I think we should get used to it. The days of 2* minn kids being great gets for this program are over. Brewster is trying to develop a great walk on program. It's a mud against the wall kind of approach. There's a lot of very good under rated talent in Minnesota, opening the door with a big welcome mat will pay huge dividends. But they won't be offered schollies out of high school.
Earning the scholarship through proven performance is more valuable to the program than offering marginal talent just because he's a home towner. Now every kid who thinks they're good enough, but unrecognized has a chance to prove themselves. And quite frankly what would we know about Jirik without the good end of year performance? How many talented kids never made it that far? How many are on a really crappy high school program? So now all those kids see the possiblity.
Tying up a schollie for four years on a kid that most likely isn't good enough versus inviting a bunch in and giving it to the one that proves himself. It's a no brainer for me.
In the first instance it's a reward for high school recognition, in the second it's a reward for college performance and commitment. Plus I think it'll actually be the carrot that brings in more walk ons. And I think laying out the program helps as well. Now instead of kids thinking we don't want them because they lost the home towner schollie lottery, we're saying the opposite. We're saying we do want them, and we'll reward them for making the choice to be a Gopher.
Brew's made it clear that he wants them and that they will get rewarded for performance. I'm very excited for this part of the program.