recruiting

old guy · Post by **old guy** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:31 pm

I know it's still early--a long way until Feb.--but I am starting to get the feeling all is not well with recruiting this year, despite all those early committs the staff talks about but no one can confirm. Could it be that all this talk about Brandon leaving is having an affect? Here is what I see of late. Leady--our only 3 star recruit pulls out to play baseball. Burton pulls out to go to Central. Sam Williams, a top linbacker recruit goes to Central. Last week, Sam Porter--a 3 star linebacker out of Chicago comes to campus for a visit then goes home and signes with Ball State. Guy Williamson seems just to be waiting for an offer from Clemson to change his comittment. I've seen the kid from Bluffton play three or four times this year--in fact I've got him on tape. He's a D5 guy who didn't dominate in that division. In fact I don't like what I see of him on tape--loafs alot and only seems to hustle when the ball is thrown to him or the play is nearby. Unless there is alot of unseen verbals or things you can't see from the recruiting sites, I'm a bit concerned. Why are we getting our lunch handed to us by the likes of Central and Ball State? Can it be that other coaches are telling recruits that Brandon and staff will be leaving ? Something must be going on. Hard to believe competitive players are choosing the Ball States and Centrals of the world unless something is up. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:26 pm

They hired good coaches and can promise early playing time?

Falcon Commander · Post by **Falcon Commander** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:48 pm

Cars?
Women?
Money?
Summer Jobs with Pay and no work?

or you may have to sit at BG for 2 years before you WIN the Conference and go to ANOTHER BOWL GAME

falconfan1 · Post by **falconfan1** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:04 am

old guy, do not fret.Recruiting, I hear, is going very well. Don't get hung up on one or two names going somewhere else in the MAC or so on. This happens every year to some degree. There are a number of reasons for this among them excellent coaches at schools like Ball State and CMU, a different approach to student-athletes not yet fully qualified, very personal matters with players and families, the lure of "playing time" (usually read- my choice may be a little down right now) and school colors.

OK, just kidding on the last one. Sort of.

We have never and will never get all the players we want. Recruiting is a tough business, but if we keep the verbals we have now and keep adding I think it will be a good group. I haven't read all posts so maybe I missed it, but Brighton MI LB Nick Lawrence chose BG last week over Toledo just a week or two after saying he was heavily leaning to the Rockets. I understand he runs very well and is a good student.

Additionally, assistant coach V. Joseph's contacts down south may help us this year or certainly going forward. Interestingly, River Ridge LA John Curtis HS LB Jaque Jackson will visit BG in January and has the Falcons right up there with UCLA. It is certainly quite possible the young man might choose a different school, but it is encouraging that a player like Jackson from the Deep South will be visiting BG.

Turn the heat up! And go Falcons!

falconfan1 · Post by **falconfan1** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:07 am

old guy, do not fret.Recruiting, I hear, is going very well. Don't get hung up on one or two names going somewhere else in the MAC or so on. This happens every year to some degree. There are a number of reasons for this among them excellent coaches at schools like Ball State and CMU, a different approach to student-athletes not yet fully qualified, very personal matters with players and families, the lure of "playing time" (usually read- my choice may be a little down right now) and school colors.

OK, just kidding on the last one. Sort of.

We have never and will never get all the players we want. Recruiting is a tough business, but if we keep the verbals we have now and keep adding I think it will be a good group. I haven't read all posts so maybe I missed it, but Brighton MI LB Nick Lawrence chose BG last week over Toledo just a week or two after saying he was heavily leaning to the Rockets. I understand he runs very well and is a good student.

Additionally, assistant coach V. Joseph's contacts down south may help us this year or certainly going forward. Interestingly, River Ridge LA John Curtis HS LB Jaque Jackson will visit BG in January and has the Falcons right up there with UCLA. It is certainly quite possible the young man might choose a different school, but it is encouraging that a player like Jackson from the Deep South will be visiting BG.

Turn the heat up! And go Falcons!

OptionQB · Post by **OptionQB** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:49 am

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospec ... _key=31832

I don't have the "premium" membership anymore b/c well I'm in college again, and as much fun as recruiting is . . . I like to eat better . . .

