The Cost Of Winning - 5 Things To Know About College Recruiting

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

5 Things To Know About The Big Business Of College Football

Even though college football players can’t earn a salary, college football is big money. How big? You’ll find out.

That’s what he said,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – Like what you see? Share Last Night’s Game with a friend or like us on Instagram for a chance to win some sweet swag. Contest ends Sept. 26th!

---

Five Things To Know About The Big Business Of College Football 

1. The “power five conferences” (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) bring in considerable revenue, mostly due to lucrative TV deals. The SEC (Southeastern Conference) alone brought in $311 million from TV/radio rights for the 2014-2015 regular season.

2. Sponsorships are an additional source of revenue. Last year, the University of Michigan signed a deal with Jordan, a Nike brand. The deal runs through 2027 with an option to go to 2031. If it runs its full course, the school will pocket a minimum of $173 million that includes $85 million in Nike apparel/products.

3. While the schools are bringing in bank, the players are not. They can receive a cost of attendance stipend from the school, which is intended to help with outside school expenses (food, gas, etc). During their college career, they are not allowed to use their athletic ability, name or school name to make money. This is an ongoing debate and if you’d like to read more, this is a great article.

4. Athletes may not be able to be compensated financially but conferences are getting creative, providing covered medical expenses for injured athletes after they leave school and lifetime scholarships to sweeten the deal.

5. College head coaches make as much if not more than most NFL (National Football League) head coaches. The highest coaching salary in the NFL is $9 M. The top three highest paid coaches in college are:

1. Nick Saban (Alabama Crimson Tide) $11.12 M

2. Jim Harbaugh (Michigan Wolverines) $7 M

3. Urban Meyer (Ohio State Buckeyes) $6 M

Don’t worry most college coaches’ salaries come out of ticket sales and TV contracts, not tuition. 

But wait, there's more.

Want more of what’s happening right now in sports to chat up your colleagues? Here’s the three things you need to know for today.

The Rundown: Bowled Over

If you’re part of the polar vortex sweeping the country this weekend it’s a great excuse to sit in front of the fire and thaw out while warming your mind (and maybe your heart?) with sports.

Fire up those brain cells,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – You’re not likely to tailgate in the snow, but if you are we have the perfect recipe in this week’s tailgate treat to keep you all warm and snuggly. 

---

NCAA Football (College)

• Solved that problem. University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh’s name has surfaced as a possible candidate for the vacant Los Angeles Rams head coaching job. Harbaugh said it’s all rumors made up by enemies to hurt recruiting. He then insulted said enemies by calling them “jive turkeys.” Later he sang the national anthem at rapper Lil’ Dicky’s concert. Now that’s a renaissance man.
• It’s bowl game time. The University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners are bowl eligible for the first time in school history. They play the University of New Mexico Lobos at home this weekend in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Movin’ on up. 
• Everybody’s doing it. Bowl game season starts on Saturday. Don’t forget to join our Last Night’s Game’s ESPN Bowl Mania Group to win prizes or to simply have a good time. It’s like a March Madness bracket for college football. (Once you click the link above, select "play now for free." Password: sports curious). 

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• Your lucky day. UFC will broadcast Saturday night’s fight live and free of charge. The main event is between Paige VanZant (PVZ) and Michelle Waterson. PVZ, as her friends call her, is a Sacramento resident. She may also look familiar because she was the runner-up on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. 

Overtime

• Famed basketball sideline reporter Craig Sager, 65, was elected to Broadcast Hall of Fame on Tuesday. On Thursday he lost his battle with cancer. While he was known for his colorful attire and his time on the NBA (National Basketball Association) sidelines, Sager was actually the first person to interview Hank Aaron (legendary baseball player) on the field after he broke the all-time home run record. He will be missed. #SagerStrong 

Sideline stat

• The NFL’s (National Football League) Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will play in frigid temperatures in Chicago on Sunday. The expected high temp is zero degrees with 15 mph winds. This game could go down as the coldest game in the Bears’ history.

Coaches’ corner

• The radio announcer for Wake Forest football received his stocking full of coal early this year - he was fired. An internal investigation uncovered that Tommy Elrod had been giving opponents Wake Forest's game plans since 2014. No word on why the alum and former Wake Forest coach deceived the team in the #WakeyLeaks scandal but three teams thus far have admitted to receiving the information. He’s on the naughty list for sure.