84HuskerLaw
New member
Nebraska has disadvantages in recruiting as compared to many top twenty level programs. They have been discussed repeatedly for decades. One of the more important factors that doesn't seem to get discussed is underlying economic changes. The cost of schooling includes more than just tuition and books and fees of course. While student athletes are now receiving some kind of stipends and other forms of aid to help with the personal and indirect costs, I believe there are still basic prohibitions on student athletes holding down jobs while going to school (for obvious reasons having to do with 'extra benefits' and financial cheating'.
In addition to the costs for the student for personal and travel and other related things that nearly all people want/need, there are the costs involved in travel to and from Lincoln for the families and friends. Many parents and siblings, etc would like to attend some of the athlete's games, and visit as often as they can. Distance travel is more difficult, financially and sometimes logistically, for those folks too. Staying close to home or attending in locations where travel by car instead of planes, trains and buses, etc are more affordable and workable. This is a great challenge for many today.
More games are on TV which may help in many instances but they are typically regional and not national. A player from California is not likely to have his Big Ten games on west coast stations while Pac 12 may be.
Recruiting nationally is without a doubt the most difficult, costly and burdensome for the schools, the athletes and certainly the coaches and staffs. Social media may neutralize some of the 'connectivity' but the physical distance remains a tremendous hurdle. Having every possible advantage and going the extra 1000 miles is absolutely a MUST in Lincoln. It is not for Cal, Tex, most SECs, and some in the Big Ten and many on the east coast.
This in turn, in my view, argues that Nebraska has to distinguish itself from all the rest (there is no place like Nebraska) in every way possible. For example, perhaps our unique offense (the Osbone) helped open up a few doors to get us over the top with some of the nation's elite athletes across the country because we were their best option - as distinct from switching positions for example to play locally.
In addition to the costs for the student for personal and travel and other related things that nearly all people want/need, there are the costs involved in travel to and from Lincoln for the families and friends. Many parents and siblings, etc would like to attend some of the athlete's games, and visit as often as they can. Distance travel is more difficult, financially and sometimes logistically, for those folks too. Staying close to home or attending in locations where travel by car instead of planes, trains and buses, etc are more affordable and workable. This is a great challenge for many today.
More games are on TV which may help in many instances but they are typically regional and not national. A player from California is not likely to have his Big Ten games on west coast stations while Pac 12 may be.
Recruiting nationally is without a doubt the most difficult, costly and burdensome for the schools, the athletes and certainly the coaches and staffs. Social media may neutralize some of the 'connectivity' but the physical distance remains a tremendous hurdle. Having every possible advantage and going the extra 1000 miles is absolutely a MUST in Lincoln. It is not for Cal, Tex, most SECs, and some in the Big Ten and many on the east coast.
This in turn, in my view, argues that Nebraska has to distinguish itself from all the rest (there is no place like Nebraska) in every way possible. For example, perhaps our unique offense (the Osbone) helped open up a few doors to get us over the top with some of the nation's elite athletes across the country because we were their best option - as distinct from switching positions for example to play locally.
