As you navigate the recruiting experience, you are hard-pressed to "read between the lines" of what the coaches that are wooing you "say"...or don't say but "imply", or don't imply but "suggest"...anyway, such was the case last Tuesday (May 2) when late in the afternoon, on Erod's way to AAU basketball practice, he was asked to come to the NBHS lockerroom where a University of Cincinnati coach, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, was waiting.
Mr. Narduzzi is, what I would suspect, a "typical recruiter". He is part politician, part coach, part guru, part....geez, I don't even know what. The conversations are always positive - in EVERY aspect. Whether it's Mr. Narduzzi, or Mr. Solazzo at University of Maryland, or Mr. McGovern at Boston College....it's all positive ALL the time. I try to listen to what each is "saying"...sometimes, without saying it. President Eisenhower use to use intimate chats as a time to "get the other man's equation."
Are they offering? Is this a "verbal" - which is a verbal offer without any real proof there is an official offer. So far, only Rutgers and Temple are confirmed, official offers - because Erod has the paperwork to prove it. But how excited do you get when they say something like....:I'm going to suggest to "coach" (which means this guy's boss, the Head coach) that we offer you"...or, "I really think we're close to making an offer"..."we really like you, you fit our program, we're leaning towards offering you..."
They sort of say they're ready to take the plunge, but...well, you know, did they really or are they just waiting for the player's reaction to their suggestion?
And then the local recruiting website catches wind of a University visit to Erod and they are asking, "did they offer?" - or, "do you think they're ready to offer?"...or, "are you hoping they offer?" They turn that information around, write a short article, then basically sell it across the internet to those thirsting for the latest news. Yes, I have paid to be a member of rivals.com because I wanted Erod to have the chance to see what is written about him. At $100 for the year, it is too expensive to also be a member of scout.com, the other recruiting site.
One thing I have drilled into Erod's head is, don't EVER count a University out..E-V-E-R! Whether they are too far away in his mind, or not "marquis" enough, or not the type of defense he'd like to play in...N-E-V-E-R say, "sorry, not interested." Or, as we read last week on the local site www.nj.varsity.com, NEVER say after receiving an offer: "We'll, I am very excited "x" University offered me, but I don't want to play fullback, I want to be the featured back. If another college comes in with an offer and tells me I can be the featured back, I would put that offer on top of the first." A local NJ kid actually said that after receiving his FIRST offer! Now, there is a lot to be said about being honest with your thoughts - but this is MAY and it is MONTHS before you need to make a decision, and, although I haven't been through this before, I am guessing that "dissin" ANY offer is NOT a good idea.
That is where a lot of these young guys are really going to struggle - they have no one guiding them as to the nuances of the chase. Never let them see you discouraged, not confident, not appreciative, not interested...you need to be "on your game" 24/7 with the Instant Messages, Text Messages, phone calls, and interviews. A few words taken out-of-context, and an offer may disappear. It's akin to the dating chase...let her know you're interested by your body language, without really "committing."
So...back on topic...after meeting with Mr. Narduzzi, we "think" he made a "verbal".
Or was it...?
