Son got contacted out of the blue by Ohio University. They are coming out our way for a showcase in our neighborhood. They wrote to him to tell him that they are very interested in him, but understood that the trek to Ohio would be a long one for him, but they would like to meet him and possibly see him play at said showcase. Not a school that had been on our radar before now. Anybody know anything about the program?
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From when my son was in high school - we frequently received communication from Ohio. OFTEN.... Any way to tell if it is REALLY for your son - or are you just in their database? One way to tell - is contact the coach and ask where they saw your son - that prompted the invite.
New coach a year or two ago. Don't know a whole lot about him. The program has struggled for quite a few years.....including 11-40 last year. We saw their HC a lot this summer in big events around OH, MI & IN, but haven't heard a whole lot about their 2015 commits. My son played 17U for an organization that has 26 kids committed in the class of 2015....to schools including Louisville, Virginia, Ohio State, Vandy, Kentucky and all the MAC schools. As far as I know, OU only offered a few of those kids...which seems strange considering their 10-40 record last year. Beautiful campus, one of the nicest you'll find....though it's in a fairly small college town...1.5 to 2 hours from anywhere....lol.
I know someone who was a grad assistant there last year. He has moved on to a position at another school, since he graduated.
Their is a reasonably new coach, I think last spring was his second year. He was the recruiting co-coordinator at Creighton before taking the Ohio job. His first Summer their he kept as many kids on campus as he could so they could get bigger stronger and faster. He did not send any of his kids to summer ball. I believe that has changed now, that he has implemented the off season programs that he wants.
He has done a good job of making the team better defensively, They have cut down on errors in the field by quite a bit. I still believe he needs more Offense.
Coming from Creighton he understands the importance of academics, and stresses it to his players.
Way back when I knew several players who went to OU, way back when, but I do not known any body who has played there recently.
When my son played in the Great Lakes league, he played at Bob Wren stadium. It is a great place to play. probably one of teh better fields in the GLSBL. The team has some pretty close ties with the Southern Ohio Copperheads that make bob Wren their summer home.
From when my son was in high school - we frequently received communication from Ohio. OFTEN.... Any way to tell if it is REALLY for your son - or are you just in their database? One way to tell - is contact the coach and ask where they saw your son - that prompted the invite.
Good question. Always relevant, I find.
Son did write back to the coach -- who is the RC -- but no response yet. But in fairness, he wrote just last night. The coach did give the kid his personal cell number and urged him to call if he wanted to discuss OU further. Do you think it would be worth it to give him a call and see what's really up? Son seems reluctant to do that.
If he gave you his cell and your son has any interest at all then go ahead and call him. Keep in mind fall baseball practice is going on...likely in the afternoons...so keep trying. If your son is a 2015, leave a message...the coach can call him back.
Please have your son call the coach .... Not Dad. He might as well get used to the recruiting process. If he's not sure what to say you can write out a little script.
I think you could do a lot worse than Ohio U. Friend played football there back in the leather helmet days (or so it seems). Nice place. Probably worth a follow up. Good luck.
Son got contacted out of the blue by Ohio University. They are coming out our way for a showcase in our neighborhood. They wrote to him to tell him that they are very interested in him, but understood that the trek to Ohio would be a long one for him, but they would like to meet him and possibly see him play at said showcase. Not a school that had been on our radar before now. Anybody know anything about the program?
Sluggerdad,
Don't waste your time or money. Every year they send out of these letters to players in Southern California.My son received the same letter 3 years in a row.The only difference was the dates.A coach from Ohio U and a couple of directional school coaches host a "christmas showcase" at Northwoods High School in Orange County.Basically, It's a fundraiser for the coaches ! Christmas in SoCal !
Look at the roster of University of Ohio.How many SoCal or NoCal players do you see ? The answer is zero. Go back in time and the answer is still zero.
