TPM, this very thing happened to my son except in his case they said: "We will pay 100% of the fall semester OR 100% of the spring semester and you pay the other semester. It was left up to me to select which semester I wanted to pay. I just saw it as a 50% scholarship and nothing more. Being skeptical I did ask the coach why they divided it up by semester and they said it was “just the way they did it.”
I agree there are players’ scholarships being manipulated and there are players being cut all the time from teams but I always felt this was influenced more by talent (or lack of) than by an unscrupulous coach doing some underhanded scholarship juggling.
I only have a few examples of scholarship offers and have only seen 2 NLI’s in my life so my knowledge on this subject is very limited. Like most people I hear of conflicting reports on scholarship amounts and different stories why players were cut so I question the accuracy of much of this second and third hand information. The NLI with the school my son signed spelled out specific expenses they would pay (tuition books fees) without putting either a dollar amount or a percentage on them ----- then that same NLI spelled out a specific dollar amount that would be paid to him each year for room and board. His NLI remained unchanged for three years although he and other players were give a small amount of additional money in years the school failed to spend all of their allotted 11.7 scholarships.
Fungo
quote:I agree there are players’ scholarships being manipulated and there are players being cut all the time from teams but I always felt this was influenced more by talent (or lack of) than by an unscrupulous coach doing some underhanded scholarship juggling.
I agree Fungo. Scholarship payout "manipulation" for accounting purposes or other financial reasons...is one thing. Scholarship manipulation for underhanded and devious purposes.....a whole different story.
Do you think these trends have ANYTHING to do with geographic location, conference, level of baseball program? Because honestly....I do not know of anyone who has had this sort of treatment by a coaching staff. I'm talking about "creative scholarship manipulation" for the SOLE purpose of removing a kid from the squad to make the 11.7 requirement.
I learned from this site to ask about both dollar amount and percentages to gain as clear an understanding as possible. As TPM stated college costs rise every year and if one agrees only to a flat fee rather than a percentage the effective scholarship could be a shrinking percentage of the 11.7 to the benefit of the school and rising costs to family.
This thread has certainly given us something to think about. However, nothing is "guaranteed" past the first year even with the NLI, as I understand it. The integrity of the people your dealing with appears to be vital on so many levels, financially and the influence they will have on sons. What kind of leadership, example do they set since they will be spending so much time together? If there is a turn over in the head coaches position, all bets are off as to what will happen with anyone not covered by NLI. It's a whole new ball game!
This thread has certainly given us something to think about. However, nothing is "guaranteed" past the first year even with the NLI, as I understand it. The integrity of the people your dealing with appears to be vital on so many levels, financially and the influence they will have on sons. What kind of leadership, example do they set since they will be spending so much time together? If there is a turn over in the head coaches position, all bets are off as to what will happen with anyone not covered by NLI. It's a whole new ball game!
Luvbb - It's certainly not unheard of in the SEC. There are two schools that I know have used this as one of the techniques allowing them to bring in a huge roster in the fall. I find it interesting though of the changes that were mentioned where NCAA won't allow this any longer. One school I'm familiar with has typically had about 50-54 kids in the fall.... they have 34 listed this fall. 
quote:I still firmly believe that the vast majority of programs are not out to screw you over.
And, the timing of the payment might have been impacted by the availability of the educational tax credits.
In our experience the NLI only referred to the baseball schollarship and the academic money was separate. The baseball scholarship was in dollar amounts and was for one year. It was renewed the next year and the academic money was automatically renewed if you maintained a 2.0 GPA.
Yes tuition goes up about 5% each year but savings were made when son moved off campus. He also did not have to pay his tuition all at once but in 10 equal payments which after scholarships was not very much.
Laf the 34 rostered players didn't all get to play either. 25 travel roster means that of the 54 tryout guys 20 didn't make the 34 roster and probably 9 of the ones that did get little or no playing time. Even if you do you research you can still be disappointed. This is a scary thought especially if you don't realize that this is a common practice.
As far as the changing of coaches it is also common for a new coach to put his stamp on the team as early as possible. Not a nice situation but he was probably hired to make changes. One of my friends is starting his senior year and after his soph year saw 3 of his roommates let go. He expressed fear that he would be turfted as well. He was their closer with a 90+ FB and the 2nd lowest era on the team so he survived. The coach took him aside at the beginning of his JR year and told him to start looking for new roommates.
Yes tuition goes up about 5% each year but savings were made when son moved off campus. He also did not have to pay his tuition all at once but in 10 equal payments which after scholarships was not very much.
