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A new reality for recruiting

  • As much as I hate this, I have come to believe that Dooley's job status is a factor in recruiting this year - and a significant factor for some recruits. I hope that I am wrong but I think we'll see some star recruits hold back on their commitments because they are not sure who their coach will be.

    If we get off to a good start then speculation about his status should die out and I think a number of recruits who are hesitating will commit. If we get off to a poor start then I think we'll struggle in recruiting because the speculation about his job status will just get more intense. As we see with other programs, those who win have an easier time closing the deal with recruits. It is critical for the health and future of this program that we win this year. While we are certainly better positioned from a talent perspective to go through a coaching change, it would be disastrous from a recruiting perspective and to the program's reputation to have our 4th head coach 6 years. We gotta win this year. Period. No excuses.

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    RunThruThe T

  • RunThruThe T said...

    As much as I hate this, I have come to believe that Dooley's job status is a factor in recruiting this year - and a significant factor for some recruits. I hope that I am wrong but I think we'll see some star recruits hold back on their commitments because they are not sure who their coach will be.

    If we get off to a good start then speculation about his status should die out and I think a number of recruits who are hesitating will commit. If we get off to a poor start then I think we'll struggle in recruiting because the speculation about his job status will just get more intense. As we see with other programs, those who win have an easier time closing the deal with recruits. It is critical for the health and future of this program that we win this year. While we are certainly better positioned from a talent perspective to go through a coaching change, it would be disastrous from a recruiting perspective and to the program's reputation to have our 4th head coach 6 years. We gotta win this year. Period. No excuses.

    Penn State seems to be having no problem with recruits in spite of the coaching change. Also, there are no real problems with recruiting until February '13 and we are currently ahead of where we were this time last year on commitments. Add to that the fact that Dooley's status was used against us in this last class and we still did quite well. In short I will not do any hand wringing or start using words like 'disastrous' until there is an actual disaster. Do we need to win, yes but then that's always the case for any team.

    tnbear66

  • Good news is that uncertainty can be settled with a couple early wins vs NCSt and Florida.

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    OrangeVol79

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    Ryan Callahan ●

  • tnbear66 said...

    Penn State seems to be having no problem with recruits in spite of the coaching change. Also, there are no real problems with recruiting until February '13 and we are currently ahead of where we were this time last year on commitments. Add to that the fact that Dooley's status was used against us in this last class and we still did quite well. In short I will not do any hand wringing or start using words like 'disastrous' until there is an actual disaster. Do we need to win, yes but then that's always the case for any team.

    +1 This is the kind of attitude that I wish more of the fanbase would adopt. I think people have just gotten so used to the worst case scenario coming to fruition over the past few years - which is understandable - that sometimes it's hard for them to realize that it won't always be that way. Thinking (and speaking) positively will go a long way towards lessening the doubts that surround this program and stabalizing the situation. Sometimes it's all to easy to fall into a negative pattern of thinking, but life is better if we can all stay positive. megaphone twocents

    shtooo

  • tnbear66 said...

    Penn State seems to be having no problem with recruits in spite of the coaching change. Also, there are no real problems with recruiting until February '13 and we are currently ahead of where we were this time last year on commitments. Add to that the fact that Dooley's status was used against us in this last class and we still did quite well. In short I will not do any hand wringing or start using words like 'disastrous' until there is an actual disaster. Do we need to win, yes but then that's always the case for any team.

    You are comparing apples to oranges. Penn State's coach is in his first year and so any recruit has a reasonable expectation that O'Brien will be there when he graduates (plus O'Brien carries Patriots cache in an area where that means something). Dooley is 11-14 in two seasons and his record in his second season was worse than his first (not to mention the fact that almost his entire staff has turned over after two years). Therefore, any recruit must wonder if he will still be the coach in three years and we know every school is using his job status against us. I am in Dooley's corner but he must start stringing together some meaningful wins to attract and retain top flight recruits.

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    RunThruThe T

  • RunThruThe T said...

    You are comparing apples to oranges. Penn State's coach is in his first year and so any recruit has a reasonable expectation that O'Brien will be there when he graduates (plus O'Brien carries Patriots cache in an area where that means something). Dooley is 11-14 in two seasons and his record in his second season was worse than his first (not to mention the fact that almost his entire staff has turned over after two years). Therefore, any recruit must wonder if he will still be the coach in three years and we know every school is using his job status against us. I am in Dooley's corner but he must start stringing together some meaningful wins to attract and retain top flight recruits.

    I hear what you're saying RunTTT. And to some point I agree. But I do think that we are going to have a pretty good year, and Dooley's job will be secure. The recruits are going to see the improvement and realize that we're on the verge of being really good. Then they'll want to jump on board.

