What makes a good recruiter?

A good friend of mine had his son recruited by Notre Dame and USCw. From what they told me and what little I could see it came down to salesmanship and interpersonal skills. Star power helps. That was before NIL, so I would imagine nowadays bags of cash and/or a glossy prospectus is necessary.

Edit: Another thing to note is that this high school had a pipeline to Notre Dame and USC. This leads me to believe that relationships with known coaches over many years is also important.

 

It used to be the best salesman with the best track record. Now it's become who can write the biggest check.

 

And even more $$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

Somebody who can close the deal down the stretch.

 

It was always about who was going to write a check. It was just coming from a different party and going to a different party.

 

He who has the deepest pockets or access to offshore bank accounts?

 

I am not sure that is enough $$'s!

 

Let me add.

A couple examples from one of our biggest donors.

Auburn, as an example, has 6 big contributors vs our 2 that are willing to pony up a ton of money for players. That’s why they recruited so well this year. They outbid us for players this year plain and simple. If gator victorious doesn’t get a substantial amount of new members I think UF will continue to be cherry picked during recruiting season. I don’t blame a kid for taking the money.

Tuesday night before NSD (a dead contact period if I remember right) DJ Lagway and his family was offered 3 million per year for 3 years to sign with another team. (I’m guessing USC since I was told the team is on the west coast) Only the personal relationship Napier had with DJ and his family, and their keeping their word kept him in our class. If Napier is fired DJ will be gone.

 

I think most of these million plus dollar deals are being made outside of collectives. The dead period means the coaches can’t contact the kids, but the money guys still can, do, and always have. Power brokers bringing their own money, and cutting their own deals have a much better chance of pulling off a flip or commitment, vs a collective who’s having to raise money and split it up with athletes across a dozen sports. The collective is still necessary and lets all the small players contribute, but for the top players seeking the top money, having guys that can make moves on their own is really what’s needed. Our big dogs are the head of our collective. Do we have anyone making big deals outside of the collective? I know of several smaller players making their own deals, but these aren’t million dollar deals.

 

Pulling on this thread... I believe Auburn's half dozen big contributors donate primarily or even exclusively to football. Other than John and Rosemary Brown's $57M for a student center and college of engineering in 2015, Auburn has rallied half a dozen of its rich donors to throw tens of millions just for football. Florida's biggest donor, Gary Condron, donates hundreds of millions to UF projects not related to football. Hugh Hathcock seems to be the only one donating tens of millions to just football (as far as I can tell). Where else do UF donors send money other than to football? James Heavener and other members of the UF Board of Trustees spend tens of millions on politics (I will not get specific, so I can stay out of the "Too Hot" forum).

Ole Miss supposedly has the most well-organized NIL collective with maybe twice the membership of other NILs. I have no idea how anyone can measure NIL membership and donation levels, but it is not far of a stretch to believe that Ole Miss can convince more of its fans to donate to NIL.

The takeaway is that we Florida Gator fans need to sign up for Florida Victorious. The few of you on the forum who are millionaire donors need to stop caring about the UF chess team and spend all that money exclusively on football. The few of you who run local businesses need to hire some bagmen to drop bags o'cash at the feet of these athletes, assuming you have no formal connection to the University of Florida.

 

Gary is getting frustrated with it. Says it’s not sustainable. UF has big money alumnae that will not go in on paying football recruits. Just the way it is at the moment. There are still boosters at some schools giving cash to kids that also have NIL contracts. UGA has paid recruits “not to visit” certain schools. SMDH.

 

M-O-N-E-Y:
New car, caviar, four star, daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team.

Get Back
I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack.........

 

I can’t blame them. There’s zero ROI on most of these deals, and the kid you give a boatload of money to may very well end up playing against your team next year. At least if you donate money to have a building built, you get your name on the front and you can drive by and look at it whenever you want.

 

I am not a billionaire, but I can understand his frustration. If I were in his shoes I probably would rather spend my money on the University of Florida itself, like the Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred McKethan Field--something that will last a few years and not enter the transfer portal. On the other hand, if I had slightly less cash like Hugh Hathcock I would continue the Gator Guard as a separate collective independent of Florida Victorious and use that only on football. Look at Texas--they have a group that established a collective just for offensive linemen. Imagine if local businesses got together and established a collective just to ensure that the Gator offensive linemen had some minimum income that would entice recruits to pick UF over another school.

 

LOL - Just wait when some NIL person is hovering over the crib of some unusually large or athletically,
genetically, predisposed baby, projected to be a can't miss athlete.

Mom, Dad, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Handlers, and Coaches - "my name is Almer Bama" based on this here babys
Genetic Footprint, we are offering $500,000 fer all athletic rights associated with this here baby. Make your mark on this
here paper and we will deliver 1/2 dozen Dodge Chargers to the address of your choosing and of course the down payment.

Rolllll Tideeeee

 

I'm really enjoying following our MBB/WBB teams. Still pretty big-time, but feels like one or two less zeroes on NIL involved. If not...

Our local D3 school's fields are 2 blocks away. I can go watch soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, even rugby. I suspect I'll be getting a lot more interested there.

 

You’re free to set up a collective for our offensive lineman if you want. Texas fans did that, UF fans didn’t.

 

..not be named Rob Sale.

 

Thats the route I'm going, $5 bucks to go to a H.S. football or basketball game. Although I understand, listning to Shane Matthews, H.S. football is going the way of College now. You left out Volleyball, I enjoy watching men or women (boys or girls) play. it's fun and alot of action.

 

I also coach HS girls lacrosse (fastest sport on two feet.) My daughter is HC in her third season. Team hasn't won in six years. This year, the rebuild is paying off.

Even for this, same stuff pokes in its head. Elitism has taken over. Kids that started $2.5k/year travel in 3rd grade vs. our beginner girls from the poorest school in the area. Wish they could have what I grew up with.