Mom...Thanks for asking and thanks for the good wishes. I could write a book about what I've learned about the recruiting process from this site; and, from what actually happened in the recruiting process, as it related to my son.
95% of the coaches/recruiting coordinators are really neat, classy people. Others, are way too "into themselves" and their programs (as if their school is the only school in America). None of them wound up being in the top 5.
I don't believe that he would have anything bad to say about any of the final schools that he put into his "last 5" hopper. Stanford and Rice were the #2 and #1 schools at the CWS last year. Harvard and Princeton are two top Ivy League programs; and, Mississippi State (perhaps the finest program in the SEC...certainly has the best fans with LSU second) was where Ryan's older brother played from 1991-1993 before he went on to play pro ball for 5 years.
I think that Ryan and his mom and I were sold on Coach Bradley from Princeton. Not only because he is a "down to earth" kind of guy that I would liken to a "gym rat" in basketball, but because he brings the experience of 9 major league seasons to his position as coach of the Princeton Tigers.
Ryan has considered his academic efforts as equally important as his baseball efforts. We are lucky in that sense. As he said before he made his decision: "Dad, I've decided on Princeton to study engineering/science and then go to Stanford for an MBA. If baseball doesn't work out and I don't get a chance to play pro ball, nothing wrong with having a Princeton undergrad engineering degree and a Stanford MBA!"
He talked with his teachers; did some research on his own; got some good natured kidding from his brothers and his friends; talked with us; and, then he decided.
We support his decision.
