You are a top recruit in the class of 2014 ... where would you play?

[STLDomer]

USC would be tough to pass up. Nationally relevant, great weather, women, manageable class schedule, and you get to be a top 15 team all of the time and play a relatively easy schedule. Lack of competition = remaining healthy.

USC players get hurt all the time and USCs schedule isn't easy, they played UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame and Stanford last year. Tons of major teams w/ easier schedules than USC

 

[koonja]

USC players get hurt all the time and USCs schedule isn't easy, they played UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame and Stanford last year. Tons of major teams w/ easier schedules than USC

That probably has to do with being over worked because of sanctions.

Yes, there are teams with easier schedules, but provided the national relevance and top 15 ranking every year? UCLA and Oregon are good teams, but they're not going to beat you up like a Florida, Georgia, or SEC team is going to.

You can count out ND and every school in the SEC. Who's left?

 

[Wild Bill]

Now I know why so many recruits de-commit - this is tough. I'd put an emphasis on academics, coaches and tradition.

Visits
ND
Texas
USC
Stanford
Bama

ND meets all my requirements while the other four fail to meet all three.

 

[scUM Hater]

Houston

 

[STLDomer]

Seeing as everyone went far more on detail than my first post, dream scenario, I'd be:

A CB roughly 6'0 205 w/ 4.4 speed and can also do KR/PR

I'd be looking for a good education, manageable depth chart, tradition, BCS caliber team, awesome fan base, awesome campus life and most importantly an awesome staff. I'd plan on getting my degree but I'm a 5 star so I'm not RS.

5 Official Visits:

Notre Dame
Stanford
Oregon
Alabama
LSU

After my OVs I narrow it down to Notre Dame, Stanford, LSU, and Alabama because honestly I only OV'd to Oregon for fun. In my mind I'm choosing between Notre Dame/Stanford vs LSU/Alabama, still need to get priorities straight.

Army All American Game rolls along and there are 5 hats on the table:

Alabama
LSU
Stanford
Notre Dame
Missouri

But Mizzou is just there to be the hometown team and I secretly chose Bama over LSU and Notre Dame over Stanford. Top 2 ND and Alabama (different from my original I know).


In this scenario, looking at all the factors, I'd choose Alabama.

 

[arrowryan]

Anyone who doesn't pick Notre Dame as their school is getting banned and should probably pick a new favorite team

 

[scUM Hater]

I would be too afraid to go Bama in fear of my name being tarnished when violations finally appear.

 

[greyhammer90]

Notre Dame.

I'd be the Elmer of whatever class I was in.


If not them probably Stanford. Weather, football, academics.
Plenty of time to get laid and have crazy fans in the NFL.

 

[Emcee77]

So many people picking Stanford and I'm curious how many people have actually been to Stanford. I have many, many times since graduating on the account of a slew of my friends being in grad school out there.

Simply put, there are a LOT of advantages that ND has over Stanford and as an elite (5) recruit I would choose ND 10/10 times. ND has two negatives... not quite as prestigious academically, worse weather.

The college experience in South Bend trumps Palo Alto for your typical athlete (no, I am not being sarcastic). The coaching trumps Stanford's. The exposure trumps Stanford's. The game day experience and everything else related to actually playing football (national games against big time opponents, trips to Ireland, Shamrock Series, etc.) blow Stanford away. Your academic support trumps Stanford's. The facilities trump Stanford's. The girls/parties trump Stanford's (seriously). ND is (arguably) in a much better position long term to compete for championships. There is a reason why we win the vast majority of recruiting battles against Stanford and flip quite a few recruits. For probably 80% of top notch recruits ND is unarguably a better overall fit.

See, I was sort of hoping someone would say something like this. This was exactly why I started thinking about all this stuff and started this thread. I realize this is the stuff that most top recruits seem to care about, but it's hard for me to imagine that any of this stuff would matter to me at all. Assuming I'm interested in playing big-time football at a competitive school (i.e. chance to play in BCS-level post-season games) (if not, Harvard or other Ivies come into play), my analysis would have been pretty much this:

My answer should surprise no one-- Stanford and ND are the only programs considered.

If I'm Caucasian or my non-football aspirations require graduate school, I pick Stanford.

If I'm African-American or I just want to maximize earning potential through an undergraduate degree (Mendoza College of Business), I pick ND.

Maybe throw in some other high-academics schools, particularly Northwestern (which I actually did seriously consider as a high schooler and have always loved). But in my case, I'm basically a nerdy white guy who always loved school. I would want to go somewhere where I could a) be around other people who take school seriously and b) maximize my options for post-graduate study, while still playing big-time football so that I'd also be giving myself a shot at playing in the NFL for a few years. Stanford would be my pick, no doubt.

If not them probably Stanford. Weather, football, academics.
Plenty of time to get laid and have crazy fans in the NFL.

Haha, right! I'd like to think that would be my outlook. But let's be honest, that 17 year old kid probably has never existed ...

 

[Old Man Mike]

Officials:

University of Hawaii
University of Samoa
University of Paris
University of Sydney
University of Dublin

Silent commit:
University of Notre Dame

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Too many unsaid variables to affect the decision, so I'm going to fill in the blanks with me as a football player, and my only priority is to be drafted. Here's my choice based on positions.

