Take football out of the game, and think solely of IMMEDIATE economic impact, immediate life changing money. Thinking long term strategy is the opposite of immediate gratification and influences. In this economy, cash is hot. Cash is social media flare. Schools can simply puff up a high school athlete as being able to more than gain long term money based on their skills, but that immediate money hits now.... THEN add school, culture, playing time, location, record.
Even if ND matches whatever money Auburn is fronting, it’s game, set, match. Of course a player, a family isn’t going to say it’s about money. People have pride. The excuses will be about culture, team culture, better fit, etc, everything but cash.
Notice how the best SEC classes usually don’t start coming together until the end. We snag them first and they parlay our exposure to the offers they really want. I’m not sure how to play this moving forward. Don’t accept big recruits until the end is an odd approach.
Notre Dame will always run against the grain at some point. I’m convinced that any big time athletes we get have to (1) really be invested long term beyond football [network, education] (2) run counter culture to what is commonplace, and (3) have strong parental influence. Because the lore of ND is not beating out the SEC nor their bag persuasion (this includes vehicles, jobs for family, etc.), especially not for the majority of southern kids.
The midwest is drab in comparison to all the flash they can get down there, and get it now. Why work a depth chart AND school with no guarantees in a midwest town in a butt cold small (emphasis on small) religious school whose version of getting wild at a game is Sweet Caroline or a Jon Bon Jovi cameo?
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