Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message
locked post

Recruiting Strategies

Posted on 1/28/12 at 6:40 pm
Posted by MetTiger
Member since Oct 2007
1213 posts
Posted on 1/28/12 at 6:40 pm
Our best recruiter is Frank Wilson, and he has gotten us some amazing recruits in the NOLA area. This was a dead zone for LSU for so many years, players playing just about everywhere else (Nebraska, Michigan, Miami, TAMU, etc). Our success in NOLA has mirrored the success in Tiger Stadium.

The problem is, we cannot take every single good player in NOLA every year. We need to get the good ones of course but sometimes we are going to lose a few.

Case in point, Sylve and Falkins. Very good players. But if you look at Bama's overall ranking of their recruits, they fall close to the bottom most likely. They may never really fit in Bama's plans on the field, but they are "seeds" in the recruiting strategy for later big time players.

Sort of when you wanted a date with the prom queen with the homely friend. You set your buddy up with the friend so you can get the queen.

Schools do this all the time (not just Bama), they hire coaches with ties and recruit players from certain areas just to get a foothold in a certain area.

And now thanks to sites like this, players often use schools to "work" the schools they really want to go to. The Bama-roids on here now give the recruits the power to invoke the name Alabama just to get some movement form other schools, mainly us. They know this in Tuscaloosa, and they do it in Atlanta, in Charlotte, etc.

And so do we, in Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Mississippi. If we can turn some Texas recruits, they'll be whining just the same there. This is the recruiting game. The key is to get regular wins from those markets in big time recruits. Trouble starts when you don't and can't defend your own turf.

So everyone needs to calm down. We're going to lose in state players. But at the same time, it will be harder and harder to protect the fence. LSU is a nationally recognized brand now, it's probably a good idea to start sowing seeds of our own in some new fertile grounds....Virginia, Maryland...
Posted by GeauxWolverines
Planet Earth
Member since Jan 2011
1893 posts
Posted on 1/28/12 at 8:55 pm to
I don't mind us losing instate talent as long as we get oos talent to supplement them.
Posted by Stagg8
Houston
Member since Jan 2005
13407 posts
Posted on 1/28/12 at 9:36 pm to
quote:

Sylve


Plaquemines counts as NOLA now?
Posted by lsufanva
sandston virginia
Member since Aug 2009
13324 posts
Posted on 1/28/12 at 10:04 pm to
I agree with this post. Hate to lose instate kids we want but honestly that is mostly about bragging rights and having to hear bullshite like "the fence is down". As long as we get good players at every position then I'm happy. This year I'm not concerned about losing Devall because I think Hunter and Davis are better. If looking at LB then I think we landed a group that nullifies Devall out. Collins is different because we don't have a replacement and the fact that he is just flat out a stud. Otherwise I'm happy aside from QB.
Posted by MetTiger
Member since Oct 2007
1213 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 9:12 am to
With all the fear going on about losing instate recruits, I was thinking about this:

No kid should be required in our minds to have to go to LSU if they live in LA. We should want them to go, but they have to make the ultimate decision on what's best for them.

That being said, sometimes I don't think instate recruits in LA (or any other one flagship school state, like Nebraska) fully realize the benefits of staying in state. MOST players at LSU (and Bama, and Auburn, etc) will NOT play another down of football after they leave college. Many will not have completed their degrees and never will.

At least if an instate player goes to LSU and is done with playing, then the simple fact that they played for the Tigers can go a long way for the rest of their life, as far as job opportunities go and other things. It may not be a 6 figure job, but it's a job.

On the other hand, you go out of state, and especially if you go to the school wearing Crimson, or if you decline LSU if they offer, you probably shouldn't expect the "hometown love" after you are done and come back home. In fact, it will probably work against you, because boosters and employing fans have long memories.

I'm sure if you leave Bama (we'll just use them, since that was everyone is paranoid over), and you haven't done anything of note for the Tide, then you may get a job in Mobile for about a year after you're done, and then you're forgotten. And furthermore, you're not back at home.

Kenny Bell may be one such person of note. People freaked out when he left, but chance are pretty good he won't play in the NFL. Why, because they next year, Bama went out and got better guys, and did so every year thereafter and will next year as well. He was a seed player (as Luther Davis was), and the real fruits of their recruitment were Denzel Devall. It took a few years for that to work out.

But KB and LD will be back home looking for work, and they'll probably get a job, but the doors would be so more wide open had they played for LSU. Especially Luther Davis, he was promised the world, proceeded to try to humiliate LSU and show the world how he was going to make Bama. Well, Luther, Bama won, but I didn't his name mentioned.

