Okay...Everyone seems to have an opinion on it...let's see how you guys would do it.
It's easy to comment on, but hard to put into action unless you weigh EVERYTHING that comes into play.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Fungohitter,
1st, Welcome to the site!
2nd, I'm not sure how much response you will get. Most of us that have been around the site for a number of years are tired of the subject because we beat it to death years ago.
Watching the program for a long long time through the good, bad and my many discussions with former TN players, I do have an opinion.
For now, I just wish the players and the program the best. They have worked hard this season.
1st, Welcome to the site!
2nd, I'm not sure how much response you will get. Most of us that have been around the site for a number of years are tired of the subject because we beat it to death years ago.
Watching the program for a long long time through the good, bad and my many discussions with former TN players, I do have an opinion.
For now, I just wish the players and the program the best. They have worked hard this season.
Same here!
Old and tired subject.
Fungohitter,
Welcome to the Tennessee site!
Most of us who have been around this web site for a number of years are (very very very) tired of this subject and it has caused some hard feelings with out of state families that have kids going to UT.
We wish Rod and his fine young men the best in the Carolina Regional. Its all up to him how he wants to run his program and where he gets his recruits.
We will leave it at that!
I would be very interested in your take of the diffculties involved in recruiting for a conference such as the SEC. It being the top conference in the nation and a coach having to compete on this level every year.
There are 40 players from Tennessee playing out of state in division I baseball and 13 of them are at other SEC schools.
Old and tired subject.
Fungohitter,
Welcome to the Tennessee site!
Most of us who have been around this web site for a number of years are (very very very) tired of this subject and it has caused some hard feelings with out of state families that have kids going to UT.
We wish Rod and his fine young men the best in the Carolina Regional. Its all up to him how he wants to run his program and where he gets his recruits.
We will leave it at that!
I would be very interested in your take of the diffculties involved in recruiting for a conference such as the SEC. It being the top conference in the nation and a coach having to compete on this level every year.
There are 40 players from Tennessee playing out of state in division I baseball and 13 of them are at other SEC schools.
I really dont know the in's and outs of this subject as well as some but it would seem that Tn. could look at how Ga. tech recruits. I think that they keep most of their instate players. and they do very well with them.
I think the main problem that most people have is that there are some players each year who are far and away good enough to play for UT. They have proven this by playing for teams every bit as good as UT and a few of them against UT and makeing UT sorry that they where not rucruited.One thing I have wondered about but have been to lazy to check out is whether or not UT is unusual in not recruiting in state players. One of these days I will look at some rosters of top teams and see how many instate players they have.
I also do not buy into the idea that if a player lives in TN he should go to UT even with out getting a good scholly. Players with the kind of talent these players have wont be signed for books. They might just think that since they live in the state and have the talent they should get a better deal.
I think the main problem that most people have is that there are some players each year who are far and away good enough to play for UT. They have proven this by playing for teams every bit as good as UT and a few of them against UT and makeing UT sorry that they where not rucruited.One thing I have wondered about but have been to lazy to check out is whether or not UT is unusual in not recruiting in state players. One of these days I will look at some rosters of top teams and see how many instate players they have.
I also do not buy into the idea that if a player lives in TN he should go to UT even with out getting a good scholly. Players with the kind of talent these players have wont be signed for books. They might just think that since they live in the state and have the talent they should get a better deal.
Interesting points and some very above board opinions. Again, being new there is no doubt that I have not been involved with many of these topics as you all have, but most of the time people seem to just complain and not back anything up.
Recruting is tough...you have only 11.7 scholarships, 3 permissible contacts/evaluation periods, 25 official visits, a limited budget, roster limitations due to gender equity, positional needs, conference competition for the same prospects, the draft concerns (for school's like you all), academic regualtions, etc.
Please remember, it's not quite as easy as finding the best and asking him to come.
Recruting is tough...you have only 11.7 scholarships, 3 permissible contacts/evaluation periods, 25 official visits, a limited budget, roster limitations due to gender equity, positional needs, conference competition for the same prospects, the draft concerns (for school's like you all), academic regualtions, etc.
Please remember, it's not quite as easy as finding the best and asking him to come.
First, let me say thank you for the many regular posters on this web site. I have enjoyed for a long time reading and gaining valuable advice as my own son progressed through high school to the college level. Comments, thoughts, and good fun has made this journey very delightful.
