recruiting

[HB]

CWG already mentioned this in the Super Bowl thread, but I wanted to chime in as it has been a good week on the football recruiting front.  They pulled the '14 class together after a pretty dismal start.  And I love what is happening so far with 2015.  Commitments from 4 highly ranked players, 3 of themregional guys--Colorado and Kansas.  I like being a factor in the 500 mile radius.  The offer lists on these guys was impressive.

[jdostal]

At least two of them sound like really solid verbals, too.  The KS OL said it's been a dream of his to play for Nebraska, and one of the CO DBs has strong Nebraska ties.

[Norm Peterson]

At least two of them sound like really solid verbals, too.  The KS OL said it's been a dream of his to play for Nebraska, and one of the CO DBs has strong Nebraska ties.

Which means you hope they're still our commits a year from Wednesday?

[Norm Peterson]

CWG already mentioned this in the Super Bowl thread, but I wanted to chime in as it has been a good week on the football recruiting front.  They pulled the '14 class together after a pretty dismal start.  And I love what is happening so far with 2015.  Commitments from 4 highly ranked players, 3 of themregional guys--Colorado and Kansas.  I like being a factor in the 500 mile radius.  The offer lists on these guys was impressive.

A lot of people really bitched about Pelini's recruiting this year.  I don't follow it closely enough to know what's going on but the complaint that I caught onto was that we weren't doing much if any recruiting during the actual season and didn't take advantage of bringing kids in for official visits on game weekends when they could (hopefully) be wowed by the game day experience.

 

I haven't checked any boards, so maybe someone can enlighten me, but my guess is that many/most are saying this sudden rush of commits for the '14 class is too little too late and we're having to reach on a bunch of these guys.

 

Is that how it's going down or are people saying we've managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get some quality players to really salvage this class?

[Silverbacked1]

From what I have read both Norm. 50/50 good and bad. Kind of like on everything Husker.

[jdostal]

First, yes.  It's a looong time until signing day and kids flip a lot these days.

 

Second, we've risen to a respectable national ranking (anywhere from upper 20s to upper 30s).  I think we're still 5th or 6th in the B1G, but there isn't a whole lot of separation in spots 3-6, I don't think.  I think they've managed to not take a step back when conditions weren't favorable for recruiting (fire Pelini talk, 11 am games).

[HB]

CWG already mentioned this in the Super Bowl thread, but I wanted to chime in as it has been a good week on the football recruiting front.  They pulled the '14 class together after a pretty dismal start.  And I love what is happening so far with 2015.  Commitments from 4 highly ranked players, 3 of themregional guys--Colorado and Kansas.  I like being a factor in the 500 mile radius.  The offer lists on these guys was impressive.

A lot of people really bitched about Pelini's recruiting this year.  I don't follow it closely enough to know what's going on but the complaint that I caught onto was that we weren't doing much if any recruiting during the actual season and didn't take advantage of bringing kids in for official visits on game weekends when they could (hopefully) be wowed by the game day experience.

 

I haven't checked any boards, so maybe someone can enlighten me, but my guess is that many/most are saying this sudden rush of commits for the '14 class is too little too late and we're having to reach on a bunch of these guys.

 

Is that how it's going down or are people saying we've managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get some quality players to really salvage this class?

That was why I referenced the dismal start. I think it will be an average to a little above average class. Strong in the Oline; not so great elsewhere. But once Perlman and Eichorst stopped recruiting dead in its tracks in September, the class is good considering what was going on from UCLA to Iowa. After hitting bottom from a recruiting standpoint, we did as well as possible. That's all I was saying. That, and the start to 2015 looks exceptional. Barring a meltdown next fall, we should keep most of these early commits.

[bobcat402]

i actually love this 2014 class, its all blue collar guys that bring their own thing to the team, in previous classes idk if we had that, and i love that we brought warren on and we are in Georgia, and NOLA big things will come from there. Now if we can lock up some local boys (Strong-ik he dosnt have the measaurables compared to national kids, but something just feels like he will get it done at NU, id love to grab decker, and the kid from Syracuse, than get up the road, and grab that big tackle from SD) id like a big playmaking reciever in this class if we lose Harrison from the 14 class

[Norm Peterson]

First, yes.  It's a looong time until signing day and kids flip a lot these days.