    GoBigO

  • RunThruThe T said...

    As much as I hate this, I have come to believe that Dooley's job status is a factor in recruiting this year - and a significant factor for some recruits. I hope that I am wrong but I think we'll see some star recruits hold back on their commitments because they are not sure who their coach will be.

    If we get off to a good start then speculation about his status should die out and I think a number of recruits who are hesitating will commit. If we get off to a poor start then I think we'll struggle in recruiting because the speculation about his job status will just get more intense. As we see with other programs, those who win have an easier time closing the deal with recruits. It is critical for the health and future of this program that we win this year. While we are certainly better positioned from a talent perspective to go through a coaching change, it would be disastrous from a recruiting perspective and to the program's reputation to have our 4th head coach 6 years. We gotta win this year. Period. No excuses.

    tennesseekoolaid

    Maybe i'm drinking the orange flavored Koolaid, but its early march.... No need to panic about anything this time of the year.... Step back off the ledge!!!!! WE NEVER THAT MANY EARLY COMMITS!!!!!

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    tlepage99

  • RunThruThe T said...

    You are comparing apples to oranges. Penn State's coach is in his first year and so any recruit has a reasonable expectation that O'Brien will be there when he graduates (plus O'Brien carries Patriots cache in an area where that means something). Dooley is 11-14 in two seasons and his record in his second season was worse than his first (not to mention the fact that almost his entire staff has turned over after two years). Therefore, any recruit must wonder if he will still be the coach in three years and we know every school is using his job status against us. I am in Dooley's corner but he must start stringing together some meaningful wins to attract and retain top flight recruits.

    Then your argument applies to UT. New coach means they will likely be there for the players entire career ergo not a 'disaster'. Dooley, as I pointed out, recruited against this idea and did a fine job. Also, as I said he does need to win but the sky is not falling.

    tnbear66

  • tnbear66 said...

    Then your argument applies to UT. New coach means they will likely be there for the players entire career ergo not a 'disaster'. Dooley, as I pointed out, recruited against this idea and did a fine job. Also, as I said he does need to win but the sky is not falling.

    I didn't say the sky was falling. I only said that I believe we will get some hesitancy on the part of some recruits to commit until they are sure Dooley is safe. I also happen to believe we will have a good year and this will be moot by mid-October. But, if we don't get off to a good start and begin beating upper tier SEC teams then a lot of speculation will begin about Dooley's job security and it will be like blood in the water for recruiters from other schools.

    It doesn't help things that some in the national media have already begun speculating about his job and that idiot Paul Finebaum tweeted the other day that no one was in a hotter seat than Dooley and that he thought he could be fired by mid-season. As I said I am optimistic about this season but I believe there is a perception issue out there.

    This post was edited by RunThruThe T on 3/1/2012 at 8:57 PM

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    RunThruThe T

  • We gotta win 2 or more that we have not been able to the last 2 years. Period.

    It would not hurt to have our new AD come out publicly mid season or late in the year and give his support too.

    This post was edited by SamVolsam on 3/1/2012 at 11:23 PM

    SamVolsam ●

  • think we are doing great so fat although if we lose Joseph that would be a bad sign to me as he came here with coach and would hate to lose him

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    shoeless7777

  • RunThruThe T said...

    I also happen to believe we will have a good year and this will be moot by mid-October.

    It doesn't help things that some in the national media have already begun speculating about his job and that idiot Paul Finebaum tweeted the other day that no one was in a hotter seat than Dooley and that he thought he could be fired by mid-season.

    First mistake u made was posting this now then saying it may not be an issue. Then why post unless u were just feeling like causing drama. Second mistake is listening to Paul who is an alabama radio guy and considering his listeners it makes sense to talk about Dooley. But my question is if u think he is an idiot why bother listening or following on twitter.

    Puddin Gooden

  • Puddin Gooden said...

    First mistake u made was posting this now then saying it may not be an issue. Then why post unless u were just feeling like causing drama. Second mistake is listening to Paul who is an alabama radio guy and considering his listeners it makes sense to talk about Dooley. But my question is if u think he is an idiot why bother listening or following on twitter.

    The Op's posts have always been supportive of Dooley. I don't agree with absolutely supporting Dooley, but the Op has been consistent and I don't see anything wrong with having a little concern for Dooley's ability to make progress with certain recruits, while at the same time believing that if Tennessee can get to 8 or 9 wins Dooley will have ammunition to get into living rooms that are probably closed to him right now based upon the perception, right or wrong, of Dooley being on a very hot seat.

    This post was edited by DCVolunteer on 3/2/2012 at 7:53 AM

    DCVolunteer

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    DCVolunteer

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