I think that "my way or the highway" approach would be great and I'm sure works for Texas or USC, Fla etc. In a program that is truly elite you can perhaps intimidate kids into not taking a visit after a commit.
For a program like ours, instead of playing hardball, you had better be in there schmoozing and trying to retain recruits or like we are trying to do in other situations, get somebody else's recruts to vist and decommit. Indeed both the kids and the staff know that if we run a 4* kid off with an ultimatum who has orally committed, out of the program that it is likely he will be replaced with a lessor perhaps a 2* player. Therefore both sides know that it is not a policy that is likely well thought out,, but feels good right now.
Only when you reach the top will his harda$$ approach be the best way to handle recruitiing. Carter and Gabbert might have been gone anyway and probably would, tut it seems they were the first to hear about this 'no visit' policy.
I think persoanlly you saw Bo "being Bo" and having a little public fit in that statement that will be revised when it obviously doesn't fit where we are at in the eyes of recruits these days. When a hat with an N on it is seen on several of the silly games at the All Star HC game. Till then ultimatums will unlikely work and kids certainly will look around.
as per usual, you're dead wrong. bo isn't bullying anyone or throwing a fit and he's not going to ditch principles for expediency. he's building a culture and he's not playing games with kids. i think it's amazing that anyone can question the simple expectation that commits must act committed or they will no longer be considered commits. of course, you seem to constantly be touting whatever line puts the coaching staff in the worst light, so i have to wonder if you're just trolling anyway.
and for what it's worth, i would guess that we would continue recruiting commits that start taking other visits as long as they were up front and honest about questioning their decision. jerking the coaches around, like lil' gabby apparently did, is a far different thing and will obviously not be tolerated.
the callahan era is over, we will no longer get kids here by any means necessary and just assume they'll work hard for the coaches when they get here. if nothing else, bo is helping these kids understand that your word matters. the fact that it will help us build a winning culture is a side benefit.
Lets me get this straight. So, 17-year-old kids who are trying to make perhaps the most important decision of their lives are "jerking around" coaches like Pelini, a seasoned professional who pulls in $1.8 million a year. OK ... who is the adult here?
Jeepdad,
The problem most of us have is that commits like Gabbert stroked our staff for months. I remember reading on DEC 7th of this month, two weeks ago, for the posters that can't do simple math, that this guy was fully committed to the commitment he verbally made to NU.
LET ME REPEAT!!!! He was fully committed to a verbal commitment he had made. That all has change in a few days.
Bo is/was very specific. He doesn't force you or hard sell you to say, "I am committed", but once you say that, it means, you are COMMITTED!!!!! That being said, if you are committed you can't go test drive other campuses or other institutions.
There was a good article about Gabbert and his waffling about one month ago. If you want me to try to find it I will. It stated the true reason for the Jr. Gabbert's waffling may have been the emergence of Cody Green. He will start here for 3 more years. I emailed the author to tell him he was spot on. Gabbert is not dumb, he can't start in NU, when you have an athlete like Cody Green in front of him. The article was written when it was only a thought of his decommitment, low and behold that came to pass.
Personally, I am amazed and shocked that we even flirted with this JR. Gabbert after the older brother showed he had no class and backed out of his commitment. The whole Gabbert clan has issues and it was clear from the beginning that JR Gabbert could decommit since the older brother was allowed to do it. (Parents allowed him to do this)
Now they both have to play against NU. SUH almost ended the older brothers career with a tackle that could've snapped his leg. I hear MU has some good QB recruits and I doubt JR Gabbert will even be a starter at MU. I was not a big fan of his recruitment and I can't wait to see who gets the scolly Gabbert would've rec'd.
You are correct in that part of your statement that says Bo is the adult. But should a guy who is responsible for bringing back NU and our football program allow 17 kids to string him along and the great NU football tradition?
I don't think so!!!!!! Let me know if you want me to dig up the article about JR Gabbert being fully committed on Dec 7th, 2009.
Schuhbdoo
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