Season Loses and recruiting

[Allvolinnashville]

They problem is if we keep losing games will recruits ( high profile) want to come here? Put aside history, tradition..some of these young guys do not remember these days. I know we have great facilities that help sell recruits but does this matter that much to a young person. If a school has great facilities but bats .500 every season compared to a school that has subpar facilities but bates .900 every season and wins a bowl game...what would you do? Yes we offer playing time in the SEC but if you were an 18 yr old ( leave aside that your blood runs orange) would you not want to play for a winning program? I just hope that this season will not hurt recruiting. A FL win would help out tremoundosly. Remember..we have a great COMMITTED class for next year BUT they havent signed yet.

[orangetanker11]

Personally, I would prefer the playing time and facilities that would help prepare me for the next level.

[g8terh8ter_eric]

Kids that flip-flop based on records, are not the type of kids that Dooley and Co, are looking for, or many other college coaches. Not every high profile recruit can go to a Florida or Texas. We will get our fair share.

[Fijivol72]

Originally Posted by g8terh8ter_eric

Kids that flip-flop based on records, are not the type of kids that Dooley and Co, are looking for, or many other college coaches. Not every high profile recruit can go to a Florida or Texas. We will get our fair share.

You need to get your head out of the sand.

[Vol Catdaddy]

You need to get your head out of the sand.

Lol Amen

[Hayezb]

Originally Posted by Fijivol72

You need to get your head out of the sand.

Your head is in the way.

What part of his post are you having trouble comprehending? Looks pretty legit to me.

[g8terh8ter_eric]

Originally Posted by Fijivol72

You need to get your head out of the sand.

Coaches don't want that in a recruit. If a recruit is not going to go somewhere based on that team losing a few games, then they are not what you are looking for mentally in a recruit. The ability to handle adversity is a high held commodity in recruiting, not the ability to feel great after a win.

[KnoxVillain]

Originally Posted by Fijivol72

.

This guy again...

[hohenfelsvol]

Kids want TV time. A low end program doesn't get that. We still have that in the SEC.

[jsc1973]

There aren't any recruits that don't remember when Tennessee was at least a contender for the SEC title. It was just three years ago. We're not exactly Minnesota, where they have a gazillion national and Big Ten titles, but none that you remember unless you're over 60.

And it didn't seem to hurt Alabama in recruiting when they were coming off seasons like 3-8 and 4-9, and were coached by a nitwit to boot.

What will matter is whether or not Tennessee improves over the course of the season, and potential recruits have a chance to see how our many young starters develop. If we look bad in November, then there's cause for concern, and for a lot of reasons other than just recruiting. But that's not worth speculating on until then, and then only if that happens.

[rocket31]

in 2008, notre dame went 3-9 and brought in the #2 class in the country.

[PMC2726]

Me too. His point is extremely valid.

The issue is almost 100% playing time these days. Kids don't need to make the choice between a winning program and great facilities anymore. What, does Texas, Ohio St, and Florida have sub-par facilities? Not many kids around the country are really struggling with the decision of whether or not to go to Boise St.

[BeecherVol]

It helps to be in the hunt for championships no doubt.

I would imagine that if you are not, kids want to see if you are headed that way. If you are and you have more room on the depth chart then some of the other top teams. You have a selling point.

These HS kids can see the depth issues that UT has, they have to determine if DD has that program on the way up. This year, that may not be determined just by the win/lose record. And there are other factors that go with this, development (NFL), location, academics.....etc

[jlovevols]

You want to see improvement. You want to get on the bus while the team is on the way up and know that you have a chance to win SEC or national championships while you're in school.

[Allvolinnashville]

Originally Posted by BeecherVol

It helps to be in the hunt for championships no doubt.

I would imagine that if you are not, kids want to see if you are headed that way. If you are and you have more room on the depth chart then some of the other top teams. You have a selling point.

These HS kids can see the depth issues that UT has, they have to determine if DD has that program on the way up. This year, that may not be determined just by the win/lose record. And there are other factors that go with this, development (NFL), location, academics.....etc

Look at it this way...Vanderbilt...good school academics..etc..there coach can recruit players and tell them that they want to make a run at the BCS National championship game..does this really matter to a recruit? After all they are in the SEC...playing time...but they do not land the recruits like we do at this point. It is a selling feature. Not that I am comparing us to Vandy by any means...but think about it. Wins matter...if not our recruiting will drop off significantly. Period.