#66 nationwide . . . Certainly make the pains of losing Jenkins Reese a little less severe and he would fit right in with Piepkow and Winovich at LB next year. If the bio is accurate . . . he plays now if he signs . . Can he graduate on Friday and play in the bowl game??

Tswam · Post by **Tswam** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:58 am

Way too early to get nervous about recruiting. The appearance in the GMAC Bowl will do nothing but help. I don't have much faith in these recruiting services especially since they tend to downgrade guys once they commit to a MAC school. It was difficult to project Leady as a D1 quarterback even before his injury (I had assumed he'd go the Benjy Kennedy route if he stuck with football). Good choice by Leady to concentrate on baseball. Two years ago, everyone got excited about Virgil Robinson. He had big big-time speed and came from a place (Buchtel) that had produced a lot of D1 talent so he was highly rated by the recruiting services. He was very raw as a DB and even rawer in the classroom. Meanwhile, Kory Lichtensteiger wasn't even on the radar screen and hee's paanned out pretty well.

Our recruiting is fine.

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:35 pm

Ball State and Central coaches aren't preparing for a bowl game and are likely to be in a kid's ear more this time of year. Both coaches are also at a stage of desperation in regards to their own positions. Hoke has overseen the regression of the Ball State program from spunky Toledo buster to out and out embarassment. Brian Kelly promised a "five minute" rebuilding program at Central but forgot one thing: the MAC isn't the GLIAC and certain high school teams had better depth at WR than Central does.

The message will get across loud and clear soon enough: if you want to compete for championships in an family-orientated environment, BG is the place to be.

Should you wish to be the lucky one who scores the meaningless TD or two after BG has already hung 40 on you, Muncie and Mount Pleasant it it.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:42 pm

Tswam wrote:Two years ago, everyone got excited about Virgil Robinson.

Geez, don't mention him again. AZZ had him All-MAC before he ever played a game, imbued with many super powers.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:28 pm

orangeandbrown wrote:
Tswam wrote:Two years ago, everyone got excited about Virgil Robinson.
Geez, don't mention him again. AZZ had him All-MAC before he ever played a game, imbued with many super powers.

Nobody had him all-MAC, but he was the first great recruiting coup we had. He was the first player we had that turned down offers from BCS schools (Minnesota), to decide to come to BG. He was also a guy who was at one time on OSU's wish list, until they landed a lot of other big time guys at the position. We were merely thrilled to see him choose BG, as it marked the turning point of our ability to compete with the "big boys" for recruits.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 2:54 pm

falconfan1 wrote:Interestingly, River Ridge LA John Curtis HS LB Jaque Jackson will visit BG in January and has the Falcons right up there with UCLA. It is certainly quite possible the young man might choose a different school, but it is encouraging that a player like Jackson from the Deep South will be visiting BG.

Also interesting of note is that Memphis QB Danny Wimprine hails from John Curtis HS in River Ridge, LA.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:59 pm

Virgil Robinson and the Jesus Twins (are they playing much for Charlie Coles?) are probably three of the most widely discussed recruits to never attend BG. Well.....maybe it just seemed like Virgil never attended BG

The kid that I think we really miss or will miss is Nick Thurman. Our offense could really use a 6'-5"+, 235-250lb TE that can run. Thurman could have been that guy...

Falcon Commander · Post by **Falcon Commander** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 11:36 am

yea, how can you count on kids committing to toledo when there is talk of BOTH their O/C AND D/C leaving for other positions ? :coo-coo:

I would think they would want to know who, their coach would be for their 4 - 5 year commitment ?????

Falcon Commander · Post by **Falcon Commander** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 11:37 am

yea, how can you count on kids committing to toledo when there is talk of BOTH their O/C AND D/C leaving for other positions ? :coo-coo:

I would think they would want to know who, their coach would be for their 4 - 5 year commitment ?????

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 11:51 am

Flipper wrote:the Jesus Twins (are they playing much for Charlie Coles?)

Nothing to do with BG or football, but Tim Pollitz has played in 4 games (5 minutes per game) and has scored a total of 6 points and has 3 boards. Eric Pollitz has yet to see the floor presumably due to some sort of injury.

Pretty significant contributions.