We'll take the Texas rejects...gladly

**ketelmeister** · 08-13-2007, 07:22 PM

I've talked with various coaches from several universities, and am convinced that ISU Coach Chizik probably has a good old boy network working to help him suceed. I'm also convinced that Mac Brown is more than happy to recommend players he can't sign to Chizik to keep them from signing with Tech, A and M, Oklahoma or Baylor. Chizik also has plenty of friends in Florida, that is becomming apparent. Will that signal a crop of 4 or 5 star recruits...not yet. But look for players that are unheralded to sign before they get their "stars" from the rating services. All of this will take time, but it certaily looks like we are headed the right direction already. The key is to get players from the schools that produce the stars, whether you get that top guy or not. One will follow another and the pipeline is built. It's nice to have friends, and Coach Chizik has some real good ones.

**acgclone** · 08-13-2007, 07:34 PM

I hope you are right. That is probably the only way to really take that next step. The only problem that would create, is if he does start getting a bunch of "diamonds in the rough" and it shows in our play, then other schools will want to swoop him up.

We'll deal with that problem when the time comes, I guess......

**CyCloned** · 08-13-2007, 08:51 PM

I would gladly take the TX rejects. I saw a Big 12 preview the other day on ESPN and they had a list running across the bottom of the page showing teams records, returning starters and the number of ESPN top 150 that a team had signed. ISU had no top 150, not a real surprise, TX had 12! That is 8% of the top 150 guys in the country going to one school. I imagine Ohio State and USC take another 15-20% between them.

**CYdTracked** · 08-13-2007, 08:55 PM

Great thinking "hey, you're not good enough to play at Texas so try ISU." I'd hope we can compete with guys Texas wants to sign at some point and not take the leftovers.

**ketelmeister** · 08-13-2007, 09:07 PM

We can hope we can compete with Texas for recruits..but that is not reality. Football is a religion in Texas high schools, and every kid dreams of playing for Texas. To think we could compete with that is wishful thinking. I'll take their seconds anyday.

**darts180** · 08-13-2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by travman23

Great thinking "hey, you're not good enough to play at Texas so try ISU." I'd hope we can compete with guys Texas wants to sign at some point and not take the leftovers.

There are a LOT of good players in the Lone Star State. The guys that can't play for the Horns, would be better than what we have been signing.

**ISUclones33** · 08-13-2007, 10:19 PM

hell, some of our players still dream of playing for texas. We gotta take what we get

**ajk4st8** · 08-13-2007, 10:26 PM

who wouldnt dream of playing for texas?

**Bobber** · 08-13-2007, 10:37 PM

Hey let's not forget about recruting the state of Iowa? I remember one time looking at the Nebraska roster back when they were still top 10 material. I was really surprised how many Nebraska kids were on the team.

I'm fine with us getting as many kids as we can from Texas and Florida, but let's not concede the state of Iowa to little U to the East.

**darts180** · 08-13-2007, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Hey let's not forget about recruting the state of Iowa? I remember one time looking at the Nebraska roster back when they were still top 10 material. I was really surprised how many Nebraska kids were on the team.

I'm fine with us getting as many kids as we can from Texas and Florida, but let's not concede the state of Iowa to little U to the East.

That's all fine and good, IF they deserve the scholarship, or are willing to walk on.

Too many scholarships were spent on Iowa kids that didn't have the ability level to play in the Big 12. Just to say that we were winning in state recruiting. Iowa still got their pick, with some notable exceptions, so what good did it do???

Don't get me wrong, I want to sign every Iowa kid that can play at this level, I just don't think that a team in the Big 12 should be beating out UNI for recruits. UNI has a hell of a program, but they are still a level lower.

**CyCloned** · 08-13-2007, 10:55 PM

Iowa kids help ISU in two ways: First they are a lot more stable. They are less likely to get in trouble, flunk out, or just leave the team. Secondly, they are a bargin because the team can pay in state tuition for their scholarships.

The bad part is that over the last few years ISU has taken a lot of Iowa kids that had no business in the Big 12. The OL recruits from Iowa that played for the team for the last 3 years have been pretty sparse.

**Clone_12** · 08-13-2007, 11:51 PM

I'll tell you one thing...if we ever get to the point where we are competing with Texas for Texas kids on a regular basis, there will be a lot of VERY happy clone fans out there...The bottom line is it's just very tough to convince a stud Texas athlete to come play in Ames and it's freezing winters and no school tradition, to go along with the fact that they would be thousands of miles away from home, as opposed to the Horns, Aggies, or Red Raiders...I should pry throw Oklahoma in there too with how hard it hits Texas. I don't see it happening anytime in the near future, but there are a LOT of Texas kids to go around...same goes with Florida to a little bit smaller extent.