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Just one of the eight verbals for 2014 is from Alabama.
Coach is obviously a failure at getting local recruits.

But seriously folks… It's interesting that all eight of the verbals play offense, seven of the eight are skill position players (3 rb's, 2 qb's, and 2 wr's), and six of the eight are from Florida. Any theories (conspiracy or otherwise) among our BT recruiting gurus as to why this is?

Owens is a good recruiter and that camp we had down there must have kicked tail.

I'm not a recruiting "guru" by any means, but even I can see that Florida has been recognized as the top southeastern recruiting ground for the last 50 years. It has a thriving economy, a growing population (UCF and USF are EACH about the size of UA and AU COMBINED) and its public schools are well funded in part due to its lottery and huge tourism income.

You will notice that the early commitments for AU and UA are almost entirely from out of state as well.

The lack of instate recruits committing to UAB might be attributed to the instate prejudice toward B'ham / Jeffco working in favor of the BCS schools first and then USA and Troy after that. It may also be due to the possible decline of the majority of our public high school athletic programs due to decreased per pupil funding over much of the last decade - the greatest in America. Most of the top instate recruits are from suburban schools around the state or those programs blessed with strong booster supported programs. As a "rising tide raises all boats", an "ebbing tide will lower them as well" unless protected by strong local funding.

UAB will dress 4 kids from my kids' Jeffco school in a month.

I think Owens is from the general area that most of the kids come from. I think also that the negative perception towards UAB in Alabama has made recruiting the state more difficult than expected. I think a lot comes from peers in high school - not teammates, but fellow students - who really know nothing about college athletics who seem to think players choose their college rather than vice-versa and belittle UAB with "Why would you want to go there?" type of comments. And with Alabama being so dominant at the moment its tough - that's what they compare UAB against. Once winning begins this will change, but it may take awhile.

Of course, when a player comes to UAB and really likes what he sees and then goes on a recruiting visit to SMiss or other colleges and really sees how deficient UAB's facilities are, well...

On a positive note, as a result of the above perception, those Alabama kids that do come to UAB are mentally tough kids who are not affected by outside influences.

(07-30-2013 11:21 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Of course, when a player comes to UAB and really likes what he sees and then goes on a recruiting visit to SMiss or other colleges and really sees how deficient UAB's facilities are, well...

I doubt they would ever comment publicly, but I sure would like to know what the present FB staff would desire as priorities in the way of augmented "facilities", including the ranking of the OCS among them. Maybe if they had their "druthers", they would like something we don't realize as being as important as they do. Maybe Drew, or one of our "insiders", can ask about it.

(07-30-2013 10:51 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I'm not a recruiting "guru" by any means, but even I can see that Florida has been recognized as the top southeastern recruiting ground for the last 50 years. It has a thriving economy, a growing population (UCF and USF are EACH about the size of UA and AU COMBINED) and its public schools are well funded in part due to its lottery and huge tourism income.

You will notice that the early commitments for AU and UA are almost entirely from out of state as well.

The lack of instate recruits committing to UAB might be attributed to the instate prejudice toward B'ham / Jeffco working in favor of the BCS schools first and then USA and Troy after that. It may also be due to the possible decline of the majority of our public high school athletic programs due to decreased per pupil funding over much of the last decade - the greatest in America. Most of the top instate recruits are from suburban schools around the state or those programs blessed with strong booster supported programs. As a "rising tide raises all boats", an "ebbing tide will lower them as well" unless protected by strong local funding.

Hopefully, UAB can win with what they have on the roster, but, I'm inclined to feel that being able to attract home-based talent can increase the number of fans to show up for games, away and at "home"... The only way, IMO, that this trend will change for the better is if or when the culture of losing can be purged , & if UAB can somehow get out of that "hole" it has to play in called Legion Field and get modern, on-campus facilities to work with that recruits can see that there is a commitment to success at UAB...

@Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

How's the talent in-state this year?

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

Florida, georgia, Texas, Louisiana, California have more talent overall top to bottom. When McGee said we have enough talent in this state to win a conference championship. He was spot on. Bama recruits national, auburn gets sloppy seconds. Which leaves high 3 star players on the verge of a 4 star rating. They aren't going to troy and they aren't going to South alabama. Other Sec teams steal some here & there , but I've seen guys leave for USM, Tulane, ucf, north Alabama, wku who weren't recruited by UAB. What's the problem, we got somebody who was far less talented at the same position. Im left thinking we had a steak waiting for us, and instead settled for a McDonald's cheeseburger. Ill take it. Its not that good, but it filled me up. We find some to fill a spot on the roster rather than someone who would improve the position.

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

I know someone mentioned it in one of the post about asking Drew. JUST EMAIL HIM AND ASK. I did and he answered right back in a nice amount of time. I'm sure he he hears and has heard things about UAB before and after he got here.

