strong non-conference schedule helps recruiting

[MNSpaniel]

I not sure if I'm right or wrong in this assumption but I would think that a strong non-conference schedule would actually help recruiting. I also think playing a school from down south would actually help in recruiting those players. When you are trying to recruit players from down south the fact that their families could see them play without having to travel might be a good recruiting tool.

 

[GoldenHerbs]

Yes, another thread about our schedule!

 

[MNSpaniel]

Yes, another thread about our schedule!

I think it does help in recruiting. That aspect wasn't really mentioned. I see you are full of useful or should say useless information. I see your post is as cowardly as Teague and Kill.

 

[dpodoll68]

Why would the games have to be strong? You can just as easily play an away game at UAB as you can at Alabama.

 

[GoldenHerbs]

I think it does help in recruiting. That aspect wasn't really mentioned. I see you are full of useful or should say useless information. I see your post is as cowardly as Teague and Kill.

Umm ok..

 

[MNSpaniel]

I think it is two fold. dpodoll68 is right that playing games in the southern region gives you exposure to that region and allows southern recruits to play in front of their families no matter what the quality of opponent.

I still think that players/recruits look at the schedule and they do get excited about playing USC, Cal etc. in addition to a strong Big Ten schedule.

 

[Monty519]

Yeah it can help, but like 100 different things can help recruiting. The coaches, their ability to connect with recruits and their families, the schemes they run, the facilities, inspired fanbase, big money boosters, non-conference schedule, conference affiliation, location, campus atmosphere, Fortune 500 businesses near campus, weather, recruit's ties to the area, recruit's desire to get away from home, current athletes at the recruit's position, all kinds of things. The NC schedule probably ranks rather low in that list for most recruits, I'm guessing, when you're a school in a major conference like the B1G.

If we're 10-2, in our conference, a recruit isn't gonna sit there and go, "well if only they played a challenging non-conference schedule...." If we're winning a lot of games, we will recruit fine, it is as simple as that. If we're not, then we won't have to worry about Kill's recruiting strategy too much longer after that.

 

[RailBaronYarr]

Yeah it can help, but like 100 different things can help recruiting. The coaches, their ability to connect with recruits and their families, the schemes they run, the facilities, inspired fanbase, big money boosters, non-conference schedule, conference affiliation, location, campus atmosphere, Fortune 500 businesses near campus, weather, recruit's ties to the area, recruit's desire to get away from home, current athletes at the recruit's position, all kinds of things. The NC schedule probably ranks rather low in that list for most recruits, I'm guessing, when you're a school in a major conference like the B1G.

If we're 10-2, in our conference, a recruit isn't gonna sit there and go, "well if only they played a challenging non-conference schedule...." If we're winning a lot of games, we will recruit fine, it is as simple as that. If we're not, then we won't have to worry about Kill's recruiting strategy too much longer after that.

Agree with you on the multitude of factors, but if we're 10-2 as a Big Ten team, ALL OTHER THINGS CONSIDERED EQUAL, would you say that regularly playing games against teams like UNC/USC in our NC would help or be neutral? A team like ours needs every advantage in recruiting we can get. Or, playing catch-up to the status quo of schools like OSU, Mich, etc who already play in marquee type games each year.

And yes, Dpo, playing UAB gets the coaches and team a trip to Alabama. but it does not give the exposure of our program to high-level recruits in the area the way playing a team like Auburn or Alabama would. UAB would maybe be on BTN or FoxSports. A UNC/UMN game would almost certainly be on ESPN. There's a difference.

 

[Gopherdrummer]

Agree with you on the multitude of factors, but if we're 10-2 as a Big Ten team, ALL OTHER THINGS CONSIDERED EQUAL, would you say that regularly playing games against teams like UNC/USC in our NC would help or be neutral? A team like ours needs every advantage in recruiting we can get. Or, playing catch-up to the status quo of schools like OSU, Mich, etc who already play in marquee type games each year.

And yes, Dpo, playing UAB gets the coaches and team a trip to Alabama. but it does not give the exposure of our program to high-level recruits in the area the way playing a team like Auburn or Alabama would. UAB would maybe be on BTN or FoxSports. A UNC/UMN game would almost certainly be on ESPN. There's a difference.

Which marquee games are they playing every year? Sure, Michigan plays Notre Dame, but ND has been pretty lackluster in recent years. And aside from being destroyed by Alabama this year, they have played the likes of Western Mich., Eastern Mich., and Delaware State. They have even played San Diego State and Miami (Ohio)! Don't forget Appalachian State (okay that was probably pretty marquee due to the outcome of that game).

What about OSU? Sure, they have played USC, but not every year. Last year they played Toledo, Akron, Miami (ok, this game would have been better if Miami had maintained its dominance. So I'll give you that one), and Colorado. Other schedules are similar for OSU. Yes, there are BCS schools in there. But not every season has an Earth shattering matchup every year.

Wisconsin fans don't seem too pissed when they play cupcakes in their non-con schedule (Austin Peay - what is that?). Recruits like OSU and Michigan because, well, it's OSU and MICHIGAN. ESPN never shuts up about them, even when their teams suck by national standards. It's called branding. Kill has chosen to build a brand by trying to get in a bowl game every year while he builds up his depth over the next few seasons. More playing time for underclassmen during the "preseason" and more reps/practices to develop his system in the world of the B1G. Players love bowl games. More bowl games, more exposure, better recruiting. Once the program turns the corner, he has said he will advocate for a stronger schedule. Apparently this method has worked at every program he has been to. Revisit this topic in a few season. Recruits won't just drop us off the radar. We still play the B1G. We even play teams for a bronze pig, little brown jug, and a badass Axe. That's a lot of reasons for a recruit to take an interest in this program.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I think it could help once you get to a certain point but I don't think the North Carolina series would have helped us with recruiting. For the rest of the country, it's two struggling programs. It'd be the equivelent of a Washington State vs. Maryland game. My point is that it wouldn't generate any buzz.

Like Dpo pointed out, the "closeness to the family factor" is a relative non-issue. You can schedule lesser teams from those areas if that is important to you.

However, I do think in some instances that a tougher non-conference can help with recruiting. I think if you get to a point where you're winning 8 ish games a year, if you can get a premier non-conference game, that spotlight could help you some. Like I think the Michigan State vs. Boise St game generated some buzz for Michigan State (and that can't hurt when recruiting).

 

[Gopherprof]

Or, playing catch-up to the status quo of schools like OSU, Mich, etc who already play in marquee type games each year.

We don't compete with Ohio State and Michigan for recruits, other than over a handful of Minnesota kids every few years.