QB:

USC
Michigan
Oklahoma
Alabama
Texas

I pick USC due to their track record of producing NFL QBs (who cash 7 figure checks even if they suck)

OL:

Wisconsin
USC
Alabama

I pick Bama, no explanation necessary.

TE:

Notre Dame

No brainier, only one school I'm looking at

*Im White, so that pretty much covers every non-specialist position, even in fantasy land

 

[Rack Em]

This could be a fun game. Can I be a 4'11'', 348 lb. NT named "Brodacious Ball"?

Mom?

 

[Kak7304]

I'd publicly commit to USC early. Reaffirm my commitment over and over and use all my official visits to USC. Then I'd secretly recruit the other USC commits to flip at the end of NSD to ND with me.

 

[Kak7304]

Too many unsaid variables to affect the decision, so I'm going to fill in the blanks with me as a football player, and my only priority is to be drafted. Here's my choice based on positions.

QB:

USC
Michigan
Oklahoma
Alabama
Texas

I pick USC due to their track record of producing NFL QBs (who cash 7 figure checks even if they suck)

OL:

Wisconsin
USC
Alabama

I pick Bama, no explanation necessary.

TE:

Notre Dame

No brainier, only one school I'm looking at

*Im White, so that pretty much covers every non-specialist position, even in fantasy land

They also have a track record of QBs flopping in the NFL. Plus, Kiffin helped destroy Barkley's draft stock, so the QB pipeline there isn't what it used to be under Carroll.

 

[phork]

I would commit to Michigan right away then send my letter of intent to ND on signing day.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would commit to Michigan right away then send my letter of intent to ND on signing day.

LOL...

this.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

They also have a track record of QBs flopping in the NFL. Plus, Kiffin helped destroy Barkley's draft stock, so the QB pipeline there isn't what it used to be under Carroll.

Like I said, those busts still get paid before flaming out. Pretty much every starting QB there gets drafted.

 

[irishroo]

Top 5:

Wisconsin: good academics, ridiculous party scene, one of the best gameday atmospheres anywhere

Georgia: solid academics, Southern belles, Athens, great program

Stanford: among the 7ish best schools in the world academically, gorgeous campus, program on the rise

Texas: pretty much the same as Georgia, coaching stability could be a problem

USC: good academics, great program, beaches, girls, parties, In-n-Out

Choice: Georgia

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Top 5:

Wisconsin: good academics, ridiculous party scene, one of the best gameday atmospheres anywhere

Georgia: solid academics, Southern belles, Athens, great program

Stanford: among the 7ish best schools in the world academically, gorgeous campus, program on the rise

Texas: pretty much the same as Georgia, coaching stability could be a problem

USC: good academics, great program, beaches, girls, parties, In-n-Out

Choice: Georgia

What's your definition of solid/ good academics? Among BCS schools, all three of those programs offer average (Texas, Wiscy) to poor (UGA) degree value.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

My Officials would be

Arizona St
Oregon
Florida St
Hawaii
Texas

Final 3

ND
Oregon
Arizona St


Gotta get the weather and girls in on the officials lol The make the smart decision and choose the Irish in the end.

 

[ACamp1900]

What's your definition of solid/ good academics? Among BCS schools, all three of those programs offer average (Texas, Wiscy) to poor (UGA) degree value.

From what I can tell from his post, his definition of "good academics" is more in line with our understanding of "lose, drunk co-eds".

 

[West Coast Domer]

top 3 of Ole miss ,Notre Dame, and Oregon
Ole miss....Straight cash homie
Notre Dame... Ndfister would get me to visit.
Oregon...Doesnt hurt to have Phil Knight around the program.

Choice..Oregon

 

[irishroo]

What's your definition of solid/ good academics? Among BCS schools, all three of those programs offer average (Texas, Wiscy) to poor (UGA) degree value.

I was basing it off what I remember from rankings by Business Week or Princeton Review or whatever other ranking it may be as well as general knowledge of the applications stats at the schools and of the kids I know at those schools. Nothing real scientific or anything, but average ACT at all of those schools is upper 20s and average HS GPA is 3.6-3.7. I think it's fair to say that those are all good, not great, academic schools.

 

[anarin]

The school that lands me early playing time. A school that I can step in and turn it around.

West Virginia, Colorado, UCLA, TCU

Something along those lines.

 

[Irish YJ]

Surprised to see so many considering UGA. Athens is fun, but nothing special IMO. I'm there a few times a year with pals that are alumni, and just not seeing it. Helluva fun time, good football, but special ??

Also surprised that nobody mentioned the Vols. Nothing sexier than a hot Vol rushing early football season in her short orange dress and cowboy boots. Game day and atmosphere, stadium and location are all better than UGA IMHO. Wouldn't go there, just beats the hell out of most SEC schools.

 

[Irish Steeler]

2 words, NOTRE DAME!!

 

[GBdomer]

Florida no doubt wouldn't even have to think twice.

 

[Rack Em]

I'd go wherever my dad can get his rap career off the ground.

 

[phork]

My Officials would be

Arizona St
Oregon
Florida St
Hawaii
Texas

Final 3

ND
Oregon
Arizona St


Gotta get the weather and girls in on the officials lol The make the smart decision and choose the Irish in the end.

Surprised no one would take more visits to Hawaii... I'd be all over that.

Plus I would go to the school who would make a contribution to my Dad's church with the most small and unmarked bills.

 

[NDPhilly]

Hawaii probably wouldn't even let you visit if they knew your intentions.