 

Second, we've risen to a respectable national ranking (anywhere from upper 20s to upper 30s).  I think we're still 5th or 6th in the B1G, but there isn't a whole lot of separation in spots 3-6, I don't think.  I think they've managed to not take a step back when conditions weren't favorable for recruiting (fire Pelini talk, 11 am games).

Good points, you and HB both.

[AuroranHusker]

Might be a case of a reach at the 2nd-QB/Athlete in AJ Bush from GA... the 3 recent DE recruits seem to be great fits for NU & players alike. One great story: the greyshirt that FSU offered to long-time commit Blake McClain occurred 10-min before NU coaches arrived, which is a stroke of luck that Bo can thank his lucky stars if B-Mac becomes a star at NU.

[AuroranHusker]

Just learned that Blake McClain signed w/ the Gamecocks today... so nevermind on the FSU turned NU turned USC recruit!! 

[Norm Peterson]

Just learned that Blake McClain signed w/ the Gamecocks today... so nevermind on the FSU turned NU turned USC recruit!! 

That was somewhat expected since his mom didn't want him so far away from home.

[AuroranHusker]

 

Just learned that Blake McClain signed w/ the Gamecocks today... so nevermind on the FSU turned NU turned USC recruit!! 

That was somewhat expected since his mom didn't want him so far away from home.

 

 

True dat. Many times the momma's are the top target in the recruiting process!

[SOB]

Mid 20s to mid 30s sounds well, mediocre to coin a phrase.

[Norm Peterson]

Mid 20s to mid 30s sounds well, mediocre to coin a phrase.

True.  But what about the argument above that Perman and Eichorst stopped recruiting dead in its tracks in September?

[huskerbaseball13]

 

Mid 20s to mid 30s sounds well, mediocre to coin a phrase.

True.  But what about the argument above that Perman and Eichorst stopped recruiting dead in its tracks in September?

 

 

I'd love to hear what Pearlman and Eichorst did to stop recruiting dead in its tracks.  I'm not saying it's not true...but this is the first I've heard of it.  Either way this staff once again found itself scrambling the last few weeks of the recruiting season like they have done the past few years.  Which has resulted to bringing in a average class on paper.  It looks like a good class to continue to win 9 games...but not a class that will get this staff over the hump.  It doesn't appear any Big 10 Titles are on the horizon under this staff. 

[Silverbacked1]

It's been a rumor for awhile. Don't know if it is true but have heard it in many different places. But then so has the second gunman, so...

I like the blue collar guys we got. Mostly then lineman seem to be the kind of guys who will get bigger and might have a bit of a mean streak in them.

Guess time will tell.

[jdostal]

I'm not sure Eichorst and Perlman are to blame, per say, but it took them a couple days to support Bo after tapegate and didn't make any statements of support aside from that.  It's an unequivocal fact that we lost recruits because of the lack of an appearance of job security.

[huskerbaseball13]

I'm not sure Eichorst and Perlman are to blame, per say, but it took them a couple days to support Bo after tapegate and didn't make any statements of support aside from that.  It's an unequivocal fact that we lost recruits because of the lack of an appearance of job security.

 

Did we lose recruits last year because of it? And the year before that?  Medicore recruiting isn't new to this staff...this has been going on for years now which is why the product on the field is what it is.  Let's be real...the AD wouldnt have to say a word if Bo's teams were not giving up 38 unanswered points at home on national TV.  The AD wouldn't have to say or word if the Coach wasn't on ESPN mutiple times making the program look bad.  I'm curious as to what Perlman and Eichorst did to hault recruiting starting in September?

