Duane Long on tOSU recruiting - Page 3

MegaWoody · #31 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 11:53 AM

If there was ever a year when it would make sense to accept fewer than your total allotment of scholarships, this would be that year.

When you're winning and riding a great reputation, you recruit the very best kids. You fill yourself to the gills with talented kids who want to be part of something great. When you're 8-4 and your reputation has been slandered non-stop by the nation's largest sports broadcaster, you don't attract all the best kids. Some (many?) great ones are scared away.

Better to bank the scholarships for twelve months, ride out the negative publicity and kick ass on the field.

So let's just be happy for what we got -- Alex Boone, Maurice Wells, Freddie Lenix, et al -- then play with a vengence and beat the crap out of absolutely everybody we play this Fall. Next year, we'll have an improved reputation both on and off the field. More great kids will want to sign up and we'll have more schollies to let them in.

Quality wins championships, gentlemen, not quantity. Everyone in Division 1 has the same number of players. Let's make sure ours are only the very best.

tsteele316 · #32 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 12:05 PM

just a couple of things to point out in this discussion.

several times in chats, conley has made comments that illustrated he had no clue about osu's current recruiting (osu still pursuing cushing, and weston who already committed to uga)

conley takes several jabs at the current staff, some subtle, others not. he was quick to critisize the offer to mccarthy, yet he did the very same thing with donny nickey a few years back.

the lack of visits may be alarming, but it isnt a trend. in '02, '03 and especially last year, osu had swarms of kids up for officials. some people just fail to realize the numerous mitigating factors in this year's recruiting.

osu planned on taking 18-20 this year. they had 15 sewn up in December (counting in lenix who we all knew was coming). they keyed in and felt good about several guys like mccoy and wilson.

now, things went bad with the espn nonsense and allegations. couple that with a class that was already nearing full, and an already trimmed down list of key targets. add to that 2 unexpected defections (bemoll, mccoy), and some others waivering. top that off with a rather weak year overall in-state, and you have our current recruiting situation.

the fact that the staff is already pursuing '06 kids tells you they arent getting lazy with recruiting, but they knew the situation this year.

gobucks19 · #33 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsteele316

just a couple of things to point out in this discussion.

several times in chats, conley has made comments that illustrated he had no clue about osu's current recruiting (osu still pursuing cushing, and weston who already committed to uga)

conley takes several jabs at the current staff, some subtle, others not. he was quick to critisize the offer to mccarthy, yet he did the very same thing with donny nickey a few years back.

the lack of visits may be alarming, but it isnt a trend. in '02, '03 and especially last year, osu had swarms of kids up for officials. some people just fail to realize the numerous mitigating factors in this year's recruiting.

osu planned on taking 18-20 this year. they had 15 sewn up in December (counting in lenix who we all knew was coming). they keyed in and felt good about several guys like mccoy and wilson.

now, things went bad with the espn nonsense and allegations. couple that with a class that was already nearing full, and an already trimmed down list of key targets. add to that 2 unexpected defections (bemoll, mccoy), and some others waivering. top that off with a rather weak year overall in-state, and you have our current recruiting situation.

the fact that the staff is already pursuing '06 kids tells you they arent getting lazy with recruiting, but they knew the situation this year.

Excellent analysis tsteele. I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head.

The shotgun approach is great if you have confidence in getting some recruits or have the need for recruits but like you said, we had 15 spots filled in December. If we were only taking 18-19, I dont think we just throw something at the wall and see if it sticks. Knowing the strength of OH and possibly PN next year, I say bank the schollies [assuming we dont all of the last 3 we are in on] and start working on next year.

BB73 · #34 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

from MegaWoody on page 2 - Your opinions are not credible, fellas. Stick to reporting facts.

Here's the next issue, based on only reporting the facts:

Ohio State Recruiting News:

Many players are considering tOSU. Some of these players may have offers from tOSU. Some of them lie about offers from schools, and the coaches can't comment on recruits, so we don't really know who has offers and who doesn't.

Some of these players may have difficulty qualifying academically. Despite privacy regulations, GPA's and SAT/ACT scores get tossed around the internet all the time, but these aren't reliable so we don't know which players are fully qualified. Again, the coaches can't comment.

Some players don't understand the fact that if they do have an offer, it's contingent upon them successfully completing their academic requirements and staying out of trouble. So sometimes they can believe all they have to do is say 'I'm coming' when it's not that simple.

Some players will tell so-called recruitung gurus just what they want to hear, so various schools all think they are in good shape with the same recruit. Some guys will actually mislead reporters intentionally, in order to take some perverse pleasure in the eventual disappointment of the overzealous members of the team's fan base.

Some recruiting gurus will misinterpret or misrepresent what they've been told, in order to create more interest in a prospect; in the hopes of selling more magazines or premium subscriptions.

Some people, including fans of rival schools, will pose as a player on internet boards, and some foolish folks will run with that information as gospel.

Some players will change their commitment on NLOID.

Based on all of the above, here are the 'facts' on this year's recruiting class:

We don't really know anything until we have the 'fax'.

Disclaimer - this post is not trying to point out problems with any specific recruiting guru or any individual player's situation, but trying to show to total insanity of the recruiting process. Which includes myself, of course, or else I wouldn't be on this board.

February 2nd can't get here fast enough.

BucksinFL · #35 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

This scenario to me is not all that bad considering the class in Ohio next year is going to be loaded.

What makes me laugh about Conley is the very fact that you just pointed out. This may very well be JT's strategy. Thinking about future classes. Loading up on scholarships for next year.

If by some chance we end up with Gwaltney and Wilson to end this class and have a few scholarships left over for next year, what can Conley say then? We will have a great class this year while not going after 100 ppl and then next year he can load up and pick and choose whom he wants. I think JT may be smart for doing this.

tsteele316 · #36 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 01:53 PM

since metaphors are getting tossed around so much in this discussion, let me just add this:

to conley's remark about casting a bigger net:

sure we may sang more fish in that bigger net, but we also increase the liklihood of snagging a boot or tin can. with a limited class, and a better group next year, the staff decided to use the smaller net. it would be hard to question that logic until seeing how next year pans out.

daddyphatsacs · #37 (**permalink**) 01-24-2005, 02:02 PM

I think that OSU is taking the approach of using Scholarships on players that are worthy of scholarships, not just giving them out because they have them. If all the needs are filled (in the eyes of Tressel) why should you stretch just to fill the quota so to speak?

It has become quite obvious that Conley and Tressel did not see eye to eye, and Conley is using every chance to take shots at Ohio State.

I have nothing against Duane Long, I think he does a pretty nice job actually.

LloydSev · #38 (**permalink**) 01-27-2005, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckzip

Amazing. When Conley was at OSU, everyone praised how great he was.
Now, according to some he is bitter, and full of ****.
Some of this crap is mind boggling.

So let me get this straight... let's see an example...

Neighbor A works his whole life as a barber.. in fact he was so good at being a barber that all of the celebrities came to his barber shop. One day he decided he has had enough cutting hair and decides he wants to do something else with his life. But once he leaves he finds he has to much time and is approached by Channel 8 news. Now mind you, Channel 8 doesn't want him to report news, they want him to share his opinion on people's hair.

Now, he may have been a hell of a barber... but why in the hell can he not be completely full of crap and showing it while giving his opinion on Channel 8?