There were some interesting recruiting figures on the BTN tonight.

[Hawk68]

The BIG east recruited over 50 4 and 5 star players while the BIG west recruited 9 with Nebby getting 4 of them. The numbers, according to the BTN are skewed mainly because of the closeness of recruits to the east schools. This allows them to make many unofficial visits, which as most of you know become "official visits" once they reach campus.

I realize the certain few of you will make your claim that the ratings don't mean anything and cite the few examples in every class. But, most of us know the higher rankings mean a lot. The schools with the high ranking recruits are winners year after year with the occasional exceptions like when coaching changes, in-house scandals etc. occur.

I predict this disparity will in the near future, cause demands from both sides for changes. I believe the most obvious will be calls for realignment from the east. The west will probably call for stopping unofficial visits. It may even get to the point where both sides will want to go there separate ways. (I doubt this will happen for a long while because of financial reasons, however, if you look at what is happening to ESPN, financial saturation my be closer than one thinks.)

Yes, Iowa almost won the BIG, but a very, very favorable schedule and some extremely close games were major factors. I challenge you all to predict how many times a BIG west team will win the BIG in the next ten years. Sadly, I predict zero.

 

[broth87]

There are so many other factors involved and I GUARANTEE the West will not go winless over he next 10 years. We grow good football players in Iowa too. They might not get the star bidding of kids near larger metropolitan areas, but the NFL is plum full of amazing players who were lowly rated out of high school.
I understand your argument tho. And I agree that teams that annually load up on highly rated recruits tend to win a lot more than those that don't. The key for Iowa to get in that mix is to string a couple of amazing seasons together coupled with a couple of years of kids like AJ Epenesa and things suddenly turn. In the 90s, Nebraska was getting what would have been 4 and 5 star players to Lincoln from California and other coastal areas because they were winning. Winning solves many many ills.
Iowa and Kirk Ferentz and this whole program has a gargantuan opportunity this fall to change their stars. A LOT of returning talent, a group that should be incredibly hungry after what happened in the last two games of the season, another favorable schedule, and they are the favorites to win the West. The East will not be nearly as good this fall with all of the departures at Ohio State and Michigan State, and it will be there for the taking in November/December.
Couple that with a great start to recruiting and a lot of higher rated kids at least looking our way and paying attention, and we have a HUGE opportunity to elevate this program a la Michigan State.

 

[danny14]

Michigan and Ohio State will always be in the same division because their schools demand they get to play the rivalry game every year. Penn State, Maryland, and Rutgers really can't be logically put in the West division. 30-40 4&5* probably are recruits of those schools. Can't really make any rule keeping kids from making unofficial visits to a school, just restrict them from talking to coaches when they are there. I don't see any changes coming...West will always have easier schedules, then more than likely get beat in the championship game by the East champion.

 

[Hawk68]

There are so many other factors involved and I GUARANTEE the West will not go winless over he next 10 years. We grow good football players in Iowa too. They might not get the star bidding of kids near larger metropolitan areas, but the NFL is plum full of amazing players who were lowly rated out of high school.
I understand your argument tho. And I agree that teams that annually load up on highly rated recruits tend to win a lot more than those that don't. The key for Iowa to get in that mix is to string a couple of amazing seasons together coupled with a couple of years of kids like AJ Epenesa and things suddenly turn. In the 90s, Nebraska was getting what would have been 4 and 5 star players to Lincoln from California and other coastal areas because they were winning. Winning solves many many ills.
Iowa and Kirk Ferentz and this whole program has a gargantuan opportunity this fall to change their stars. A LOT of returning talent, a group that should be incredibly hungry after what happened in the last two games of the season, another favorable schedule, and they are the favorites to win the West. The East will not be nearly as good this fall with all of the departures at Ohio State and Michigan State, and it will be there for the taking in November/December.
Couple that with a great start to recruiting and a lot of higher rated kids at least looking our way and paying attention, and we have a HUGE opportunity to elevate this program a la Michigan State.

 

[Hawk68]

The state of Iowa had the least number of BIG recruits with 7 this year.

 

[thomasmulligan]

The BIG east recruited over 50 4 and 5 star players while the BIG west recruited 9 with Nebby getting 4 of them. The numbers, according to the BTN are skewed mainly because of the closeness of recruits to the east schools. This allows them to make many unofficial visits, which as most of you know become "official visits" once they reach campus.

I realize the certain few of you will make your claim that the ratings don't mean anything and cite the few examples in every class. But, most of us know the higher rankings mean a lot. The schools with the high ranking recruits are winners year after year with the occasional exceptions like when coaching changes, in-house scandals etc. occur.

I predict this disparity will in the near future, cause demands from both sides for changes. I believe the most obvious will be calls for realignment from the east. The west will probably call for stopping unofficial visits. It may even get to the point where both sides will want to go there separate ways. (I doubt this will happen for a long while because of financial reasons, however, if you look at what is happening to ESPN, financial saturation my be closer than one thinks.)

Yes, Iowa almost won the BIG, but a very, very favorable schedule and some extremely close games were major factors. I challenge you all to predict how many times a BIG west team will win the BIG in the next ten years. Sadly, I predict zero.

If Iowa had tried to stretch the field early on against the Spartans they would've won. I can't believe Kirk hasn't noticed this flaw in GD's gameplan as it is a recurring theme.

 

[Titanhawk2]

OSU 17 - 8 were from Ohio or bordering states, 4 from FL
Mich - 16 only 3 from Mich or bordering states, the rest from Harbaugh campouts
PSU 6 - all from PA or bordering states
MSU 10 - 9 from Mich or bordering states

For the most part, the big stars stay close to home. Michigan got them to come from all over.

 

[Freyvet]

If Iowa had tried to stretch the field early on against the Spartans they would've won. I can't believe Kirk hasn't noticed this flaw in GD's gameplan as it is a recurring theme.

Yes, and if Iowa gets beat tonight playing zone fans will guarantee they would've won playing man and if West Des Moines Valley gets beat tomorrow playing man some fans will guarantee they would've won if they played zone and it goes on and on and on... This is the most nauseating comment of the common fan. Whatever didn't work - do something different and it would work. Thomasmulligan, I bet ur the fan that yells "call it both ways" to the officials at basketball games as well.

 

[Run&Blade]

The west would never want to split from the big ten. A conference of just those teams wouldn't command dick in tv dollars.

East will probably win the title game 80% of the time or more.

 

[KFsdisciple]

Nothing has changed... Michigan and Ohio state will always recruit well... The fact is Iowa is as foreign to a kid from the south as Italy without the boot shape... Metro kids who want familiarity will be displaced in Iowa but those who want an out and are coach able will choose iowa

 

[jflores]

Nothing has changed... Michigan and Ohio state will always recruit well... The fact is Iowa is as foreign to a kid from the south as Italy without the boot shape... Metro kids who want familiarity will be displaced in Iowa but those who want an out and are coach able will choose iowa

Agreed here. Iowa has demonstrated over the years that its a program that relies heavily on development. I know Kirk made a run and had a decent recruiting class in the 2005 season was it? But for the most part, it seems like come hell or high water (or 12-2), Iowa's recruiting kind of moves along the way that it does.