[HB]

I'm not sure Eichorst and Perlman are to blame, per say, but it took them a couple days to support Bo after tapegate and didn't make any statements of support aside from that.  It's an unequivocal fact that we lost recruits because of the lack of an appearance of job security.

 

Did we lose recruits last year because of it? And the year before that?  Medicore recruiting isn't new to this staff...this has been going on for years now which is why the product on the field is what it is.  Let's be real...the AD wouldnt have to say a word if Bo's teams were not giving up 38 unanswered points at home on national TV.  The AD wouldn't have to say or word if the Coach wasn't on ESPN mutiple times making the program look bad.  I'm curious as to what Perlman and Eichorst did to hault recruiting starting in September?

 

To answer only the question of "what did Perlman and Eichorst do to stop recruiting dead in its tracks in September ? (not a general defense or condemnation of Bo, of past recruiting years, etc. and apologizing in advance for the length of the post) : 

 

After the UCLA game and the release of "The Tape", Perlman  publically played the "The coach could get fired card".  He needs to keep his mouth shut at that point (publically).  Deal with the investigation privately (which in this case involved T.O. saying he knew about it and dealt with it 2 years earlier), and make the call; or have a plan and begin executing it privately.  At this point (prior to concluding the review the tape investigation), Eichorst's public statements were actually more measured and appropriate (I'm not going to go back and find them, but he handled it much better than Perlman at that point).   Once the "he might get fired" card is publically stated by head of the University, recruiting is dead.  Players and their parents need to know who the coach is going to be, what offenses and defenses they run, who their poisition coach is likely to be, etc. 

 

Once the decison was made to have no firing or any punishment at all, the expression of support was extremely tepid.  Basically a statement of non-support.   And then the weeks of silence and "I don't comment on a coach during the season ( Although I won't even define whether the end of the season is after the last conference game or the bowl game)."  Assistants start wondering if they will  have a job.  Short term focus is exclusively on getting wins to keep jobs rather than recruiting.  The competition dirty recruits our targets on possible regime change and lack of stability.  

 

Nick Gates was actually ready to commit early in the fall and backed off due to the firing speculation.  Just one example. 

 

Bo goes to Eichorst the tuesday before the Iowa game, says I need to know where I stand, and we're getting killed in recruiting.  Eichorst sticks to his guns and his beloved "process".  I'll evaluate at the end of the season. There will be not public or private expression of support.  Sticks to that even in the elevators with the reporters after the game, despite the flurry of media attention the entire week. Bo and the staff twist in the wind from UCLA until the day after the Iowa game.  No way anyone can recruit effectively with that going on. 

 

I realize some think Bo is the devil and should be fired.  And that he deserves and earned all of the problems and lack of support from the Chancellor and AD.  Made his own bed.  I'm not trying to change their views or even debate it.  My point is, if you are going to publically feed the coaching change speculation (Perlman) or decline to issue any expressions of support despite the obvious media frenzy and impact on recruiting (Eichorst), you have to know the consequences. 

 

This is just a more intense version of why coaches always get their contracts extended.   You basically have to extend them or fire them, and everyone knows its because of recruiting. 

 

If they weren't going to make a change, at some point before the coach and his staff twist in the wind for over 2 months, you've got to get out of your precious "process" or "my approach is to never say a word, blah blah" and provide support.  And with Bo, if you refuse to provide public support becasue of your iron-clad policy, at least give him some assurances privately.  To that some say it's still on Bo that he went nuts from half-time on of the Iowa game (and I am more in that camp than you might think), a true leader and manager of people should know that it's tough to have one inflexible policy no matter who you are dealing with.  I have employed dozens of people over the years, and you have to have some flexibility on how to deal with them.  Same with coaches and  players--they respond differently to different approaches.  Eichorst poured gas on the Bo fire, and it ended about as poorly as one could expect. 

