Hey Sturt...what about Vinny and Harvey? If you dont think our ability to take kids like Grooms and Butler and the two I just mentioned play into the big scheme, you are further off than I thought. Keep your eye peeled on the new #99. Hes another example. I promise it wont take long for him to be noticed. Maybe Turene also. Where you been man? Denero Mariott? Get real!-
I've addressed this in a post earlier this year...
I don't even know how to talk to this guy. Every thread he posts in he has a different opinion from everyone else and mocks you for suggesting that he might not have every possibility figured out.
There was a time when Marshall moved up from 1-AA to the MAC. Why were we able to make the transition better than any team ever has? Because we didn't have 1-AA talent. We had transfers like Moss, Kresser, etc. that were legitimate BCS caliber players. We had more talent from day one in the MAC. Why did we have more talent? we had an advantage that they didn't have, we could take transfers that could play right away. We also had be far the best facilities and the best fan support. We kept that momentum rolling and dominated the MAC for years. Things started to slow down toward the end of the Pruett years. We were mediocre at best when moving to CUSA. Instead of walking in as one of the best squads on day one, we walked in as one of the worst. We have possibly the worst facilities in the conference. A decade later, we are the definition of a CUSA mediocre team. If we move up as we are now, use the vision money to buyout of the conference, cancel the facility upgrades, we will continue to be mediocre for a long time to come.
I know you disagree with this, but I truly believe we have the best opportunity to bust the BCS where we are. All of the CUSA teams that moved up will be removed from the prop pool. We can easily take 5 4 stars every year in our current position. We will never be in the position to land that kind of talent without props and the teams in the BE can't either. We have a big advantage over the BE just like we had over the MAC. Lets stay here.
I appreciate the coherent reply.
So you say that being able to take 4-star props in 1-AA when our MAC competition could not made all of the difference... and that the MAC began catching up with us toward the end and that we have been mediocre in CUSA because all of them could also take props... correct?
Is it fair for me to give you a list of names?
Tyrell Smith. Josh Johnson. Darius Passmore. Jimmy Rogers. O.J. Murdock. Dexter Moody. Brian Robinson. Travon Van. Kevin Grooms. Amos Leggett.
Referencing Rivals and Scout, those are the 10 recruits since 2002 that Marshall has had that show up as having been rated 4-star.
How many of those guys are playing in the NFL today? How many of those guys even made all-conference? Started more than 2 seasons-worth of games? Even just stayed on the roster for 2 seasons?
4-star recruits that come to Marshall mostly have not panned out as meeting the expectations that go with their level of talent... sometimes, if not quite often, that's because off-the-field issues that confound their getting on the field... sometimes it could be a golden-boy state of mind that keeps them from working as hard as the lesser-starred peers.
So, while it's a more credible argument than just saying, "Well, I just think we'll do better," once again history suggests it's not exactly correct to say that that's going to make all the difference.
What you're saying is that you'd rather have 1/2 to 1/3 of the current TV income, a reduction in bowl opportunities, and a reduction in national reputation in return to have a few new props show up on the February recruit list every year, mostly 3 star guys, though maybe occasionally getting a 4-star prop... never mind how only a percentage of those... history shows... will actually get to school, stay in school, make the grades and stay on the field.
So I guess this is where we just have a difference of opinion. I'd rather maintain approximately the same money, same bowl opps, and same national reputation than to lose so much of that in exchange for a few props, a percentage of whom will ever even play ball for us, and a smaller percentage of whom will ever make a difference.