NY Times: Inside a Football Recruiting Battle

[TexasTerror]

This was a great piece! Really allows you to look inside major college football recruiting -- particularly Texas and Oklahoma, but also LSU and USC -- as the NY Times follows this one player from Lufkin, Texas who has a tough decision ahead of him as one of the top defensive players in the nation.

This article really leaves a different impression of the schools, particularly the one in Austin. Can't necessarily believe everything in this one, as it seems a bit slanted towards painting a negative light of the UT program, but I'm sure not all of it is far from reality.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/sports/ncaafootball/26recruit.html?_r=2&ref=sports

[813Jag]

Good article. I've heard about recruiting visits to LSU. My wife was a Gator Guide for 3 years @ UF and has plenty of stories.

[aust42]

Can't necessarily believe everything in this one, as it seems a bit slanted towards painting a negative light of the UT program, but I'm sure not all of it is far from reality.

Sex, money and drugs. Booster recruiting tools that will always be there till the end of time. I wonder why that never happened to me at Delaware? xlolx

My mom went to high school with a guy that played at Ohio State back in his day. He owns an Auto Dealership now. One time we were there looking at cars and he told me while he attended Ohio State, he would go to this ice cream shop on campus every week to pick up his paycheck even though he didn't work there. This sort of thing happens all the time at big time schools. There's no sure way for the University to monitor or stop the boosters from doing it.

[catamount man]

I know a kid personally who was recruited by UGA and on his recruiting visit, was offered the services of 2 hot UGA sorority chicks by one of the football coaches. I will not reveal the name of the coach but he is on an NFL staff today. My friend couldn't believe it, but, he's a guy, and took the girls. He said it just tripped him out that a coach was more or less pimping these 2 girls.

In the end, he got laid and turned down Georgia. The drugs thing surprises me though. I mean as athletes, they are supposed to be keeping themselves in good shape. I really hope this type of recruiting is not prevalent in FCS circles as it is in FBS circles.

[aust42]

I really hope this type of recruiting is not prevalent in FCS circles as it is in FBS circles.

I would assume it's non existent in FCS circles as far as providing financial support to recruits and their families, providing women on recruiting trips, etc. It's only the big time schools where the boosters consider their football programs life or death. Their the ones that have the money and power.

[grizband]

Its interesting to read that MacFarland seems to be a very mature 18 year old, and made his decision based on his morals viewpoints. The recruiting tactics of Texas, and other schools, would work for some prospective recruits, but this is one commendable young man who chose the high road.

[catamount man]

Its interesting to read that MacFarland seems to be a very mature 18 year old, and made his decision based on his morals viewpoints. The recruiting tactics of Texas, and other schools, would work for some prospective recruits, but this is one commendable young man who chose the high road.

Amen!!!

[catamount man]

I would assume it's non existent in FCS circles as far as providing financial support to recruits and their families, providing women on recruiting trips, etc. It's only the big time schools where the boosters consider their football programs life or death. Their the ones that have the money and power.

Imagine you're the dad, a powerful and wealthy alum and have some good stroke with the coach, pres, AD, press, etc, etc. and your daughter is one of these "recruiting escorts". Sad thing is, I'm sure that is the case. Just another thing about FBS football that sickens me.