Laf the 34 rostered players didn't all get to play either. 25 travel roster means that of the 54 tryout guys 20 didn't make the 34 roster and probably 9 of the ones that did get little or no playing time. Even if you do you research you can still be disappointed. This is a scary thought especially if you don't realize that this is a common practice.
As far as the changing of coaches it is also common for a new coach to put his stamp on the team as early as possible. Not a nice situation but he was probably hired to make changes. One of my friends is starting his senior year and after his soph year saw 3 of his roommates let go. He expressed fear that he would be turfted as well. He was their closer with a 90+ FB and the 2nd lowest era on the team so he survived. The coach took him aside at the beginning of his JR year and told him to start looking for new roommates.
StillLearning - You are already ahead where I was at this point in your son's baseball journey. I had barely found this site and surely hadn't prepared myself or my son as well as you obviously did. So your post and this thread got me to thinking about all that recruiting stuff from a few years ago...about the mistakes we may have ALMOST made.
I'm now remembering one particular school that has a reputation for overstocking and how we could never quite pin them down on their specific scholarship offer. Each time we talked, it was a little different..."includes all of this" to "doesn't include that." Never a firm percentage. Even some talk of how the percentage would "look" smaller but don't worry because the costs to us would be the same by cutting this corner and that corner.
Ugh!
I'm glad we didn't naively walk into that mess.
I'm now remembering one particular school that has a reputation for overstocking and how we could never quite pin them down on their specific scholarship offer. Each time we talked, it was a little different..."includes all of this" to "doesn't include that." Never a firm percentage. Even some talk of how the percentage would "look" smaller but don't worry because the costs to us would be the same by cutting this corner and that corner.
Ugh!
I'm glad we didn't naively walk into that mess.
The advice in this thread seems inconsitent and imho possibly misleading in some ways.
I agree that a parent has to be comfortable with and understand the terms of the contract (NLI) before signing. I agree with doing your homework. Some of the competitive aspects cannot be guaranteed in advance however no matter how astute/honest/ethical the coach is.
1) The coach tells a recruit, you have a chance to start as a freshman and the recruit does - is that coach more ethical than the coach that tells a kid he has a chance to start and the kid in fact does not?
2) Large fall rosters are a consideration but at the end of the day, your kid will have to beat some other kid out to play. Most likely several kids each year to continue playing. At some schools, the kid your son will have to beat out is a JUCO player, at other schools that may be nationally recruited incoming freshman.
3) I would catergorize TPM's and lhpmom's posts as the most alarmist in this thread yet their kids play at the most prestigious/elite schools in the nation. TPM said these things don't apply to the top recruits yet lhpmom says they do?
It seems to me, that bad things can happen in life. There are unethical people in every walk of life. The majority are not however. Reading some of these posts in this thread lead me to believe that there are many sinners out there that we need to be wary of and "weed" through as someone said. I kind of see things the way luvbb has mentioned above.
Look the people you are dealing with in the eye. Listen to them. Research them. If you feel queasy as justbb suggests, by all means look somewhere else. On the other hand, the sky is not falling imho. Common sense will very likely protect your son but there are no guarantees.
I agree that a parent has to be comfortable with and understand the terms of the contract (NLI) before signing. I agree with doing your homework. Some of the competitive aspects cannot be guaranteed in advance however no matter how astute/honest/ethical the coach is.
1) The coach tells a recruit, you have a chance to start as a freshman and the recruit does - is that coach more ethical than the coach that tells a kid he has a chance to start and the kid in fact does not?
2) Large fall rosters are a consideration but at the end of the day, your kid will have to beat some other kid out to play. Most likely several kids each year to continue playing. At some schools, the kid your son will have to beat out is a JUCO player, at other schools that may be nationally recruited incoming freshman.
3) I would catergorize TPM's and lhpmom's posts as the most alarmist in this thread yet their kids play at the most prestigious/elite schools in the nation. TPM said these things don't apply to the top recruits yet lhpmom says they do?
It seems to me, that bad things can happen in life. There are unethical people in every walk of life. The majority are not however. Reading some of these posts in this thread lead me to believe that there are many sinners out there that we need to be wary of and "weed" through as someone said. I kind of see things the way luvbb has mentioned above.
