The one thing I would offer, and it might sound blah, but would be to encourage local recruiting and discourage recruiting in places like Florida, Cincinnati's Moeller High (for all you Mike Ayers fans out there), etc.

Yes, I do believe the level of competition would suffer. However, it would also likely breed interest in the program.

I could theorize that the most popular ETSU quarterback of their final 10 years was Matt Wiljelm. He wasn't anywhere near the best (One of his passes was once compared to a punt in the press box) and he wasn't there but for a year, but he was from Science Hill, which made him a natural for things like future sportscasting gigs and being a torch bearer for ETSU football revival.

Todd Wells set a ton of records. Greg Ryan led the team to the postseason. And still I think if you asked the man on Fountain Square to name a former ETSU quarterback, Wiljelm would be the one they could come up with.

Name recognition and local ties breed fan interest. That breeds ticket sales. You save on recruiting trips and in the end maybe the check a team receives from getting their heads chopped off by Alabama could be recouped from the added ticket sales and savings on recruiting trips.

Of course my other idea is a bit more radical, but would also be more effective.

It's to write legislation that amends Title IX.