I really hate that kids have to make these decisions at 16 and 17, they're just not capable of understanding the long term effects and many times, neither are their parents. Every school now has to recruit in ways that are unseeming.

RF's mom stated that academics are the most important thing and UA is a very good academic school. However, that will only count if he doesn't get "processed" before he graduates. Out of state tuition can be a bummer. I don't buy the academics part, any top 25 school has excellent academics available, including LSU.

So guys, think of Chad Jones for a minute. He will be taken care of because of his decision to attend LSU, if the NFL doesn't work out. And he'll be able to do it at home with family and friends. Y'all want to go out of state, that fine, good luck to you, really. But prepare to live in the state you attend if you want the full benefits of attending the school of your choice....
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
168671 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 9:16 am to
exceptionally elongated submission, chose not to interpret. loud laughter.
Posted by MetTiger
Member since Oct 2007
1213 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 9:18 am to
Short submission.

Kind of how I was laughing when Iowa State beat OSU....
Posted by horndog
*edited by ADMIN
Member since Apr 2007
11838 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 9:25 am to
That's insightful.
Posted by gwilging
Virginia Beach, VA
Member since Mar 2011
1396 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 4:03 pm to
quote:

On the other hand, you go out of state, and especially if you go to the school wearing Crimson, or if you decline LSU if they offer, you probably shouldn't expect the "hometown love" after you are done and come back home. In fact, it will probably work against you, because boosters and employing fans have long memories.
I understand the just of what you said in the entirety from this post, but what are the chances an in-state recruit who leaves the state, eventually works for a fan or booster back in their respective home state? Or any crazy ranter message board freak? Most people, and employers, don't go on message boards and follow recruiting all that close. Most employers are probably too busy actually running their business rather than flame and troll on message boards to care how a potential employee's recruitment went in HS.
Posted by laroller
lafayette
Member since Jan 2012
63 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 6:09 pm to
That's a bunch of crap. One of the things I remember Saban saying over and over is how he would help the kids that don't make the nfl to "launch their careers". Maybe this is just coach speak but I remember hearing him say it many times.
Posted by MetTiger
Member since Oct 2007
1213 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 11:17 pm to
quote:

but what are the chances an in-state recruit who leaves the state, eventually works for a fan or booster back in their respective home state?


OK, how many of those 93000 seats in Tiger Stadium at premium pricing are old time regular fans paying out of their own pockets after tax, and how many are paying for tickets and suites through their businesses?

I beg to differ. I believe those business tickets represent a large representation of Louisiana businesses, and if they're paying those big bucks, then they follow LSU football enough to know who played for LSU and who rejected LSU for another program. My guess is that all things being equal, these people like ex-players over everyone else, if nothing else than to talk LSU football with clients and such.

Of course they business owners dont check these things, but when they ask "Where did you play" and the answer is "Alabama", I'm sure that won't help a whole lot.

If I'm wrong about this, I'd like to hear from some business owners who are big Tiger fans and see what their opinion is....

Posted by gOLDTiger
California
Member since Jan 2011
1479 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 11:27 pm to
quote:

things being equal

And they never are. Plus you assume that every successful business in LA is run by an LSU alum. Hate to break it to you but there are likely countless captains of local industries who hail from a broad spectrum of colleges and universities, including (dare I say it) Alabama. To suggest that any well qualified professional, here or elsewhere, will be disadvantaged in the hiring process because of the college they chose to play football is not credible.
Posted by MetTiger
Member since Oct 2007
1213 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 11:51 pm to
gOLD, you may be right, but I'm just saying chances are better they're an LSU fan than not. And I beg to differ IF the business owner is a diehard Tiger fan. Among business owners that are college football boosters (or ticket holders) in LA, I'll take LSU over the field of every other college, even better, I'd say it's probably 60-40 LSU - remember this are football followers.

Same with other programs...they're no different. LSU is the only major (read, in a major conference) program in LA, hence you can be a ULM fan and a LSU supporter at the same time. That doesn't work with UT-TAMU.....

we'll just politely disagree on this one
Posted by Cecil D Diesel
Shaolin
Member since Mar 2011
9269 posts
Posted on 1/29/12 at 11:57 pm to
Hell, judging from the linked twitters on here, see if "lil Boosie" can get a night out of jail pass to come run into some of the recruits at Texas de Brazil, most of them would sign at the damn dinner table.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram