For those who question Johnson's ability to recruit Texas

[mt327]

There are currently 29 players from Texas on Navy's roster.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... 2007/navy/

[MrMustang1965]

Too bad Alex Cole (Highland Park) left the team.

[Stallion]

So gauging recruiting is about counting the number of Texans on a Football team. So ignorant not worth a response

[mrydel]

So gauging recruiting is about counting the number of Texans on a Football team. So ignorant not worth a response

Kind of makes SMU a top 25 huh.

[OC Mustang]

Recruiting-wise, Navy is not SMU...I think that the quality of "heart" isn't even close to the same. You're talking about guys that want to go to Annapolis. Football is a great add, but not the reason that they are there. I wish SMU had that kind of gravitas for that kind of kid. It doesn't. Too much privilege; too little responsibility.

Johnson might well be able to make it at SMU, but any suggestion that he will understand recruiting at SMU precisely because of his experience at Navy and his experience at Georgia Southern assumes a whole lot more than I would be willing to assume about both him and SMU under him.

[bigdaddy08091]

There are currently 29 players from Texas on Navy's roster.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... 2007/navy/

Navy midshipman, and I am proud of all of them. Give me the background of the 29 players you are referring to.

[mrydel]

Recruiting-wise, Navy is not SMU...I think that the quality of "heart" isn't even close to the same. You're talking about guys that want to go to Annapolis. Football is a great add, but not the reason that they are there. I wish SMU had that kind of gravitas for that kind of kid. It doesn't. Too much privilege; too little responsibility.

Johnson might well be able to make it at SMU, but any suggestion that he will understand recruiting at SMU precisely because of his experience at Navy and his experience at Georgia Southern assumes a whole lot more than I would be willing to assume about both him and SMU under him.

I do not know how much things have changed but I was recruited by both SMU and West Point. I found no difference in the recruiting by either school. And at that time SMU had higher standards for athletes than the rest of the SWC. Vietnam was in full swing so that did factor in my mind and Iraq/Middle East could weigh into decision now, but as far as the basic recruiting it was no different at west Point than any other school that showed interest.

[OC Mustang]

Recruiting-wise, Navy is not SMU...I think that the quality of "heart" isn't even close to the same. You're talking about guys that want to go to Annapolis. Football is a great add, but not the reason that they are there. I wish SMU had that kind of gravitas for that kind of kid. It doesn't. Too much privilege; too little responsibility.

Johnson might well be able to make it at SMU, but any suggestion that he will understand recruiting at SMU precisely because of his experience at Navy and his experience at Georgia Southern assumes a whole lot more than I would be willing to assume about both him and SMU under him.

I do not know how much things have changed but I was recruited by both SMU and West Point. I found no difference in the recruiting by either school. And at that time SMU had higher standards for athletes than the rest of the SWC. Vietnam was in full swing so that did factor in my mind and Iraq/Middle East could weigh into decision now, but as far as the basic recruiting it was no different at west Point than any other school that showed interest.

A good, albeit anecdotal, point. I guess I don't want to assume that a person is a good recruiter because their roster is full of Texas who want to be naval officers. Bottom line is whether the guy's pitch works or not. I guess we will see.

I think the other reason I have concerns is that I think the program has to win now, not later. Later is too late. A major scheme change isn't going to do that. The fan base isn't going to be rejuvenated by rebuilding. It just isn't.

[Dwan]

the best recruiter in college sports is a guy named WINNING. The second best recruiter is his friend EARLY PLAYING TIME.

If Johnson can win 7 games and take us to a bowl game he can offer both to recruits

[OC Mustang]

the best recruiter in college sports is a guy named WINNING. The second best recruiter is his friend EARLY PLAYING TIME.

If Johnson can win 7 games and take us to a bowl game he can offer both to recruits

True. True.

[Stallion]

I can tell you that none of the 29 players I have ever heard of. Not one. I'd be surprised if more than 3 had decent offers. This is a numbers game. SMU recruits 3/4 of a recruiting class that are sleepers. Navy takes about 75 sleepers a year puts some in the Academy and others in their Prep School and weeds out the players. That ain't going to happen at SMU. If Johnson is picked there is nothing that I can do about it. But I'll be here reminding you I told you so. Just as I said Phil Bennett was an illogical fit to get the SMU Job the last time SMU made a mistake like this.

[Dwan]

How come coaches before Johnson at Navy went 1-20 and the other service academies blow as well?

[J.T.supporta]

There are currently 29 players from Texas on Navy's roster.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... 2007/navy/

Navy midshipman, and I am proud of all of them. Give me the background of the 29 players you are referring to.

look at the roster yourself and read the bios...about half are sophomores/freshmen and didnt have bios but the ones that did have pretty good Highschool years in Texas.

[perunaman24]

Too bad Alex Cole (Highland Park) left the team.

i went to church with him he left the team for great reasons

[George S. Patton]

I can tell you that none of the 29 players I have ever heard of. Not one. I'd be surprised if more than 3 had decent offers. This is a numbers game. SMU recruits 3/4 of a recruiting class that are sleepers. Navy takes about 75 sleepers a year puts some in the Academy and others in their Prep School and weeds out the players. That ain't going to happen at SMU. If Johnson is picked there is nothing that I can do about it. But I'll be here reminding you I told you so. Just as I said Phil Bennett was an illogical fit to get the SMU Job the last time SMU made a mistake like this.

I think Johnson is aware of what recruiting he is dealing with and you of all people should understand that the relationships he and his staff built in this state could lead him to landing players that fit into coming here.

That said, none of us know if this is going to work. But if we're going to look at track records, then it's hard to argue what he accomplished. I'm willing to give this a try.