Look the people you are dealing with in the eye. Listen to them. Research them. If you feel queasy as justbb suggests, by all means look somewhere else. On the other hand, the sky is not falling imho. Common sense will very likely protect your son but there are no guarantees.
quote:Originally posted by OldVaman:
It would seem that one thing a parent would want to do is strongely request the NLI spell out the offer in monetary terms, not percentage. This way, you should not be surprised when the bills come due in August and January.
A couple quick comments.....I'm not sure you can ask/specify which way it's spelled out (% vs $). I would imagine that each institution has it's own way of doing things and that's the way you'll get it.
IF you get a choice, I'd actually prefer it in a % format. Keep in mind, a scholarship is only good for 1 year. However, assuming the student athlete holds up his end of the deal, it will be renewed in years 2, 3 and 4 (and 5 if necessary). Everybody does it differently but if it's renewed "as is" (flat $$$ amount) and the COA goes up, your scholarship just decreased. But if it's done on a % basis and the COA goes up (as it usually does), your scholly goes up with it. Make sense?
quote:Look the people you are dealing with in the eye. Listen to them. Research them. If you feel queasy as justbb suggests, by all means look somewhere else. On the other hand, the sky is not falling imho. Common sense will very likely protect your son but there are no guarantees.
CD - Very good advice! Just as is any other area, you have to rely on your gut and common sense to provide some guidance. Like many things in life, it's often the horror stories that make the most noise. Most of the programs out there are led by good and honorable folks who are just looking at things from the other side, not out to make life miserable for your son or to mislead your family.
CD,
What's misleading? What I posted referred to coaches who stretch fall rosters at scholarship recipients expense.
If someone else says they heard it happens to top recruits, well then let's just come to the conclusion it HAPPENS to many.
You have on several occasions posted how surprised you were when your son showed up at school to find a very large roster. It happens yes. Do all schools have large fall rosters, no, do coaches do this to intentionally hurt someone, most likely not. He does what he has to for his program. Many coaches send players to feeder JUCOS after fall practice, many don't.
All I asked, was, do you want this for your son? If a parent doesn't then they will prepare themselves for the journey.
Of course every player has to come to school and earn a spot, that's not the point. But what happens if you don't earn it that year. A player can live with the idea of redshirt, but is he willing to go to JUCO for a year? Why doesn't the coach just tell him, look I am going to give you an opportunity and if you don't make it you are going to JUCO, you can decide this before you come? If he tells them that, that's the agreement, if not, it's not honesty in recruiting, which is what my post was about.
Yes, son goes to a top D1. 32-35 in fall, 32-35 in spring. You start in fall same, you stay in spring same. You might redshirt, but you are not asked or told to leave. I KNEW nothing of this when my son was being recruited. I would have been pretty upset if he showed up on the field with 47 others, just as you may have been.
Instead of saying post is misleading, I would rather that you share your story with new parents here reading as you have done in the past. Your son's experience, will certainly help others to understand how one can overcome large fall rosters.
What's misleading? What I posted referred to coaches who stretch fall rosters at scholarship recipients expense.
If someone else says they heard it happens to top recruits, well then let's just come to the conclusion it HAPPENS to many.
You have on several occasions posted how surprised you were when your son showed up at school to find a very large roster. It happens yes. Do all schools have large fall rosters, no, do coaches do this to intentionally hurt someone, most likely not. He does what he has to for his program. Many coaches send players to feeder JUCOS after fall practice, many don't.
All I asked, was, do you want this for your son? If a parent doesn't then they will prepare themselves for the journey.
Of course every player has to come to school and earn a spot, that's not the point. But what happens if you don't earn it that year. A player can live with the idea of redshirt, but is he willing to go to JUCO for a year? Why doesn't the coach just tell him, look I am going to give you an opportunity and if you don't make it you are going to JUCO, you can decide this before you come? If he tells them that, that's the agreement, if not, it's not honesty in recruiting, which is what my post was about.
Yes, son goes to a top D1. 32-35 in fall, 32-35 in spring. You start in fall same, you stay in spring same. You might redshirt, but you are not asked or told to leave. I KNEW nothing of this when my son was being recruited. I would have been pretty upset if he showed up on the field with 47 others, just as you may have been.
Instead of saying post is misleading, I would rather that you share your story with new parents here reading as you have done in the past. Your son's experience, will certainly help others to understand how one can overcome large fall rosters.
quote:You have on several occasions posted how surprised you were when your son showed up at school to find a very large roster.
True, very true. Knowing what we know now, he would still go there however and the roster is 38 this year. I think it was 46 last year. There were also kids added to the roster over the winter such as one prominent transfer from Florida State. I don't think I expressed anything but surprise over that and it was due to being naive. I don't think I said (or implied) I was upset. We were not misled.
