[Husker] recruits (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

>  the complaints of Husker fans are universally disregarded 
> outside the state. Further, what we write on the HuskerList is little 
> noted nor long remembered inside the state. Collectively, there's 
> little or no impact on potential recruits' decisions.

There are lots of schools where the fans have good reasons to be less
than thrilled with the state of their football team.  Florida and
Tennessee come to mind.  Even Northwestern fans are less than 100% 
content with their team this year, though it has performed well above 
expectations and was bowl-eligible a week before the Huskers were.

I doubt there are many recruits considering Nebraska who haven't surfed
the net looking for Husker fan boards.  The Husker List is harder to get 
to than most these days because the archives are only open to registered 
and validated subscribers, though the posts themselves are available 
through the newsgroup archives on google (among other places).

More than a few recruits have blogs, and for the most part they ignore 
what the fans have to say, for three reasons:

1.  Any recruit worth having is likely to think he can make enough of a
    difference to help turn that fan discontent into satisfaction.

2.  The reasons recruits make their decisions are very complex.  Some of
    them are looking for a chance to hone their abilities and move on to
    the NFL.  Others have a desire to play for a particular school.
    How many Selmon's played at OU, how many Ruud's have been Huskers?
    (Notre Dame has traded on that for years!)  Some will go with the
    coach who best impresses them or their parents, Tom Osborne was VERY
    GOOD as a closer, for example,  Bob Devaney lost quite a few
    recruits to Bear Bryant, reportedly the best closer of all time.  
    Some are looking for the educational opportunities at their chosen 
    school.  How the fans are likely to react is way down the list, if 
    it is a factor at all.

3.  Most people who actually play football would laugh at the level of
    expertise shown on most fan boards.  I've had the privilege of watching
    some NFL games with some former Huskers, several of whom went on to
    play in the NFL.  I have seen them roll their eyes over my understanding
    of the game, and it didn't bother me then or now.  Read George Plimton's
    book, "Paper Lion" for further examples of the disparity of knowledge
    between even well-informed non-players and those who actually have played
    the game.  

    Incidentally, there is no '10 second' countdown in the NCAA rulebook
    for a time-out called when there are none left, that's an NFL rule.
--
Mike Nolan