Tulane recently got its first commitment for 2021, one of the earliest such in recent memory. But the recruiting year will pose many challenges, primarily due to adjustments made to the Covid 19 pandemic.
While Tulane missed most of its spring practices, coaches across the country also lost the opportunity to view spring practices of the many high schools with promising recruits. Colleges, including Tulane, also had to cancel football camps and are missing out on weighing, timing, coaching, and working out kids to gain a more accurate assessment of their potential. Rescheduling these camps in the summer may prove impossible.
Coaches are also missing out on many of the “face to face” meetings so important to judging a young man’s character and commitment, while also expressing more personally his school's interest in the recruit.
On the academic side, many SAT and ACT testing opportunities have been cancelled or put on indefinite delay. Many schools have cancelled for the year though quite a few are continuing with virtual learning. But that doesn't help a kid who doesn't have a computer. School boards across the country are struggling with graduation requirements, GPA’s and class ranking. How will this affect the student athlete attempting to attain NCAA minimum grades and test scores?
And, of course, no one really knows when football (high school, college, or pro) will resume. There are too many “what ifs?” to get into but delay, cancellation or curtailment of the 2020 season at either the high school or college level could add to the recruiting confusion and unknowns.
Every school faces these and many other challenges and the NCAA will undoubtedly make some accommodations and establish some guidelines, but, in the end, the more prepared coaching staffs will fare better than others. I expect ours will do better than most.
I’d love to know more about how the Tulane staff is working the recruiting angle.
Roll Wave!!
While Tulane missed most of its spring practices, coaches across the country also lost the opportunity to view spring practices of the many high schools with promising recruits. Colleges, including Tulane, also had to cancel football camps and are missing out on weighing, timing, coaching, and working out kids to gain a more accurate assessment of their potential. Rescheduling these camps in the summer may prove impossible.
Coaches are also missing out on many of the “face to face” meetings so important to judging a young man’s character and commitment, while also expressing more personally his school's interest in the recruit.
On the academic side, many SAT and ACT testing opportunities have been cancelled or put on indefinite delay. Many schools have cancelled for the year though quite a few are continuing with virtual learning. But that doesn't help a kid who doesn't have a computer. School boards across the country are struggling with graduation requirements, GPA’s and class ranking. How will this affect the student athlete attempting to attain NCAA minimum grades and test scores?
And, of course, no one really knows when football (high school, college, or pro) will resume. There are too many “what ifs?” to get into but delay, cancellation or curtailment of the 2020 season at either the high school or college level could add to the recruiting confusion and unknowns.
Every school faces these and many other challenges and the NCAA will undoubtedly make some accommodations and establish some guidelines, but, in the end, the more prepared coaching staffs will fare better than others. I expect ours will do better than most.
I’d love to know more about how the Tulane staff is working the recruiting angle.
Roll Wave!!
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