Here's something to consider about roster sizes. Is it harder to beat out 2 nationally ranked kids at Clemson/Stanford or harder to beat out 4 lesser prospects at some other school? It depends obviously on many factors that are hard to predict with certainty.
Look - I never said stuff does not happen. What seemed "misleading" to me was the "tone" expressed in some of these postings that makes it appear that this stuff (unethical behavior with scholarships) is common place. I believe it happens but not in the proportions that have been implied in this thread. We can agree to disagree on that point however.
I think we were also naive and surprised when we found out that there were 43 guys trying out for 35 roster spots and 25 travel spots. We also never considered it dishonest or misleading. We just didn't know. This is why we are telling our experience so that others will not be surprised. We all knew that son would have to compete for playing time for thye whole 4 years. I am sure CD was dissappointed at first but hard work and talent paid off.
CD,
Maybe my post was a bit out of proportion for you, but it's not too far fetched, that was the idea. I am glad it brought discussion.
We all have been naive, at some point, I am first to admit it. Just a question though, if your son had been asked to go to another school for a year, would you have been upset? I am sure you would have, I would be too, so would the next parent.
If the NCAA has come down on schools and you notice roster sizes are smaller this year in the fall and remain same in spring, don't you think there was a reason for tehm coming down on them? If a player doesn't mind the larger roster that's their decision, no problem,it's a fact of life at many schools, but me personally, I do have problems with shrinking rosters from fall to spring.
You said:
"Here's something to consider about roster sizes. Is it harder to beat out 2 nationally ranked kids at Clemson/Stanford or harder to beat out 4 lesser prospects at some other school? It depends obviously on many factors that are hard to predict with certainty".
I am not sure that I understand that statement.
However, you can believe what you want, but some coaches DO take on more recruits than they should, knowing that they will cut back before spring. That is unethical, in my opinion. Others take on large rosters because they do, but don't cut them loose befoe spring.
I think LHP made a good point, they gathered information and asked questions, when time came for phone calls, they knew who their son would talk to and who he wouldn't. That's the idea.
Don't take this personally, please. Again I say, large rosters are commonplace. That's not my point. My point, again, is watch for the larger roster in fall and smaller in spring. I hope that clears up my intent.
Maybe my post was a bit out of proportion for you, but it's not too far fetched, that was the idea. I am glad it brought discussion.
We all have been naive, at some point, I am first to admit it. Just a question though, if your son had been asked to go to another school for a year, would you have been upset? I am sure you would have, I would be too, so would the next parent.
If the NCAA has come down on schools and you notice roster sizes are smaller this year in the fall and remain same in spring, don't you think there was a reason for tehm coming down on them? If a player doesn't mind the larger roster that's their decision, no problem,it's a fact of life at many schools, but me personally, I do have problems with shrinking rosters from fall to spring.
You said:
"Here's something to consider about roster sizes. Is it harder to beat out 2 nationally ranked kids at Clemson/Stanford or harder to beat out 4 lesser prospects at some other school? It depends obviously on many factors that are hard to predict with certainty".
I am not sure that I understand that statement.
However, you can believe what you want, but some coaches DO take on more recruits than they should, knowing that they will cut back before spring. That is unethical, in my opinion. Others take on large rosters because they do, but don't cut them loose befoe spring.
I think LHP made a good point, they gathered information and asked questions, when time came for phone calls, they knew who their son would talk to and who he wouldn't. That's the idea.
Don't take this personally, please. Again I say, large rosters are commonplace. That's not my point. My point, again, is watch for the larger roster in fall and smaller in spring. I hope that clears up my intent.
quote:by fungo: this very thing happened to my son except in his case they said: "We will pay 100% of the fall semester OR 100% of the spring semester and you pay the other semester
ouch, in the post Renfroe era that stuff surely has been corrected ...
his accounting - NOT his w/l record was his downfall
.
Sorry, Cleveland Dad, I didn't mean to impart that we had experienced this situation personally, as our son was highly recruited and all of the coaching staffs from a variety of schools were most gracious and I believe they were honest, too. All of these coaches made my son's decision extremely difficult, So I'm talking over 60 D-1 programs that are honest and above board that my son dealt with.
But our son was injured summer after senior year and has since rehabbed fully, and if he had picked the wrong program it could have been a sad situation no matter what his "rankings" were.
