The Cost Of Winning - 5 Things To Know About College Recruiting
Finding "the one” has never been so difficult.
Is there anything coaches won’t do?
Whatever it takes,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. Making it to the big leagues is a big deal and nearly impossible. Only 3-5% of athletes, in any sport, will make it to the collegiate level, let alone the pros. Some players are recruited as young as junior high. SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE?
2. Prospective student athletes have the opportunity to have five “paid” official recruiting visits to schools. This means all expenses related to the prospect’s visit are paid for by the school. These are also the trips you hear about that may or may not involve parties and other tactics to get recruits excited about the schools. But they, nor their families, cannot receive gifts or payments from any school. WILD AND FREE
3. Coaches go to lengths to get their top prospects to commit with school visits and extravagant home visits. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has climbed a tree, went to school with top prospects and had a sleepover complete with some Netflix. One coach wrestled a prospect and another serenaded a recruit or two (and it worked). WHATEVER YOU’RE INTO
4. Head coaches don’t have to only win over the athlete, but their families. One coach went as far as writing a recruiting letter to a prospect’s cat. And sometimes things don’t always go as planned, like when one mom ran off with the letter of intent and no one could find her. (His dad later signed the paperwork. That led to a court battle). WHEN YOUR MAMA IS THE DRAMA
5. While you might think that a college coach’s job is to call plays and win the big game, 50% of their time is spent recruiting. You might remember a story about Arizona State University’s football coach Herm Edwards, who spent his career in the NFL. He had no idea about having to recruit AND coach. WELCOME TO THE WORLD
Thanks to the Bedford Agency for their help with today’s post. Just like we relied on them for great info for this post, college recruits across the country from all sports (and their families) rely on Bryan, a former division I recruiting director, and his team to navigate the recruiting process.
Wednesday Wisdom
Here’s what everyone will be talking about this morning at the watercooler including how Michael Jordan proved he's the real deal, a NYC Fashion Week debut, more Antonio Brown and why Team U.S.A. is scared. READ
Hello, Monday.
It’s a new week. Let’s embrace it.
It’s a new week. Let’s embrace it.
Arms wide open,
The Last Night’s Game Team
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Don’t doubt the underdog. Three top college teams unexpectedly lost to their underdog opponents over the weekend. Arkansas, Northwestern and Wisconsin all paid their under qualified opponents at least $1 million to show up for the home game and an “easy” win— only to walk away with a big, fat loss. TALK ABOUT AN EXPENSIVE MISTAKE.
OVERTIME
After a big win against the Philadelphia Eagles (the defending Super Bowl champs), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL- National Football League) quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick celebrated in style. He must have lost a bet because he showed up to the postgame press conference donning aviators, big gold chains and a substantial amount of chest hair. IF YOU’VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT?
SIDELINE STAT
Someone had to raise the bar and set a new record. Buffalo Bills (NFL) Vontae Davis could be the first player ever to retire in the middle of the game. He played until halftime and then said "I shouldn't be out there anymore" and called it a career. On the flip side, Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge broke the world record for a marathon, finishing in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds. DANG, THAT’S FAST.
COACHES’ CORNER
Think back to what were you doing 18 years ago. That's when professional golfer Angela Stanford started her career. After 18 years, she finally won her first major tournament this weekend. Stanford says her win was inspired by her mother, who is battling a second round of breast cancer. PLEASE PASS THE TISSUES.
For The Win!
It's a new week to bond over sports with your clients, coworkers and family.
It's a new week to bond over sports with your clients, coworkers and family.
Keep the conversation flowing,
The Last Night's Game Team
COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
What to say to a newly engaged friend…The boys of college baseball love diamonds too. Oregon State defeated Mississippi State (and their rally banana) to reach the College World Series championship games. They'll face an Arkansas team that ousted the defending champions from Florida to reach their first finals in 39 years. (They’ve never won a College World Series title). The best-of-three championship series starts Monday. SCHEDULE
OVERTIME
Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that prevented women from driving, until this weekend. Celebrating her country’s decision to overturn the law, Aseel Al-Hamad, the first female member of Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation, took the wheel and fulfilled her dream to drive an F1 (Formula One) car before the French Grand Prix race yesterday. (F1 driver Lewis Hamilton took home the race’s checkered flag). FEEL THE POWER
SIDELINE STAT
We’re almost halfway through the World Cup and the teams will wrap up group play this week. Most of the teams that were favored are still in it, but there are plenty of teams who have already packed their bags, knowing they won’t advance to the next round. Could Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team be one of them? WHO’S IN AND WHO’S OUT?
COACHES’ CORNER
The empty feeling of being ditched by your ride is all too familiar to the San Diego Padres (MLB – Major League Baseball). Their team bus failed to show up to take them to play the San Francisco Giants. Thinking fast, their director of player and staff services flagged down an empty double-decker tour bus, negotiated a rate and then the team was on their way to the stadium in style, taking in the sights along the way. MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
WHAT TO WATCH
The ESPN Body Issue is out today featuring athletes in the nude (with their important bits strategically covered of course). PICS…Also, the NBA (National Basketball Association) Awards are tonight where the MVP and the highly contested battle for Rookie of the Year will be announced. PEOPLE ARE LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS