Really getting tired of threads and posts whining and moaning about how negative message board content on VN is driving away recruits. Yes, I'm fully aware of the Wisconsin kid de-committing based on getting his feelings hurt on their board. But that was a rare case and it simply is nowhere near the norm. In my opinion this lamenting by homers as another lame attempt to shut down criticism of Dooley and the program and I absolutely reject it. I and others will speak our minds whenever we feel like it about whatever we want related to UT athletics. By the way, UT wasn't the only team to not meet expectations of the fanbase this year.....and do you think their message board content is clean as the wind-driven snow? Give me a break - criticism and honest critique of the program is everywhere across the country on the D1 level on message boards. Do you honestly think that only teams who exceeded expectations this year are having good recruiting success? Malarky. Homers need to grow up and accept that not everyone is going to agree with them and their "real fan" analysis' all the time. So let's please stop with the sanctimonious attitude about message board content and the impact it has on the program, because it's just plain absurd
don't get too hung up on message boards per se..
the issue is fan unrest and the perception if a coaching staff has 1 year left or more. Fan unrest is measured by many methods with message boards just being one way.
media reports / articles about fan unrest, lack of ticket sales and criticisms of program are also ways to measure fan unrest.
call in radio or TV shows can also be used to mesasure fan unrest...
the # 1 item about particular schools that is most successful in getting recruits to sign is the realtionship they build with the coaches recruiting them. So if a general perception is that a staff could be gone after the next year, that is fair game to be pointed out by opposing coaches who are recruiting the same players.
Using those reasons in recruiting has been going on for decades, long before message boards were ever invented. It has always been successful just as negative commercials in politics is successful. when recruits hear it enough times from enough different coaches, it sinks in and influences the recruits.
Not a big deal. just part fo the landscape. If it doesn't matter to fans and they perfer to voice their opinions no matter potential impact, more power to them. Doesn't hold back reporters or talk show hosts either with criticisms
I think it is foolish to just dismiss the idea that fans wanting a coach replaced has no impact on recruiting. just recognize it could possible slow down a turnaround in a program and accept it. no reason to be defensive about it.
it was used after 2005. it is being used right now. until yesterday, I had not seen much of an impact but it was one factor yesterday, the perception of only one more year for the head coach being oen reason a couple guys flipped. be interesting to see how the rest of recruiting plays out.