We had heard and personally observed some highly touted players in transfer situations or getting cut do to coaching changes, etc. at some educational institutions. Because of our observations, not second hand info. and rumors, we were aware that occasionally these things happen.
As my son's parent, it is my job to help educate my son. Example, No one can ever say a kid is going to be a starter Frosh year because stuff happens. I prefer to hear, depends on his performance, as that's honest. Gotta earn your spot through performance and hard work. It's always been that way, so why should it change at the college level, where the stakes are higher.
But when it come to promising schollies to young men that evaporate after fall cuts and over-recruiting, I agree with TPM that this behavior is unethical. So we said no thank to the folks we personally saw participate in this behavior and let it alone from the get go, because it was a gamble on the kid's future. And we just saw it happening at a few places. We were honest and upfront regarding our concerns.
I'm not writing any of this to freak anyone out or scream fire in the theater and create recruiting panic. And I do not think TPM is either. In our way we are trying to be helpful, because we've been through the process.
When my kid turned seventeen, my husband and I did not just turn off our parental instincts, we asked questions, lots and lots of questions.
We asked questions to get answers so that our son could make an educated decision about where he wanted to spend 3-4 years of his life, because it is now his home. This decision is about much more than baseball and it is more about finding the right fit all around for the student-athlete.
In order to make an educated decision, one needs information. Information is gathered by research and doing your homework.
Because our family did the proper research, our son is happy in his home. It has not been easy for him and he's very busy, but what a fantastic experience! He truly loves it.
Like I said, there where many wonderful coaches that my son met in the recruiting process, guys that he will always look at with fondness and a smile. There are more good programs than not.
But this is a business, a winning business and parent need to be mindful of that. There are programs that are unethical.
It's our job to gather factual information and present it to our sons so they can make the correct decision for themselves.
That's what we did and it has worked out well for our son. Everything was spelled out in paper for our son so there were no surprises.
(Except that laptop we had to get
with the four year warranty protected from spilling liquid and any and all bike wrecks 
)
I had never heard of the pay in Fall school pays in Spring, but if someone had brought that one up to us I would definitely asked a lot of questions. For me it would have said red flag.
This has not been about whether I'm right or wrong, I'm just sharing my first hand observations and my own personal experience.
I'm with TPM, if it helps one person, I'm happy.
But our son was injured summer after senior year and has since rehabbed fully, and if he had picked the wrong program it could have been a sad situation no matter what his "rankings" were.
We had heard and personally observed some highly touted players in transfer situations or getting cut do to coaching changes, etc. at some educational institutions. Because of our observations, not second hand info. and rumors, we were aware that occasionally these things happen.
As my son's parent, it is my job to help educate my son. Example, No one can ever say a kid is going to be a starter Frosh year because stuff happens. I prefer to hear, depends on his performance, as that's honest. Gotta earn your spot through performance and hard work. It's always been that way, so why should it change at the college level, where the stakes are higher.
But when it come to promising schollies to young men that evaporate after fall cuts and over-recruiting, I agree with TPM that this behavior is unethical. So we said no thank to the folks we personally saw participate in this behavior and let it alone from the get go, because it was a gamble on the kid's future. And we just saw it happening at a few places. We were honest and upfront regarding our concerns.
I'm not writing any of this to freak anyone out or scream fire in the theater and create recruiting panic. And I do not think TPM is either. In our way we are trying to be helpful, because we've been through the process.
When my kid turned seventeen, my husband and I did not just turn off our parental instincts, we asked questions, lots and lots of questions.
We asked questions to get answers so that our son could make an educated decision about where he wanted to spend 3-4 years of his life, because it is now his home. This decision is about much more than baseball and it is more about finding the right fit all around for the student-athlete.
In order to make an educated decision, one needs information. Information is gathered by research and doing your homework.
Because our family did the proper research, our son is happy in his home. It has not been easy for him and he's very busy, but what a fantastic experience! He truly loves it.
Like I said, there where many wonderful coaches that my son met in the recruiting process, guys that he will always look at with fondness and a smile. There are more good programs than not.
But this is a business, a winning business and parent need to be mindful of that. There are programs that are unethical.
It's our job to gather factual information and present it to our sons so they can make the correct decision for themselves.
That's what we did and it has worked out well for our son. Everything was spelled out in paper for our son so there were no surprises.
(Except that laptop we had to get
)I had never heard of the pay in Fall school pays in Spring, but if someone had brought that one up to us I would definitely asked a lot of questions. For me it would have said red flag.
