Recruiting Issues (Merged)

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by methomps

I find it an interesting trend that so many people scoff at 5-star prospects and associate them with having less heart or motor than 3-star prospects. I've seen nothing to support this.

I understand your point. But, being a buckeye, I view it (recently) as the MoC./A.J. Hawk syndrome.

I wonder why there are so many guys that played for M.A.C. schools that end up as NFL H.O.F.'ers? Not that 5 stars always bust or anything, but its just that sooo many players sneak "under the radar" that leaves me feeling weary about rankings in general. Not to mention that the services that issue "stars" all have something to gain by it.

[methomps]

Originally Posted by BUCKEYESTUCKNGA

I understand your point. But, being a buckeye, I view it (recently) as the MoC./A.J. Hawk syndrome.

I wonder why there are so many guys that played for M.A.C. schools that end up as NFL H.O.F.'ers? Not that 5 stars always bust or anything, but its just that sooo many players sneak "under the radar" that leaves me feeling weary about rankings in general. Not to mention that the services that issue "stars" all have something to gain by it.

I think you'd find that the percentage of 3-star players who go on to great success (All-Americans, NFL players, etc) is much less than the percentage of 5-star players who do the same. It's just that the 5-star player who doesn't have the heart and fails gets a lot more attention than the 3-star player who doesn't have the heart and fails.

Picking out individual players is not very useful. You could easily flip the script by comparing Vince Young (5-star who willed his team to a NC) to Eric Wright (2-star who dealt drugs).

People fly under the radar at all levels. Sometimes it is merely being a late-bloomer. The NFL can't do much better than the recruiting services. If they could, Ryan Leaf wouldn't get drafted with the #2 overall pick while Matt Hasselback goes in the bottom of the 6th round that same year.

[DaddyBigBucks]

ahem

back to the actual topic of discussion, this post makes a great point:

Originally Posted by Bucknut319

In todays era, kids seem to be all about hype and bringing "Bling" or attention to themselves. Ok, you are a punk 17/18 year old kid and I know you have much to learn.

BUT, as a parent of 3, if any of my kids have that opportunity, I will make certain that they handle it with class and respect.

The parents of that kid deserve to be slapped as much as he does.

If, by some miracle, my son manages to become an athlete in spite of having ME for a father, you can bet the mortgage that he will fax in his LOI from home and go to school as if it were a normal day. If there is an event put on by the high-school for all of their athletes signing LOIs, we will politely decline.

I have no problem with parents and kids who do take part in these multi-signing events. But in my mind this situation presents a great opportunity to teach my son about what's really important in life. There are appropriate ceremonies to mark a boy's passage into manhood, but this is not one of them IMHO.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by IrontonBuck

I believe that the APR will have the effect of causing high school athletes to actually put forth an effort in high school. Higher standards are not about excluding students of lower academic ability, they are about prodding young people to live up to their potential.

And, most successful people will tell you that showing off, acting like a jerk, and not respecting your elders is NOT the way to be successful. Humility, hard work, and respect...THAT'S the way winners behave. And that is Jim Tressel's specialty.

Good point, IrontonBuck. Tressel has sent some strong messages this year about who he wants on the team. He has avoided kids who have borderline academic performance and perhaps some with character issues. One student not pulling his weight can influence a lot of kids academically. There is a message that, if you want to play for Ohio State, you have to have the right values.

You can knit a team around that and the result can be extraordinary performance.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKid789

These arrogant kids will get their asses kicked in practice with the big boys and hopefully snap out of it. With every single college telling you how great you are it would be hard not to get big headed.

How do you blame the kids here? Not many of us, if any at all, generated millions of dollars for companies before we turned 17...not many of us were pursued by the best football coaches in America and found text messages every morning or evening on our cell phones. I have a hard time blaming any teenager who suddenly finds himself in a bright spotlight...especially if those kids come from situations not many on this board comprehend. Class and tact come from guidance. If I blame anyone at all here, I would blame those guiding the kids..coaches, parents, recruiting services who play up the big ceremonies and drama, etc.