DMN Assessment of SMU 2001 class

[RGV Pony]

The Sobering Reality is that both Cavan and Bennett started relatively strong in recruiting and when results on the field were not satisfactory the recruiting declined precipitously especially in direct relationship with TCU. The gap between SMU and TCU Recruiting Years 2006, 2005 and 2004 has now grown almost as big as in Cavan's last years. And by the way I do know the score to last years game. The additional reality is that Mike Cavan had a much more difficult job in terms of recruiting not to mention the cakewalk scgedule and embarrassingly weak CUSA West.

As recently as this fall I bought into most of what is quoted above. I have frequently bitched about NWern's ability to post winning seasons etc, all the while being in a similar position as SMU. However, a winning season, bowl game, BCS conference etc., and what has it gotten them? Well, a bunch of two stars and 4 3-star recruits. SMU's average star 2.15; theirs 2.29. Not much difference. Ranked in the 70s and 80s in recruiting. Kind of makes Northwestern a paradox when looking at the arguments that recruiting rises and falls with w's, and that the BCS positioning helps. That is, unless the two additional three-star recruits went to NWern because of the Big 10.

[SoCal_Pony]

I have frequently bitched about NWern's ability to post winning seasons etc, all the while being in a similar position as SMU.

RGV,

Northwestern has played in the Rose Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Motor City Bowl and Sun Bowl all within the past 10 years. We have had 1 winning season in the past 20 years.

[RGV Pony]

I have frequently bitched about NWern's ability to post winning seasons etc, all the while being in a similar position as SMU.

RGV,

Northwestern has played in the Rose Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Motor City Bowl and Sun Bowl all within the past 10 years. We have had 1 winning season in the past 20 years.

Thanks for making my point, SoCal. That point is, if winning=better recruiting, then based on what you cited above, NW'ern should be tearing it up recruiting. Instead, they average 2.29 stars according to Rivals, and rank anywhere from no. 73 to no. 89. Such a recruiting performance is par for them. This suggests that a) winning and going to the bowl games you mention doesn't equal more three and four star recruits, and b) recruiting classes and how they are rated by rivals don't always dictate on-field performance, especially once you're looking at classes beyond the top ten or so.

[Stallion]

the recruiting pool for Northwestern is probably 25-40% of those of the usual Big 10 team. What so hard to understand that these academic schools are at a permanent disadvantage in recruiting.

[PK]

the recruiting pool for Northwestern is probably 25-40% of those of the usual Big 10 team. What so hard to understand that these academic schools are at a permanent disadvantage in recruiting.

The point is, Stallion...the "fact" above that you have just thrown out there has not kept them out of 5 bowl games in the last 10 years. In other words, having perennial low recruiting rankings hasn't seemed to phase them all that much.

So, is it the coaching that allows these lower ranked recruiting classes to make their way to bowl games, or are the rankings skewed to make the big state school classes look better than they really are? Just an honest question, as it has often been said that "who" is recruiting a kid often influences that kid's "stars", etc.

[Stallion]

Northwestern has won 36% of their games over the last 6 years most of which were probably non-conference.

[PlanoStang]

Northwestern has won 36% of their games over the last 6 years most of which were probably non-conference.

So Stallion, co-relate that with NW coaching changes over the last 10
years for me? Didn't they have a hot shot coach who led them out've
where we are about 10 years ago? Don't remember his name, but after
the recognition, I think he left to try bigger, and better things.

[OC Mustang]

Gary Barnett - 1995 Rose Bowl loss to...Can't recall...UCLA maybe?

He took Northwestern, won the Big-10 and then moved on...

Northwestern is a lot like Stanford now. May finish lower half of Big-10, but always a spoiler once or twice in a season.

[RGV Pony]

I agree with you, PK. As for SoCal and Stallion, the last post by each of ya'll are incongruent with one another. SoCal made the accurate observation that NWern has been to a bunch of bowls and has more w's than SMU in recent years. PK observed, as did I, that they must've done this somehow. Stallion went on to say that NWern sucks, and has averaged a 4-8 or 3-7 record over the same time frame.

Enough about NW'ern, I guess. I think PK, at least, got what I was getting at, so I guess a few others must've as well.

[OC Mustang]

Winning = better players. Yup. Got it.
If Bennett's or Cavan's recruiting classes were good early, it has to do with higher expectations. Is natural with new coach. However, the honeymoon wears off after awhile. With Cavan, he simply stepped in it, or rather, his assistant coach did (what a complete and utter [deleted]). With Bennett, I think he is getting by, quite frankly, for three reasons. a) the good graces of an administration with an insufferably low "bar"... b) some discernible but glaringly incomplete "progress"... c) because he is one extremely hard-working S.O.B. who really wants this to work and has chosen to work tirelessly within the confines of the system, flawed as it is.

As an aside...guys, Bennett LIKES HP & SMU...he is not kidding when he says that SMU is where he would've preferred to go when he was getting out of high school...his mom pressed him to Aggieland b/c, well, there are more darn Aggies than you can shake a stick at out here in East Texas, particularly Marshall...he even attributes his beginning in football to a one Dan Moreman Sr....who, not so strangely, was an O-lineman for 1966 SWC Champs....SMU. Notwithstanding the "BIG" job as HC for a top 10 program, I believe he would be quite okay doing this work @ SMU for a long time to come. I think he really likes it THAT much. Otherwise, why deal with all of the aggravation, you know?

[SoCal_Pony]

RGV,

I don’t have access to Rivals, but my bet is that absent PB’s first true recruiting class, Northwestern has had materially superior recruiting to ours. If indeed NW is now recruiting the same type players as SMU is, I do not see that as hope for SMU but rather bad foreboding for NW.

I think we can all agree that NW had superior coaching in Gary Barnett, but since he was caught cheating at Colorado, it is logical to assume he did the same when NW went Rose bowling.

I do believe that had SMU truly supported PB from the get-go (i.e. JC signees among other things) PB would have maintained his recruiting momentum and we would have gone bowling last year and been C-USA champion favorites this year.

[RGV Pony]

Northwestern's numbers from Rivals:

2002 avg. 2.27 stars no.74 nationally
2003 2.36 74
2004 2.13 74
2005 2.5 74
Records:
2000 8-3 reg season; 6-2 Big Ten
2001 4-7 ; 2-7 Big 10
2002 3-9 ; 1-7 Big 10
2003 6-6 reg season; 5-4 Big Ten
2004 6-6 reg season; 5-3 Big Ten
2005 7-4 reg season; 5-3 Big Ten
34-35 overall

Pretty impressive numbers for a private school competing in the Big Ten. Mostly around five hundred, compete for title every few years; bowl games more often than not. And recruiting consistently ranked in the third quarter nationally. BTW, 03 04 and 05 were classes recruited by the current coach, Walker.
SoCal, I agree with you about SMU supporting PB.