Recruiting story - Sporting News

[Buddha]

Uncovering what really matters in recruiting
By Tom Dienhart - The Sporting News

No passes will be thrown nor tackles made in the next few weeks, but these are among the most important weeks of the college football year. This is when the recruiting season hits the home stretch.

A coach can X and O the night away, but he won't win big without great talent. Many prospects already have committed, but the biggest fish typically wait until signing day -- February 5 this year -- to announce their college choice. In fact, linebacker Ernie Sims of North Florida Christian High in Tallahassee, the nation's top player according to Rivals100.com, still is shopping around.

Schools look for any edge to secure a pledge. The most tangible selling points are facilities. For instance, Penn State's recent $93 million expansion of Beaver Stadium pushed capacity to 107,282 -- and included a new recruiting lounge. Coaches brag about shag carpet in locker rooms and pool tables and PlayStations in players lounges. They even walk players over to the academic center. But how much of all this really matters to a kid? It's time to reveal the greatest myths and truths of the recruiting wars.

What's a myth

You have to beat your rival on the field. It absolutely matters to have a winning program, but how many times have you heard someone claim the winner of a certain game will gain a big edge in recruiting battles? "Whether we win or lose the Iron Bowl, we still have as good a chance of getting a guy as Alabama," says Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. "I can't think of many times, if ever, the outcome of a game has swayed a recruit one way or another."

You must have gleaming facilities. No doubt, 100,000-seat stadiums and hangar-sized weight rooms have a big wow factor. But gorgeous facilities are icing on the cake when recruits get down to making a college choice.

For instance, during Miami's rise in the 1980s, the school had some of the worst facilities in the nation. It still managed to attract great talent for other reasons.

"(Ex-Hurricanes coach) Jimmy Johnson always told us that winning will take care of recruiting," says Tuberville, a Miami assistant from 1986-93.

You need to win your bowl game. Getting to a bowl is enough -- as long as you don't get blown out.

Academics matter. Recruits always say the right things about academics being an important part of their decision. But certainly, that isn't always the case.

Tradition is important. Have you talked to a high school kid lately? His idea of history was last week's episode of Fear Factor. Galloping ghosts don't matter.

What matters

Coaching philosophy. A player has to think there's a place for him to succeed and display his talents. He won't go to a school if he doesn't think he'll fit its offensive or defensive scheme. "An option quarterback isn't going to come here," says Tuberville, who coaches at a school that features a traditional passing game.

Playing time. Most high school stars think they can play as freshmen. And it's a coach's job to sell a kid on the idea he has a legit chance to play immediately, which is more likely in the 85-scholarship era than ever before. It's also important to a prospect to know his position isn't being over-recruited.

Competing for championships. Winning matters to youngsters, and they want to go to a place where they can battle for a conference's top spot each year.

TV exposure. Winning leads to attention, which translates into TV coverage. And what 18-year-old isn't going to like the idea of being beamed across the national airwaves? "Telling a kid he can flip on a TV and watch his highlights each Saturday night is a powerful thing," says recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

Anything to get an edge -- mythical or real.

Staff writer Tom Dienhart covers college football for The Sporting News. E-mail him at [email protected].