Recruiting is "interesting" this year...

[SMU88]

First of all, I stated from the begining that this would be a special year for football and it was. We finshed stongly and were only a few points from being bowl eligible.

What I think is happening is that Coach feels that he has a strong nucleus and is only a few starters from being bowl eligible next year, ir the reason why Coach is going after some JUCOs. We pick up a linebacker (perhaps to put in the place of DD who is leaving?) an offensive linieman to replace Brad Kieschnick that is graduating. Sounds like a good plan to me. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if Coach has some sleeper committments in his bag!

Now I don't post messages that much in here unless I feel the need to, but I have to tell you, the way Stallion tells the story it is the end of the world. Stallion would depress a hyenia!

I am looking forward to National Signing Day for both the JUCO's and the HS recruits. Keep up the good work coach!

[The PonyGrad]

Really, Stallion can not stay on message, unless it is the negative one.

Last year he was harping on the point that our competitors were getting all the JCs and we could not recruit any good ones. Well now we seem to have some good ones in house and are working for more and all he can focus on is that we are not getting the top HS recruits.

[Stallion]

Don't be a dumbass-nice attempt to manipulate what I say. I have no problems signing JUCOs-duh! The only comment I made that might even suggest that is when I said that a team that signed 2 JUCO QBs in the same year is a sign of desperation and/or failed recruiting. No other team in Division 1A has done that from 2002-2006 except for SMU. We need to sign the best players availiable PERIOD but if you are having trouble even getting in the front door with the top 240 high school players in the entire state of Texas then your high school recruiting has bottom out. Don't know how anyone can argue with that statement. We need to supplement good freshman recruiting classes with quailty JUCOs and Division 1A transfers-any knowledgeable fan knows that-so stop ignoring the obvious.

[Pony Fan]

240 is a nice round number. I guess we must have a commitment from number 241, huh stallion.

[ponyboy]

Don't be a dumbass-nice attempt to manipulate what I say.

There's no manipulation by the poster. You've been crying forever about our inability to recruit jucos. Now that it's happening, you change the subject.

Look, Stallion. You very rarely post anything incorrect and for that you deserve -- and get-- a helluva lot of credit. But you're ALWAYS one sided. And when you are proven wrong, you don't admit it. Growth opportunity: fess up when you're wrong. And silence ain't fessing up.

[SWC2010]

... We need to sign the best players availiable PERIOD but if you are having trouble even getting in the front door with the top 240 high school players in the entire state of Texas then your high school recruiting has bottom out...

Regardless of recruiting strategy or # of scholarships, if you can't sign 1 TX Top 240, it's time to re-shuffle the Rec. Coord. position @ SMU.

[PK]

Exactly who's top 240 list are we checking against. Rival's? Well that's swell. I'm sure their staff of, how many?, has seen and evaluated all 240. I think I'll withhold my judgement on the talent we are recruiting this year until after we have seen them on the field in a game or two. What we need are LBs and linemen and a good QB. How many of each are in the top 240 and how many schools are after them? What percent of that top 240 is made up of what we need right now?

[mrydel]

Why is it so difficult for people to acknowledge we are not signing top rated recruits this year. It is not a subject for debate, it is a fact. Now, does that mean the kids we are getting are no good and will amount to nothing? Of course not. There are a lot of good players in the area and we will sign some. But we are not getting the same quality based on HS performance that we were getting back in the late 70s thru the mid 80s. When I played it was very much the same as now. Texas and A&M dominated, but we were able to find a few diamonds and were able to compete. But the field has changed dramatically with not only having to recruit against the big state schools, but also the BCS and then add the self imposed restrictions. We are way behind the big boys. What I do like is that Bennett has recruited smart in getting depth on the lines and finding all the speed he can. That makes you competitive. Our poor start this year pretty well wiped out any chance for a superior recruiting class this year. 5 wins and 3 in a row at the end is only impressive to we that have suffered for many years. That still is not good. Nobody is going to say "I think I will decommit from UT and a chance at a National Championship and sign with SMU so I can possibly be a part of a winning season". This year we need to plug holes by getting JUCOS that can contribute immediately, and then get the best quality players out of HS we can. Hopefully some more big, fast linemen. With EARLY improvement next year we need to be getting some early commits from some quality HS kids and build from there. I am very optimistic that this can happen, but I get frustrated in listening to those of you that have only one goal, that being to repute anything said by Stallion and being blind to the fact that we are not gettng the top of the line HS recruits this year. It is a fact and will continue to be so. That said, hopefully Bennett will pull a rabbit or two out of his hat before it is all over, but for me personally, I am looking forward to the 22nd of December as the big signing day for SMU. And I readily and happily welcome those that have already made the wise decision to come to SMU and be part of the rebirth of the team.

