Too often we hear, read and see analysts and football historians talk about how Schellenberger created a border across mid/South Florida as the "State of Miami", and that every coach since then should do the same, but I would say this:
With explosion of TV contracts and national exposure, many kids don't want to just stay close to home. College is still an experience where you are away from your parents for the first time, and sometimes getting away from home and some of the trouble it can bring is a good thing.
1. With that said, Miami should still place priority on South Florida, and identify who the top talented kids are, regardless of star rankings, and also project how they will grow into their bodies, and the type of mentality they have.
2. Once they have a grasp, and competitive advantage of "State of Miami", they need to also recruit the top talent, star system or otherwise around the country (New Jersey, Texas, Cali, Smith Carolina, Georgia, Vegas, louisiana, Bama, PA and ohio). The same case for kids leaving South Florida would be the same for kids leaving their home states, and even more so given the history and allure of the "U" and South Florida. We can pluck the top talent from those states. (like we did with Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne, Shockey, Mckinnie, Dorsey)
3. This would also help put other schools like Bama on the defensive to not lose kids in their backyard, having to use their recruiting resources time and energy, rather than them spending all their time in South Florida.
4. Part of the pitch to the in state kids has to be, where was Bama and Clemson in the 80's & 90's? they weren't recruiting you here in the tougher neighborhoods, because they were scared. Miami intentionally wrapped their arms around Miami/South Florida tough neighborhoods. Only recently that those schools feel more comfortable and the college football landscape is more competitive and bigger money, do those schools realize they have to come here for the talent. Why should the kids let them do that? stay home and go to the legendary "U", and make it US versus the WORLD. Smash Bama and Clemson and let them know its a FLORIDA thing.
5. O line & QB's have to be recruited harder out of state. O line, QB and the competitive mindset are the three biggest factors that have held us back from being elite and great again. After those legendary teams of the past, kids started to come here to go to the NFL, and we definitely are NFL - U, but it has to happen from kids being super competitive, which will naturally lead them to be NFL greats like the players before them.
With explosion of TV contracts and national exposure, many kids don't want to just stay close to home. College is still an experience where you are away from your parents for the first time, and sometimes getting away from home and some of the trouble it can bring is a good thing.
1. With that said, Miami should still place priority on South Florida, and identify who the top talented kids are, regardless of star rankings, and also project how they will grow into their bodies, and the type of mentality they have.
2. Once they have a grasp, and competitive advantage of "State of Miami", they need to also recruit the top talent, star system or otherwise around the country (New Jersey, Texas, Cali, Smith Carolina, Georgia, Vegas, louisiana, Bama, PA and ohio). The same case for kids leaving South Florida would be the same for kids leaving their home states, and even more so given the history and allure of the "U" and South Florida. We can pluck the top talent from those states. (like we did with Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne, Shockey, Mckinnie, Dorsey)
3. This would also help put other schools like Bama on the defensive to not lose kids in their backyard, having to use their recruiting resources time and energy, rather than them spending all their time in South Florida.
4. Part of the pitch to the in state kids has to be, where was Bama and Clemson in the 80's & 90's? they weren't recruiting you here in the tougher neighborhoods, because they were scared. Miami intentionally wrapped their arms around Miami/South Florida tough neighborhoods. Only recently that those schools feel more comfortable and the college football landscape is more competitive and bigger money, do those schools realize they have to come here for the talent. Why should the kids let them do that? stay home and go to the legendary "U", and make it US versus the WORLD. Smash Bama and Clemson and let them know its a FLORIDA thing.
5. O line & QB's have to be recruited harder out of state. O line, QB and the competitive mindset are the three biggest factors that have held us back from being elite and great again. After those legendary teams of the past, kids started to come here to go to the NFL, and we definitely are NFL - U, but it has to happen from kids being super competitive, which will naturally lead them to be NFL greats like the players before them.
