I spoke of generalities and statistical analysis, and you used one specific example to try to disprove my statement. In all aspects of life and statistics, there will always be exceptions and outliers. At one time , Coach Tiller said he liked mining for nuggets. That's kind of where the phrase/philosophy came from. Coach Hope repeated a similar statement. My statement is that coaches no longer go off mining for nuggets and diamonds. if one appears , it's not because a coach went looking for it. You found a diamond who went to Temple. There is still real gold and silver in many abandoned mines in Utah. If you search long enough, you will find a trace, or maybe a nugget. However, there is a reason those mines are abandoned; they are no longer profitable. The coaching staff that continues to look for those hidden nuggets is wasting its time.
I will also partially disagree with you on your assessment of Brohm's first recruiting class. The part I disagree with is the word "hasty". To me it was evident Brohm had done his research and recruiting long before he arrived at Purdue. Almost every single player he recruited and signed, he had previously contacted and had established relationships with. Almost every recruit already had received an offer from Brohm while he was at WKU. Not all, but the vast majority. And unlike Hazell, the vast majority of big schools and successful schools are always adding 1-5 players on the last weekend. What we saw in Brohm last year, was NOT a hasty last minute recruiting class. What we saw was the way successful coaches recruit. It was the same thing for the boat rower at Minnesota. the last few days are supposed to be filled with last minute surprises. Unfortunately, neither Hope or Hazell knew how to recruit. they just sat in their chairs and watched recruits sign elsewhere.
I believe and also EXPECT Brohm's next recruiting class to be better than his last one. Now that he is in place, I have watched a continued recruitment activity at the same pace as his first month at Purdue. As each day passes, Brohm has sent out 1-4 offers. He has set up visits. he has gone to homes and schools. his assistants are all doing the same. The majority of his targets are the expected 3* athletes. There is nothing wrong with recruiting 3* athletes. he is also targeting and recruiting 4/5 * athletes. I see a little bit of an upgrade in the talent of his targets over what he recruited at WKU.
As I watch his coaching and progress, I see two hurdles in front of him. His next hurdle is his summer camp. A lot of commitments for successful schools are made at summer camps. I remember a 4* WR who Hazell was recruiting and liked Purdue until he went to an OSU summer camp. And that WR committed to OSU before he even left camp as did many other OSU recruits. I also recall Hazell's first camp. He attracted elite players to his camp, and they saw and they left, and he didn't receive any commitments. To be successful, Brohm must be able to get those elite players he targeted and offered to his Summer camp and on campus. and get a commitment. Even if they decommit later, that will send a message.
His second hurdle is acquiring commitments this summer rather than waiting until the Fall. He needs a couple of early elite commitments to attract others. Successful programs already have those early commitments.
it's 2 May. Brohm has been very active. The next two months should reflect some positive results of his actions. I will be concerned, and vocal if on 1 August, I don't see those results. I won't expect Brohm to have 20 commitments with four 5* stars lined up. But I believe a fair expectation for Brohm is for him to have as many commitments and at the same level as IU, U of I, ISU, Northwestern, Rutgers, Minn, Iowa, Cincy, and Vandy have. Rather than looking at numbers, I will compare Brohm's efforts and success against those of his contemporaries. I don't believe those are lofty or unfair expectations.
I believe it is wrong to compare Brohm against Hazell and Hope. Hazell and Hope are the past. Rather than saying Purdue is better than the past, we need to look at the present and future, and be able to say Purdue is currently better than IU. Purdue is better than Minn. . When you talk about Purdue basketball, rather than comparing it to previous Purdue teams, you typically compare it to the current MSU and IU and UW teams. You compare painter to izzo and Crean, not Keady. the past is the past. Rather than looking back, as a football team, we need to look sideways, and start comparing our team to the competition we face. Rather than being better than our previous teams, we need to be better than the teams we play. if we are not better than our competition, then we are no better than our past.
I don't want to compare Brohm's next recruiting class with his last one or to any of Hazell's. I want to compare his efforts against the current efforts of IU. and in a few years, I want to compare his efforts with UW, MSU Penn St, Iowa, and Nebraska . I don't expect brohm to be able to match the efforts of Mich and OSU. But I think it would be fun to hope and compare.
I'm not saying anything Brohm doesn't already know.