[mustangbill67]

Mrydel You took the words out of my mouth. thanks

[tmustangp]

Stallion is right whether you want to admit or however you want to paint it. The top HS kids are already going elsewhere and I see no reason for them to swing to us unless they are dropped by their commit and other programs are full.

And what college team who has been dragging as for 5 years (yes I realize we have for the past 16, but what other school who turned it around was bad for more than 5)... My point is that the schools who turned things around overnight or over a few years (UCF, South Carolina, Ole Miss) and yes these are state schools but what state has the number of D1 schools and talent that texas has.. I will get to my point:
Ever heard of Steve Largent (Tulsa), Jerry Rice (Miss Valley St) Larry Allen(Emporia St).. none of those guys were on the top 100 for rivals.. Ever head of Anthony Schlegal (MLB for ohio state)I played w/ him at HP and he went to Air Force adn was 2nd Team freshman all american.. His only offers out of HP were TCU, SMU and Air Force.. Find the guys who are under the radar and coach them correctly, get them bigger and w/ their heart (Alan Adami) that is how you turn around a program..
Ever head of Hunter Wall ('99 class from Coppell) All State parade all american and went to OU the year they won the National Championship.. guess where he is now after he got kicked out for drugs, he is the back up at W Tx A&M..
You turn around programs w/ very good recruiting and guys who want to prove themselves.

[tmustangp]

one more.. Ryan Moats.. a cavan mistake that is now playing for the Eagles and starting.. went to Bishop Lynch and WANTED to come and play at SMU.. He ran for 186 yards on 22 carries against us in 2004..

[Stallion]

Ryan Moats was not admitted to the university until after he committed to Louisiana Tech-this has been confirmed by an article in the DMN. It wasn't a mistake by Cavan but instead was yet another example of just what a competitive disadvantage SMU has been competing under.

[McClown27]

I will get to my point:
Ever heard of Steve Largent (Tulsa), Jerry Rice (Miss Valley St) Larry Allen(Emporia St).. none of those guys were on the top 100 for rivals.. Ever head of Anthony Schlegal (MLB for ohio state)I played w/ him at HP and he went to Air Force adn was 2nd Team freshman all american.. His only offers out of HP were TCU, SMU and Air Force.

Have you ever heard of Reggie Bush, Matt Leinert, Vince Young, Rod Wright, Adrian Peterson, and Tommie Harris? These were all 5-star recruits who starred in the national championship game. Funny, OU, UT, and USC have dominated recruiting the last five years. Don't give me crap about OU being down this year, they will be a top 10 team next year.

The ratings in the recruiting business are not perfect. But, they are not bad either

[giacfsp]

.... Have you ever heard of Reggie Bush, Matt Leinert, Vince Young, Rod Wright, Adrian Peterson, and Tommie Harris? These were all 5-star recruits who starred in the national championship game....

Hey McClown27, what are the next winning lottery numbers?
How did these guys star in a game that has even been played?

[The PonyGrad]

Let's all take a deep breath. The fact that we did not get in on HS kids, who are more and more recruited early should not come as such a surprise.

We had 6 wins in the prior 3 seasons and started the season 1-4 and then 2-6.

We on this board were starting to discuss who the new coach should be.

PBs early recruiting success in his first couple of years, and sales pitch was deflated by these conditions.

Now, at the very end of the season, we have a three game winning streak over two bowl teams, and have something to sell, it is almost too late.

Then add to that the fact there are only 13 ships and Jucos are a need.

As a result we should not be so surprised at our current standing with HS kids. But let's have a little hope for there is now something to sell and we shall see what happens between now and signing date.