Grade Inflation?

[Stallion]

Yeah I think this class is at or near all other SMU recruiting classes since the DP. My major complaint is that high ratings used to be confirmed by documented quality offers and official visits. I admit those are more difficult to analyze with earlier recruiting. Now ratings often appear to rely too much on the opinion of perhaps a single recruiting service analyst who might think a recruit deserves a high rating rather than documented offers and visits that give a definite barometer to intense recruiting interest. I've always thought that Division 1A Coaches are better evaluators of top recruits than recruiting services so I look for offers and visits.

But SMU's class is pretty good for competing with the top schools in CUSA West. It has a last 1 quality player-often more-at every position except OLM-QB, RB, WR, DLM LB, DB-and we got a lot of OLM last year. The Class is especially strong at QB, RB, WR, and LB and a very high quality NG. This year's recruits have the size and speed to project better to Division 1A too. Of course, I really haven't heard of the academic status of the entire class except for 1 or 2 so they could alter the perception of the class. What I think we may still be lacking is taller, more athletic OLM especially Tackles and we really have a need for 1 more good NG prospect preferrably a JUCO. I also wouldn't turn down another versitile, top athlete at Safety or a speed RB who might be able to play multiple positions and could help in the passing game-like a Marcus Murphy(Missouri Commit), Tech's Taureen Henderson or UH's Charles Sims. I think June just prefers to use the big blocking backs there though.

I do think though that SMU still needs to pick it up even more in recruiting to be competitive with some of the BCS schools on our future schedules and to have a shot at a legitimate Top 25 team.

[Cadillac]

clearly we need to start our own scouting service!

-CoS

[SMU 86]

The Stallion recruiting service.

[Stallion]

Presently 279 Texas high school recruits rated 3 stars or more. Prior Years:

2008-162
2007-156

[RGV Pony]

ok, so without naming names, how many of our 3* commits are 'high' 3* and wouldve been anyway? And how many wouldve been 2*?

[ponyboy]

If we've better talent than the 1998 class, we're really getting somewhere.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Presently 279 Texas high school recruits rated 3 stars or more. Prior Years:

2008-162
2007-156

What's the population increase in the state of Texas since 2008? Does that factor in? Are athletes getting better each year?

[RGV Pony]

Presently 279 Texas high school recruits rated 3 stars or more. Prior Years:

2008-162
2007-156

What's the population increase in the state of Texas since 2008? Does that factor in? Are athletes getting better each year?

"More Americans have moved to Texas since the recession began in 2008 than any other state, according to a new estimate released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Lone Star State's population grew by 478,000 in the 12-month period from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009, putting it well ahead of California, which saw 381,000 new residents, and North Carolina, which picked up 134,000."

[35straight]

The talent is definitely on the rise. Players are in weight training programs now in the 7th and 8th grade. Power lifting has grown throughout the state. Naturally they will be bigger, stronger, and faster coming out of high school. IMO this is why the non-BCS schools are starting to close the gap on the Majors. More talent to spread around, evens the playing field.

[Stallion]

so a 2.5% increase in population results in a 70% increase in 3 stars in one year? Come on. Its not only a huge increase in 3 stars-its a complete change in how players with few offers are rated. Remember there will probably be about 360 Texas High School players signed-this number never radically changes but does trend upwards. (so far 303 Texas High School Recruits have committed, 224 3 stars and above have committed) I've said this is probably our best post DP recruiting class but you're just fooling yourself if you compare simple star ratings to prior years since the rating system has radically changed

[max the wonder dog]

Stallion, there's a decimal out of place -- should be 2.5% vs. 70%, but you are correct that the increase is statistically improbable.

I took the 3 star #s from just 08,09, and 10 and got a averaged of 199 and a standard deviation of 69. This means this year's three star numbers are off by more than one dgree of standard deviation, which in turn means there's a 19 in 20 chance that this year's result is incorrect.

If you went back more than two years, the stv dev would be lower and this year class probably would be 2 or degress of stv dev off, which means the results are almost impossible to achieve. If there is a Six Sigma on the board they can explain better than I can.

Your second point also is correct, this is the best class in some time, as demostrated by our comparative Rivals team rank. An increase in the # of three stars will affect the absolute rating but not the ranking.

max

P.S. I understand that introducing deviations, standard or otherwise, on this board is like a throwing a big fat breaking ball that doesn't break.

[ALEX LIFESON]

so a 2.5% increase in population results in a 70% increase in 3 stars in one year? Come on. Its not only a huge increase in 3 stars-its a complete change in how players with few offers are rated. Remember there will probably be about 360 Texas High School players signed-this number never radically changes but does trend upwards. (so far 303 Texas High School Recruits have committed, 224 3 stars and above have committed) I've said this is probably our best post DP recruiting class but you're just fooling yourself if you compare simple star ratings to prior years since the rating system has radically changed

I don't lose sleep over stuff like this, way too many other things to worry about. I was just making a comment, that this may not be as terrible as you would have us believe. We are making progress, and yes I want more, a lot more! Go Stangs!

[Stallion]

Signing Date 2010--- Texas High School -3 Stars + Tally

2010-289
2009-162
2008-158

[SMU2007]

There's actually a smaller percentage jump in 3 stars nationally from this year than there was the year before last.

2010 - 2068 3+ stars
2009 - 1733 3+ stars
2008 - 1398 3+ stars

[az1]

Somehow I don't think Stallion would have a problem with someone saying that this is the best class SMU has had since the DP.