Recruiting without palm trees

One of the things that the Gophers were hoping to do when they hired PJ Fleck, was increase their stead in the recruiting wars. They have indeed climbed up to #58 on ESPNs list of top classes in 2017 thanks in large part to Fleck's hard work. Not great.

The rest of the list goes to show that Minnesota will need more than a good coach in order to be a top draw for recruits. Quickly looking at the top 20, there are a few factors that lead to schools being recruiting hot beds, of which Minnesota has none.

The most obvious factor is proximity to the talent. Most recruits come from a range from Texas to the Carolinas, and in California. The second is a tradition of excellence. I'm talking a solid 25 years or so. Third is a flood of cash from a trendy designer. That accounts for Maryland and Oregon.

 Minnesota is, and forever will be in Minnesota. The Twin Cities are a relatively small area, and the outlying region is lightly populated, and nearby states are similarly sparse. Minnesota will not be successful if they confine themselves to recruiting locally. They don't have a huge base with which to build their team.

Nike is headquartered in Portland and UnderArmour in Baltimore. I don't know that there is another brand with as much pull as those tow, except, perhaps for a revitalized adidas. I doubt they are planning on moving from Germany just to support a college football team.

That leaves the tradition of excellence. Jerry Kill's strategy from the outset, and that will have to be Fleck's as well. Sure, ,getting some players will be nice, but he has to make sure they execute on the field. PJ Fleck might be a good recruiter, but if he wants Minnesota to be successful in the long run, if he wants players from far flung places to choose Minnesota as a destination, he's going to have to be a hell of a coach too.

Purdue is making me happy

Purdue has likely learned their lessons, and will be prepared to contend with whomever they are paired against in the first round.They have the talent to make a deep run, thanks to their big men in the middle, and their guard play is significantly better than it was last year. Joe Lunardi has Purdue as a 5 seed right now, though their #16 ranking, and their big road win tonight suggests to me that they will be sneaking up a seed line or two before all is said and done.
This is a good year, I'm very happy with this team, and I have expectations for a Sweet 16 run -- at the very least. Now, all that said, on Indiana night, it's hard to imagine any sweeter feeling than winning over the Hoosiers in Assembly Hall.
Caleb Swanigan is a beast, Isaac Haas is figuring out how to use his strength, and the guards and forwards are confident enough that even Vince Edwards, the best player on the team his freshman year, is now a 6th man.
This is a fun team. This is a team that will make noise in March. This is a team that beat Indiana.I'm so happy.

How long until Baylor is forgotten?

Baylor is in the midst of an absolutely disgusting scandal. For those that don't know, the basic outline is that the Bears have had a systemic culture of rape and objectification of women. Players were not disciplined, the institution looked the other way. The scandal claimed the football coach, the athletic director and even the university president, while several players have been sent to prison and there are many lawsuits still outstanding. It sounds as though there are still many unseemly layers to this that have not yet been brought to light.

Today, it was revealed that the Big 12 is withholding a portion of the payments that it owes Baylor until it is proven that the University is making progress in its ambitious plan to clean things up, For their part, Baylor is saying the right things, that they welcome the challenge to make things right, and they look forward to a third party overseer to ensure that they are indeed developing better institutional controls. The most damning reports suggest as many as 31 Baylor players were involved sexual assault over a 4 year period. 

An openness to the investigation and a willingness to accept penalties are what the situation commands. The best way to prove that football doesn't override decency and public safety is to be as transparent as possible. The Bears have so any issues, but they have admitted them, and are working, ostensibly, at fixing them. Rightfully, the NCAA is still evaluating its punishment for the school, considering whether or not the so called "death penalty" is in order. It's hard to find anyone that disagrees that the school should be rebuked severely. 

A few years ago, there was another school that was embroiled in a horrific scandal. Penn State was dealt a fairly severe punishment after it was revealed that a former assistant coach had assaulted young boys, often in the team locker room, and with the knowledge of the head coach as well as high ranking officials at the school.Perhaps it was because the coach, Joe Paterno was so popular, or perhaps because it was a coach and not players that committed the acts at the scandal, but the fans and school have fought every step of the legal process along the way, insisting the actions taken were not fair, that the impact to the football program was unduly harmful. Their return to prominence this year came in what was supposed to be the fourth year of their punishment was actually labeled a "feel good story" by some commentators. 

It makes one wonder, therefore, how long until Baylor's scandal is forgotten? How long until we look back at Baylor and think that they have suffered enough, that their next era of competence is a cause for celebration? Fortunately, Baylor is giving the outward appearance that they are taking their crimes seriously, and will follow through with reforms. They acknowledge that there are things that are much more important than football in this world. It's a healthy, well adjusted attitude in a very dark time.

Of course, Penn State made it abundantly clear that football was of paramount importance. They covered up their transgressions so as not to affect the program, and they continued to fight their punishments in order to protect their legacy. It's paid off, and they are back. How long until Baylor gives up on their attempt to take the moral high ground?