Off the top of my head here are midwest D1 schools that actively recruit San Diego/Orange County players:Indiana,Purdue,Michigan,Kent State,Nebraska,Valparaiso.Coaches from these schools(and more) are always in SoCal during the fall.
Son got contacted out of the blue by Ohio University. They are coming out our way for a showcase in our neighborhood. They wrote to him to tell him that they are very interested in him, but understood that the trek to Ohio would be a long one for him, but they would like to meet him and possibly see him play at said showcase. Not a school that had been on our radar before now. Anybody know anything about the program?
Sluggerdad,
Don't waste your time or money. Every year they send out of these letters to players in Southern California.My son received the same letter 3 years in a row.The only difference was the dates.A coach from Ohio U and a couple of directional school coaches host a "christmas showcase" at Northwoods High School in Orange County.Basically, It's a fundraiser for the coaches ! Christmas in SoCal !
Look at the roster of University of Ohio.How many SoCal or NoCal players do you see ? The answer is zero. Go back in time and the answer is still zero.
Off the top of my head here are midwest D1 schools that actively recruit San Diego/Orange County players:Indiana,Purdue,Michigan,Kent State,Nebraska,Valparaiso.Coaches from these schools(and more) are always in SoCal during the fall.
Ah, that was my first suspicion. Maybe we'll make use of the cell phone number in order to see if this is for real.
Son got contacted out of the blue by Ohio University. They are coming out our way for a showcase in our neighborhood. They wrote to him to tell him that they are very interested in him, but understood that the trek to Ohio would be a long one for him, but they would like to meet him and possibly see him play at said showcase. Not a school that had been on our radar before now. Anybody know anything about the program?
Sluggerdad,
Don't waste your time or money. Every year they send out of these letters to players in Southern California.My son received the same letter 3 years in a row.The only difference was the dates.A coach from Ohio U and a couple of directional school coaches host a "christmas showcase" at Northwoods High School in Orange County.Basically, It's a fundraiser for the coaches ! Christmas in SoCal !
Just an FYI SluggerDad, my 2017 got a similar letter for a couple of NY showcases that they are holding in November.
The coach responded to my son and was honest enough to admit that they hadn't seen him play and hadn't looked at any video of him. He did say that they are still actively looking for a few 2015's. So the kid wrote back and sent him some video. Probably nothing will come of this. But it was at least a little refreshing that he responded and responded honestly. Wonder how often that happens?
They obviously have an unlimited postage budget because every kid on my roster gets that letter. Than being said, someone ends up playing ball there... and that might be a great thing.
I'll say this. I am sure they would love to get some Ca, kids in their program. But Athens OH will be like going to the moon for a Ca. kid.
I'll say this. I am sure they would love to get some Ca, kids in their program. But Athens OH will be like going to the moon for a Ca. kid.
Yeah, but this particular California kid might well be willing to go to the moon to play baseball, especially D1 baseball. That's how much he is determined to keep playing.
Slugger.....don't take Golfman's post the wrong way. Athens is a great college town...but that's about all there is there....the college, and not much more. It is only an hour and a half from Columbus (nearest major city...and airport) and Ohio State and they have a bus that runs from Athens to Columbus/OSU on Fridays and Sundays so if he wanted to go "to the city" for a weekend it'll cost him 10 bucks for the ride
Speaking of going to the moon, I happened to see a little of a University of North Dakota game a while back. They looked pretty good.
I'll say this. I am sure they would love to get some Ca, kids in their program. But Athens OH will be like going to the moon for a Ca. kid.
Yeah, but this particular California kid might well be willing to go to the moon to play baseball, especially D1 baseball. That's how much he is determined to keep playing.
As buckeye pointed out, it isn't a dig at Ohio U and Athens. Just a very different part of the US from CA. If your kid really is interested, I would look at it. It is a small college town in a very nice remote part of the state. It's "coal country" so its socioeconomics reflect it. Imo, I think it is a great college environment. Good luck.