 

Regardless of whether you are Pro-Bo, Anti-Bo, or agnostic, the whole thing was wierd.  I don't think its any secret that HP and Bo have nothing but utter disdain for each other.  And Shawn "The Ghost" Eichorst declined on every occasion before the Iowa game to indicate the head coach had his support.  He stuck to his approach regardless of how loud the noise got and how it affected recruiting (its one thing to have recruiting on hold for a couple of weeks, it's another to have it on hold for 10 weeks during commitment season).  If he was truly waiting for the regular season to end to complete his evaluation, and was truly undecided as to Bo's fate, than how in God's name could the events of that day not have caused him to decide to make a change?  Let's see, blowout loss.  Surly Bo on national TV at halftime.  Bo goes ballistic on ref with spittle and hat swipe, earning a $10,000 fine and public reprimand.  Defiant, belligerent Bo comes out at post-game press conference.  And THEN Eichorst's "finish evalutation after the season and only comment then" approach has him decide to keep Bo??  Bizarre to say the least.  

 

My take:  Eichorst is not a dumb guy.  He has to know that if he is going to keep the coach, he can't let the speculation and frenzy get to fever pitch and just let them twist in the wind and claim business as normal.  Cause it ain't normal with that going on, especially recruiting.  You're dead without the support of your AD under these circumstances. So I think SE had decided to make a change, with HP's blessing, or at a minimum explore options of possible replacements via the secret underworld in which these things are done.  But the plan was squelched at the 11th hour by the certain Regents who forced the unexpected announcement Bo was staying, and its still somewhat mild expression of support, on saturday morning.  

 

So, regardless of how one feels about Bo, I don't think there is any doubt that Perlman's actions, and Eichorst's inaction, beginning after UCLA and not ending until the shocking announcement the day after Iowa, effectively put a stop to any effective recruiting in the fall of 2013.  If you're not making a change, you have to give your guy a little support, whether he deserves it in the abstract world or not.  Bo has been far from perfect, but it's hard to see how this was handled well by HP and SE either; to me a classic case of how not to handle a situation.

[Norm Peterson]

HB, that effort deserved a couple of up-arrows, though I can only give you one.

 

Agree or disagree, that was a well-thought-out analysis.  Virtually everything else I've read on the subject is knee-jerk, chicken little-ish hysteria or snark.

 

Some of the same people who had actually acknowledged that the last couple of years' recruiting classes were pretty good have been repeating the same junk as 13 above, saying it's this way every year.

 

No, it isn't this way every year.  All those guys complaining that recruiting stopped during the season need a history refresher by reading your above post.

 

Well done, my man.

[HB]

Thanks, Norm.

Hopefully positive changes will happen. It's important for the University and the state. Football fuels the athletic engine. The early 2015 commitments are encouraging, but won't stand if things go in the toilet next season, or we have a repeat of Twist in the Wind.

Hopefully with the bowl win, a decent finish under the circumstances to 2014 recruiting, the good start to 2015, the new DB coach, and Bo's cat, we can make some strides and keep the momentum going. Then again, I don't know what SE is doing with assistant coach salaries, so maybe the support just isn't going to ever be there until SE gets his guy in there.

[jdostal]

"Mediocre recruiting isn't new to this staff..."

 

This is the worst recruiting year we have had under Bo and 2 of his last 3 classes were #17 and #15.  I'm aware he needs to be a better recruiter (and he has changed their recruiting philosophy and habits to become one), but to act like this was a typical class under Bo is laughable.  It's over 10 spots below his 5 year average.

[atskooc]

"Mediocre recruiting isn't new to this staff..."

 

This is the worst recruiting year we have had under Bo and 2 of his last 3 classes were #17 and #15.  I'm aware he needs to be a better recruiter (and he has changed their recruiting philosophy and habits to become one), but to act like this was a typical class under Bo is laughable.  It's over 10 spots below his 5 year average.

The issue with the previous classes is he recruited dudes who had no chance (or intent) to show up on campus.  So these kids signing their letters helped the class ranking, but when they didn't show up they didn't help us in any way. 

[Norm Peterson]

Hey, guys, listen, there are more important topics for us to waste our time talking about on this forum than football recruiting.  I don't know what those topics would be but I have it on good authority that they exist.