If this is true, then I expect him to have some academic problems during his time there, if the reports of his preference of the social life at OSU are true. Seen it with my own kids. Do very well in HS in a somewhat structured and stricter environment, then find the party scene at college and enjoy it way too much.
Not like you or I have any experience with that - nawh! We had to see it with our kids first.
(I am laughing.)
Everyone's question on how parents don't see Urban line of BS. I was thinking about this last night. Obviously, I'm not in any conversations, but it became clear to me why parents buy his hype. He probably finds out what the parents enjoy and find interesting outside of just football. Then he spends a lot of time with the parents discussing what they like and enjoy. Pretty typical of your normal salesman. Easier to sell if you have a common interest to go along with your product.
I was thinking about this also.
Urban is at or near the pinnacle of his career, one of the best in the business. Ohio State fans are crazy for OSU, just the way we are crazy for ND. Urban was a real coup for OSU. He spanked them while at Florida. He was another MAC kid done well. And he came home to lead the Bucks out of a scandalous time. Time after time, we make our leaders better than what they are because of our desires to be part of something good and right. There is a tremendous anti-SEC hatred with the Buckeyes. Urban is the one that can deliver a once proud program from evil. (Formerly weak sister SEC dominance.) Every Buckeye fan is going to think he walks on water. It is just our wiring.
Let's face it. During the height of their popularity and success, at least four OSU coaches could have been elected governor. That is the way it is. A fan is going to look past something a non-fan sees. And Ohio State is a football school, a true football factory. There is no illusion football doesn't come first.
I am so glad that we hired Weis instead of Meyer. I never thought I would say anything like that. But when you think about it, whatever the rumor, the final reason Meyer didn't sign on the dotted line to become the next ND coach after Willingham, was because he couldn't operate with the "freedom" he desired. That freedom had OSU self report what, like 46 secondary violations his first year as head coach? That wouldn't work at ND, because ND is about the only non-football first, football powerhouse. The exception that proves the rule.
I like OSU having Urban. Even though it seems tough when we lose some recruits, particularly in such a shit-fest, dog and pony show as we did yesterday, (I certainly understand any ND fans ambivalence to the way ESPN, the two kids, their families, and OSU fans treated ND), but isn't it really for the best? Everyone sees that Cornell wasn't a ND kind of kid; hell his commitment probably wouldn't have been accepted by the staff, even if he gave it! But what about Hilliard?
Without knocking him, paraphrasing everything I have heard come out of his mouth, from alpha to omega, his wavelength just isn't ND. And it wouldn't matter if we got him. A lot of kid think they want ND. But they don't. And they don't ever do well if they pick it. Just like Meyer wouldn't have been the coach for the Irish. Hilliard
said it; his quote was something like ND gave him pause, it was really a tough call, etc. What he said to me was that he saw the value of ND, and all it stood for and rejected it, because he has some other agenda. One that OSU and Urban satisfied.
