Detroit News: Coach Rod's recruiting methods

from Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/OPINION03/805220367/1131/SPORTS0201

Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sam Webb: Recruiting

Rodriguez's recruiting methods aren't out of place, after all

Will the Big Ten coaches who have abided by the so-called "gentleman's recruiting agreement" please stand up?

Joe Tiller's now infamous "guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil" characterization of Rich Rodriguez implies that Michigan's new coach would still be sitting down after hearing that query. Jim Tressel certainly lent credence to that assertion when he responded to a question about the existence of the agreement by saying, "I guess (it's) only between the gentlemen."

Rodriguez was understandably surprised by the verbal castigation. After all, coaches in every other big-time conference play until the whistle blows. How was he to know that Big Ten coaches hold hands and sing Kumbaya in the highly competitive arena of college football recruiting? The barbs were extremely effective in inciting anxious detractors, but they did little to alter Rodriguez's philosophy.

"If not being a gentleman is recruiting a guy to the end — until the signing date — particularly after he visits, guilty as charged," Rodriguez said. "We are going to recruit them to the end. If is a guy is verbally committed to you, and he doesn't visit anywhere else, and he is not talking to other coaches — well, then he is pretty solid. But if he is verbally committed to you and he is visiting someone else, then he is just interested. He is not really committed."

The suggestion that there is something surly or unseemly about that approach is particularly ironic coming from those issuing the critiques.

Back in the spring of 2002, Ionia (Mich.) standout Garret Bushong committed to Michigan State. However, after the firing of Bobby Williams, he decided to reopen his recruitment and made his way to Tiller's welcoming arms. Maybe that was an exception to the agreement? If the coach is fired the recruits are back on the market? Fair enough.

The very next year there was a recruit out of Trotwood (Ohio) Madison named Zach Logan. It's the same Trotwood Madison that Tiller criticized after losing WR Roy Roundtree to Michigan on signing day. "It makes you wonder about the guy, the people surrounding him, the people in that building who would let that happen," Tiller told the Indianapolis Star.

The Boilermaker coach was singing a different tune during Logan's recruitment. On July 31, 2003 Logan committed to Illinois. A few months later, though, he had a change of heart and switched to Purdue. Maybe the Logan deal was OK since it happened early in the recruiting period as opposed to late?

Are similar exceptions in the agreement for Tressel? The Buckeye coach attempted to distance himself from the controversy a few weeks after his initial co-signature of Tiller's stance, claiming he had "no beefs" with Rodriguez. He also clarified his recruiting approach, stating the following: "The way we always do it is, if the kid tells us he's going somewhere else, that's it."

In a Jan. 16 Scout.com article, Garfield Heights defensive end Melvin Fellows indicated he was going somewhere else. "I have committed to Illinois," he said. "My commitment is firm right now." However, in the very same interview the youngster said, "I'm not going to lie to anybody; I'm interested in Ohio State right now."

On April 24, he switched his commitment from Illinois to Ohio State.

Back in June 2004, then-Minnesota coach Glen Mason landed the crown in-state jewel, linebacker James Laurinaitis. The three-star prospect had friends on the Gopher squad and was interested in playing close to home, but by November 2004 he was preparing to visit OSU.

"My dream is to play at the next level and Ohio State had 14 players drafted last season," Laurinaitis explained to Scout.com. "The (Minnesota) coaches were surprised, but like I told my dad, I'm 17 years old."

On Dec. 12, 2004 Laurinaitis officially became a Buckeye.

There must be so many caveats and corollaries to the so-called agreement that only a veteran Big Ten coach would know how properly operate. Otherwise, how does one discern the difference between Rodriguez's conduct and that of his new contemporaries?

The fact of the matter is there is no difference. Tiller and Tressel did what Rodriguez is doing — they played to win. Congratulations to them. But what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Other Big Ten coaches must feel the same way since they've stayed mum on the topic. They're playing to win, too.

In its 2008 class, Iowa lured Tuscola, Ill., quarterback John Weinke away from the Wolverines on the heels of the coaching change in Ann Arbor. In 2007, Kirk Ferentz's club pulled a surprise signing-day coup by swiping former Detroit Mumford standout Cedric Everson away from Michigan State. They did so a mere five days after he committed to the Spartans (who had swiped him from Georgia Tech). This year, Michigan commitment Teric Jones insists he is still hearing from the Hawkeyes.

On April 19, Ohio State landed the nation's No. 7 cornerback, Darrell Givins of Indian Head, Md. Less than one month later he switched his commitment to Penn State.

In 2006, former Bloomfield Hills Lahser standout Quincy Landingham switched his commitment from Michigan State to Wisconsin once it became apparent John L. Smith wouldn't be back.

In 2007, Michigan plucked Illinois commitment Renaldo Sagesse from Ron Zook's clutches.

After Lloyd Carr retired, Michigan State recruited numerous U-M commitments, including coveted prospects Marcus Witherspoon and Boubacar Cissoko. Michigan's highest rated 2009 prospect, Detroit Cass Tech DT William Campbell, recently indicated he is still being courted by both the Nittany Lions and the Spartans. In addition, MSU is still pursuing Chicago Leo standouts Leon Hill and Lendell Buckner, despite their commitments to Illinois.

The Illini haven't shied away from harvesting other Big Ten commitments, either. Flossmoor, Ill., wideout Russell Ellington committed to Iowa on Oct. 6, 2007, but had flipped to Illinois by Thanksgiving. Belleville, Ill., running back Jason Ford committed to Iowa on June 10, 2007, but he, too, flipped to Illinois by Thanksgiving.

There are surely more examples, but those provided are certainly enough to show just how unrealistic this so-called unspoken rule was. Rodriguez's mentality isn't so out of place in the Big Ten after all, now is it?

Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine magazine and GoBlueWolverine.com, and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA. His column appears every Thursday.