Game Day Official Visits

[OSUnumber45]

Nebraska Rivals - 08/14/07

Justin will visit LSU on October 6th (vs Florida) and Ohio State on October 25th (mid-week); he might visit Nebraska on October 20th (Texas A+M); he is also considering Miami, Cal, Oregon, and Oregon State.

That kind of sucks that he won't be making a visit on a Saturday so that he could see the game atmosphere. That is one of our best selling points.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

That kind of sucks that he won't be making a visit on a Saturday so that he could see the game atmosphere. That is one of our best selling points.

Actually, it isn't. Last season, ten uncommitted prospects visited Ohio State during a game day weekend - Derrick Morgan, Devon Still, James Scott, Greg Little, Deonte Thompson, Anthony Davis, James Wilson, Joseph Barksdale, Brian Rolle, and Major Wright (I'm not counting Clyde Yandell, who didn't have a Buckeye offer). Although many of those prospects had Ohio State as their leader or co-leader going into their visits (Still, Scott, Davis, Barksdale, Rolle, and Wright), only two of the ten (Scott and Rolle) ended up signing with Ohio State. Past years have netted similar results (worse, as a matter of fact). Kids just don't make decisions based on game day atmosphere, and why should they? They will be on the field doing their "jobs", and they won't be all that concerned with what is going on in the stands. If game day atomosphere were so important, then USC and Miami would sign mediocre classes every year; instead, they are always near the top of the recruiting charts.

 

[OSUnumber45]

Actually, it isn't. Last season, ten uncommitted prospects visited Ohio State during a game day weekend - Derrick Morgan, Devon Still, James Scott, Greg Little, Deonte Thompson, Anthony Davis, James Wilson, Joseph Barksdale, Brian Rolle, and Major Wright (I'm not counting Clyde Yandell, who didn't have a Buckeye offer). Although many of those prospects had Ohio State as their leader or co-leader going into their visits (Still, Scott, Davis, Barksdale, Rolle, and Wright), only two of the ten (Scott and Rolle) ended up signing with Ohio State. Past years have netted similar results (worse, as a matter of fact). Kids just don't make decisions based on game day atmosphere, and why should they? They will be on the field doing their "jobs", and they won't be all that concerned with what is going on in the stands. If game day atomosphere were so important, then USC and Miami would sign mediocre classes every year; instead, they are always near the top of the recruiting charts.

First of all let me say that everybody that follows recruiting realizes how strange last year was.

Having said that, I've seen countless recruits say that OSU's (and other program's) game day atmospheres that blew them away. It certainly plays a part to some kids. Although it's likely not the major selling point. It certainly doesn't hurt. Didn't Pitt have kids decommit last year or this year because of their terrible game day atmosphere? It definitely is a factor. How big of one? Well that depends on the recruit.

 

[Hodgepodge]

I think the problem with having in-season official visits is two-fold. First, the recruits don't get the same personal attention from coaches; the same feel for campus, facilities, and academics; nor the same interaction with students/athletes that they would during early December or January. Second, while a recruit may indeed be impressed by the game day experience at OSU and may even come out favoring OSU, that feeling will naturally fade over time and other schools that get visits a month, or two, or three later have a chance to make an impression. In my worthless opinion, in-season official visits should be used only if the recruit wants to decide before December/January or if the recruit has been on campus so many times that he has already had all the personal attention, interaction, and tours they need. To keep things on topic, Justin Thompson, being a JUCO that I imagine plans on enrolling early, will likely necessitate an in-season official visit so that he can make a (final) decision as early as possible.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

First of all let me say that everybody that follows recruiting realizes how strange last year was.

Not really all that strange:

2006: Eight uncommitted official visitors for game days (David Ausberry, Navorro Bowman, Aaron Brown, Wesley Lyons, McKenzie Matthews, Colin McCarthy, A.J. Wallace, Steven Wesley); the Bucks signed zero. And yes, most of them (especially Wesley) raved about the game day atmosphere.

2005: Six uncommitted official visitors for game days (Jason Gwaltney, Elijah Hodge, Shawn Oatis, Maurice Wells, Lawrence Wilson, Ronnie Wilson); the Bucks signed two (Wells and Lawrence Wilson, although Wilson initially committed to Notre Dame after his Ohio State official visit, then switched on Signing Day).

2004: Three uncommitted official visitors for game days (Jeff Byers, Brett Gallimore, David Lonie); the Bucks signed zero. (Note to all of the nit-pickers out there: DaJuan Morgan took an in-season official visit to Ohio State, but visited to campus while the Buckeyes were on the road.)

2003: Eight uncommitted official visitors for game days (Dominique Brooks, Tarell Brown, Joel Holler, Turk McBride, David Patterson, DeMarcus Tyler, Mario Williams, Ashton Youboty; the Bucks signed two (Patterson and Youboty).

2002: Two uncommitted official visitors for game days (Kwakou Robinson, Richard Washington); the Bucks signed zero (although Washington initially committed to Ohio State, but switched to NC State on Signing Day).

So, in six years, the Buckeyes have signed 6 out of 37 uncommitted prospects who took an official visit to Ohio State during a game day weekend. The numbers don't lie - game days are not the best times for official visits. See Hodgepodge's post for the reasons why (less attention from coaching staff; less chance to interact with current players; more flash, less substance)

Having said that, I've seen countless recruits say that OSU's (and other program's) game day atmospheres that blew them away. It certainly plays a part to some kids.

Sure, it plays a part, if the recruit is already a "fan" of Ohio State. However, most of the "fans" commit early, before the official visit process gets under way. The official visits are meant to sway kids who are "neutral", or even "fans" of another program. The best way to influence those kids is not to show them 100,000 screaming fans (often drunk, often obnoxious, sometimes on the verge of a riot), but rather to give them plenty of "face time" with the coaching staff, the current players, the teachers, and the academic support staff, and ample opportunity to view the athletic and academic facilities.

Again, if fan support and game day atmosphere meant much, then Miami and Southern Cal would sign mediocre classes every year, and Texas A+M and Clemson would sign top five classes.

Hodgepodge made another great point: For kids who are enrolling early (JUCO's and those who graduate early from high school), in-season official visits are often the only way to go. Actually, I'm glad that Justin Thompson is visiting Ohio State mid-week, so that he can get the whole Ohio State experience, not just the game day glitter.

 

[LitlBuck]

2005: Six uncommitted official visitors for game days (Jason Gwaltney, Elijah Hodge, Shawn Oatis, Waurice Wells, Lawrence Wilson, .

LJB, I thought that I was the only one that made typos. It is this our backup TB this year?:)