient tact
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem

Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

Living in a fisheye lens
Caught in the camera eye
I have no heart to lie
I cant pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend

All the worlds indeed a stage
And we are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each anothers audience
Outside the gilded cage

quote:

The conversation was heavy with one SEC school through July. It stopped very abruptly. Can he play at the SEC level? His high school/travel coaches think so. He is a kid you never notice till after the game. Not the biggest, fastest, smoothist, just gets the job done. Are the schools in need of his position? He can swing it with the best, average plus on the infield.

I have no doubts your son has talent or the SEC coaches would not have called in the first place. Having the talent to be on an SEC roster may not be the best fit for your son. At the same time, if you feel he does then go for it and it should not matter what is said on a message board.

Some of these questions you already have the answers for however. IMHO, there is only one reason the calls ended ubruptlty and that is because their needs have already been met. If he is not the biggest or the fastest or the smoothest however, he may not be an SEC ballplayer. There is no shame in saying that. Four years from now, he may be better than any other kid in the SEC. He won't get that way by sitting on the bench.

Very well put CD....remembered something that one of Matt's instructors had told us a few years back when we started sorting out his options. He said "I had an opportunity to play for a couple southern schools and I could have...but there I would have been just another good player...I decided to stay up north where I was one of THE good players. I believe if I would've gone south I probably wouldn't have got drafted and may not have had a chance to play much my first couple years by staying up north I got to be the man and got noticed (small fish big pond vs. big fish little pond) theory. His advice to us was go to where they want you...it's no fun sitting and waiting and nobody sees what you can do from the bench.

I took a look at a programs 2008 recruiting class. The number was 7. I looked at the current roster, and determined that with the seniors who will graduate, and the probable draftees, they added up to 7.

The positions of the future inbounds mirrored the future outbounds. The point. Do your homework, try this at the school that you consider your first choice, and you have a basis for either a phone call to the coach, or to just move on.

quote:

Originally posted by spider7: Can he play at the SEC level? His high school/travel coaches think so.

Of course he can. It doesn't matter if they aren't offering him an opportunity. They only replace players that need to be replaced. Sometimes that means one particular player isn't recruited due to numbers. Mine was a decent RHP out of high school. Recruited lightly similarly to yours, signed where he was wanted, and has thrived. He is a classic mid-major case study in going where you fit. His summer catcher teammate was a tag-along, after-thought recruit to the same school and really thrived. He was the Brewers 2nd pick in June.

Proball replaces players that don't even need replacing, with players drafted that year, and for whatever reason.

quote:

Originally posted by spider7: The conversation was heavy with one SEC school through July. It stopped very abruptly.

They filled his spot on the recruiting list, and moved on to the next spot to fill.

quote:

Originally posted by spider7: Are the schools in need of his position? He can swing it with the best, average plus on the infield. His coaches direction is to keep looking for a fit.

Of course, or they would not call, email, or txt. Coach is right. Translation: "Go where you are wanted."

Players can and do develop, if they play and work at their hobby, and not in that order.

Spider, I don't have anything profound to tell you. However, I will say that there are many young men in the same shoes as your son. The recruiting journey isn't something that everyone considers fun or enjoys. There's a lot of pressure and fear in picking that fit. Sometimes the best option smacks you in the face and others sometimes have to be more patient and prayerful! Good luck to your son!

quote:

Mine was a decent RHP out of high school. Recruited lightly similarly to yours, signed where he was wanted, and has thrived. He is a classic mid-major case study in going where you fit. His summer catcher teammate was a tag-along, after-thought recruit to the same school and really thrived. He was the Brewers 2nd pick in June.

This is what the whole gig is about imho. I am guessing the "after-thought" recruit did not view himself that way.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

quote:

Mine was a decent RHP out of high school. Recruited lightly similarly to yours, signed where he was wanted, and has thrived. He is a classic mid-major case study in going where you fit. His summer catcher teammate was a tag-along, after-thought recruit to the same school and really thrived. He was the Brewers 2nd pick in June.

This is what the whole gig is about imho. I am guessing the "after-thought" recruit did not view himself that way.

Absolutely, but he went where he could. He knew exactly who and what he was coming out of high school, regardless of who did or didn't recruit him. He took his only D1 offer, a very nice one though and more than earned his deal. The kid played like his hair was on fire. Made us all proud. A great baseball family.

Lucroy's Hawaiian Winter Ball Journal

Spider7

One thing your son needs to make sure of, will he be happy there sitting the bench, redshirted or never playing? With the new transfer rule, he needs to make sure that he is ok with all the above. Mine chose the big SEC school over smaller D1's I think mainly because he wanted to see if he could compete at that level. After figuring out he could, decided that he didn't want to be back up, redshirt or "possible" anything, he just wants to play. He decided to call one of the smaller D1's to see if they were still interested and along with the fact that he didn't really trust what he was being told where he's at, he is transferring at semester. Bottom line, don't look at the fact that it is an SEC or ACC school or that the coach sounds like he really wants your son. Will he be happy redshirting, backup to another player or possibly never getting on the field? Just have your son be very sure, IMHO.

NRPMom,
Great post and leaves much for one to ponder and consider when making a choice between the big D1 program vs. smaller programs.

IMO, think long and hard before you make that choice. Go where you will thrive and play!

quote:

Originally posted by NRPMom:
After figuring out he could, decided that he didn't want to be back up, redshirt or "possible" anything, he just wants to play. He decided to call one of the smaller D1's to see if they were still interested

BINGO

Many "mid-major" programs have larger enrollments than "traditional powers".

All these kids are very good, and I would bet they could play for program #1 thru program #290 whatever.

Living in the limelight. I posted those lyrics by RUSH for those to interpret what they mean to them.

There is no limelight on the bench where the light is blocked by the dugout roof.

Get on the field.

Spider7, you have a pm.

Spider - It sounds like you have a tough ball player. Bluntly put, those SEC schools filled your son's position with other players. Broaden your search and go where they want you. Don't let ego get in the way (yours or his). Every kid just wants to play. Haven't heard much about academics -but that will take up 50% of his time, so better make sure that's a fit too. Good luck.

quote:

He knows he can compete at the top level

He probably can compete but every red shirt or bench setter in the SEC can compete. It's more complicated than that. The coach has to have confidence in his ability. The way you describe your son makes him a poster child for those that wither away on the benches of the big conferences. Knowing he can compete indicates your son has confidence --- While confidence is great and in unique situations can make a difference, it isn’t the main factor that convinces a coach to make an offer or allow him playing time if he does make the roster. Athletes of all sports are a unique group. They remain optimistic in the face of overwhelming odds. This is one of the reasons I have always felt outside evaluations and recommendations were necessary in determining a good baseball “fit”.


My son played in the SEC West and I can tell you there were too many players that forced doors to open and lost their baseball dreams by setting on the benches of SEC schools. There are many “other” programs that offer many of the same rewards as do the SEC schools.

BUT --- what about the underdog that despite all odds rose to the top to be drafted in the first rounds and later became a MLB star? Or what about the walk-on that became the hero of the college world series? Makes for great stories but let’s not confuse them with the way the vast majority of underdogs and walk-ons end up. If you even consider these “stories” then you destroy your ability to make the best decisions.
Fungo