I have been reading for sometime about the failure of "Rod" to recruit the strong TN high school and even TN JUCO players. There is no doubt this has happened and these players have stepped in at other DI or SEC schools and made TN proud.
I feel it really gets down to the "perfect fit" approach. It is paramount for any high school prospect to select the college that has recruited him because they "are" what the coach needs and the "opportunity to play" is there for them. Each coach has their own style and only they determine what they are looking for. We has parents and fans watch the process and sometimes fail to understand. I'm not knowlegeable enough of the UT program or the coaches personally to accept that they purposely ignore TN prospects, if that was the case, then the unniversity is being hurt. When you anylize each TN college university, each program and coach has their own recruiting style. Believe me, they are completely different across the state. That is why some succeed and others will never move far from the bottom of their league.
It all gets down to usually one thing, money. It is enlightening to read about the "walk-ons" that made it and worked themselves into the starting line-up. But, we all know from experience, this is not the norm. When a coach invests money in a ball player, he has already determined that player "fits in" and now needs to fill the "opportunity". He will and usually does allow this player more at bats, more defensive time, and more pitching innings to get into his game, where the walk-on has to come out of the gate almost perfect. And then, there is no guarantee the walk-on or lighter awarded player will get that starting position.
This is just the way it is in college ball and continues even more at the pro level.
So, the best advice I can give in Recruiting 101, is players/parents wishing to really play at the college level: go to where the coach wants you bad enough to give you monies and the "opportunity" is there. Please don't determine the selection based solely on total monies different schools offer. Base it on how much each school/coach normally can give. There is a huge difference in scholarship monies in TN JUCO's and TN universtities. Some schools can only offer "books", some have unlimited monies. When the coach says, "this is the most I can give a _____________" then you have his best offer and he wants you to step-in, regardless how that total money compares to another school's offer.
If the player has already narrowed his choice to playing at particular school regardless of need and opportunity then he has an uphill battle to play. So parents/fans, if this is the case, support the player and wish him well. But please understand Recruiting 101 if he doesn't seem to get a fair shake.
Thanks again for this fine community and Good Luck to all the great TN teams advancing to regional play.
I have been reading for sometime about the failure of "Rod" to recruit the strong TN high school and even TN JUCO players. There is no doubt this has happened and these players have stepped in at other DI or SEC schools and made TN proud.
I feel it really gets down to the "perfect fit" approach. It is paramount for any high school prospect to select the college that has recruited him because they "are" what the coach needs and the "opportunity to play" is there for them. Each coach has their own style and only they determine what they are looking for. We has parents and fans watch the process and sometimes fail to understand. I'm not knowlegeable enough of the UT program or the coaches personally to accept that they purposely ignore TN prospects, if that was the case, then the unniversity is being hurt. When you anylize each TN college university, each program and coach has their own recruiting style. Believe me, they are completely different across the state. That is why some succeed and others will never move far from the bottom of their league.
It all gets down to usually one thing, money. It is enlightening to read about the "walk-ons" that made it and worked themselves into the starting line-up. But, we all know from experience, this is not the norm. When a coach invests money in a ball player, he has already determined that player "fits in" and now needs to fill the "opportunity". He will and usually does allow this player more at bats, more defensive time, and more pitching innings to get into his game, where the walk-on has to come out of the gate almost perfect. And then, there is no guarantee the walk-on or lighter awarded player will get that starting position.
This is just the way it is in college ball and continues even more at the pro level.
So, the best advice I can give in Recruiting 101, is players/parents wishing to really play at the college level: go to where the coach wants you bad enough to give you monies and the "opportunity" is there. Please don't determine the selection based solely on total monies different schools offer. Base it on how much each school/coach normally can give. There is a huge difference in scholarship monies in TN JUCO's and TN universtities. Some schools can only offer "books", some have unlimited monies. When the coach says, "this is the most I can give a _____________" then you have his best offer and he wants you to step-in, regardless how that total money compares to another school's offer.
If the player has already narrowed his choice to playing at particular school regardless of need and opportunity then he has an uphill battle to play. So parents/fans, if this is the case, support the player and wish him well. But please understand Recruiting 101 if he doesn't seem to get a fair shake.
Thanks again for this fine community and Good Luck to all the great TN teams advancing to regional play.