This has not been about whether I'm right or wrong, I'm just sharing my first hand observations and my own personal experience.
I'm with TPM, if it helps one person, I'm happy.
Bee,
The 100% spring semester OR fall semester offer was made by the University of Tennessee.
The 100% spring semester OR fall semester offer was made by the University of Tennessee.
I feel somewhat better now - that Ray-Ban even has an accounting system -quote:by fungo: offer was made by the University of Tennessee.
still dismayed that NCAA scrutiny on The Plains has affected graduation progress everywhere
.
One thing that made me admire the coaches my son signed with, even to this day we are best of friends ( one even calls me RIZ not MR.), was the letter they sent before the financial agreement. It was a simple personal letter spelling it all out---the official papers followed and the terms were for a YEAR not a semester. In fact the $$ was increased after the first semester
Sometimes we read too much into things---for years I have always been pretty good with "gut feelings" and mostly I go by that.
Call me "old school" but the eyes and the handshake tell me a lot.
Sometimes we read too much into things---for years I have always been pretty good with "gut feelings" and mostly I go by that.
Call me "old school" but the eyes and the handshake tell me a lot.
All scholarships I have seen under NLI are for 1 year. I have never heard of anyone losing their scholarship after the 1st semester even if you don't make roster.
I know of 1 player who lost his scgolarship according to his parents after 1 year. They told me the coach near the end of the 1st spring walked out to the mound, very upset and told him his scholarship would not be renewed.
I find it hard to believe but they told me the coach was upset with his performance and behavior.
I know of 1 player who lost his scgolarship according to his parents after 1 year. They told me the coach near the end of the 1st spring walked out to the mound, very upset and told him his scholarship would not be renewed.
I find it hard to believe but they told me the coach was upset with his performance and behavior.
For the record, I never stated any player lost their NLI scholarship.
Some players are given choices, redshirt or attend local JUCO.
Some players are given choices, redshirt or attend local JUCO.
This quote by TR is the absolute truth:
Call me "old school" but the eyes and the handshake tell me a lot.
We met some great people along the way. There were those that did exactly as TR states and there were a few who we just didn't get that feeling from...Lots of questions....
Looking back, we laugh that there were coaches who we could set our watches to. Monday evening at exactly 8:30pm the phone would ring and we would know it's coach so and so. Then you had the few who would say I'll call you on x-day and would not. Or we'll be calling Tues with an offer and many Tuesday's passed. Then after 3 weeks they call and are then disappointed when your not jumping for joy.
As with life, business, weather, World Series, and the movies. There's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly....
Call me "old school" but the eyes and the handshake tell me a lot.
We met some great people along the way. There were those that did exactly as TR states and there were a few who we just didn't get that feeling from...Lots of questions....
Looking back, we laugh that there were coaches who we could set our watches to. Monday evening at exactly 8:30pm the phone would ring and we would know it's coach so and so. Then you had the few who would say I'll call you on x-day and would not. Or we'll be calling Tues with an offer and many Tuesday's passed. Then after 3 weeks they call and are then disappointed when your not jumping for joy.
As with life, business, weather, World Series, and the movies. There's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly....
.
We too are in the TR camp...
While we did a ton of homework in both instances...no matter how good the program looked on paper nothing would have been finalized had the eyes and handshake not felt right.
Fortunately, we have been right twice.
44
.
We too are in the TR camp...
While we did a ton of homework in both instances...no matter how good the program looked on paper nothing would have been finalized had the eyes and handshake not felt right.
Fortunately, we have been right twice.
44.
Been thru the collegiate recruiting process twice ourselves. And have never been let down by simply looking a coach in the eyes when in conversation, and exchanging a handshake. TR.....VERY good observation and I agree with your point of view.
It really just isn't all that scary out there, IMO.
It really just isn't all that scary out there, IMO.
I agree completed about gut feelings.
I hope no one got that idea that it was all scary for us.
Actually it was pretty awesome experience and we meet some great people
I was just sharing that we did research so our son could make an educated decision about which school he' wanted to be his "home."
Worked out great and did finally come down to handshake, look in the eyes and gut feeling.
So I am in agreement with TR.
A combination of that and research = best fit
I hope no one got that idea that it was all scary for us.
Actually it was pretty awesome experience and we meet some great people
I was just sharing that we did research so our son could make an educated decision about which school he' wanted to be his "home."
Worked out great and did finally come down to handshake, look in the eyes and gut feeling.
So I am in agreement with TR.
A combination of that and research = best fit