Timing is everything; in college football I think the clock on the "silly season" has been fundamentally changed with:
1. The advent of the four game redshirt window.
2. The early Signing Period
3. The gulf between the value of playing in the Playoff series vs. a bowl for a potential pro prospect.
...each of those December realities really puts "pressure on the blinds" for you poker players out there. If you don't have a stable coaching situation or even a stable season in general--you are REALLY screwed. The kids bailed on Miami. The kids have bled off a little with Florida State. Our situation obviously had a direct impact on Kentucky and Purdue. The reality is that college football programs that enjoy a big conference network--The Big Ten Network most obviously, the SEC Network not too far behind--either bolster the salaries of coveted staffs, or payoff staffs to leave while still enjoying enough profitability that they can bring in and pay another coveted staff. Compare and contrast that to the four ACC schools that were perceived to struggle on Signing Day--Miami, FSU, UNC and us.
So this December has ended up as disastrously as could have occurred for us to an extent when it comes to a recruiting haul; but there is reason for optimism and I think that comes a year from now. I think Satterfield is assembling a quality staff made out in his image to field a product type; Brown as a defensive coordinator comes with some chops, and he's young. Getting Ledford from a direct Atlantic Division nemesis is a big net plus for us. We have three spots left to land, and depending on who you listen to those three might end up being the highlights of the staff. For a year they can sell immediate playing time in a conference that affords a player a bunch of opportunity against quality opponents. The yields won't be this December; but I'd caution there are going to be some MAJOR job openings a year from now...and we'll be in a position to take advantage with the type of staff I think we are assembling. Staffs that were perceived as stable were MAJOR benefactors in this cycle.
1. The advent of the four game redshirt window.
2. The early Signing Period
3. The gulf between the value of playing in the Playoff series vs. a bowl for a potential pro prospect.
...each of those December realities really puts "pressure on the blinds" for you poker players out there. If you don't have a stable coaching situation or even a stable season in general--you are REALLY screwed. The kids bailed on Miami. The kids have bled off a little with Florida State. Our situation obviously had a direct impact on Kentucky and Purdue. The reality is that college football programs that enjoy a big conference network--The Big Ten Network most obviously, the SEC Network not too far behind--either bolster the salaries of coveted staffs, or payoff staffs to leave while still enjoying enough profitability that they can bring in and pay another coveted staff. Compare and contrast that to the four ACC schools that were perceived to struggle on Signing Day--Miami, FSU, UNC and us.
So this December has ended up as disastrously as could have occurred for us to an extent when it comes to a recruiting haul; but there is reason for optimism and I think that comes a year from now. I think Satterfield is assembling a quality staff made out in his image to field a product type; Brown as a defensive coordinator comes with some chops, and he's young. Getting Ledford from a direct Atlantic Division nemesis is a big net plus for us. We have three spots left to land, and depending on who you listen to those three might end up being the highlights of the staff. For a year they can sell immediate playing time in a conference that affords a player a bunch of opportunity against quality opponents. The yields won't be this December; but I'd caution there are going to be some MAJOR job openings a year from now...and we'll be in a position to take advantage with the type of staff I think we are assembling. Staffs that were perceived as stable were MAJOR benefactors in this cycle.
