I’m confused about some recruits

[EconVol92]

If you’re not from the states of South Carolina or Kentucky and have multiple offers from SEC schools including the more historic schools (Al, Au, Fl, Ga, LSU,Tn) why would you include either Ky or SC in your top 2 or 3. I get maybe Al,Ga at this time as you don’t want to ride the bench, but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to lose as often or more than I won.

 

[Pennheel]

If you’re not from the states of South Carolina or Kentucky and have multiple offers from SEC schools including the more historic schools (Al, Au, Fl, Ga, LSU,Tn) why would you include either Ky or SC in your top 2 or 3. I get maybe Al,Ga at this time as you don’t want to ride the bench, but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to lose as often or more than I won.

It's possible that tradition for a lot of kids anymore isn't as big a deal as it once was,and they just don't care about that kind of stuff. They can go to the Kentuckys and South Carolinas of the world,and make their own path regardless of being on a winning historic football program.

 

[Volfan76]

If you’re not from the states of South Carolina or Kentucky and have multiple offers from SEC schools including the more historic schools (Al, Au, Fl, Ga, LSU,Tn) why would you include either Ky or SC in your top 2 or 3. I get maybe Al,Ga at this time as you don’t want to ride the bench, but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to lose as often or more than I won.

Sometimes these schools will overpay for a couple of recruits to create some spark and notoriety. Some recruits want to be a big fish in a small pond. They may not win, but they get significant playing time when they aren't waiting behind elite players.

 

[stolitonic]

Sometimes there is a benefit to being a big fish in a small pond I suppose.

5* signee at either school would be a rarity and be treated like the second coming by the fanbase. Our fawning over Nico was getting a bit weird there for a bit, could you imagine some guy like that going to Lexington? Would be the biggest thing in KY football in 50 years. Would make the Jared Lorenzen hype seem like a mention in the local paper.

 

[EasternVol]

Sometimes there is a benefit to being a big fish in a small pond I suppose.

5* signee at either school would be a rarity and be treated like the second coming by the fanbase. Our fawning over Nico was getting a bit weird there for a bit, could you imagine some guy like that going to Lexington? Would be the biggest thing in KY football in 50 years. Would make the Jared Lorenzen hype seem like a mention in the local paper.

Like when they signed Tim Couch.

 

[Butch s]

It's possible that tradition for a lot of kids anymore isn't as big a deal as it once was,and they just don't care about that kind of stuff. They can go to the Kentuckys and South Carolinas of the world,and make their own path regardless of being on a winning historic football program.

Nil > tradition

 

[WillisWG]

high schoolers who knows what they're thing....what you gonna do

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

South Carolina and Kentucky are our peers in the lifetime of today's high school senior.

In the last 18 college football seasons we are 113-102, UK is 116-111 and USCjr. is 128-100. As someone who lived through our post-Neyland 90's heyday, I can understand that being a tough pill for many, but the only tradition that matters to these kids is what they've seen.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

We're 36-12 against those two teams starting in 2000.

 

[Christian Lowe]

The same reason I would’ve went to Tennessee as a 5 star even when we were going 5-7 every year.

Those kids have parents, and their parents are likely fans of the state school. That is usually passed down to the kids.

 

[wmcovol]

If you’re not from the states of South Carolina or Kentucky and have multiple offers from SEC schools including the more historic schools (Al, Au, Fl, Ga, LSU,Tn) why would you include either Ky or SC in your top 2 or 3. I get maybe Al,Ga at this time as you don’t want to ride the bench, but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to lose as often or more than I won.

Initial contact & relationships with coaches could be a factor.

 

[VOLywood]

Probably a female in the picture

 

[Vol423]

South Carolina and Kentucky are our peers in the lifetime of today's high school senior.

In the last 18 college football seasons we are 113-102, UK is 116-111 and USCjr. is 128-100. As someone who lived through our post-Neyland 90's heyday, I can understand that being a tough pill for many, but the only tradition that matters to these kids is what they've seen.

I'm assuming you have an error on UT's record unless you're going to tell me that we skipped playing an entire season. You've got us playing 215 games, Kentucky playing 227 games and South Carolina playing 228 games.

 

[EconVol92]

South Carolina and Kentucky are our peers in the lifetime of today's high school senior.

In the last 18 college football seasons we are 113-102, UK is 116-111 and USCjr. is 128-100. As someone who lived through our post-Neyland 90's heyday, I can understand that being a tough pill for many, but the only tradition that matters to these kids is what they've seen.

I understand what you’re saying, but they have also seen Tennessee ranked #1 in the CFB rankings and neither Ky or SC have ever sniffed that.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I understand what you’re saying, but they have also seen Tennessee ranked #1 in the CFB rankings and neither Ky or SC have ever sniffed that.