Just saying

(07-30-2013 12:57 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  How's the talent in-state this year?

Not sure. I would suspect that it is about the same as any normal year.

What does receiving commits from out of state players mean?
Does it mean that we are stepping it up a notch and are reaching new areas?
Are our coaches familiar with these areas out of state?

It seems like we are getting earlier commitments this year & more in number than we did at this point last year.

It also seems more players are coming in to the camps and the coaches are going out more.

I would take this to be a good thing.

(07-30-2013 03:06 PM)rook360 Wrote:  I know someone mentioned it in one of the post about asking Drew. JUST EMAIL HIM AND ASK. I did and he answered right back in a nice amount of time. I'm sure he he hears and has heard things about UAB before and after he got here.

Just saying

The question is if Drew would want to be quoted on BlazerTalk in regard to UAB's facilities. Yes, I would want to know, but I would not want it to be my secret.

(07-30-2013 02:55 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

To take it step farther, we need a state of the art training, meeting, and practice complex, complete with weight room, rehab & recovery area, players lounge, coaches offices, meeting/film rooms, and 3 practice fields. This would go along way in attractiving upper level recruits (3*).

(07-30-2013 03:16 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 02:55 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

To take it step farther, we need a state of the art training, meeting, and practice complex, complete with weight room, rehab & recovery area, players lounge, coaches offices, meeting/film rooms, and 3 practice fields. This would go along way in attractiving upper level recruits (3*).

An indoor practice facility is also a must. Nothing was worse than driving to BSC to have practice at 7 A.M.

(07-30-2013 03:16 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 02:55 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

To take it step farther, we need a state of the art training, meeting, and practice complex, complete with weight room, rehab & recovery area, players lounge, coaches offices, meeting/film rooms, and 3 practice fields. This would go along way in attractiving upper level recruits (3*).

As we illustrate by these assertions, all of which may well be very accurate, we don't really know the coaches' priorities in regard to facilities development. Our shortage of money is why we can't take a wishful "scattergun" approach but need a narrow, more sharply focused, effort to get maximum "bang for our limited bucks". The coaches would know best because they are the ones talking to the recruits - both the ones we get and the ones we don't.

(07-30-2013 03:19 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 03:16 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 02:55 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

To take it step farther, we need a state of the art training, meeting, and practice complex, complete with weight room, rehab & recovery area, players lounge, coaches offices, meeting/film rooms, and 3 practice fields. This would go along way in attractiving upper level recruits (3*).

An indoor practice facility is also a must. Nothing was worse than driving to BSC to have practice at 7 A.M.

It would be nice but not necessarily a must. It would be nice for rainy days but I don't know what impact it has on recruits. UGA has a decent indoor facility but it's only 50 yards long (maybe 60) and I don't see being able to hold a full practice in there. By comparison Auburn has 120 yard indoor facility and it's nice. If indoor facilities carried more weight Auburn would be recruiting at higher level when going against UGA. Georgia State has a decent practice complex and is already attracting 3* recruits.

(07-30-2013 03:27 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 03:16 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 02:55 PM)Dracarys Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:03 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 12:29 PM)Matrix Wrote:  @Western: Facilities make a big difference, as you have mentioned. How many potential impact players did UAB lose last season because of , according to some of the recruits, better facilities at other colleges they visited?

We know the term "facilities" is often invoked but for many of us, aside from the obvious OCS, we don't know precisely what "facilities" UAB is seen as lacking that recruits see at other schools. That is why I suggested that our coaches might have a list of such things that they may see as listed ahead of the most expensive (and remote)- the OCS.

IMO the next thing has got to be a new locker room. The current one has got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) in the country. I have never been in another college locker room (other than the visitors locker room at stadiums), but I have seen tons of high school locker room that are much nicer than the football locker room. Personally, I am really tired of renovations, it works the basketball team because Bartow is where they should be, but the football team shouldn't have ever been there anyway. I like what they did with the coaches office, but if athletic dept. was seriously committed they should have found a way to tear that building down and built a building that was meant to be coaches office with a locker room. Easier said than done.

To take it step farther, we need a state of the art training, meeting, and practice complex, complete with weight room, rehab & recovery area, players lounge, coaches offices, meeting/film rooms, and 3 practice fields. This would go along way in attractiving upper level recruits (3*).

As we illustrate by these assertions, all of which may well be very accurate, we don't really know the coaches' priorities in regard to facilities development. Our shortage of money is why we can't take a wishful "scattergun" approach but need a narrow, more sharply focused, effort to get maximum "bang for our limited bucks". The coaches would know best because they are the ones talking to the recruits - both the ones we get and the ones we don't.

No doubt the coaches would know best, but what attracts players is the key. Having a son, who took several visits this summer, who's on a team with several D1 athletes, I have an idea of what kids and parents are looking for.