DMN LISTING OF AREA AND STATE TOP 100

[Diehard Pony]

Today's DMN includes subject lists. It doesn't take long to review it from an SMU perspective, because there are very few considering us. Only 2 state top 100 are considering us, and we are at the back of a long list of schools being considered by each.

Even worse, just a handful considering us on the area 100. Of course, it doesn't include JUCOs.

Looks like we are poised for a big drop off in recruiting, the only thing this staff has done well since they arrived.

[Stampede]

Actually, Diehard, the list is better today than it was the last time the list was published. More are listing SMU thatn before and more will in the future.

[Stallion]

actually there are 3 listed who are considering us Stephen Hodge, Alex Odiari and Quenton Johnson-and its all old information that has largely been updated by its own source-Rivals-we are a long shot for all three. I didn't see any new names from what has been published several times before but if we were getting attention from new kids it wouldn't show in these lists because the DMN is too lazy to update their lists. Once again this was always going to be a tough recruiting year for SMU with a coach entering his 4th year with very little to show for it. This is why more consideration should have given to change SMU's admission policies when Bennett was hired rather than 3-4 years later. Just an example but what would SMU's record be this year if some leniancy wasn't given to admission of JC kids last year-my guess would be 0-11 or 1-10. The same fate befell Mike Cavan after two pretty darn recruiting seasons in his first two full recruiting classes.

[Stallion]

actually there are 3 listed who are considering us Stephen Hodge, Alex Odiari and Quenton Johnson-and its all old information that has largely been updated by its own source-Rivals-we are a long shot for all three. I didn't see any new names from what has been published several times before but if we were getting attention from new kids it wouldn't show in these lists because the DMN is too lazy to update their lists. Once again this was always going to be a tough recruiting year for SMU with a coach entering his 4th year with very little to show for it. This is why more consideration should have given to change SMU's admission policies when Bennett was hired rather than 3-4 years later. Just an example but what would SMU's record be this year if some leniancy wasn't given to admission of JC kids last year-my guess would be 0-11 or 1-10. The same fate befell Mike Cavan after two pretty darn recruiting seasons in his first two full recruiting classes. The result of the failure of the administration to support the Mike Cavan regime was two recruiting classes that went 3-21 EVEN with that JC infusion last year.

[SCAMP6381]

PLANO WEST QB ERIC JOHNSON ORALLY COMMITS 6'2, 210LBS. PASSED FOR 2,887 YDS. 25 TDS NOTICE ORAL COMITTMENT HOPEFULLY WE LAND SOME TOP 100 RECRUITS

[PK]

Today's DMN includes subject lists. It doesn't take long to review it from an SMU perspective, because there are very few considering us. Only 2 state top 100 are considering us, and we are at the back of a long list of schools being considered by each.

We are at the back of the long lists because the list are presented alphabetically, so that in and of itself doesn't mean anything. On the other hand, we are being considered by 12 of the local top 100 plus one already committed.

[PonyFan]

And there will be more guys from that list who end up at SMU, although they might magically slip in their rankings. Remember that those rankings are based partially on talent, and partially on whether they go to a school with a big subscription-buying fan base. Example: a few months ago, Grapevine's Henry Melton was slotted as the No. 8 player in the area, and somewhere in the low 30s on the state list. He committed recently to Texas, and bingo -- now he's No. 2 in the area, No. 6 in the state.

[Stallion]

Melton has been rated the No. 8 prospect in the state by Rivals since at least the preseason rating in August. And any recruiting service that doesn't adjust its ratings based on senior season performance, offers from top programs and scheduled visits ain't worth crap. That's the whole idea to recruit the players who are sought by the best programs in the country since they are the best, most professional analysts of a high school players performance. You are kidding yourself in self delusion if you think this is some grand conspiracy. The offers and visits a kid gets tells the story over and over again. I guarantee you SMU attempted to recruit all the players UT and A&M went after but were unsuccessful. On the other hand I can't find any evidence that any SMU commit(except David Allison-Col. & Syracuse) received a top offer from a BCS school or even a bowl team. Let's deal with reality.

[Stampede]

The same can be said for virtually every non-BCS school (yes, Froggies, that means U-2). Look at the DMN "Top 100"list and one would be hard pressed to find many non-BCS schools listed.

We are doing very well outside the Top 100.

i have seen Johnson play several times this season and he has a good arm, quick release and a good, pentium processor. In addition, he is tough and mobile.

[Stallion]

I'll buy that argument-it unquestionably more difficult for non-BCS to have a realistic chance to land a good class of Top 100 type players especially in the last few years. That's why I always say that recruiting is relative to your competition. If SMU could consistently get classes ranked around 55-60 in the nation SMU could probably run a string of winning seasons, perhaps some bowls and even contend for a championship especially in the CUSA West.

[HorsePower]

That is true. But it is beyond argument that the recruiting services' goal is to sell subscriptions -- it's not a conspiracy, it's just business. And their "ratings" reflect that (see Vincent Chase's inexplicable decline last year. True, they didn't throw the ball much at IHS his senior year, but there's no way he got worse, with OU, LSU, Florida, etc., after him as seriously as they were.) I agree with you, Stallion, that the key is what other schools recruit and offer a kid. The services' ratings are meaningless. The best players are going to be rated well, but the best players who also commit to the highest-ranked schools get to claim the very highest ratings.