One year doesn’t move the needle much perception wise unfortunately, alot of teams have a good year now and again. I think we're trending in the right direction, but I mean, these kids have seen Mississippi State ranked #1 in the CFP too. South Carolina had 3 straight 11 win seasons about a decade ago under Spurrier. Kentucky has beaten Florida often of late, we can't seem to, they can't beat us. Just weirdness. Think about it this way, does Missouri going 11-2 last year really alter your perception of them as a program much? Similarly, outside of our fanbase Hooker & Hyatt's heroics had about the same impact.

 

[joevol33]

The same reason I would’ve went to Tennessee as a 5 star even when we were going 5-7 every year.

Those kids have parents, and their parents are likely fans of the state school. That is usually passed down to the kids.

I kinda wish this was always true. My parents are Kentucky fans, so thankfully I saw the light, the big orange light. Unfortunately, my brat kids are Georgia fans .

 

[Vols1891]

I'm assuming you have an error on UT's record unless you're going to tell me that we skipped playing an entire season. You've got us playing 215 games, Kentucky playing 227 games and South Carolina playing 228 games.

Forfeited Pruitt games

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I'm assuming you have an error on UT's record unless you're going to tell me that we skipped playing an entire season. You've got us playing 215 games, Kentucky playing 227 games and South Carolina playing 228 games.

No error. We had 11 wins vacated under Pruitt. The numbers come from this website linked below, which factors in vacated wins. Add those back though and the point stands (USCjr. 128-100; UT 124-102; UK 116-111). We're peers in the lifetimes of today’s high school seniors.

I-A Wins 1869-2023

stassen.com

 

[LouderVol]

If you’re not from the states of South Carolina or Kentucky and have multiple offers from SEC schools including the more historic schools (Al, Au, Fl, Ga, LSU,Tn) why would you include either Ky or SC in your top 2 or 3. I get maybe Al,Ga at this time as you don’t want to ride the bench, but I don’t think I wouldn’t want to lose as often or more than I won.

why wouldn't you include them?

Its an arbitrary list, could be a simple as needing another school there. maybe there was something there you liked, and while your head is taking you elsewhere, you are throwing them a bone. could be they offered the biggest NIL and this keeps the offer around. maybe its a fall back option if their offer gets pulled, or they have a transfer later. Maybe your top coach(es) convinced you to include a small school so they still get a "win", instead of it just being an open secret you are going wherever. Maybe they were the biggest competition with a bigger school, and you are letting the big school know you have options. it could literally be for ANY reason.

 

[gohogs14]

One year doesn’t move the needle much perception wise unfortunately, alot of teams have a good year now and again. I think we're trending in the right direction, but I mean, these kids have seen Mississippi State ranked #1 in the CFP too. South Carolina had 3 straight 11 win seasons about a decade ago under Spurrier. Kentucky has beaten Florida often of late, we can't seem to, they can't beat us. Just weirdness. Think about it this way, does Missouri going 11-2 last year really alter your perception of them as a program much? Similarly, outside of our fanbase Hooker & Hyatt's heroics had about the same impact.

Missouri is a good example. Luther Burden could have gone anywhere, and if it wasn't for him Missouri probably wouldn't have gone 11-2 last season. Some of these kids want to singlehandedly change the perception of programs by themselves and truthfully it's hard to tell what a team will look like 3-4 years after you sign anyway.

Marcus Lattimore committed to SC after pretty mediocre 6-7 win seasons and because of that they won the SEC east and 11 games back to back. The portal and NIL have definitely changed things too though and idk that we'll see kids staying home as much as they used to anymore just to represent their state school without $$$.

 

[EconVol92]

why wouldn't you include them?

Its an arbitrary list, could be a simple as needing another school there. maybe there was something there you liked, and while your head is taking you elsewhere, you are throwing them a bone. could be they offered the biggest NIL and this keeps the offer around. maybe its a fall back option if their offer gets pulled, or they have a transfer later. Maybe your top coach(es) convinced you to include a small school so they still get a "win", instead of it just being an open secret you are going wherever. Maybe they were the biggest competition with a bigger school, and you are letting the big school know you have options. it could literally be for ANY reason.

Off the top of my head I’d say facilities, tradition, the fact that when the SEC was split into East/West the goal was to equally distribute the 6 Traditional power schools so each division had 3 of them FL, GA, TN to the East and then AL, AU, LSU to the West. That is why FL played LSU every year because the other 4 already had traditional opponents in the other division.

So that would be my rationale as history has a way of repeating itself and teams ebb and flow. Some higher than others and some lower than others.