Coaching staff is "putting recruiting on the backburner"

[davidsmu94]

Per Rivals,

DT Jermain Jackson.

"Actually, SMU called me last week and we asked them [about it], you know, because we had just sent them a tape and stuff, and he hadn't looked at the tape yet because he said they were trying to win ball games and stuff. That was what he was telling me and how they are kind of putting recruiting on the backburner right now because they are trying to get the win and stuff like that," he said

[mrydel]

Per Rivals,

DT Jermain Jackson.

"Actually, SMU called me last week and we asked them [about it], you know, because we had just sent them a tape and stuff, and he hadn't looked at the tape yet because he said they were trying to win ball games and stuff. That was what he was telling me and how they are kind of putting recruiting on the backburner right now because they are trying to get the win and stuff like that," he said

Is this Michael's brother?

[mustangnation]

this is the second year in a row that we have heard this about Bennett and Co. If they lose to Tulane this weekend he should be sent packing immediately.

[MustangIcon]

Per Rivals,

DT Jermain Jackson.

"Actually, SMU called me last week and we asked them [about it], you know, because we had just sent them a tape and stuff, and he hadn't looked at the tape yet because he said they were trying to win ball games and stuff. That was what he was telling me and how they are kind of putting recruiting on the backburner right now because they are trying to get the win and stuff like that," he said

Same thing we did last season apparently. And even while focusing on winning down the strecth, and putting our recruiting efforts on the backburner, we lost 2 of our final 3 and missed a bowl.

What a complete and utter joke. How many other programs tell recruits they are putting recruiting on the backburner? You are paid to do both! The only way this is excuseable is if this is a player we had no interest in and we were letting him down easy.

**EDIT** come to find out this kid is the 25th highest rated prospect in the state of Oklahoma. 2 stars.

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=68266

[MustangIcon]

I think I will try this with my boss sometime. Me: “Hey boss, I realize that the main focus of my job is to determine the value of a company then write a report for the value. Well, you see, I kind of suck at valuing companies so I really need to focus on improving that right now. So I think I will just put the whole report writing thing on the backburner for now.â€

[friarwolf]

Per Rivals,

DT Jermain Jackson.

"Actually, SMU called me last week and we asked them [about it], you know, because we had just sent them a tape and stuff, and he hadn't looked at the tape yet because he said they were trying to win ball games and stuff. That was what he was telling me and how they are kind of putting recruiting on the backburner right now because they are trying to get the win and stuff like that," he said

Same thing we did last season apparently. And even while focusing on winning down the strecth, and putting our recruiting efforts on the backburner, we lost 2 of our final 3 and missed a bowl.

What a complete and utter joke. How many other programs tell recruits they are putting recruiting on the backburner? You are paid to do both! The only way this is excuseable is if this is a player we had no interest in and we were letting him down easy.

**EDIT** come to find out this kid is the 25th highest rated prospect in the state of Oklahoma. 2 stars.

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=68266

It's a nice way of telling the recruit that: 1) "we're not really interested in you" or 2) "dude, I am seriously looking at being out of a job at the end of the season and therefore, I am focusing on finding a job in my spare time......"

[MustangIcon]

Per Rivals,

DT Jermain Jackson.

"Actually, SMU called me last week and we asked them [about it], you know, because we had just sent them a tape and stuff, and he hadn't looked at the tape yet because he said they were trying to win ball games and stuff. That was what he was telling me and how they are kind of putting recruiting on the backburner right now because they are trying to get the win and stuff like that," he said

Same thing we did last season apparently. And even while focusing on winning down the strecth, and putting our recruiting efforts on the backburner, we lost 2 of our final 3 and missed a bowl.

What a complete and utter joke. How many other programs tell recruits they are putting recruiting on the backburner? You are paid to do both! The only way this is excuseable is if this is a player we had no interest in and we were letting him down easy.

**EDIT** come to find out this kid is the 25th highest rated prospect in the state of Oklahoma. 2 stars.

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=68266

It's a nice way of telling the recruit that: 1) "we're not really interested in you" or 2) "dude, I am seriously looking at being out of a job at the end of the season and therefore, I am focusing on finding a job in my spare time......"

Maybe so but we did the same thing last season...

[Stallion]

I agree with the sentiment-but for factual purposes I think this is a dead or quiet period until the season ends. That's why you don't see many commitments from September 1 until November 25th or so. There are restrictions on recruiting during this period.

[OR-See-Nee]

I take Stallion at his word. But the coaches could come up with a better line than what is being reported. How about "Sorry kid, there are restrictions on talking to you right now. Believe me, we'd love to spend time with you, but we want to run a good program. Keep watching us on CSTV, we can use you, and as soon as this restrictive period is over, we will give you a call. I hope you understand our position."

[Stallion]

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 RECRUITING CALENDAR(See NCAA Division I Bylaw 30.11.3 for football calendar formula)The dates in this calendar reflect the application of Bylaw 30.11 at the time of publication but are subject to change per Constitution 5.2.3.1 or if certain dates (e.g., National Letter of Intent signing dates) are altered.


(a) August 1 through November 24, 2007, [except for (1) below]: Quiet Period
(1) Six days during the months of September, October and through November 24, 2007, selected at the discretion of the institution (an authorized off-campus recruiter may visit a particular educational institution only once during this evaluation period): Evaluation Period


(b) November 25, 2007, through February 2, 2008, [except for (1) though (6) below].Six in-person off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete shall be permitted during this time period with not more than one permitted in any one calendarweek (Sunday through Saturday) or partial calendar week:

Contact Period(1) December 16, 2007:
Quiet Period(2) December 17, 2007, through January 1, 2008:* Dead Period(3) January 2-3, 2008:* Dead Period*Institutional staff members may have contact with a prospective student-athlete who has been admitted for mid-year enrollment, provided the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent or other offer of admission and/or financial aid to attend the institution and is required to be on campus to attend institutionalorientation sessions for all students.
(4) January 4-6, 2008: Quiet Period
(5) January 7-10, 2008: Dead Period
(6) January 11-12, 2008: Quiet Period
(c) February 3, 2008: Quiet Period
(d) February 4-7, 2008: Dead Period
(e) February 8 through April 14, 2008: Quiet Period
(f) April 15 through May 31, 2008, [except for (g) below]: Evaluation PeriodFour weeks (excluding Memorial Day and Sundays) selected at the discretion of the member institution and designated in writing in the office of the directorof athletics [as provided in (1) below]:(1) An authorized off-campus recruiter may use one evaluation to assess the prospective student-athlete’s athletics ability and one evaluation to assess the prospective student-athlete’s academic qualifications during this evaluation period). If an institution’s coaching staff member conducts both an athletics and an academic evaluation of the prospective student-athlete on the same day during this evaluation period, the institution shall be charged with the use of an academics evaluation only and shall be permitted to conduct a second athletics evaluation of the prospective student-athlete on a separate day during this evaluation period.
(g) Those days in April/May not designated above for evaluation opportunities: Quiet Period
(h) June 1 through July 31, 2008: Quiet PeriodNLI (regular) signing period: February 6-April 1, 2008 NLI (Midyear JC Transfer) signing period: December 19, 2007-January 15, 2008July-2008April-2008January-2008November-2007March-2008February-2008May-2008June-2008December-2007

[westexSMU]

Jackson says in Rivals article that SMU is his first choice " because he wants to a lawyer." but the 6' 1" 295 Jackson was told he is on the "backburner" ? Wow, I would think Coaches choice of words could be a little better.

[mrydel]

Jackson says in Rivals article that SMU is his first choice " because he wants to a lawyer." but the 6' 1" 295 Jackson was told he is on the "backburner" ? Wow, I would think Coaches choice of words could be a little better.

Without trying to get into heads or justification for any of this, I could very well imagine Bennett or his coaches saying...."son, we are interested in you but due to the blackout period during this time, we have to put recruiting on the backburner and concentrate on winning. We will get in touch when the time is right." If I were a young recruit it is possible all I would hear out of that would be "backburner".

From the looks of things, unless we get a big turn around, this is a matter that will be settled when the new staff arrives.

[EastStang]

A more positive possibility is that we have higher ranked people who have offers out there who haven't made up their minds yet. Sounds like a great kid, hopefully there are other offers out there for even greater players who are considering us.

[Pony4Life]

I would be this is the polite way of saying "don't call us, we'll call you, if higher-ranked guys go elsewhere."

[PonyPower]

Absolutely right. There's a reason this guy has no offers: he is a very marginal prospect, at best. The coaches not only have been on the phone with kids, they also have been out meeting them.